A domain name is a requirement for every website, regardless of size or type.
Domain registrars offer domain names, whether you register a domain name or want to do domain transfers from one registrar to another hosting company.
Choosing the right domain registrar that suits your business well is vital to ensuring you have a successful business.
There are so many options, and it’s hard to know which one is the best for you.
When picking from multiple companies, you want to be sure you find the right one that meets all of your website’s needs, budgets, and goals.
There are a few factors to consider when choosing a domain registrar.
Domain registrars will vary in costs and features, and if you’re not careful, you can end up paying more money for a plan that doesn’t provide enough options. It happens to many of us.
We’ll also discuss some of the top domain registrars on offer today and give our thoughts on what might make them suitable or unsuitable for different types of businesses.
So read on to find out more!
Whаt is a Domain Name Registrar?
It is a company that registers your chosen domain with top-level domain extensions such as .com, .org, .net, and others.
Your website will then be hosted on servers controlled by the registry, and you’ll have to pay them for hosting too.
This might seem like just one more expense in an already expensive undertaking, but it’s worth thinking about these things from the beginning, so you don’t have to worry later!
There are plenty of different factors which should go into this decision including, what type of business you’re going to run out of your site, how many visitors you expect each month, and if there are any specific requirements for registration eligibility (such as being able to work internationally).
What Do They Really Do?
Domain name listings are saved in a centralized database called the registry.
To function properly, a domain name needs to be added to the registry with all pertinent information.
The registry will then match the domain name to an IP address.
This is where domain registrars come into play because they act as agents who can help you with these tasks:
- Domain Name Registration – Transferring or updating nameservers
- DNS Management – Maintaining and managing domains, subdomains, etc.
- Whois Privacy Protection – Ensuring your personal information stays private for any given domain registration
- SSL Certificates (or security certificates) – Providing added protection against third party tampering of data while it’s being transmitted between a browser and web server on the internet
How to Choose The Right Domain Registrar
They are domain registrars who can only sell certain types of domains. For example, some can only sell country-specific domains like .io or .in, while other registrars might not be able to sell them.
When you choose a domain registrar, make sure that they offer the type of domain that you want.
You should also look at other things they offer and see if any are good for you too.
Other domain registrars sell cheap domains as a promotional offer or free add-ons to attract customers.
Choosing a domain name registrar is a four-part process:
Registration Period and Pricing
The first step in choosing the best domain registrar is to check their pricing.
Some companies may offer different prices for registration and renewal. If you would like to register a domain for more than one year, your 1-year registration will roll over into the next year without issue.
It’s important to know the cost and length of time an additional domain is valid.
Domain name Transfers
You can transfer domain names between different hosting companies.
Normally, you don’t need to transfer your domain, but if you are not happy with the company that owns it, then this is an easy way for you to change.
Registered domain names cannot be moved for 60 days after their first registration. This initial period is set by ICANN, and after that time, a domain name may be transferred to any other company.
Normally it is easy to transfer your domain to another registrar. There are companies that make this hard.
It is a good idea to check the companys’ transfer policy before you make a choice.
Domain Expiration Policies
Ordinarily, domain names are registered for a particular time and then have to be renewed.
If you want to retain your domain name, you must renew it.
If you forget to do this, someone can take it from you and utilize it himself.
If this happens, there is an auto-renewal feature that will make sure that your domain name is not taken from you.
This means this feature will need to be set up in advance, though.
Even if the self-renewal activates automatically, check with your domain registrar about their policy on expired domains.
Some companies offer a “grace” period after expiration so that people can still renew them.
There are many stories of business owners losing their domain name because they missed the renewal deadline or did not understand how domain registration works.
The good news is that there are a lot of options for registering your domain name, and some might be better than others, depending on what you’re looking for.
Add-on Services
Domain registrars often offer additional services for your domain.
The most important are domain privacy, domain parking, and even WordPress hosting services.
Some companies also provide email hosting and website builders.
