How To Choose The Best Domain Registrar For You
In order to choose the best domain registration service company, you need to know exactly what you are looking for. Typically, domain names consist of your name or business name, separated by a dot from the TLD , such as .com or .xyz.
Your choice of both of these elements will significantly impact how easily visitors can find, remember, and recommend your website to others. Finding a domain registrar that can offer all the elements you need for the domain name you had in mind should be the one you go with.
You then need to check the domain name you want is available. Checking across multiple domain registration services is a great way to find out which one has the domain you want to purchase.
Make sure the domain registration service you’ve picked offers basic features like DNS management and email forwarding. Also, compare the pricing, renewal rates, add-ons, and support to see which one offers the best value for money.
What Is An Icann Accredited Domain Registrar
ICANN accredited domain registrar means domain registrars that are accredited by ICANN organization, the organization that manages the international domain name system.
To be ICANN accredited registrar, the domain registrar must adhere to the terms and conditions of this accreditation.
ICANN terms and conditions include maintaining a high level of the quality of services, protection of customer privacy, keeping the registry clean by protecting from cyber-squatting, and more.
Why Do I Need A Website For My Business
Even small local businesses that only serve their hometown need a site. Thats because the web is the first place people go when looking for a product or service. A website helps every business:
- Promote and sell their products and services
- Connect with new customers
- Build credibility
- Compete with bigger businesses
- Control their brand and keep their marketing fresh and current
Best of all, a website is much easier and more affordable than you might think. C-DR offers a complete selection of online tools for building websites, along with hosting, email, and marketing options to grow your business on the web.
You May Like: How To Host Your Domain
The Role Of The Domain Registrar
Setting up a website begins with choosing a name and finding a domain registrar to register it with the overall domain database known as the registry. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers manages the system. It ensures compliance with the guidelines and guarantees that every website has a unique domain name.
You can think of the domain registrar as the go-between who makes changes for you in the registry. These services are accredited by ICANN to fulfill this role. Each one offers a specific selection of domain name extensions, such as .com, .net, or .biz, and other top-level domains . Of course, this list has grown in recent years to include a variety of industry-specific domains and domains for different countries.
Web Hosting Vs Domain Names
Newbies tend to confuse hosting and domains as being the same thing. They are two different things but both play a vital role in any website being live on the internet.
Your hosting solution is where your website is stored and your domain directs users to your site. Consider it in terms of real estate. Your street address is the domain and your house are the hosting solution where your website lives.
While all hosting providers tend to offer domain registrar services not all domain registrars offer hosting. While you dont need to have your domain at the same place as your web hosting it does have its benefits if you use one company for all.
Keeping your hosting and domain services with the same company ensures that you are billed from the same company and it keeps everything neat and organised.
You can get affordable hosting services here on Monsterhost.
Also Check: Can You Buy A Domain Name On Wix
How We Chose The Best Domain Registrars
In addition to the authors own personal experience with the companies listed above, our selection and ranking methodology took the following criteria into account:
Security
This is arguably the most crucial aspect of any domain registering company. Account hacking and unauthorized domain transfers happen time and again, and you definitely dont want to be the next victim.
Registrars that respect and value their customers domains should have different layers of security in place in order to detect and prevent any unauthorized access or changes. Standard security measures include domain lock, account lock, two-factor authentication, and additional verification steps for processing critical changes, such as transferring a domain out to another registrar.
Whois Privacy
Almost all domain owners nowadays prefer to keep their personal contact details private and hidden from the public, and they have every right and reason to do that. Having your personal details publicly displayed in the Whois database can bring about many needless risks. If youre not getting free Whois privacy, you better move on to the next registrar.
Company Reputation
We only chose registrars that are accredited by ICANN . But that alone is not enough to establish trustworthiness, so we also looked at each companys history in the industry and narrowed down the selection to the ones that have a proven track record of reliability.
Support
Pricing
How A Domain Registrar Works
A domain name is a unique web address that allows people to easily find your site online. As you go through the process of choosing your domain name, youll also need to pick a place to register it. Thats where domain registrars come in. A domain registrar is the entity through which you purchase and set up your domain it also assigns your URL to a unique IP address.
