How to Select the Best Domain Registrar (Our Recommendations)

adminMarch 16, 2023

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How to create an email address in a domain

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What is one of the first (and sometimes more difficult) parts of creating a website? Yes, the domain name. Sometimes it’s easy – if you already have a company name or if you go by your first and last name. But sometimes it takes a lot of thought when you factor in search engines, brand awareness, and the level of spend. While finding the best domain name can be difficult, we’re here to help you choose the best domain registrar.

You’ve seen these domain registrars everywhere – from popular GoDaddy commercials to NameCheap advertising online. The registrars offer search tools to look for available domain names and extensions. Then they sell the domains to you.

Reading: How to create an email address in a domain

Some of the registrars even offer add-ons such as hosting, website building, and email addresses. But are all domain registrars the same? Let’s find out.

What is a domain registrar?
Offers that make a great domain registrar
Avoid a domain registrar Registrar with the following characteristics
Best domain registrar options (most reputable)

Offers that make a great domain registrar

Not all domain registrars offer the same quality of service. In fact, you’ll come across some that are far from anything you’d want to pay for. For example, some domain registrars lack the number of top-level domains (TLD) they can sell. A TLD is the domain variant such as .com, .net or .ca. It’s nice to have a registrar that is constantly releasing new top-level domains and strives to provide as many as possible.

Apart from that, it’s also important to remember that some Domain registrars focus on niche domains, such as country specific options like .de or .in.

In short, it seems like all domain registrars are the same. However, with a little research, you’ll find that many of them have lower prices, better security, and more.

Here are a few things to look out for.

Low Prices

As with most things in life, consumers tend to start shopping by comparing prices. While we don’t always agree that this is the best method, this is how things are done. Support can be important, even with a domain registrar, but it’s a little different than, say, a hosting plan with Kinsta. After you’ve bought your domain, you probably only need to interact with the domain registrar once or twice a year. Many don’t require any support at all.

That’s why pricing is important for domain registrars. After all, you are already paying for monthly hosting and possibly other items such as themes and plugins. Why spend too much money on a domain?

Not only that, domain names are notoriously cheap. Sometimes you can find great deals for $1 or $2 a year, the average is closer to $10-12 a year. That’s not so bad!

Thus you should avoid domain registrars who try to sell you something much higher. Additionally, we strongly advise you not to be tempted by domain name brokers or insanely expensive sellers.

This essentially means that there are some people who own more valuable domain names and are trying to sell them sell hundreds or thousands of dollars. The temptation to find the “perfect” domain name may seem too strong, but I assure you that one domain name will not make your business a success.

Usually it’s better to go for a cheaper alternative. Unless you’re like Glen, who discovered an incredible business opportunity by spending $20,000 on a domain name.

Free WHOIS Protection

All domains can be protected with a so-called WHOIS lookup tool. Essentially, ICANN requires that all domain name contact information be publicly viewable. This includes most of the details you used to register your domain name:

Name
Address
Phone number
E-mail address

None of your confidential information will be shown, but some organizations or individuals do not want this information to be visible to everyone. In fact, the only benefit is when someone tries to reach you (but that’s what a contact form is for!).

Because of ICANN, some kind of contact information must be associated with your domain name be. Therefore, some of the best registrars will exchange your personal information with their company’s contact information. So it would show NameCheap as a registrar under your WHOIS search. And the registrant’s contact shows something like WhoisGuard Protected instead of the actual name.

But since the GDPR went into effect, it’s still a bit up in the air how this might affect how much information is actually displayed in WHOIS.

That Our favorite domain registrars offer this WHOIS privacy protection for free. If not, you usually have to pay an annual fee or leave your contact information there.

Multiple options for registration periods

You can’t register a domain name for a month or two. The legal minimum is one year. Therefore, you should expect to pay for a full year when looking for a domain registrar.

However, some registrars require you to sign up for more than a year. If you come across such a registrar, consider looking elsewhere.

The best situation is to have multiple options for registration periods.

We like to see a registrar that Offers commitments for one and two years or even more. This allows you to decide how long you want the domain and potentially get a discount for a multi-year registration.

The maximum period for which you can register a domain is 10 years. After the ten years you’ll need to renew.

In general, we recommend registering for a year unless there’s a significant discount for something more than that. Also, the domain name is Registration length an SEO ranking factor!

