7 Best Domain Registrars In 2023

7 Best Domain Registrars

Finding the right domain name is crucial for you to build a solid web presence.

A domain name is more than just an address for your website. It defines your brand and contributes to your brand’s online visibility.

That’s why it’s important you find the right domain registrar to purchase your domain name through.

But there are dozens to choose from. How will you find the perfect one for your needs?

To help you get started on your journey, we’ve reviewed over 50 domain registrars, so you don’t have to.

In this article, we share our top recommendations for the best domain registrars of 2023.

Methodology: How We Chose The Best Domain Registrars

First, let’s take a look at the methodology behind how we narrowed down the list.

Domain registrars need to do one thing exceptionally well: let you find and purchase a domain name for your website.

domain registrar companies

Naturally, it helps when you have extras like privacy protection, premium DNS settings, and more.

So instead of just reviewing the surface-level info on each company’s website, we dug deep.

We placed a heavy emphasis on the value each company can deliver to its customers.

Beyond the price tag, we also looked at the flexibility each company offers along with its features and the level of support you have in the event something goes wrong.

Here’s the full list of all factors we examined:

Domain cost

  • Cost of the domains
  • Ease of the buying process (some registrars over-complicate their sales process)
  • Free inclusions vs additional things you’ll need to pay for
  • The number of different extensions available
  • Bundled services and other extras

Support

  • Customer support

We’ve also woven our first-hand experience into our review process. Over the years, we’ve purchased hundreds of domains and seen the best and worst that domain registrars offer.

So here are the top domain registrars in today’s market.

The Top 7 Domain Registrars

  • Namecheap — Best Domain Registrar Delivering Value For Money
  • NameSilo — Most Affordable Domain Deals When Buying in Bulk
  • GoDaddy — Best Domain Registrar for Cheapest Promo Deals
  • Google Domains — Most Reputable Domain Registrar
  • Dynadot — Best for Features for Backorder & Aftermarket Domains
  • Domain.com — Great Domain Registrar for Tight Budgets
  • Porkbun — Great Deals on Unique Domain Name Extensions

1. Namecheap — Best Domain Registrar Delivering Value for Money

Namecheap has earned a decent reputation for its domain registration services since launching as a domain registrar in 2000.

Namecheap Homepage

Not only does it have over a thousand domain name extensions for sale, but it also has some of the most affordable prices on the market.

With over 17 million domain names under management, Namecheap has emerged as one of the top domain registrars in today’s market.

It also includes a stack of free features with every domain purchase and offers reasonable rates for any additional features you may like.

Namecheap Features

When comparing over 50 domain registrars to uncover the cheapest place to buy a domain name, Namecheap was also at the top of our list with promotional and renewal prices well below average for the most popular extensions.

Overall, there’s a whole lot to love about Namecheap’s services!

Key Features

Namecheap packs in a ton of free value with every domain name registered including:

  • Free domain privacy protection for life
  • Free WHOIS Guard
  • Free domain locking & unauthorized transfer protection
  • Free DNSSEC security on all domains
  • Free email address trial (but renews at only $0.84/month after the trial)
  • Free SSL certificate on all shared hosting plans, otherwise from $10/year

Pricing

The one thing Namecheap does exceptionally well is domains.

Namecheap Domain Name Cost

Not only can you find hundreds of available domain name extensions, Namecheap is also one of the most affordable domain registrars around.

As far as first-year domain registration costs go, Namecheap offers over 97 different extensions for less than $5/year.

This firmly places them at the top of our list of the best domain registrars offering cheap domain names.

But what about renewal costs?

On Namecheap, over 100 TLD extensions renew for less than $15 a year.

We also liked that Namecheap offers discounts on their renewal pricing, and their pricing is consistently below average in all our tests.