Consider These 3 Things
When choosing a domain registrar, you may encounter offers that seem too good to be true. Before you decide on a domain registrar, be sure to consider the possible drawbacks as well.
Here are some things to bear in mind as you consider your best domain name provider.
1. Hidden Add-on Pricing
Some domain registrants can pre-check some popular add-on services with the purchase of a domain name. If you don’t turn off those options, your bill can skyrocket.
When you want to register a .com domain name for your endeavor, the cost should not exceed $14.99 / yr. If it does, that should be a clear warning sign.
When checking out for your domain, be sure and unselect any unnecessary add-ons you don’t want to purchase. Be sure to validate that the total cost listed on your credit card statement matches the goods and services you received.
2. Bad User Experience
While some domain registrars try to make their websites easy to use, many do the exact opposite.
This could complicate changing the settings of your domain name. When transferring the domain to another host, or another domain registrar, you will need to do this.
Locating the best domain registrar is a challenging task but less daunting if you look for those with reputable reviews.
Reviewers don’t have much incentive to leave feedback, so it’s important for you to read it all closely.
3. Hidden Fees
You may need to account for hidden fees when looking at a domain registrar.
Whichever domain registrar you choose, remember to check out the renewal cost as it might be different. It can end up costing much more for beginners who don’t do this when they first register a domain.
It’s easy to transfer your domain name with the best domain registration services. Some will put an additional fee, but many do not charge anything in order to complete the transfer.
Here are the best domain name registrars and what sets them apart.
Buy a Domain Name from the Best Domain Registrars
Selecting the best domain registrar can help you avoid future headaches.
Buying a domain name is not just for when you need to register your company and protect your brand; it also makes it easier if you want to transfer the site.
This is a list of the best registrars to buy a domain name.
Namecheap.com
History and Owner
Namecheap.com started in 2000 in Phoenix, Arizona. The ICANN – Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, considers Namecheap an accredited registrar.
Founded by Richard Kirkendall, Namecheap has found much success in its twenty years of service. They have over 3 million users and over 7 million domains.
It has received multiple awards, including Best Domain Registrar and Most Popular Name Registrar.
Products and Costs
So what can you get with Namecheap? How about cheap name transfers, SSL certificates, domain registering, and Namecheap cloud. And a lot more.
They’re also a web hosting service provider that provides private email, reseller, VPS, shared, and WordPress hosting.
When you run into a problem, you can start with the knowledge base to view tutorials and training guides. If that doesn’t solve your issue, you can reach out to customer support through email ticketing or live chat.
You can get cheap names registered for an annual cost of $8.88 per year.
Or you can choose top-level domain names cheap as one dollar, including .online, .club, .info, and .xyz. You can get a cheap name domain without breaking the bank.
NameCheap offers privacy protection for free with new domain registers and for transfers of a current site from another registrar to NameCheap. WhoisGuard provides security.
Related: Namecheap vs. Bluehost Web Hosting Comparison (2022)
GoDaddy.com
Related: Detailed GoDaddy Hosting Review
History and Owner
The second best domain name registrar to check out is GoDaddy.com, started in 1997 by Bob Parsons. They’ve got an impressive reputation and a long history of satisfied customers.
This registrar company has headquarters in Scottsdale, AZ. It was previously called Jomax Technologies but has since changed to GoDaddy Group, Inc.
Millions of users prefer the options of the world’s largest domain registrar, GoDaddy – 17 million users, to be precise. And if that’s not impressive enough, they manage over 73 million different domains.
Products and Costs
GoDaddy offers a ton of products, including domain registering and transfers, Microsoft-powered professional email, web host and security, online marketing tools, and domain value approval.
Never worry about waiting until business hours to speak with customer support. GoDaddy offers customer service support every day, at any time through phone support or live chat.
It costs $9.99 to register one domain .com site with GoDaddy.com. After the first year, you’ll owe $17.99
You can also get other top-level domains such as .tech, .co, and .net, but they cost more.