AFAIK, most registrars don’t list registration length anyway. That’s not what you want to spend your “SEO time” on.

— John Mueller isn’t here most of the time 🐀 (@JohnMu) November 3, 2016

Automatic Renewals and Reminders

Considering how to register a domain for a year or more, it stands to reason that at some point you will need to renew your registration.

Fortunately, the best domain registration options offer automated renewal services as long as you put a credit card on file. We also like registrars who give you a grace period after the domain expires.

Now a few years later you may have new credit cards, so you should also make sure the registrar sends out reminders that a domain will expire soon.

Important: If you don’t renew a domain name, it will eventually become available for public purchase (some registrars have waiting periods in between). . Someone else can then buy the domain and either keep it or try to sell it back to you for a large sum of money. This is not uncommon, so make sure your credit card is up to date and you turn on automatic renewals.

A wide range of top -level domains (or the niche domains you need)

Without going into too much detail, the top-level domain is considered the highest level in the hierarchy of your overall domain name.

That would be something like .com or .org or .net.

When I look for the best domain registrar, they usually offer hundreds of top-level domain options .

Take NameCheap for example. A quick domain search will show dozens of top-level domains for the same domain search, along with some alternatives if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

What about restricted domains?

Some top-level domains are created and managed by specific organizations or countries. You must meet a few criteria to gain access to these domains. Sometimes these are referred to as branded TLDs.

Most restricted domains will not be found at regular domain registrars.

For example, .gov will only be issued if you are registering for the US government work. Some countries and companies also store their own unique domain extensions. The .apple domain extension is managed and distributed by Apple Inc.

Additional products and services (potential for free domains)

Although you may only need a domain name for now, it’s good To do this, you know that some of the best domain registrar companies offer other products and services as well.

In addition, they may sell packages for multiple services at once or even give you a free domain name if you sign up for something like hosting.

It all depends on the registrar, but some of the add-ons might include:

Discounts for bulk domain searches
Domain privacy
Website builder
Tools for online stores
Site templates
Regular and managed site hosting
Dedicated servers

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SSL certificates
Website security and backups
SEO services
Email marketing
Professional email addresses and mailboxes (some have great discounts on Google Workspace licenses!)

However, it’s always good to check with your hosting provider first to inquire before purchasing any add-ons. For example, at Kinsta we offer free SSL certificates. And they’re a lot easier to install if you do it from our MyKinsta dashboard than if you buy one from a domain registrar.

Avoid a domain registrar that has

There are thousands of domain registrars that you might find if you complete your Google search. ICANN-accredited registrar lists recognized domain name sellers around the world.

However, just because a domain registrar is accredited does not mean that it offers quality service, user interface, or customer support.

So it’s important that you do your own research and understand the elements that should put you off some domain sellers.

Opaque pricing

Similar to with many low-cost hosting companies, you may find that some domain registrars are trying to lure in customers with extremely cheap promotional prices. However, the annual rates increase after the promotional period. Many people don’t know this, so it’s best to find a registrar with set prices for each year. It is no problem to register a domain for several years to get a discount. It’s more the hidden fees that concern us.

You may also come across some registrars that charge you a fee when you go to one switch to another registrar. The best domain registration companies almost always avoid this. Do a Google search before purchasing a domain name from a particular company to see what fees may apply in the future.

Poor customer support

The majority of reputable domains -Registrars are large companies with many employees. That means they should offer everything from chat support to a direct phone line. It’s also nice to see an extensive knowledge base to do your own research in.

Look for companies with 24/7 customer support, and even try out tech support by checking before Sell Ask some questions about fees or transfer procedures.

You can see customer reviews online, but remember that most reviews for these big companies are left by disgruntled customers. It’s best to read the reviews for details rather than just looking at the average ratings.

Doubtful user interface

A quality domain registrar user interface includes a simple search tool for finding one domain names, along with a sleek dashboard with neat buttons for parking domains, transferring domains, and editing your domain settings.

Everything should look understandable to a beginner.

I also believe that a great customer experience includes a fluent buying process. If it seems next to impossible to get through the shopping cart without dozens of upsells, you should consider going with an alternative registrar.

Preselected add-ons

We have one little talked about hidden fees before. It’s a hassle, but it’s also a good idea to look at what else is in your shopping cart. For example, some registrars will provide you with the “service” of checking off add-on products for you.

