10 Best Domain Registrars to Buy a Domain Name

Choosing a domain name registrar for your business is more important than you think. Buying a domain is the first step in building a successful business, and you want to sign up with a reliable, secure, trustworthy provider.

We did our research, and in this post, we compare the best places to buy domain names to help you pick the best for your needs.

10 Top Domain Name Registrars

How to Choose the Best Domain Registrar?

When choosing a domain registrar, it’s important to consider a range of crucial factors, including what kind of domain name extensions you can access (like .org or .com), and how long you can purchase your domain name with each provider.

If you visit the pricing page for a domain registration company, you’ll notice many companies offer a range of options, including the ability to choose a variety of TLDs (top-level domains) like .com, or .net.

Some vendors will only be able to offer certain TLDs, so ensure you can get all the options you want. You’ll also notice some domain extensions are more expensive than others.

While examining the pricing of your domain name registrars, keep in mind many vendors will offer a discount price on your first year’s subscription, while renewal prices can be significantly higher. For instance, a domain from Name.com starts at $8.99 and then upgrades to $15.99 for a .com TLD.

Check how long you can register your domain name (usually a minimum of 1 year), and consider purchasing your name for as long as possible. Some providers allow you to register a domain for up to 10 years, saving you money and the headache of remembering to renew.

Most vendors will also allow you to turn on automatic renewal, but before you do this, check for extra fees. For instance, you may need to pay for domain privacy (WHOIS), which stops other people from finding your details through your domain.

Domain Name Registrar Reviews

1. Hostinger

Ideal if you’re looking for the best domain registrar, as well as a convenient tool for hosting your website, Hostinger makes launching your new web presence quick and simple. You can access a range of popular store extensions, from .net to .store, and transferring an existing domain into Hostinger only takes a couple of clicks.

Best Domain Registration Features

Hostinger is one of a handful of excellent website hosting providers that also offer access to domain registration. You’ll even get a year of free domain name access with your hosting package from Hostinger.

Privacy is available in the form of WHOIS protection and SSL certification, but you will need to pay extra to protect your data. On the plus side, you know you’re getting a trustworthy service as Hostinger is ICANN accredited.

Hostinger makes it easy to access your domain and manage your website environment from the back end. Plus, there’s 24/7 live technical support available, so you can access extra guidance whenever you need it.

Pros

• Huge range of domain options and TLDs to choose from.
• Excellent live chat and 24/7 customer service options.
• Access hosting and purchase a domain at the same time

Cons

• Extra fee for WHOIS protection
• Some TLDs can be quite expensive

Pricing

Pricing for Hostinger starts at $9.99 for your first year of .com domain hosting, followed by $13.99 for each year after this. You can access hosting options like cloud hosting for $9.99 per month, which comes with a free domain. WHOIS protection is an extra $5 per year.

2. Bluehost

Bluehost is one of the best places to buy a domain name on the web today. As one of the world’s most popular website hosting providers, Bluehost already has a lot of credibility in the digital landscape.

It also offers a wide range of domain options to choose from, including.com and .org. You’ll even get a handy auto-renewal system.

Best Domain Registration Features

Bluehost makes it easy to access your domain addresses and sites from a convenient control panel. You can change DNS across multiple domains in the same environment and even access “Domain Lock” to prevent unauthorized transfers.

Commitment to excellent customer support also helps to set Bluehost apart from the crowd. The company offers everything from phone to chat guidance, so you’ll always have assistance when you need it most. There are also bonus features like automatic domain forwarding and professional email.

Bluehost is easy to use for beginners and brimming with bonus features you typically wouldn’t get from other affordable domain options. WordPress comes pre-installed into your control panel, malware protection defends your website, and you can add unlimited subdomains.

Pros:

• Excellent customer support through chat, emails, and calls
• Free domain name with all hosting plans if you’re starting from scratch
• Free SSL certificate (though WHOIS protection is extra)

Cons:

• Renewal costs can be very expensive
• Complicated and time-consuming site transfer process

Pricing

A .com domain from Bluehost will cost around $12.99 for the first year, followed by a renewal price of $18.99. You can save a little bit of money by purchasing hosting and domain access together.

When you acquire hosting from Bluehost, you’ll get a free domain and an SSL certificate for your first year.

3. Domain.com

One of the top domain registrars worldwide, Domain.com supports a range of TLDs and dozens of country-code domains like co.uk too. The company offers excellent customer support and a simple process for finding and registering as many domain names as you like.

