Do you want to buy a domain name for your online business website? Are you looking for a trusted domain registrar to purchase and manage your domain names?
If so, this article is for you.
Domain registrars enable you to purchase a domain and register it under your name with ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), a non-profit organization responsible for managing domain names.
Although domain registrars are meant to provide a platform to purchase a domain, they may differ in other aspects like user experience, pricing, available domain name extensions, and more.
In this article, I’ve selected some of the best domain registrar sites available in the market, highlighting their pricing difference, add-on products, and services available.
Ready to dive in? Let’s get started.
1. Namecheap
Namecheap is my favorite domain registrar that I prefer to purchase most of my domains. It currently provides registration for 10+ million domains in the market.
It has a smooth domain search module where you can easily find the available domains and register them with just a few clicks. If your desired domain is not available, you can use its “best mode” for advanced search and domain name suggestions.
It allows you to enter the keywords related to your business, desired domain names, and based on that, it will display a complete list of domain names you may like.
Namecheap is one of the few domain registrars that provide free WHOIS and domain protection, allowing you to keep your identity safe and secure your domain from hacks.
Domain Pricing –
| Extension | First time Purchase | Renewal Cost |
| .com | $8.88 | $8.88 |
| .org | $9.18 | $12.98 |
| .net | &10.98 | $12.98 |
Add-ons Product & Pricing –
- Domain Privacy & Protection: Free
- Web Hosting: starting at $1.58/mo
- Email Hosting: starting at $0.84/mo
- Premium DNS: $4.88/yr
- SSL Certificate: starting at $5.99/mo
2. GoDaddy
GoDaddy is a popular domain registrar among beginners because of its powerful ads across channels. In fact, I bought my first domain name from GoDaddy – it is a simple and easy-to-use platform for anyone to find available domain names and register instantly.
GoDaddy manages around 70+ million domains from customers across the globe. It offers an easy-to-use domain management interface that breaks down all the tedious processes like domain transfers, customization, and contact information updates at ease.
Domain Pricing –
| Extension | First time Purchase | Renewal Cost |
| .com | $ 11.99 | $ 18.99 |
| .org | $ 9.99 | $ 20.99 |
| .net | $ 14.99 | $ 19.99 |
Add-ons Product & Pricing –
- Domain Privacy & Protection: $9.99/yr
- Website Builder Tool: $ 9.99/mo
- Web Hosting: starting at $ 3.99 /mo
- Email Hosting: starting at $ 1.99/mo
- SSL Certificate: $5.34/mo
3. Domain.com
Domain.com is one of the oldest domain registrars which has built its reputation over time by hosting more than 1.7 million websites and domains under its roof.
It has a quick domain search tool that allows you to view domains with top-level domain name extensions (TLDs) and dozens of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).
Domain.com provides all the essential domain management tools that include bulk registration, domain transfers, DNS management, and other additional services.
Domain Pricing –
| Extension | First time Purchase | Renewal Cost |
| .com | $8.99 | $10.99 |
| .org | $8.99 | $14.99 |
| .net | $12.99 | $12.99 |
Add-ons Product & Pricing –
- Domain Privacy & Protection: $8.99/yr
- Website Builder Tool: starting at $1.99/mo
- Web Hosting: starting at $3.75/mo
- Email Hosting: starting at $2.99/mo
- SSL Certificate: Starting at $3.33/mo
4. Name.com
Founded in 2003, Name.com has one of the most popular domain registrars with over 1.9 million domain names under their shade. It offers a very smooth user interface for searching available domain names and buying them.
Name.com is known for its huge discounts on bulk orders. On normal days, it offers upto a 40% discount on bulk domain purchases. This is useful for anyone who wants to book all the extensions available with a domain name and related misspelled to avoid brand name infringement.
Another interesting feature offered by Name.com is its extensive list of expiring domain names. You can check the domain names with authority and purchase it right from the site.
Domain Pricing –
| Extension | First time Purchase | Renewal Cost |
| .com | $9.99 | $12.99 |
| .org | $9.99 | $12.99 |
| .net | $11.99 | $14.99 |
Add-ons Product & Pricing –
- Domain Privacy & Protection:
- Website Builder Tool: starting at $3.99/month
- Web Hosting: starting at $6./month
- Email Hosting (Google Workspace): starting at $3.00/month per user
- Premium SSL Certificate: starting at $9.99
- SiteLock Security: starting at $2.08 /month
5. NameSilo
Namesilo is another popular domain registrar that offer 400+ domain extensions to make you select from a wide range of choices. An interesting fact is that it provides additional discounts for buying domain names in bulk which is highly appreciable.
It also offers free privacy protection, but you’ll have to manually choose it during the checkout process. Besides, it provides free DNS management, domain defender protection, and custom WHOIS privacy.
Domain Pricing –
| Extension | First time Purchase | Renewal Cost |
| .com | $8.99 | $8.99 |
| .org | $10.79 | $10.79 |
| .net | $11.79 | $11.79 |
Add-ons Product & Pricing –
- Domain Privacy & Protection: Free
- Web Hosting: starting at $2.99 /mo
- Email Hosting (Google Workspace): $72/yr/account
- SSL Certificate: starting at $9.59/yr
6. Bluehost
Though Bluehost is a web hosting service provider, it is also predominant in being one of the best domain registrars. It offers different kinds of domain extensions like .com, .biz, .co, .net, .online, etc., and manages every aspect of your domain with its easy-to-use dashboard.
It offers a free domain for one year in its shared and standard WordPress hosting packages. An added advantage is that it provides a domain lock, protecting your domain from being transferred without your authorization.
Domain Pricing –
| Extension | First time Purchase | Renewal Cost |
| .com | $12.99 | $17.99 |
| .org | $9.99 | $17.99 |
| .net | $14.99 | $18.99 |
Add-ons Product & Pricing –
- Domain Privacy & Protection: $14.88/year per domain
- Website Builder Tool: $2.35/month (original: Rs. 175/month)
- Web Hosting: starting at $2.35/month
- Email Hosting: starting at $4.99/month
- Premium SSL Certificate: starting at $6.67/month
- SiteLock Security: starting at $5.99/month per domain
How to choose the best domain registrar?
By now, you know some of the best domain registrars to purchase website domain names. However, to select a trusted domain registrar, you should look into the following attributes –
- Availability of your regional domain extensions – Not all domain registrars are licensed to sell country-specific domains. So, if you want to register domain names with such extensions, you should check it.
- Domain pricing – You must have observed the pricing variation for domain names from the above list. So, pick a registrar with an affordable domain price.
- Domain Renewal Rates – A lot of domain registrars offer low rates on first-year purchases to acquire customers. But for the next year, the renewal rates might be too high, so keep your eye on it.
- Domain Transfers – You don’t want a platform that restricts domain transfers or charges heavy on domain transferring.
- Domain Expiration Policies – You don’t want to lose your domain name because you forgot to renew or the auto-renewal failed. So, check if your domain registrar provides a grace period to renew the domain after the domain registration expires.
I hope this guide helped you pick the right domain registrar for your website domain name. You may also want to check our list of the best eCommerce hosting providers to find a suitable hosting service for your site.