Read Also: How To Get A Web Domain For Free
Is The Domain Name The Same As Hosting
New website owners often confuse domains with hosting. While they both play an important role in getting your site viewed by the masses, theyre two totally different things with their own separate costs. The domain is whats used to direct visitors to your site.
Hosting is where your site is actually stored. Visitors access the hosting server, where all of your sites content and data is, through the domain.
Many web hosting providers offer registrar services as well, which is usually the source of confusion. However, you dont have to register your domain with your hosting provider.
You can use multiple companies and services. Though, registering the domain with the hosting provider does offer some benefits. For one, youre only billed by one company.
This can help you stay organized and make it easier to keep track of expenses. Secondly, many providers offer a free domain for your first year if youre a new member.
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 youre set on getting a .com, though, consider using modifications on your business name.
Lets assume ghostlycastle.com is not available, and then try these changes:
- Add articles, such as a the or an
- Try adding another word to your domain
- Possibly include a hyphen
Disclaimer: Its 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 , including Bluehost, HostGator, Domain.com and BuyDomains. The fact that theyre all under one umbrella should not affect the service you receive for domain registration, but its good to know.
Don’t Miss: Can I Transfer My Domain To Squarespace
Quick And Easy Domain Transfers
Domain transfers are a sneakily important aspect of a good registrar. This is especially true if you have chosen to bundle your services.
Why? At some point youre likely going to transfer your domain, especially if youve chosen to bundle it with a web hosting service.
While I do recommend bundling with Bluehost for beginners, Bluehost is probably not the last place your website will live if you get really get serious about growing your traffic and web presence.
You also might end up finding a better deal with a different domain registrar later on. Or you might just not gel with the current domain registrar.
Whatever your reason, youre going to want to make sure you choose a domain registrar with a clear and straightforward transfer policy. It shouldnt cost you a bunch of money and time on the phone with a customer support rep just to transfer your domain to a new registrar down the road.
As you research, see what it takes to transfer a domain from their platform. Make sure its spelled out in clear and plain language. If not, you might end up resenting your choice down the road.
Why Do I Need A Domain Name
You need to register your domain name because its a key component of your website.
When you register your domain name, you are declaring that you own the domain name and it has become part of the DNS system.
Domain Name System is a system used for finding computer services or information on the Internet by using a unique type of name.
So once you registered your domain name it will create a unique record in DNS space that will point to your web hosting.
Read Also: How To Get In Domain
What Are Domain Extensions
A domain extension is called a top-level domain or TLD and are the letters that come after a domain in your URL. For example, www.google.com, Google is the domain name and .com is the TLD extension.
Domain extensions serve different purposes. Chiefly, they are used to identify the websites mission or geographical location. For example, .com is for commercial websites while .gov is reserved for government-related websites. These extensions are registered and created by ICANN or the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and they are tasked with creating new unique TLDs there are over 1,000 TLDs to choose from now.
The domain extensions are important because they are what you are paying for. You can register any domain name you want as long as it isnt already registered or infringes on someones rights. However, there are only so many domain extensions that you can use. Generally, the popularity of the extension is what controls registration and renewal costs.
Things To Look For In A Domain Registrar
Not all domain registrars are the same. Pricing and the services they offer vary. Some work independently of hosting services while others work exclusively with web hosting companies for a more seamless user experience. You can find a domain registrar that offers what you need. Thatâs why you will want to consider these features when choosing a domain registrar:
Read Also: What Does A Domain Name Cost
Shopify Business Name Generator
Shopify Business Name Generator is one of the popular and free domain name generator tools by Shopify. It allows you to check domain name availability instantly.
It also suggests the domain names based on your business category. You can select the business type while searching for a domain name. It provides you with hundreds of suggestions based on your keyword.
Proper Accreditation And A Solid Reputation
We mentioned earlier that registrars need to be accredited by ICANN. Its important to look for that accreditation. There are plenty of unscrupulous entities out there that are pretending to be reputable registrars in an attempt to take your money. To gain that seal of approval from ICANN, companies have to meet a number of requirements. This helps to keep the industry regulated and honest.
ICANN keeps a list of accredited registrars for convenience. It can be used to quickly identify which companies to work with. However, when it comes to reputation, youll need to do a bit more research on your own. Its a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau and see how long the company has been in business. A good track record of service is always a good sign.
