Choosing the best domain registrar is the most crucial part of building any website. Your website can’t exist without a domain name, and domain names can only be registered through domain name registrars.
There are thousands of domain registrars available in the market, but choosing the right one can be a little tricky.
Learn more about what a domain registrar is and what to look for before you purchase a domain.
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What is a Domain Registrar?
Domains basically refer to a web address. Web addresses are represented by a series of numbers (IP addresses) that can be hard to remember. Domain names were designed to eliminate the need to remember complex numbers .
A domain registrar is a company that helps you to register and manage these domain names. Domain name registrars follow the guidelines designed by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
What to Consider in a Domain Registrar?
This is a basic list of things that can help you to narrow down your search for domain registrars.
Affordability: Find a domain registrar that fits your budget. Buying a domain for an extended than normal period will save you a great deal of time and money.
The longer your domain name takes to expire, the more you won’t have to worry about the renewal process.
Bundles: Buying a bundle of extensions from the same platform can save you more time and money. Some domain registrars provide SSL certificates with domain names.
Some also offer you hosting spaces, and some even provide you CMS solutions like WordPress or Shopify.
Hidden Fees: Some of the domain registrars may not be honest with you when it comes to pricing. They may have some hidden costs and fees which you’ll only see at the time of checkout.
In the initial year, they might offer you a cheaper price for your domain name but later, at the time of renewal, the cost could become quite different and much higher.
Always look for those areas where these service providers might exploit you financially.
Usability: As a user, you always expect an easy and simple experience for your domain transaction. However, there are some registrars who fail in this exact sphere. Difficult usability will create trouble for you to perform even a simple task such as changing your domain settings.
Everything is put to waste if you are having a hard time using what you paid for. Look for user reviews. That’s the easiest way to gather more information on this aspect of domain registrar.
Customer Support: Customer support is even more important when it comes to domain name registration. You will thank the registrar with the best customer support team when your URL is mysteriously redirected to some random thrift shops.
24/7 availability and reliable support team is very much important if you are making your website accessible to the whole world.
The Best Domain Registrars
If you buy a domain, you will be stuck with the domain registrar for 2 months. The new ICANN rule states that you’ll not be able to transfer your domain within 60 days of registration.
It’s wise to do the hard work upfront rather than suffering later from bad service. Get started with our top picks for domain registrars to address your domain needs.
1. Domain.com
Domain.com has been in the market since 2000 and now powers more than 1.2 million websites around the world. It’s the best domain name registrar with a friendly interface for beginners.
This domain registrar provides you with an easy search option that you can use while looking for your domain name. It also gives you access to top-notch domain management tools like WHOIS protection, private registration, bulk registrations and other services that will ease your work.
Domain.com initially expects you to pay $9.99 per year for .com domains and later charges $13.99 per year for renewing service.
It has a bouquet of all the top-level domain names (TLDs) and over 25 country code top-level domains (ccTLDs). However, you have to pay an extra $8.99 per year for privacy and protection.
Domain.com also provides an option to pay for 5 years in advance for your domain name. This option saves you from losing your domain name if you forget to renew.
Domain.com is open 24/7 and also provides a great option for domain transfers.
2. Bluehost
If you buy web hosting with BlueHost, it offers a free 1-year long domain name registration. This could be a perfect fit for those in the initial stages of business.
You get a domain name registration free for a year even if you buy their basic hosting plan. This plan goes for $2.95 per year.
3. Namecheap
Namecheap justifies its namesake. It is possibly the most affordable domain registrar on the market.
It offers a simple domain registering experience which lets you lookup for your desired domain easily and quickly. For .com domains, the price starts at $8.88 per year and $12.98 per year for renewing. Unlike other domain registrars, Namecheap does not charge you a single penny for WHOIS protection service.
You can save some money with this registrar as it constantly hosts sales. There is also a 10-year plan in advance which can definitely save you some time and money.
4. Hover
Hover is the best domain registrar service when it comes to choosing a domain name in case the domain name you want is already taken. Hover will assist you with the best suffix suggestion on domain names.
It offers you an extended list of related domain names that might go along with your top-level domain and any other domain extensions. The most impressive part is it now allows you to narrow the search with its business category filter.
For a .com domain name, it costs $12.99 annually and WHOIS privacy protection is completely free.
If you are looking for registering multiple domains, then Hover also has some bundled discounts to offer. The checkout is straightforward and no upsells at all.
The only downside is it doesn’t provide round the clock help if needed.
5. HostGator
HostGator is a place where you can shop both web hosting plans and domain names under the same roof. It has a selection of domain management tools, extensions, privacy protection and much more.
It also has a user-friendly system that’s easy for beginners to operate and well-documented manuals that come in handy when transferring the domains.
Usually, it charges $17.99 per year for a .com domain. But right now, it’s provided free for a year if you choose a year or more plan. For domain privacy protection, you need to pay an extra $14.95 per year.
6. GoDaddy
GoDaddy allows you to purchase bulk domain names at a single transaction. It also has an easy checkout and domain search option.
But it has been notorious for up-sells and premium charges. Though it charges $11.99 per year for .com domains, it also charges a whopping $17.99 per year for renewal. Some domain registrars offer privacy and protection for free, but GoDaddy charges $9.99 per year for this service.
But its bundle deals are usually very lucrative. GoDaddy offers a 45% to 50% discount along with some essential SEO tools on bulk deals.
Which Domain Registrar Should You Avoid?
Here is a list of domain registrars you may want to avoid:
- Dotster
- Dynadot
- Register.com
- Yahoo Small Business
- Network Solutions
- 1and1
Find Your Domain Registrar Now
Once you have decided to purchase your domain name, you need the space to host your website. Start with our list to find the best domain registrar to meet your needs now.
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