Best domain registrars Your domain name is crucial to your online presence and website infrastructure. It connects your audience to your site and is crucial to your branding and marketing. While you may spend a lot of time thinking of the best name, finding the best domain registrar may be harder.
These platforms are full of unfamiliar jargon and acronyms, and their offerings seem similar. We’ve compiled a list of the best domain registrars to buy from in 2024 and tips on how to find the right one for your needs to help you succeed.
Table of Contents
Best domain registrars
- Wix
- Domain.com
- Namecheap
- Bluehost
- Google Domains
- GoDaddy
- HostGator
- Top domain registrars
- Wix
Best for: Free SSL and web hosting bundles
If you need a domain name and free web hosting, Wix is a no-brainer. In addition to a long list of templates and features for building a professional online presence, you’ll get domain management tools like WHOIS protection, easy transfer, subdomains, and a business email address. Creating a Wix website also includes 24/7 security monitoring, HTTPS, and SSL protection.
The platform’s powerful domain search tool lets you choose a domain name based on its availability across hundreds of domain extensions. Any of these options can be registered as a free domain name for the first year with a website premium plan. The pricing for each domain without a voucher appears next to each option and varies by domain extension, currency, and tax laws. Your domain subscription can be extended for up to 3 years, with significant discounts for each year.
Main features:
- Integrated WHOIS protection
- 24/7 customer service
- Free domain name for a year with premium plan
- best free web hosting domain registrar Wix
- Domain.com
Best for: Easy use, long-term registration
Domain.com is the best domain registrar for long-term domain name registration without web hosting. The beginner-friendly platform sells the most popular top-level domain extensions and many countries code top-level domains for up to five years.
This registrar offers bulk registration, transfers, live chat support, DNS management, and more. Adding WHOIS protection to a $9.99/year.com extension costs $8.99/year. Fast registration takes only a few minutes.
Main features:
- Easy, quick registration
- Domain purchase for multiple years
- Complete DNS control
- Domain.com is best for long-term purchases.
- Namecheap
Cheap domain registration: Best
As its name suggests, Namecheap is a top domain registrar for price. The platform simplifies domain searching for individuals or batches of up to 50. DomainAgents lets you view WHOIS records of unavailable domains and bid on them.
Namecheap’s service is competitive despite its lower pricing, with domains starting at $8.88/year. All registrations include WHOIS protection, an account panel, and an easy management system. The platform also sells G Suite integration, customizable email, and web hosting.
Main features:
- Cheap domain registration
- Free WHOIS privacy
- Live chat assistance
- cheap Namecheap domain registration
- Bluehost
Ideal with web hosting
Bluehost, a leading web hosting platform, offers domain registrar services to help website owners manage everything in one place. This makes it appealing to new site managers and those who don’t plan to buy more domains.
This domain registrar offers hundreds of domain extensions, starting at $12.99/year for domains and $11.88/year for WHOIS privacy. Bluehost’s web hosting plans include free domain registration for the first year. A full DNS control panel, domain locking, auto-renewal, and 24/7 customer support are included.
Main features:
- Domain locking
- Valued hosting pairing
- User-friendly domain manager
- best web hosting domain registrar Bluehost
- Google Domains
Best for: Google integration
Google Domains’ user-friendly interface streamlines registration without upsells or hidden fees. Naturally, this is the best place to buy a domain name for Google integrations. This platform offers WHOIS privacy, email forwarding, 2-step verification, and more when you buy a domain.
Google Domains has the most TLDs, but. mobi and. tv are missing. Multiple.com domains can be purchased for $12/year, which remains the same on renewal. Sadly, this platform only sells domain names to billing addresses in 19 Google Domains countries.
Main features:
- Two-step verification
- Online email forwarding
- Privacy protection for WHOIS
- best GSuite-integrated domain registrar Google Domains
- GoDaddy
Best for: Wide range of domain extensions
Besides being a top domain registrar, GoDaddy may be the most famous. This platform is popular with business owners and those starting a business due to its wide range of domain name extensions, including country code extensions, and competitive pricing.