You’ll almost always get some upsells, but you just want to make sure you don’t skip some previously checked add-ons and end up paying for something you don’t need.

Most domain names cost around $10 (some more unique ones cost $30 or $40), so anything drastically higher should let you know that an add-on was probably included.

Some of the add-ons you may see include WHOIS privacy, company protection, website builder, and more.

Best domain registrar -Options (Most Reputable)

It’s impossible to pick the absolute best domain registrar, but we have a solid list of top contenders. Some of them are new to the game, while others have been around for a while and offer incredible prizes.

We also asked our followers, and with over 100 votes, 39% of users chose Namecheap as their favorite.

Time to spill the beans! Who is your preferred domain registrar? 😄

Leave a comment if you prefer one not listed below. A more complete list can be found here: https://t.co/GNCGDJZ5l7 #domains #domainnames

— Kinsta (@kinsta) April 16, 2019

Stay tuned in Note that domain name prices vary based on availability, registrar, and domain extension.We will try to let you know if a registrar is known for lower prices, but often it all depends on the domain name you choose. All listed domain registrars support two-factor authentication.

Google Domains
Cloudflare
Namecheap
GoDaddy
Hover
OVH
Enom
Name.com

1. Google Domains

Google Domains is currently in beta but is a good fit with its suite of email and storage products. They were originally introduced in 2015 and have made many improvements since then.

Be sure to read our Google Domain Reviews (Pros vs. Cons) blog post.

Hundreds of TLDs are supported Google, from .com to .dating. Google is also fairly transparent with pricing, considering they have a full list of all top-level domains and their associated price. This may change from time to time, but right now all .com domains are sold for a flat rate of $12 per year. It’s also worth noting that domain renewal is annual and you’ll get a reminder before it expires.

However, Google Domains can be expensive for certain domain extensions. For example, .io domains cost $60 per year, which is around $25 more than some other registrars.

Google has made their user interface so simple that anyone can use. You choose a name for your domain, buy whatever is available, and then link to any website builder or host of your choice. You also have the option to sign up for a custom email address using your domain name. This is an optional and paid service, but it’s affordable and makes your business look more professional.

Google Domains – Best deals on domain registrars:

Google Domains has a privacy service without additional costs included. While not all domain extensions do, the most important ones hide your personal information.
You can sign up for Google Workspace branded email seamlessly.
Customer support is provided via phone, chat and email Monday through Friday, 6am to 9pm PST.
You can create up to 100 email aliases with your purchased domain name.
The Domain management tools are so simple that the average user can perform tasks like domain locking and DNS configuration.
You can create up to 100 subdomains, e.g. B. blog.example.com.
Google integrates with a variety of website builders and hosts. Many of them have one-click installs.
Support two-factor authentication.

A big caveat we would say at Google Domains is, that domains are bound by default to a person’s Google account. For security reasons, it can make sense to use different providers for hosting, email and domains (and sometimes even DNS).

Why? Because if one is hacked, not all are compromised. What if your Gmail account got hacked despite two-factor authentication? You would have instant access to your email and your domain names.

An easy way to get around this with Google Domains would be to simply open a second Gmail account that would only be used for the domains.

2. Cloudflare

Cloudflare has always been known as a reliable WAF and/or Content Delivery Network (CDN). It’s also quite accessible as you can integrate the service with many hosts and plugins, especially via WordPress. Cloudflare is known as a socially responsible, transparent company with a background in providing faster websites for free (also as premium plans).

However, Cloudflare is now getting into the domain registrar business. It has an early access program for current users. The program will roll out in waves, based primarily on how long you’ve been a Cloudflare customer. We were in one of the first waves and can confirm that! It works great and transferring domains to Cloudflare is easy.

Cloudflare Registrar — Cloudflare Domain Registrar

If you are not a Cloudflare customer, you can log in and reserve a spot in the queue. We expect to see a sales page and a domain name search module on Cloudflare’s website after the trial. Based on the current landing page, Cloudflare plans to offer affordable domain names with no middleman markups. You also get many security features, Cloudflare integrations, and bulk domain transfers.