Read Also: What Is Is Domain Name
How Does Domain Name Hosting Work
To understand how domain name hosting works, it is essential to understand how a domain name actually works. When you enter a domain name into your internet browser, it sends a request to the Domain Name System.
The Domain Name System then looks up the name servers associated with that domain name. It communicates your request to the name servers, which then forward that request to the web server hosting the site. The web server then relays the information associated with that site back to the browser.
The name servers are managed by the domain web host, and the web server is managed by your website host. The domain name hosts responsibility is to register your domain name with the DNS and maintain the name servers so that your domain name remains active online.
Cheapest Domain Name Extensions
The other thing to consider when it comes to cheap domains is the TLD extension. This relates to the end of your domain name, with the most popular domain extensions being:
| Domain Extension | |
|---|---|
| .net | 3.2% |
So lets take a quick look at which extensions are worth looking at if budget is your biggest concern.Not all top-level domains come equal. For instance, some TLDs are completely free, whereas others can cost up to $30,000 per year!
Read Also: How To Get An Email Domain For Free
Top 4 Cheapest Domain Name Registrars
#1 Domain.com Use coupon code Sitehub to get 25% off domains and hosting
#2 Namecheap.com get a .com for as low as $8.88
#3 Bluehost.com Free domain when you buy hosting
#4 Namesilo Domain name pricing starts at a very cheap $0.99
Several of the best domain registrars offer affordable domains. There are also web hosting providers that will take care of the registration process for you and offer a free year of domain registration.
These options can help you get your site established without breaking the bank. In this guide, well go over some of the cheapest domain names around. Before we do that, its important to understand the basics of what a domain is and what a registrar can do for you.
Disclosure: When you purchase a domain or a web hosting package through links on this page, we earn some commission. This helps us to keep this site running. There are no extra costs to you at all by using our links.
Domain Registration Scams And Traps
Unfortunately, during your search for the lowest price for domains, youll encounter companies that care more about money than providing quality service. There are several scams and pitfall that novice website owners experience. These issues can end up costing you more money in the long run, so you need to be careful. As if that wasnt enough, some of these traps are perfectly legal due to the fine print.
Some of the most common problems come from the WHOIS database. Some companies will charge you to make changes to your personal information in the database after the registration process is finished. Even if the error is not due to a fault of your own, youll have to pay extra.
Some registrars also do some shady things if you purchase a private domain. Instead of registering your private information, theyll attach the domain to the company. So, if you try to transfer the domain to another service or get involved with any legal issues, the paper trail says that they own your domain.
Registrar locks can lead to some issues as well. Locks were developed to reduce your risks of domain slamming, which is a fraudulent attempt to get you to accidentally transfer your domain to a more expensive registrar. Unfortunately, that lock can also prevent you from legitimately transferring your domain to another registrar without paying a hefty fee.
You May Like: How To Get An Email With Your Domain
What Is The Cheapest Com Domain Name Registrar
Looking to renew several of our .com domain names, some being previously registered at Gandi.net and some other at Namecheap.com, it came to our attention that it is actually possible to renew a domain name for much cheaper by changing registrar, and that transfer doesn’t have to be so expensive.
While most hosts are trying to lure you to their services with a very cheap first year only domain registration, at the end of that period, it is better to switch to an external domain name registrar.
In any case, if you are trying to optimize your costs regarding your web presence, also make sure that you are not overpaying any services: if you have a web hosting anywhere, you can easily setup your own mail box, or simply setup an email forwarding address at your registrar, that will forward your emails to the email of your choice at no extra cost. Most companies are charging extra for this simple service that is basically free with a little configuration on your side.
The same way, hosting your websites can be low cost and bring you good results, even if your domain name is not registered where your website is hosted. A simple DNS address change and you are covered!
Also, you can get a lot of extra benefits for your website, such as domain security and website optimization, by using an external optimization service technology, which can be free.
What If The Domain Name I Want Is Taken
There are millions of domain name extensions and you are likely to find a domain name available but if the domain name of your choice is already owned by someone else, then you will have to find a new one or try to talk to the owner and see if its possible to buy from them.
Some domain registrar also provides additional services on this and also some domain registrar will also have domain sales market to sell already registered or expiring domains.
Read Also: How Do You Make Your Own Email Domain