admin@onpointhosts.com
admin@onpointhosts.com

How to register a domain and choose a hosting plan

A picture-by-picture walkthrough of ordering with OnPoint Hosts — from picking a plan to your website going live. Follow along in another tab as you go.

⏱ Takes about 10 minutes 🎁 Free .com, .net or .org for year one* 💳 Have a payment card ready
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Start with a hosting plan

Choose your plan first and add your domain along the way. This is the quickest route and the one that gives you your free domain. It’s the route this guide follows.

Start with a domain name

Just want to secure a name first? You can search for a domain on its own and add hosting at the same time or later. See the domain-first route.

Your journey at a glance

  1. 1Choose a plan
  2. 2Pick your domain
  3. 3Set billing cycle
  4. 4Configure domain
  5. 5Review basket
  6. 6Details & payment
  7. ✓You’re live

Step 1Choose your hosting plan

  1. Go to our pricing plans on the home page.
  2. Compare storage, email accounts and how many domains (websites) each plan allows.
  3. Click Add to basket under the plan you want. You’ll be taken to our secure order system.
Not sure which plan? Count your websites. One site → Beginner. Up to five → Plus. More than five, or lots of email accounts → Ultimate. You can upgrade later without losing anything.
Click “Add to basket” on the plan that suits you.

Step 2Pick your domain name

The order system now asks which domain your hosting is for.

  1. Leave Register a new domain selected.
  2. Type the name you want (without “www.”) and choose an ending such as .com or .co.uk.
  3. Click Check to see if it’s available.
  4. If it’s free, click Continue. If it’s taken, try a different name or ending — we’ll suggest alternatives.
Already own a domain? Choose Transfer your domain from another registrar to move it to us (see our transfer guide), or I will use my existing domain to keep it where it is and simply point it at your new hosting.
Choosing a good name Keep it short, easy to spell when said out loud, and avoid hyphens. UK businesses often register both the .co.uk and .com to protect their name.
Search for your name, then continue once it shows as available.

Step 3Choose how often to pay

  1. Under Choose Billing Cycle, pick how you’d like to pay for your hosting.
  2. Add any optional extras you want (you can always add them later).
  3. Check the Order Summary on the right, then click Continue.
Want the free domain? Choose Annually. The free .com, .net or .org for your first year is only included when the hosting is paid one year in advance.
Pick “Annually” to get your domain free for the first year.

Step 4Configure your domain

Next you’ll confirm the details for your domain. Most of it is filled in for you.

  • 1Registration Period — how many years to register for. You can change this at checkout.
  • 2Additional Information — only appears for some endings. For .uk domains choose your Legal Type (e.g. UK Individual or UK Limited Company), add your Company ID Number if you’re a company, and enter the Registrant Name — the person or business who will legally own the domain.
  • 3Nameservers — leave these as they are: ns0.thundercloud.uk and ns1.thundercloud.uk. They connect your domain to your OnPoint hosting.
  • 4Click Continue.
Registrant name matters Use your real name or your business’s registered name. It proves who owns the domain if you ever need to move or renew it.
The Configure Domain(s) screen, showing registration period, Add Hosting button, .uk legal type, company ID, registrant name, WHOIS opt-out and nameserver fields pre-filled with ns0 and ns1.thundercloud.uk, and a green Continue button.
The Configure Domain(s) screen. This example is a .uk domain, so it asks for extra details.

Step 5Review your basket

  1. Check your hosting plan, billing cycle and domain name are all correct. Use the edit link to change anything.
  2. Have a promotional code? Enter it and click Validate Code.
  3. Click Checkout.
About VAT Our advertised prices exclude VAT. VAT is added at the rate for your country of residence and shown in your total before you pay.
Your basket. Check everything’s right before you check out.

Step 6Enter your details and pay

  1. New customer? Fill in your personal information and billing address. Already have an account? Click Already Registered? and log in instead.
  2. Create a strong password under Account Security. You’ll use it to log in to your Client Area.
  3. Choose your payment method and enter your payment details.
  4. Tick to agree to the Terms of Service, then click Complete Order.
Use an email address you check Your login details, invoices and an important domain verification email will all be sent there.
The checkout form. Returning customers can log in to skip most of it.

Step 7What happens next

  1. Order confirmation

    An email confirming your order and your invoice arrive straight away.

  2. Hosting welcome email

    Once payment clears, your account is set up and we email your cPanel login details.

  3. Verify your domain — action needed

    For .com, .net, .org and similar, you’ll get an email asking you to confirm your contact details. Click the link within 15 days or the domain may be suspended.

  4. Your domain goes live

    Usually within a few hours, occasionally up to 48 hours while the internet catches up.

You can manage everything from your Client Area: log in to cPanel, renew your domain, pay invoices or open a support ticket.

Next: build your website. Follow The Web Toolbox’s free step-by-step guide — from your first page to being found on Google, all tested on OnPoint hosting.

Your Client Area once everything is set up.

Prefer to start with a domain name?

You can register a domain on its own — for example to secure a name before you’re ready to build a site.

  1. AOpen domain search

    From the menu choose Store → Register a New Domain, or start here.

  2. BSearch and add

    Search for your name and click Add to Cart on the one you want.

  3. CAdd hosting (optional)

    On the Configure Domain(s) screen, click the green Add Hosting button to bundle a plan in now.

  4. DFinish as above

    Carry on from Step 4: configure your domain, review and check out.

Hosting sorted? Now build your website

Free step-by-step guides from The Web Toolbox

Our sister site teaches you to build a professional website yourself — every guide is written for OnPoint hosting.

Start the guide →

The Web Toolbox is run by the same company as OnPoint Hosts. Free to read, no sign-up.

Common questions

How long does it take to get my website online?

Placing the order takes around 10 minutes. Your hosting account is usually set up as soon as payment clears, and a newly registered domain normally starts working within a few hours. Occasionally it can take up to 48 hours for a new domain to be recognised everywhere on the internet.

Is the domain really free?

Yes. New hosting plans include a free .com, .net or .org domain for the first year when the hosting is paid annually (one year in advance). From year two the domain renews at our standard renewal price.

I already own a domain somewhere else. Can I still use it?

Yes. At Step 2 choose either “Transfer your domain from another registrar” to move it to us, or “I will use my existing domain and update my nameservers” to keep it where it is and point it at your OnPoint hosting. Our transfer guide walks through moving a domain step by step.

What are nameservers, and do I need to change them?

Nameservers tell the internet where your website and email live. When you register a new domain with us they are filled in for you (ns0.thundercloud.uk and ns1.thundercloud.uk), so you do not need to change anything. Only change them if you have been told to by another provider.

Why have I received an email asking me to verify my domain?

Domain registries require the owner’s email address to be confirmed for .com, .net, .org and similar domains. Click the link in that email as soon as it arrives — if it is not confirmed within 15 days the domain can be suspended until it is.

Can I change my hosting plan later?

Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade from your Client Area at any time without losing your website or starting again.

Ready to get online?

Pick a plan and have your website live today.

View hosting plans Search for a domain

Stuck at any step? Contact our UK support team.
*Free domain applies to new hosting plans paid annually. Renewal pricing applies from year two. All prices exclude VAT.