Cloudflare – Best Deals for Domain Registrars:

Cloudflare domain registrar focuses on limit retail prices and keep domain costs at wholesale price levels. According to the site, a .com domain should cost about $8 per year.
Cloudflare boasts that it has no plans to increase prices after the first year – which many major domain registrars are known for.
Hundreds of TLDs are supported, so You get exactly the domain you want.
It features two-factor authentication and free private WHOIS management to protect your domain and personal information.
Automatic domain renewal is also built into the system with reminders if your credit card isn’t up-to-date.
No additional services are required to have a secure, useful domain name.
The domain name you buy also integrates with many Cloudflare products and services. For example, it is combined with CDN, DNS and SSL services. You also get support for advanced security.

A few potential current drawbacks:

You cannot register a brand new domain, only transfer domains.
You cannot use a third-party DNS provider, you must use Cloudflare’s DNS.

However, both may change after the program exits early access. Time will tell.

Suggested reading: How to Set Up Cloudflare APO for WordPress.

3. Namecheap

You may have guessed that Namecheap specializes in selling cheap domain names. For the most part, this is true as the majority of the test searches I’ve run offer prices around $8 for .com domain names. Namecheap also has plenty of specials that will get you a dirt cheap domain for the first year or two. It’s worth noting that some of these promotions are going away, but it seems like Namecheap is still keeping prices low after the price increase.

The main reason I enjoy Namecheap so much is their intuitive, fast website -Surface . It takes a moment to secure a domain name and navigate to your account. The support team is also helpful if you contact them via chat or email.

Registering a domain at Namecheap is a breeze, and you might even get one year free domain registration with your domain transfer. The company also has a dedicated search tool for personalized domains – perfect for freelancers and self-employed people. Overall, with a seemingly endless list of top-level domains, the Namecheap domain registrar does a great job.

Namecheap – Best Deals From Domain Registrars:

Namecheap was in the domain name game since 2001!
Namecheap offers one of the cheapest SSL certificate options on the market. Not only that, you get one for practically nothing when you pay for a domain.
The customer support team is available 24/7 via chat, email Mail and knowledge base.
Free DNS (Domain Name System) ensures fast and secure service, with support for email forwarding and real-time record changes.
Private email Mails are issued at affordable prices.
Support two-factor authentication.

4. GoDaddy

Possibly the most recognizable brand on this list, GoDaddy is more than just a company specializing in Super Bowl commercials. Most of us know that GoDaddy became successful simply by selling domain names, but it also has a lot of add-ons to offer. They’re also one of the oldest domain registrars, dating back to 1999.

Nonetheless, the domain search is a pleasant experience, and there aren’t nearly as many add-ons and pop-ups as GoDaddy used to be has shown. Many of the domain name deals are cheaper than most of the competition, but you need to be aware of how long the promotions last.

Over the years, GoDaddy has added enhanced security features introduced, website building tools and even some interesting tips and tricks to help you choose your domain. For example, after you search for a domain, GoDaddy will tell you if it contains high-quality keywords.

Although GoDaddy has extremely low domain prices, there isn’t much else included with your purchase. For example, data protection is sold in two packages: Personal and Business.

GoDaddy – Best Deals for Domain Registrars:

GoDaddy domains usually start at one or two dollars for the first year. It depends on the domain name, of course, but you should be able to keep domain costs down with GoDaddy.
You can create an email address that matches your domain.
You get a free website builder and the option to connect your domain to this website immediately.
Privacy is an option.
You can also choose SSL certificates and others Find website security options.
SEO and email marketing services are provided if you wish to upgrade.
Supports two-factor authentication.

5. Hover

Hover tries to stay out of the website building and hosting business. The reason for this is that domain registrars should focus on helping people with their domains. So if you enjoy working with companies that stick to one expertise (instead of diversifying in multiple directions), Hover has you covered. After that, you can decide what to do with your domain instead of being forced to go to a specific host or website builder.

Hover offers hundreds of domain extensions, including the little heavier ones to find. You can also quickly create your own professional email addresses and associate those addresses with an inbox of your choice.

Hover – Best Domain Registrar Deals:

Hover offers a monstrous collection of TLDs.
If you search for a domain, it will bring up a list with filters for industries. For example, you can filter for domains related to real estate or sports. This is a very unique feature.
Although the domain prices are slightly increased, you don’t have to worry about upsells for services like hosting or web security.
Transfers are handled by the hover Team done.
You can set up auto-renewal and get updates when your credit card expires.
Integrations with website builders and hosts.
E- Mail plans are sold at cheap prices, allowing you to create email addresses with your professional domain name.
Supports two-factor authentication.

