Best Domain Registrars –
The Best 10 Domain Name Registrars of 2023
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- NameCheap: Best overall
- Domain.com: Best for long-term discounts
- Google Domains: Best for value for price
- DreamHost: Best for customer support
- Hover: Best for bulk discounts
- GoDaddy: Best for ultra-low intro rates
- Bluehost: Best for bundling domains and hosting
- HostGator: Best for low-cost hosting with a free domain
- Network Solutions: Best for 100-year registrations
How to Choose a Domain Name Registrar
When choosing a domain name registrar, it’s vital to consider a variety of factors. For example, you not only want a registrar that offers the domain name extensions (e.g., .com or .biz) you’re looking for, but also offers competitively priced domains (for your first year and every year thereafter), and includes money-saving extras. How to transfer a domain name .
Here’s what to consider when choosing a domain name:
- Affordability: Domain registrars commonly offer discounted introductory rates for your first year. While this helps reduce your upfront cost, be sure to check the renewal rates as many jump in price greatly.
- Extensions: All of the leading domain registrars offer top-level domain extensions (i.e., .com or .org). However, if you’re interested in a unique extension, then be sure to opt for a registrar that offers additional extensions as not all do.
- Ease of use: After purchasing a domain, you then need to connect it to your web hosting provider or email host, so it’s important that the registrar makes this process as easy as possible. For example, many offer comprehensive help centers with robust documentation on how to connect a domain to the leading content management systems and email hosts.
- Extras and Inclusions: In some instances, the best domain registrars offer additional features and inclusions. This may include enhanced security features or extras such as free domain name privacy.
- Support: Ideally, you won’t need the assistance of customer support, but in the case where you do, quality support can make a world of difference. Consider not only the hours in which support is available, but also the channels in which it is available to determine which offers the support you in a method you prefer.
By looking at the factors above, you can help find the best domain registrar for you and unique preferences and needs.
Methodology
n order to determine the best domain registrars for small businesses, Forbes Advisor researched providers in the space and narrowed it down to the 10 top providers. We analyzed them across five primary categories for a total of 12 different metrics. Then, we gave more weight to the features that matter most to small businesses.
Here are the metrics we used to evaluate the top domain name registrars.
Introductory and Renewal Pricing
Pricing is one of the driving factors in determining which of the leading domain name registrars are the best. This accounts for 40% of our scoring. Domain name pricing is notoriously tricky—many registrars offer low-cost introductory pricing, followed by a steep increase in pricing upon renewal. By looking at both the intro and renewal rates, we got a complete picture of long-term affordability.
Features and Inclusions
While most domain registrars offer largely the same feature set, there are common features that many overlook, which is why we weighed this at 30% for our scoring. For example, the inclusion of domain name privacy, domain transfers, security and business email. We considered which providers offered these to determine further which ones offer the best value for the price.
Ease of Use
It can be difficult enough to find an available domain name, but it shouldn’t be difficult to use a domain registrar’s site to buy a domain. Additionally, upon purchasing a new domain, it should be as easy as possible to connect your new domain to your content management system (CMS).
We combine features, value for the money, popularity and ease of use to account for 10% of our total score.
Educational Resources
Domain registrar services should also help connect domains to websites through educational resources and guides. Not only should these be very easy to follow, but there should also be step-by-step instructions for all of the leading content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Squarespace and Shopify).
Third-Party User Reviews
To gain insight into how users find these domain registrars, we looked at third-party user reviews. We considered how the providers were rated and what users like and dislike about the various domain registrars.
First-Hand Expertise
As straightforward as buying a domain should be, users often discover nuances during the checkout process or after becoming a customer. To avoid any surprises, we included our insights gathered from first-hand experience using these domain registrars.
What Is A Domain Registrar?
A domain registrar is a service that “sells” domain names. When you register a domain name, you don’t really own it, rather you rent or lease it, which is why you have to renew your domain name every year or term. There are some add-on services you should know about before you choose a domain registrar.
Why WHOIS Privacy Is Important
Without going too in-depth to what ICANN and WHOIS are, suffice to say it’s the nonprofit corporation that is responsible for keeping the internet secure and the naming structure of websites as it is. It requires anyone who registers a domain to provide accurate identifiable contact information, including name, address, email and phone number. Not everyone is comfortable with that information being public.
Domain registrars have found a way to keep your info safe and still provide ICANN with the info they need. These domain privacy features replace your information with the registrar’s info, at least publicly. Anyone can look up who registered a domain name, so having domain privacy can reduce spam for you, and keep you safe.
What’s the Difference Between Domain Extensions?
Arguably, the most popular domain extension is .com, but other TLDs include .net, .org, .edu and .gov. There are literally hundreds more from which you can choose, and the less popular extensions are usually less expensive, with a few exceptions. The popularity of .io and .co has skyrocketed recently, so they’re pricier.
Some extensions are restricted and you can’t purchase them unless you meet certain requirements. Restricted extensions include .edu and .gov. Overall, all extensions work the same. The .com extension is preferable because it’s easy to remember.
Tips for Choosing a Domain Name
Because .com is so popular, you may have difficulty finding your business name available as a .com. You can try one of the more obscure extensions, such as .info, .store, .shop or any other of the hundreds available. If you’re set on getting a .com, though, consider using modifications on your business name.
Let’s assume “ghostlycastle.com” is not available, and then try these changes:
- Add articles, such as “a” “the” or “an” (aghostlycastle.com, theghostlycastle.com)
- Try adding another word to your domain (ghostlycastleexperience.com, myghostlycastle.com)
- Possibly include a hyphen (ghostly-castle.com, the-ghostly-castle.com)
Disclaimer: It’s worth noting that many of the domain registrars we include in our list of the best domain name registrars are subsidiaries of Endurance International Group (EIG), including Bluehost, HostGator, Domain.com and BuyDomains. The fact that they’re all under one umbrella should not affect the service you receive for domain registration, but it’s good to know.