Registration Renewal
.com $5.68 $13.48
.org $8.88 $14.98
.net $10.98 $14.98
.site $1.88 $19.88
>.biz $4.88 $16.98
.store $1.79 $25.88
.me $5.88 $18.98
.online $1.88 $21.88
.io $32.98 $34.98
.co.uk $2.98 $9.48
.space $1.88 $14.98
.tech $8.88 $34.88
.co $7.98 $25.98
.xyz $1 $12.98

*Green = below average, red = above average

Pros
  • Simple checkout process: buy a new name in under 2 minutes
  • Great customer support with 24/7 live chat available
  • Below average prices for promotions and renewal
  • Frequent discounts
  • A tonne of free features
  • Easy to manage a large number of domains
  • Beginner-friendly
  • No sneaky hidden fees
  • Clean dashboard with very few upsell offers
Cons
  • Not a great option if you want to bundle with hosting
  • No phone support

2. Namesilo — Most Affordable Domain Deals When Buying In Bulk

NameSilo is another web hosting provider and domain registrar that impressed us with its low rates.

Namesilo

In particular, NameSilo offers first-year registrations for less than $5 on over 80 extensions.

We also liked that a tiered pricing structure is applied to reward people who buy in bulk. Surely we’re not the only ones who own a bunch of domains?

If you’re anything like us and tend to buy a new domain name for every entrepreneurial idea that crosses your mind, NameSilo web hosting will reward you for that with lower fees.

Find out price illustration

As far as renewals go, NameSilo is a web host that offers second-year renewals for less than $15 on 57 different extensions, and its prices are also consistently below average.

Key Features

  • Free WHOIS Privacy
  • Free domain parking
  • Free email forwarding
  • Free domain privacy & security
  • Free DNS management
  • Bulk discounts
  • Free API for developers

Pricing

Like Namecheap, NameSilo’s pricing is also below average for the initial promotional period and renewals for the most popular extensions.

Registration Renewal
.com $9.95 $9.95
.org $10.79 $10.79
.net $11.79 $11.79
.site $3.79 $23.99
.biz $6.49 $14.49
.store $4.99 $43.99
.me $7.49 $16.99
.online $2.99 $26.99
.io $33.99 $49.99
.space $3.99 $17.99
.tech $8.29 $39.99
.co $9.99 $22.69
.xyz $0.99 $9.95

*Green = below average, red = above average

Pros
  • Easy builk domain purchases
  • Discounts on bulk domain purchases
  • Free WHOIS privacy protection
  • Access to marketplace for dropped domains
  • Hardly any upsells and aggressive sales tactics
  • Excellent option for domaineers with over 5,000 domains
Cons
  • Does not provide free SSL certificate (though you can get one for as little as $9.59/year)

3. GoDaddy — Best Domain Registrar for Cheapest Promo Deals

GoDaddy manages over 84 million domain names and with 15.39% market share on new domains, GoDaddy is the most popular domain name registrar.

Godaddy

As a prime example of loss leader pricing in action, GoDaddy web hosting makes available some domain names for as little as $0.01 with the intention of recouping costs when the domains renew.

Hands down, this is the lowest definitive cost for a reputable domain extension (like .com) that we have found. As far as initial registration costs go, these are by far the cheapest on the market.

GoDaddy Free Domain

But, to secure these cheap domain rates, there are often conditions attached which ultimately can make it more expensive in the long run.

In the above table, note how GoDaddy web hosting’s renewal rates are consistently higher than average regardless of the extension.

Key Features

Despite being the most popular web hosting and domain registration company, GoDaddy is known for its tendency to hit customers with hidden costs for standard features. For instance:

  • Domain Privacy & Protection: Starts at $13.15/domain/year
  • Professional Email Address: Starts at $3.95/month
  • Free SSL Certificate: Only available with web hosting services, otherwise from $94.95/year

There’s also a distinct lack of transparency on their website about what features are included with each domain registration.

Pricing

GoDaddy is a web host that offers the most lucrative discounts on domain names, including the most popular domains.

Hosting Price for Godaddy

In fact, it loses money on the initial sale.

Considering the ICANN fees to sell a .com domain are $0.18 per domain name and GoDaddy sells them for as little as $0.01 for the first year, it’s clear there’s no profit to be made. It’s basically a free domain name and free domain registration.

However, when comparing the renewal fees, GoDaddy is consistently above average, making it one of the more expensive web host options in the long run.