GoDaddy offers deep discounts on first-year domain registrations and allows customers to buy domains for up to ten years. This makes it appealing for long-term registrations. A.com domain costs $11.99/year, plus $9.99 for privacy and protection. Domains like. online and. shop start at $0.99 but can cost up to $44.99/year when renewed.
Main features:
- Low entry prices
- Wide range of domain extensions
- Integrates well with website add-ons
- GoDaddy is best for domain purchases
- Hostgator
Older domain extensions work best.
While best known for web hosting, HostGator also sells domain extensions and management tools to website owners. A powerful DNS management dashboard, web hosting bundles, and WHOIS privacy protection for a fee are included.
. For more unusual domain extensions, you’ll need to look elsewhere. When combined with a web hosting plan, the registrar offers significant discounts: a.com domain costs $12.95/year without hosting and $2.99/year with hosting.
Main features:
- Domain locking
- One-stop shop for website owners
- 24/7 phone and chat support
- best place to buy traditional TLD domains HostGator
A domain registrar?
A domain registrar sells names. Internet domain names are website addresses. Google’s domain is google.com.
Domain registrars are accredited by ICANN, the non-profit organization that manages the global Domain Name System. ICANN ensures domain registrars follow certain rules, such as ensuring unique domain names and correct registrations.
You lease a domain name from a domain registrar for a year. You can renew your domain name registration at the end of the lease term, but if you don’t, others can register it.
There are many domain registrars with different services and features. Some domain registrars offer free domains with web hosting, while others charge. Domain registrars may offer privacy protection and forwarding.
Domain registrar selection
Once you understand domain names and how to choose the right one for your site, you’ll have an endless list of options to buy. Understanding the main differences between domain registrars helps you choose the best one. After closer inspection, domain registrars offer different extensions, management tools, and privacy features.
After reviewing the best domain registrars of 2024 and their offerings, let’s examine the key features:
Privacy: Some platforms offer WHOIS privacy protection, while others require a purchase.
Add-ons: Ask the domain registrar about their additional services and whether they’re upselling you.
Bundling options: Buying a web hosting plan and a domain name from the same vendor lets you manage everything from one place and saves money.
Pricing: Domain name registrars charge different prices depending on extension type and registration duration.
Hidden fees: Many domain registrars offer low first-time registration prices that increase upon renewal.
Customer support: Choose a platform with 24/7 live support for peace of mind.
Domain names cost what?
The domain extension (.com,.net,.org), popularity, and registrar affect the price of a domain name.
New domain names with popular extensions like.com or.net cost $10–$20 per year. Domain names that are short, memorable, or related to a popular keyword can be more expensive. The domain name cars.com sold for $872 million in 2014. Insurance.com sold for $38.5 million in 2021.
Renewal is required after domain name registration. Initial registration prices are usually lower than renewal prices.
- On a budget, there are ways to save on domain names:
- Use a less popular domain extension like.net or.org.
- Register your domain name for two or three years.
- Check domain registrars for deals.
There are also free domain name options. Some web hosting providers give you a free domain name with a plan. Some domain registrars give students and nonprofits free domains.
Best registrar domain extensions
DNS is the Domain Name System.
Domain Name System (DNS) maps domains to IP addresses. IP addresses are unique internet addresses used by computers. When you type a domain name into your web browser, the DNS system finds the IP address and directs you to the right website.
Registration of domains takes how long?
Domain registration usually takes minutes. Domain names can take up to 24 hours to propagate and become public.
Does my website need a domain?
A domain is required for a website. Your website’s domain name is its internet address. The public cannot access your website without a domain name.
Does my domain registrar matter?
It rarely matters which domain registrar you use. However, price, features, and customer service may be important.
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