GoDaddy offers WHOIS protection for an annual fee of $9.99 for each domain.
Plus, they offer business privacy protection as well, but it costs $14.99 per year.
Related: Namecheap vs GoDaddy – Which is the Best Domain Name Registrar (2022)?
Bluehost.com
History and Owner
Bluehost started in 2003, in Provo, Utah. They are owned by Endurance International Group (EIG), one of the largest hosting registrars in existence.
Bluehost manages over two million sites, and it’s assumed they have at least 525,000 customers or more. It’s challenging to know the exact number of clients they have as they don’t like to share this information.
Given that this company is the number one recommended website to use with WordPress hosting, we’re sure the numbers are much more significant.
Products and Costs
Bluehost is a famous domain registrar that offers multiple hosting services, including shared, dedicated, reseller, VPS, and WordPress hosting.
Live chat support is available 24/7, or send an email ticket for support help. As well as talk to a live person with phone support. There’s never a time when you won’t be able to get assistance with any problem you encounter.
And if you want to self-diagnose the problem before you reach out to support, check out the expansive knowledge base. You’re sure to resolve your issue yourself with a few clicks.
We appreciate that you get a domain for free with every hosting package. Who doesn’t love saving money?
If you’re only using Bluehost to buy a domain name, but not as your host, it will cost you $11.99 per year per domain. You’ll pay the same price if you register more than one domain.
They also offer domain privacy protection for the low cost of $0.99 a month, for a total of $11.88 per year. For around $25, you’ll have one .com domain and privacy protection for your site.
Domain.com
History and Owner
The best name registrar, Domain.com, has been around for 20 years, starting way back in 2000.
Domain.com is owned and operated by a company called Endurance International Group.
Products and Costs
Domain.com offers multiple services, including VPS and web host email, SSL certificate, domain, online marketing services, and web design.
You have three plan choices of WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, and shared hosting.
Every plan includes one free new domain name, unlimited disk space, SSL certificates, marketing tools, and eCommerce solutions. The larger plans can consist of more domain names.
The cost of registering a domain for one year is $9.99 for a .com or $12.99 for .net.
You can get technical assistance 24/7 via phone. Or check out the extensive and informative Frequently Asked Questions section. There is no live chat feature.
If you want to add WHOIS domain privacy protection for your site, you will incur an extra $8.00 a year for each domain privacy. For less than $20 per year, you can have a registered .com domain and WHOIS protection.
Google Domains
History and Owner
Google Domains is a relative newcomer to the scene, only being around since January 13, 2015. Even five years later, this company is still in the beta stages.
Products and Costs
Every Google domain name comes with:
- Custom G Suite email
- Integration with website builders
- Private registration for no fee
- Google internet infrastructure
- Multiple domain endings
- Customizable sub-domains
- Email forwarding
- Easy to use domain management tools
You can contact the US-based Google Domains support team available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with live chat, phone, or email.
It can cost as low as $12 per year to register 1 domain for a .com site with Goggle Domains. And there is the option to set your account up for automatic renewal.
An email comes before your automatic renewal, so you have time to cancel if you want to switch to another hosting provider instead of keeping your domain with Google Domains.
Google Domains also offers the option to purchase a domain and hosting plan for as long as ten years. Spend $24 for two years or $120 for ten.
Plus, Google Domains also offers free WHOIS privacy protection to keep your site safe. Be aware that not all domain extensions will qualify for private registration.
Name.com
History and Owner
William Muskin founded Name.com in 2003. Mushkin is both the founder and prior President for Mushkin, Inc.
Now, the company belongs to Donuts, Inc, formally the Rightside Group.
They have over 300,000 plus customers with two million domain names out of the 16.5 million managed by the Right side.
Products and Costs
Name.com offers email, website hosting, SSL certificates, app integration, domain transfers, and even a website builder. Everything you would need to start and maintain a website.
If you’re using a WordPress hosting service or one of the other plans, you get a free domain with a yearly hosting purchase.