So when it comes to GoDaddy, we suggest triple-checking your math to make sure your domain is really going to work out cheaper in the long run.

Registration Renewal
.com $0.01 $18.99
.org $9.99 $20.99
.net $14.99 $19.99
.site $0.99 $39.99
.biz $7.99 $24.99
.store $1.99 $79.99
.me $4.99 $21.99
.online $0.99 $49.99
.io $34.99 $62.99
.space $1.99 $29.99
.tech $9.99 $69.99
.co $0.30 $34.99
.xyz $0.99 $15.99

*Green = below average, red = above average

Pros
  • Cheapest introductory offers starting at just $0.01/year
  • Great supporting services for website owners
  • Great all-in-one solution for managing your website
  • Reputable market leader
  • Very beginner friendly
  • Great hosting and business email add-ons
Cons
  • Aggressive sales tactics that rely on pricey upsells
  • Few additional features included
  • Expensive renewal costs

4. Google Domains — Most Reputable Domain Registrar

Google Domains is a domain registration service that allows you to purchase a new domain name. Despite remaining in a public beta phase for eight years, Google Domains is now open for anyone to buy a new domain name.

Google Domain Search

With over 300 domain name extensions and endings, you’re more than likely able to create your next brand using Google Domains. Most domain registrars do not offer that much.

Buying a new domain name is also as easy and simple as, well, running a Google search!

Check out our Google Domains review for all the details on this service.

Key Features

Unlike other companies in our list, Google Domains does not offer any other supporting services for website owners. It just sells domain names.

It wasn’t too long ago that Google only had 100 domain name extensions available for sale. Today, it has 338 and counting.

Google Domain Pricing

The range of domain names isn’t the only feature Google has expanded either. Google Domains now also offers the following features:

  • Domain sharing: multiple people in your organization can manage your domain names.
  • Domain transfers: move existing domain names to Google Domains from any other company.
  • Email and domain forwarding: set up forwarding rules directly within Google Domains.
  • Privacy protection: keep your contact information private on the WHOIS and RADP databases.
  • Google name servers & infrastructure: enjoy a service that’s built on state-of-the-art infrastructure and powered by a world-class team of engineers.
  • 10+ million Domain Name System (DNS) resolutions per year: DNS servers connect your domain to your web server. Google offers free cloud DNS so your website can meet its traffic demands at no extra cost.
  • One-click DNSSEC: a method of strengthening authentication in DNS by using digital signatures.

Customer Service and Technical Support Illustration

  • 24/7 support: no matter where you are in the world, you can access round-the-clock support via help center, email, chat, or phone.
  • Build a website with Google Sites: pair your domain name with a simple, free website you can build in Google Sites.
  • Google 2-step verification: protect your account and domains with two-step authentication.
  • Automatic verification with other Google services: your domain name will instantly be verified by other Google products like Google Analytics, Google Search Console and more.

Just keep in mind that you need to have an existing Google account in order to purchase domain names from Google Domains and enjoy the above features.

Pricing

As far as pricing goes, Google doesn’t play the same game as most other companies in this space. It does not compete on price nor does it rely on upsell offers for you to unlock the full features and benefits.

Instead, it prices domains fairly and you pay the exact amount at renewal as you did at the start.

Google Domain Pricing Renewal

That’s the beauty of dealing with a very reputable company: no funny business.

But it also means you won’t be getting the best deals on domains either.

While Google Domains are priced fairly, the initial price is usually way above the industry averages. But the renewal prices are often under.

Registration Renewal
.com $12 $12
.org $12 $12
.net $12 $12
.site $20 $20
.biz $15 $15
.store $50 $50
.me $20 $20
.online $30 $30
.io $60 $60
.space $20 $20
.tech $40 $40
.co $30 $30
.xyz $12 $12

*Green = below average, red = above average

Pros
  • Reputable company
  • Technical infrastructure few other companies can match
  • Fair pricing
  • No funny business, hidden fees or sneaky upsells
  • Solid features included with every domain purchase
Cons
  • More expensive than other companies, especially initially
  • Cannot bundle with other services like hosting or emails

5. Dynadot — Best for Features for Backorder & Aftermarket Domains

Dynadot is another ICANN accredited domain registrar and web hosting company with some great offers on domain names.