Best Domain Registration Features

Domain.com gives companies plenty of variety when it comes to choosing from a range of domain options. You’ll also get a control panel with full DNS control for your domain name, and simple migration if you want to transfer an existing domain name to the domain.com platform.

All of Domain.com’s domains come with free SSL (Let’s Encrypt) included, to give you more peace of mind. If you want to add bonus security to your domain, you can access SiteLock too.

Plus, there are a host of handy bonus features available from the domain registrar too, like a simple website builder or online store builder, professional email with Google Workspace, and web hosting. You can even get specialist WordPress hosting too.

WHOIS privacy and protection against fraud, malware scanning, and blacklist monitoring combine with excellent 24/7 support for more confidence when running your business.

Pros

• Range of bonus features like professional email and website building.
• Lots of security options like SSL and SiteLock.
• Excellent customer service for peace of mind.

Cons

• Bonus domain privacy will cost extra.
• It can take a while (up to 7 days) to transfer a domain.

Pricing

Finding the pricing for your domain on Domain.com is a little complicated, but you can expect to pay around $9.99 for your first year of a .com site, followed by a $15.99 fee for renewal. Privacy and protection cost is $8.99 per year. Premium domain prices vary drastically based on your needs.

4. NameCheap

A leading ICANN-accredited domain registrar, NameCheap is an excellent pick if you’re wondering where to buy domain names. Affordable and convenient, this service supports everything from domain transfers to purchasing high-quality premium names.

Best Domain Registration Features

NameCheap offers a range of features besides basic domain purchasing. You can transfer your domain automatically to the site within 30 minutes (much faster than with other competitors). Plus, you can access features like website hosting, with options like WordPress hosting and VPS.

With a strong focus on value and affordability, NameCheap regularly posts offers for everything from shared EU hosting to free design tools. You can even unlock free trials of VPN services in the promo section of the website.

NameCheap also offers all the basics you’d expect with a domain name and hosting provider, such as professional private email, low-cost SSL certificates, and more. There are even premium security features like 2-factor authentication available.

Pros

• Free and quick hosting and domain name migration
• 24/7 live chat with experts and fast ticket response time
• Convenient range of advanced security features

Cons:

• DDoS protection is an extra cost
• No phone support

Pricing

Pricing starts at $8.18 per year for your .com domain when you initially purchase your new website. After that, you’ll pay a renewal fee of around $13.98 per year. The exact price of your domain will depend on your TLD and how long you want to access it. New modern domain names can cost a lot more.

5. Google Domains

Simple and effective, Google Domains is a leading domain registration service, offered by the biggest search engine in the world.

Like most of the best domain registrars on this list, Google Domains offers access to domain names, subdomain and domain forwarding, and a range of additional features.

Best Domain Registration Features

Google Domains makes it easy to get the domains you want for your business, with more than 300 domain suffixes to choose from, including .org and .com. You can easily transfer a domain you already own, and access exceptional speed, security, and support.

Google uses DNS servers that run on underlying Google infrastructure to ensure peace of mind, and there’s 24/7 support if anything does go wrong.

Your domains also come with a multitude of fantastic bonus features, line one-click DNSSEC, Google’s own 2-step verification options, privacy protection, and email forwarding.

You’ll get a professional email address with your domain, as well as access to Google’s own website builder if you want to create your own site, blog, or eCommerce business. There’s also direct access to Google Ads for marketing purposes.

Pros

• Excellent customer support over chat, email, and phone, as well as a dedicated help center
• ICANN-accredited domains with excellent security
• Over 300 domain name extensions with predictable renewal costs

Cons

• Some domains are more expensive
• Not available in all regions

Pricing

Google Domains is one of the few web hosts on this list that doesn’t change the price of your domain after the first year of registration. A .com domain will cost around $12 for the first year, and $12 per year after that. There’s free WHOIS protection too.

6. GoDaddy

Easily one of the better-known domain registrar options on the market, GoDaddy makes it easy to purchase a wide selection of domain names, as well as hosting functionality.

You can even use the domain name generator to get ideas for creating a new website.

Best Domain Registration Features

GoDaddy allows users to choose from a variety of domain name options with a huge selection of extensions (more than 500). You can also migrate your existing domain name to GoDaddy for a $7.99 fee (if you’re using a .com TLD).

GoDaddy has a handful of unique features, including the “Domain Broker” which can help you purchase a domain that already belongs to another company, with the support of a specialist.

You can also purchase domain names in bulk, creating lists of keywords for your domains and uploading them as CSV files.