Your needs will determine which hosting plan you need: Startup lets you build one site, Namebuilder offers 25, and the Unbelievable package gives you unlimited sites.
When you run into problems, you have access to an extensive knowledge base for self-help or a contact form, which creates a ticket sent via email to customer service.
If you need help from a representative, you can contact customer service to talk to a live person via chat from Monday to Friday between 6 AM and 6 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM MST. You can get phone support Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM.
It costs $8.99 to register a .com website and $12.99 to renew each subsequent year. Top-level domains like .host site can cost an expensive $109.99 per year.
Name.com also offers WHOIS privacy protection for an extra $4.99 each year. But you can’t get protection for every domain extension.
HostGator.com
History and Owner
HostGator is another well-established domain registrar, founded in 2002. In 2012, HostGator was bought out by Endurance International Group (EIG), which is still the current owner.
The company has headquarters in Hoston, Texas, but they also have a place in Provo, Utah, which houses some of the 12,000 servers used to maintain their customers’ domains.
HostGator has over 800,000 customers and manages more than eight million domains in over 200 countries.
Products and Costs
HostGator is mainly a web hosting company with an excellent track record.
They offer packages for reseller, VPS, dedicated, cloud, application, Windows, and web hosting.
HostGator offers some of the best hosting plans, including WordPress Cloud Hosting, with impressive page load speeds, uptime, and reasonable prices.
Out of all the domain companies on this list, HostGator Cloud wins hands down to have the best uptime and be the best Cloud hosting.
You can get customer assistance with live chat or email tickets. If you want to try solving the problem yourself, you can check out the dozens of video tutorials or hit up the forums to get help from the community.
It costs $12.95 per year to register a .com domain with HostGator hosting.
There are three shared hosting plans. Hatchling provides a single free domain; the Baby plan gives you unlimited domains, free WordPress/c Panel website transfers, and the Business plan with unlimited domains, website transfer, and free domain names.
HostGator also offers plans for hosting, such as web hosting, WordPress, or reseller hosting.
It is a pleasant surprise that the top domain levels, such as .org, .biz., .net., and .info are the same cost as the .com registration.
Be aware that the renewal cost goes up to $17.99 per year after renewing.
If you need privacy protection, a fee of $14.95 per year will get you WHOIS privacy.
1&1 – iONOS
Related: 1&1 Ionos MyWebsite Review: Best Site Builder for Your Biz?
History and Owner
iONOS started in 1988. They are currently one of the oldest and most significant domain registrars in operation.
A German internet company called United Internet owns iONOS and is one of the best European internet services available.
1&1 has headquarters in Montabaur, Germany, with other offices in Berlin, Karlsruhe, Munich, and Zweibrücken.
The iONOS company has clients worldwide, including in Poland, the US, Mexico, Italy, Canada, France, Great Britain, Spain, Germany, and Austria. That’s a pretty impressive clientele list.
They even have over 7,000 employees around the world.
Products and Costs
1&1 offers plenty of services, including domain transfers, web hosting, WordPress, managed cloud, and VPS hosting. They’re not just popular for their hosting but also for offering business email management and accounts, as well as making it super easy to start a site with the website and online store builders.
Not to mention, 1&1 also provides email and online marketing tools, plus SSL certificates, so your site is safe for your visitors.
If you run into trouble, customer service is available around the clock through live chat, phone support, social media, and email.
1&1 offers a way to register a domain name cheaper than other companies. You can use 1&1 web hosting for as little as $1 a year for the first year. Once your year is up the price increases to $15 per year for a .com or $20 per year for .biz websites.
Domain privacy is offered through WHOIS for free when you register a domain that has private registration.
Register.com
History and Owner
Another great domain registrar is Register.com, which started in 1994 in New York.
Register.com is owned and operated by an American company named Web.com Group Inc.
They currently manage over two and a half million domain names and have thousands of satisfied customers.