Dynadot

Only slightly behind Namecheap, Dynadot offers first-year domain name registrations for under $5 on 75 different TLD extensions. Renewal fees are lower than $15 on 105 extensions.

The best bit is that Dynadot also offers tiered pricing for bulk domain orders.

Key Features

Dynadot is a lesser known servies that exels (almost) everywhere. With competitve prices and stacks of free features included, it’s worth being on your radar!

  • Free account lock
  • Free two-factor authentication

Keep-It-Secure

  • Free privacy protection
  • Free email protection
  • A Grace period that allows you to return a domain name
  • Domain API for developers
  • Bulk pricing available

Unlike other domain registrars in our list, Dynadot also excels when it comes to additional services like allowing customers to place a domain name on backorder for when it becomes available.

You can also purchase aftermarket domains on its marketplace. If someone doesn’t renew their domain, or they list it for sale, you can purchase it in this marketplace.

Pricing

Dynadot is also very affordable with most of its prices below average for the initial term and renewal costs too. All in all, what’s not to love about this domain registrar?

Registration Renewal
.com $7.99 $9.99
.org $8.99 $10.88
.net $5.99 $10.99
.site $1.49 $25.99
.biz $5.99 $14.99
.store $2.08 $49.99
.me $5.88 $15.99
.online $1.99 $29.99
.io $29.99 $31.99
.co.uk $2.49 $6.99
.space $1.88 $22.99
.tech $8.88 $49.99
.co $10.99 $22.99
.xyz $0.99 $9.99

*Green = below average, red = above average

Pros
  • Powerful search tool
  • Simple process to register a domain
  • Loads of free extras (more than many other competitors offer)
  • Very reasonable prices
  • Bulk domain purchasing available
  • Backorder and aftermarket domain sales available.
Cons
  • Some people find it difficult to manage their domains after purchase

6. Domain.com — Great Domain Registrar for Tight Budgets

Another company that is in our good books as one of the top domain registrars is Domain.com. Besides, it’s all in the name, right?

Domain.com Homepage

Domain.com has a huge range of multiple extensions, with over 430 listed for sale on its website.

When it comes to other services on offer, Domain.com also has more services available than some of the other domain registrars listed so far.

For instance, you can bundle your domain purchase with web hosting and email services too.

Email Hosting

This is why it may be a better option for you if you’re looking for versatile domain name extensions and other website services like a website builder, email, marketing, and hosting plans.

Key Features

  • Seamless integration with WordPress, WebsiteBuilder and SiteLock
  • Easy domain transfers
  • Cheap privacy protection
  • Free WHOIS lookup
  • Can purchase a domain for up to 5 years

It’s worth noting that Domain.com does not include free privacy and protection though it is very affordable at only $8.99 per year.

You can add domain privacy at any time and it’s available for all ofthe most popular domain name extensions.

Some domain extensions for specific countries cannot have complete privacy but that’s a factor external to Domain.com.

Pricing

Registration Renewal
.com $9.99 $15.99
.org $8.99 $14.99
.net $12.99 $15.99
.site $4.99 $24.99
.biz $16.99 $18.99
.store $9.99 $49.99
.me $2.99 $19.99
.online $5.99 $29.99
.io $47.99 $60.99
.space $2.99 $19.99
.tech $4.99 $44.99
.co $27.99 $29.99
.xyz $2.99 $14.99

*Green = below average, red = above average

Pros
  • Huge range of 430+ domain name TLDs
  • Domain privacy and WHOIS protection are available
  • Domain security alerts
  • #eeelist monitoring and malware scanning
  • Website builder and marketing tools available
  • 24/7 customer support
Cons
  • Tends to be more a little expensive than Namecheap and NameSilo
  • Best prices are restricted to longer subscriptions
  • Privacy and protection is not free

7. Porkbun — Great Deals on Unique Domain Name Extensions

Porkbun is a relative newcomer in the market compared to other companies on our list.

porkbun homepage

However, it has made a name for itself by offering competitive pricing and huge range of deals on unique domain name extensions.