GoDaddy is the largest domain registrar in the world right now, supporting more than 84 million domains, and every domain comes with free privacy protection forever. There’s also a range of tools, like real-time monitoring to ensure your domain is always working as it should be.

Pros

• Easy to purchase a range of domain names or buy domain names in bulk.
• Boosted support for SEO to help you rank with Google.
• GoDaddy auctions, appraisal tools, and brokers give you more domain name options

Cons

• There is a slight learning curve for some of the features

Pricing

Similar to Google Domains, GoDaddy keeps things simple and transparent with its domain name pricing options. A .com domain will cost $9.99 for your first year, followed by $9.99 every year after that, and protection is included for free.

You can also purchase website hosting, a website builder, and your domain name at the same time.

7. Network Solutions

Ideal for those on the hunt for the best domain registration experience, Network Solutions is a highly respected registrar, offering access to all of the most common TLDs, including .info, .com, and .net. The company also offers web hosting services and domain transfer.

Best Domain Registration Features

Network Solutions offers a range of options to help you find and purchase the perfect domain name. There’s a convenient domain name search feature, with “bulk search” options. You’ll also be able to browse through premium domain names too.

As a pioneer in the domain name registration landscape, Network Solutions offers some unique features you wouldn’t typically find elsewhere, such as bonus IT support and website building with powerful security tools.

There’s even domain name protection in place, which secures your domain for up to 1 year if you can’t renew for any reason.

Bonus specialist services include access to website design and copy options if you need help building your new blog or eCommerce site. There’s also access to a range of email and productivity tools, including support for Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.

Pros

• Register your domain name for as long as you like (up to 100 years)
• Phone and live chat support for plenty of customer guidance
• Lots of emails, marketing, and website building tools and services.

Cons

• Domain renewal costs can be extremely expensive
• Protection features are an expensive add-on.

Pricing

Network Solutions is one of the pricier domain name registrars on our list, with the price of a .com domain starting at $20 for your first year, then increasing to $37.99 per year afterward.

There are also excess costs for things like WHOIS protection ($23.88 per year), as well as hosting, email and marketing tools, and SSL certificates.

8. Name.com

Name.com is a value-packed domain name registrar offering access to a range of domain options for business leaders.

You’ll be able to conduct bulk searches to find a range of domains at once, explore expiring domains to see what you might be able to purchase soon and access a selection of premium domains too.

Best Domain Registration Features

Name.com focuses heavily on giving customers the best value possible, so you can expect a range of free products, services, and bonuses when registering your domain. You’ll get URL and email forwarding as standard, as well as DNS templates and two-step verifications.

Domain name transfers are simple and fast while purchasing a domain name from scratch is as straightforward as possible with a quick and convenient search function.

You’ll also be able to set up auto-renewal to ensure you don’t lose access to your domain at any point.

Name.com also offers hosting alongside domain name registration and access to Titan Pro free email with any domain purchase for up to 90 days at no cost. The support options include a robust knowledge base where you can find answers to a range of questions easily.

Pros

• Wide range of domain options to choose from.
• Lots of free features, like premium email demos for up to 90 days
• Very easy to set up, purchase, and control your domains.

Cons

• Some limitations on customer service (no live chat)

Pricing

Name.com follows a similar strategy to many other domain name registrars, offering an $8.99 .com domain for the first year, followed by a $15.99 renewal fee. If you want to access WHOIS protection, you’ll need to pay an extra $4.99 per year.

9. HostGator

Another example of a hosting provider and domain registrar in one, HostGator can get your online presence up and running in no time. Like many hosting providers, HostGator will give you access to your domain name for free for the first year if you sign up for hosting with the brand.

Best Domain Registration Features

HostGator gives you the option to either purchase a new domain name from scratch, or transfer your existing domain quickly and easily into the system. There’s domain locking included, so you can prevent someone from transferring your domain without authorization.

An easy and convenient control panel makes it easy to manage everything about your domain in one single dashboard, and there’s comprehensive DNS management available too. For a small extra fee, you’ll also be able to prevent your personal information from being visible in the WHOIS database.

HostGator offers access to email forwarding as part of your domain purchase, as well as some fantastic customer service options, including social media support, phone, chat, and a powerful knowledge base for self-service.

Pros

• Convenient for accessing hosting and domain name management on one dashboard
• Excellent customer service available 24/7
• Free domain with some hosting packages

Cons:

• Not the most scalable service for larger companies
• Renewal costs can be expensive

Pricing

You can purchase a .com domain from HostGator for $12.95 for the first year, followed by $18.99 per year for renewals. You’ll also need to pay $14.95 per year for WHOIS privacy protection. Alternatively, you could access a simple shared hosting plan for $2.75 per month and get a free domain included for the first year.