Products and Costs
Register.com has over 50 products, including additional services like e-commerce and website builders, email, online marketing tools, SSL certifications, web host, and domain transfers. But there’s so much more that we haven’t listed too!
You can drive more traffic to your site with offered features like PPC advertising (pay-per-click), Facebook Boost, SEO (search engine optimization), build links, and track and report.
Customer support can be reached Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 12 AM and 9 AM to 10 PM Saturday and Sunday.
You can reach customer support through phone or email address. Unfortunately, there isn’t a live chat option for immediate assistance.
It can cost as low as $5 a month to register your domain for a .com website using Register.com.
Top-level sites such as .org, .us., and .net are the same cost each month.
We do like that their name registration is one of the cheaper domain name registrars.
You can get WHOIS protection for your site for $11 more per year. The total cost of your domain registration and security will cost you less than $20 per year. Now that’s a cost anyone should be able to afford.
InMotion Hosting
Related: Comprehensive InMotion Hosting Review: Pros & Cons
History and Owner
Based in Los Angeles, California, InMotion Hosting has been in business since 2001. There’s also a data center based in Ashburn, VA. Yea, they have that many servers!
InMotion Housing is privately owned and manages more than 300,000 domains. They also own a company named Web Hosting Hub. If you’re a beginner, you might find the Web Hosting Hub quite useful.
Products and Costs
InMotion Housing is one of the best registrar companies, offering high uptime and quick servers. And they offer hosting options for VPS, WordPress, reseller, and shared business plans.
They also provide a free domain name with bigger plans such as Shared Business Hosting. But the smaller packages don’t have this option. Be aware that there is automatic domain renewal, so you need to keep a close eye on your account if you’re thinking of canceling once your time ends.
There is around-the-clock customer support through live chat, Skype, phone support, or email.
A .com domain purchase will cost you $15.00 per year, which is higher than most other recommendations. That same cost is also for .net, .org., .us, and different domain levels.
If you want privacy protection, expect to lose more money in the form of $12.99 per year. This would bring your annual costs close to $30 a year. For some, that number isn’t acceptable.
But you are protected by a 90-money back guarantee if you decide that InHousing isn’t right for your needs. Hey, it does happen.
Final Thoughts
Creating your website is super easy these days, especially when you use a website builder or a CMS (Content Management System) to help with your web design. You won’t need to learn a single line of code to set up your site.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to get around registering your domain, and most people prefer to use .com domains.
No matter which way you look at it, you will have to choose a domain registrar to register your domains. Choosing the right one domain name registrar is a crucial part of having a successful website.
In case you don’t understand the importance of domain names, let us explain. Without domain names, if you wanted to visit a website, you’d have to type entire IP addresses, which is typically a pretty long string of numbers.
Don’t settle for a low price .com domain name registration as your web hosting service provider without checking to make sure it suits your needs. You want to find the right web hosting provider that offers multiple product services.
Related: What Is A Parked Domain? – Guide To Parked Domain Names
We’ve given you ten of the best domain registrars on the market, so you can be sure you’re getting a website hosting company that gives you everything you need for your website.
- Namecheap – Has received multiple awards for exceptional service
- Domain – Most popular name registrar and hosting service
- GoDaddy – Widely known and used by 17 million users
- Bluehost – manages over 2 million websites. Great for hosting your site or registering a new domain
- Hostgator – mainly a web hosting provider with over 9 million registered domains
- Name.com – manages 2 million domains and is owned by Right side Group
- 1&1 – Started in 1988 and offers a .com domain for just $0.99 each year
- Register.com – provides marketing tools and hosts over 2.5 million domains
- InMotion Hosting – Various hosting options and automatic domain renewal
- Goggle Domains – Still in beta stage but has been getting positive feedback. Free WHOIS protection provided
We recommend looking for hosting companies that are ICANN-Accredited Registrars.
Any of our recommendations is an excellent solution for website owners who need a web hosting service provider that meets their budget and expectations.
Relates: 12 Best Free Website Hosting Companies Compared