It’s renewal prices are also among the lowest on the market and consistently below average for the most popular domain name extensions.

Pork Bun Features

Porkbun offers transparency from the get go so you know the exact cost and inclusions with your domain name purchase before you decide to buy.

Not to mention in today’s competitive landscape, if your ideal domain is too expensive or taken by someone else, being able to access deals on alternative domain extensions is a great way to still keep your ideal brand name.

Key Features

  • Free WHOIS privacy
  • Free SSL certificates
  • Free URL forwarder
  • Up to 20 free email forwarders
  • Free trials of other services like hosting and Porkbun’s site bilder

Pricing

Namy non-traditional domain name extensions are available on Pirkbun for less than $8 for your first year (and great deal more are also significantly discounted).

Check out Porkbun’s complete list of domain prices for more details on its current deals and discounts.

Registration Renewal
.com $9.73 $9.73
.org $7.63 $10.72
.net $10.56 $10.56
.site $2.97 $22.12
.biz $5.64 $15.43
.store $3.58 $42.72
.me $3.15 $14.67
.online $2.97 $27.27
.io $32.23 $47.68
.space $2.14 $16.97
.tech $3.58 $37.57
.co $8.03 $24
.xyz $2.01 $10.95

*Green = below average, red = above average

Pros
  • Great deals on loads of domain name extensions
  • Excellent variety of 500+ unique extensions
  • Very competitive renewal rates
  • Purchase domains for up to 10 years.
Cons
  • Somewhat clunky user experience
  • Could use a better onboarding experience

How To Choose The Best Domain Registrar

Unless you know exactly what you’re looking for it can be hard to find the best domain registration company.

Registry Registrar Buyer

Given it’s a fairly simple and regulated service, there’s not much wiggle room for domain registrars to add their own flair and unique value.

However, it can be easy to make the mistake that every domain registration company out there offers pretty much the same service.

The differences lie in the details of the free domain services that are also included when you buy a domain name. And of course the price you buy it for as well, but that’s fairly obvious.

To find the best domain registrar for your website, we suggest looking for the following features:

  • Low renewal costs: No matter how great the initial deal, renewal fees affect long-term affordability.
  • Free domain protection for life: The top domain registrars will include free domain protection for life instead of charging for it as an extra.
  • Free domain locking: Another level of protection is domain locking. It prevents unauthorized transfers of your domain names by hackers.

user experience

  • Great user experience for easy domain management: There’s nothing worse than being stuck with a dashboard you can’t easily navigate to complete even basic tasks related to your domain.
  • DNS management & email forwarding: Not every domain registrar includes DNS management and email forwarding so it’s worth checking if you get access to these invaluable features!

Ultimately, the best domain registrar for you will depend on what features are most important. If you’re just managing one website, you likely won’t need extra features like bulk domain purchasing and management. But if you’re a domaineer who invests in thousands of domains, there are a great deal of domain registrars that simply won’t offr the level of flexibility and bulk domain actions that you need.

Tips For Choosing A Domain Name

Once you know which domain registrar to buy from, the next step is choosing your domain name.

What Is A Domain Name?

Because the .com extension is so popular, you might struggle to get your ideal brand name. So you can try the following steps to help you find the perfect domain name for your project.

Domain Name Properties

  • Try a newer domain extension like .info or .shop
  • If you must have a .com modify your business name a little
  • Try adding “a”, “my” or “the” at the start
  • Come up with a name that includes a word that can’t be found in a dictionary
  • Add another word to the end of your brand name
  • Add a hyphen between the words
  • Misspell a common work on purpose (and make it a quirk that accentuates your brand)

While there are many domain names that have been snapped up or are now considered premium, if you persevere a little, we have no doubt you’ll find the perfect name for your website!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

What Is A Domain Name?

A domain name is like a virtual address and it is essential to how the internet functions.

Memorable Domain Name

Every piece of information on the internet has to live in a specific spot and it all starts with a domain name.

The domain name you purchase is where everything related to your website will live.