10. BuyDomain

BuyDomain is a little different from the other domain registrar options we’ve covered so far. It provides a behind-the-scenes insight into every domain you search for, letting you know whether your site is likely to be effective or not. You can also bid for existing domains if you want to get your hands on a name that’s not available.

Best Domain Registration Features

BuyDomain.com allows you to purchase a range of domain names with a wide selection of extensions, including .com, .net, and org. You get basic privacy protection with every purchase, and can even use “bulk registration” features to purchase up to 500 domains at once.

Domain forwarding and masking are included as standard with every purchase, and domain locking is available too, to reduce unwanted transfers. You’ll also have complete control over your DNS records, and an admin environment where you can set your email, sub-domains, and website location from a simple control panel.

There are monitoring tools to show the status of your domain, and instant notifications if anything goes wrong. Plus, auto-renewal keeps your domains and hosting on track year after year. BuyDomain offers all kinds of hosting options, including a dedicated server and WordPress.

Pros

• Hosting, marketing, security, and domains are all available from the same vendor
• Basic WHOIS protection and domain locking are included with every purchase
• Easy-to-use admin center for DNS control

Cons:

• Does not have the widest range of extensions compared to some alternatives

Pricing

Pricing from BuyDomain.com is quite affordable, starting at $12.99 per year for a .com domain, and a $12.99 renewal fee. There are no extra costs for privacy either. You will need to pay if you want to access extra security or hosting though.

Best Domain Registrars FAQ

How to Permanently Buy a Domain Name?

When you first register a domain name, you choose how many years you want to keep the ownership of the domain. When the domain expires, you have the option to renew the domain for another time period (usually 1-5 years). As long as you renew a domain on time (i.e before it expires), you can maintain ownership of a domain permanently.

When you fail to renew a domain and it gets expired, other people can register the domain and you'll lose ownership. All domain registrars offer the option to auto-renew a domain registration so that you don't accidentally lose your domain because you forgot to renew.

So, to keep a domain permanently, make sure that:

• Your contact information with the domain registrar is correct
• You set the auto-renew option to renew a domain before the expiration date automatically
• Your payment details are correct and updated

Why Domain Privacy and Protection (WHOIS Privacy) Is Important?

When you buy a domain name you also have the option to enable domain privacy and protection. When enabled, your name, email, and address are not publicly shown when someone searches to find who owns a domain. If you don't enable this option, people can easily find the contact information of domain owners.

It is highly recommended to enable domain privacy and protection to protect your website and information from spammers.

Some registrars offer this as part of the domain registration price, while others charge an additional fee - check our comparison table above for more details.

What to Do If The Domain Name You Want to Buy is Taken?

If your chosen domain is not available for purchase (i.e. it is registered by someone else), there are a couple of things to do to try and buy a registered domain.

1. Go to WHOIS and search for your chosen domain name. If the owner has domain privacy and protection off, you can find their contact details and get in touch with them by email asking them if there are interested in selling the domain.
2. If you can't find the contact details of the owner (or they don't reply to your emails), you can use a domain broker service to help you with the process.

How to Get a Free Domain Name?

You can get a free domain name by registering your domain with a hosting provider. Most hosting providers like Bluehost, offer free domain registration when you register for a hosting plan.

Our web hosting for beginners guide includes a list of all hosting providers that offer a free domain.

What to Do After Purchasing a Domain Name?

After registering a great domain name for your business, the next steps are:

Signup for web hosting - a hosting provider is responsible for making your website available on the internet when users type your domain name in an internet browser.

There are a lot of options to choose that's why we created a guide to help you make the right choice. Our best managed WordPress hosting guide will help you choose the best provider to build your online business.

Create a website - creating a website is very easy these days. Follow our step-by-step website guide and get started in minutes.

Optimize your website - after creating a website, the next step is to optimize it so that people can find it on Google and other places on the Internet. A good digital marketing course will teach you everything you need to know about website optimization and marketing.

Methodology

To help you choose the best domain registrar we've searched the web to find the most popular companies offering domain name registration services. If you do the same search on Google, you'll notice that there are tens if not hundreds of options. We know from experience that beginners are confused and don't not which provider to choose.

We registered our first domain in 2002 (that's the website you're on now) and since then we had the opportunity to work with a LOT of domain registrars and hosting providers. The ones that made it to our top-10 list are trustworthy and reliable and are guaranteed to offer you great service. For each provider, you can see the pros and cons and how their pricing system works.