6 . OVH

OVH sells a wide range of services and products, from domain names to dedicated servers. The domain registrar claims that they have access to over 800 domain extensions and it seems that this is definitely the case. You can even find some regional or country-based domain extensions that require verification and that you can’t find anywhere else.

Some services are included with the purchase of a domain name. You will receive an email address with 5 GB of storage space. You can also hide your WHOIS information without paying an additional fee. Finally, OVH DNS is free and designed to secure all communications through your domain.

OVH does an excellent job of offering different translations and currency conversions for all countries over the world. Just select your country and see how much it will cost you to buy a domain in your own language. The prices for all extensions seem reasonable. In addition, OVH will show you a long list of suggestions if your domain is not available. You can also see some alternatives even if your first choice is available.

OVH – Best deals for domain registrars:

OVH has an elegant website with a clear purchase path a domain name. It also has many translations and multi-currency support.
Some of the featured top-level domains are region and country oriented. Not only that, they also appear to be reasonably priced.
You get access to email, whois masking, and DNS without having to pay any additional fees.
There are an option to speed up Increase the speed of your DNS at a great price.
Supports two-factor authentication.

7. Enom

The Enom registrar manages services for domains, web security, websites, hosting and email. You could call it a one-stop shop for all your website essentials. As usual, it all starts with choosing a domain name. This is done via the large search bar, which then displays regular extensions like .com and .org, along with some recommended options like .life and .today.

Enom isn’t particularly known for its low site prices, but the standard domain extensions should still cost between $13 and $15. It’s also nice that you can filter by location, occupation, or educational background. We also like that the Enom customer support team is available 24/7 – even with a phone number! Enom has also been around since 1998.

Every domain name you buy comes with support for a domain transfer. You also get some options for WHOIS and trademark protection. Premium domain search is also a common part of Enom website (aka expensive domains that sell for thousands of dollars.) As we mentioned in the introduction, there is usually no reason to pay that much for a domain name.

Note that most add-ons and other services come with a price tag.

Enom – Best Domain Registrar Deals:

Enom has an impressive library of domain extensions to choose from, lots of them are unique, with some exclusive options for locations and industries.
Even if you have to pay for them, Enom includes services to support your Dom ain with security, emails and more.
Domain transfer is completely free, a And the customer support team is available 24/7.
A bulk domain searcher is there if you want to create a network of websites or buy all domains similar to yours.
Supports two-factor authentication.

8. Name.com

One of the websites most synonymous with domain names is Name.com. The brand is known for cheaper unique domain names and email address building options. A bulk domain search is available when you need the functionality to find multiple domain names at once. Name.com also offers a unique branded link shortener that eliminates those generic shortened links and allows you to create your own links related to your business.

I found so many of the Domain names found were priced very cheaply. It also recommends some more unique extensions or premium domains that you would have to pay quite a bit for.

As mentioned, Name.com sells several other services. However, you shouldn’t expect to get much free when you buy your domain name. Instead, you’ll see a few upsells during the checkout process, most of which are reasonably priced and not too aggressive in trying to get you to buy. For example, you can upgrade to the elegant website builder or place your website on Name.com hosting. You can also get your own professional email for a few dollars a month.

Name.com – Best Deals on Domain Registrars:

Name.com sells domains at affordable prices. You choose the domain you like the most and get some suggestions for something more interesting.
The checkout process is fast and the upsells aren’t too intrusive.
If you join Name.com for your domain, for everything else you don’t have to go far. The company sells SSLs, web hosting, email addresses and more.
You can use the branded URL shortener to try and improve your clicks on links.
Google Workspace is also integrated with Name.com, which lowers the cost of the service and gives you all the Google business tools.
The domain comes with some small perks like DNS management, forwarding to social media -Accounts and 2-Step Verification.

Summary

Knowing a little bit about the domain registrar market can really help you and your business save money. Take Namecheap for example. It’s far cheaper than most of the options on this list and has a great user interface. Google Domains and Cloudflare both offer transparent fixed pricing so you aren’t tempted to pay hidden fees or future price jumps.

It’s difficult to recommend just one best domain registrar, but we suggest you start with that with the interface you are most comfortable with. It can be a chore to manage domain settings when the site just feels outdated or too complicated for you. Also think about the price and how that price might change in the future. And don’t forget to turn on two-factor authentication!

If you have any questions about the best domain registrars, let us know in the comments below. Do you prefer one over the other?