To put it simply, if your website was a house, the domain name you buy would be its physical address.

What Is A Domain Registrar?

A domain registrar is a company that is licensed to sell domain names to the general public.

Domain registrars allow you to search for your ideal domain name, buy it and then manage it through their dashboards.

It’s important to note that domain registrars do not own any domains, they lease them and that’s why there are ongoing fees for you to pay so that you reserve the right to use that name for as long as the domain name is in your possession.

Once you buy the domain name, you are the official registered owner and your domain registrar will act like a proxy between you and ICANN.

ICANN is an organization which regulates all domain names globally.

Are Paid Domains Better Than Free Domains?

In our experience, yes. Paid domains are better than free domains as they offer more flexibility and don’t come with restrictions for the type of website you can build.

Hostinger Free Domain

That being said, if you score a free domain name with a hosting package, that’s a different story as you’ll need to pay for that domain name after your first year.

The only top-level domains we truly consider to be free are those that don’t have any renewal costs like:

  • .tk
  • .ml
  • .ga
  • .cf
  • .gq

Not only are free domains attractive to spammers, but there are also some critical restrictions in place. For instance, a .tk domain presents the following restrictions:

  • No Legal Ownership – The domain registry retains ownership of a free .tk domain.
  • Renewal Restrictions – Failure to renew will mean instant cancellation of your domain.
  • No Transfers – You cannot transfer a free .tk domain.

Tracking website analytics

  • Usage Requirement – You must generate at least 25 unique visitors within the first 90 days of registration otherwise the domain is canceled.

That’s why, despite these domains being available for free, we wouldn’t recommend using them to build a business. They’re awesome for side projects or anything you don’t really intend on promoting.

Do You Need Web Hosting And Domain Registration For Your Website?

Yes, in order to run a successful website, you will need both domain registration and web hosting services.

You can often buy both of these through the same company and manage both in one place.

Domain Names

But, you don’t have to.

If you choose to buy your hosting and domain from different places, you can connect the two together in your DNS settings area where you connect your domain name with your hosting servers.

It’s very easy to do and takes less than 2 minutes!

Can I Buy Domains In Bulk?

You certainly can buy domains in bulk! Not every domain registration company will offer this service but we’ve listed a few options for you in the list above.

Namecheap Bulk Domain

In particular Namecheap, NameSilo and Porkbun have decent bulk domain registration features.

What Is Whois Privacy And Do I Really Need It?

WHOIS is a non-profit organization that keeps the internet secure.

Who Is

It requires anyone who purchases a domain name to provide identifiable contact information including:

  • Name
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Physical address

If you buy a domain name, you must submit this information so you become the registered owner of the domain.

But you may not be comfortable with this information being made publicly available. The WHOIS database can be searched by anyone, anytime, from anywhere.

Who is

Without WHOIS privacy protection, your personal details are made public for anyone to see.

That’s why it’s important to make sure you have WHOIS privacy from the moment you buy your domain.

What’s The Difference Between Domain Extensions?

A domain extension is the ending. For example, the most popular extension is .com. But there are now thousands of other options too!

The more popular an extension is, the more expensive it can be as well.

Top-Level Domains (TLDs): Domain Extensions

However, there are also domain extensions that are restricted and only certain people who meet the criteria can use them.

For example, many country-specific domain extensions fall into this category so only residents and businesses that operate in that country can use the extension.

Other restricted domain extensions include .edu and .gov.

However, overall, all domain extensions work the same once you make the purchase.

The best one to get your hands on is .com as it’s the most memorable.

Final Thoughts: Which Is the Best Domain Registrar for You?

The best domain registrar service for most people is Namecheap. Per its name, it offers affordable services that are also packed with a range of free features.

But if you prefer a beginner-friendly service that combines your domain with hosting (and other business services) we recommend GoDaddy. It is the market leader in hosting services and offers excellent deals on domains too.

Matt-Author-Img

Article by

Matt Diggity

Matt is the founder of Diggity Marketing, LeadSpring, The Search Initiative, The Affiliate Lab, and the Chiang Mai SEO Conference. He actually does SEO too.

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