7 Best Domain Registrars for Establishing an Online Brand
Planning to start a new online business? Before you can officially launch, you need to have a few things in place. One of them is a domain name.
Your domain name is an important part of your overall brand. It reflects what you do and who you want to target. Once you have an idea for your new business idea and brand name, you need to buy a domain, register it, and host the site.
This is where a domain registrar becomes important.
A domain registrar is the organization through which you purchase and set up your domain. In the process, you also get a URL linked to a unique IP address.
But which registrar should you use?
To make that decision less complicated and tedious, we have compiled a list of the best domain registrars for purchasing and setting up domain names.
7 Top Domain Registrars Available Now
1. shoppify
Perfect for e-commerce businesses.
Shopify is the best domain registrar to use when creating an online store. It provides all of the tools and features required to configure each website component, from apps and themes to site navigation and content layout.
A functional website requires web hosting services, site design, and in most cases, email and customer service capabilities. While all of these can be arranged separately, it is best to use a solution that offers everything in one place.
Domains registered with Shopify are immediately connected to your online store, and there is no need to go through the complex DNS forwarding process.
In other words, there is no need to go through the complex DNS forwarding process. Therefore, if you are looking to build an online store, Shopify is the perfect domain registrar for you.
Quick Info:
- Pricing: Domain registration fees range from $11 to $14 per year. Renewal fees are the same as the first year purchase price, with no hidden fees or surprises.
- Domain Transfer: Transferring a domain to Shopify, or vice versa, is easy. You can transfer your domain to Shopify by verifying its eligibility and holding it for a minimum of 60 days.
- Privacy Option: Shopify offers WHOIS privacy protection on all domain registrations. There is no need to purchase additional services to add this extra layer of security.
2. hover.
Ideal for quick and simple registration.
Hover is a simple, user-friendly domain registration service that has been in operation since 2008 for businesses that need a hassle-free domain Hover Connect allows you to sync important services such as Shopify, Facebook, and Etsy. Email functionality is also available, but must be purchased separately.
Quick Information:
- Pricing: .com domains start at $12.99 per year, renewals start at $14.99 per year.
- Transferring a Domain: To transfer a domain to Hover, you must ensure that the domain was registered more than 60 days ago and has not been transferred within the last 60 days. You must also ensure that there are no disputes related to that domain.
- Privacy Options: All top-level domains registered with Hover include WHOIS protection by default.
3. Namecheap
Ideal for affordable domain registration
Namecheap offers both domain registration and web hosting services. If you are looking for an affordable package with website hosting and WHOIS protection, this is a good option. However, customer reviews say that they do not offer good support, so keep that in mind when comparing them to other registrars.
Quick Information:
- Pricing: .com domains start at $8.88 per year. Renewals start at $12.98, and for the second year you will pay an average of $4 more than you paid for the first year.
- Domain Transfer: If your domain is older than 60 days and has not been transferred within the last 60 days, you can transfer it from Namecheap. Transferring a domain to a registrar is easy. Simply enter the domain name in the search bar to see if it is eligible, then follow the three steps to transfer it.
- Privacy Options: Namecheap offers WhoisGuard to protect your information on the WHOIS directory. In addition, this registrar offers security features such as VPN, PremiumDNS, and SSL certificates for an additional annual fee.
4. domain.com
Best for domain registration without hosting.
Domain.com, best known for its generic top-level domain, is a great choice for quick domain registration. You can also get live chat support, which can help when setting up a new domain. However, the prices are not the best and privacy protection comes at an extra cost. Nevertheless, Domain.com is a reliable web host and is suitable for those who want to host their site in the same place they registered it.
Quick Information:
- Price: .com domains start at $9.99 per year with a one-year minimum contract. Renewals start at $13.99 per year.
- Domain Transfer: Domain.com makes it easy to transfer your domain name. However, you will not know how much it will cost until after you enter your domain name.
- Privacy protection option: WHOIS privacy protection is available as an add-on and can be bundled with your domain registration for $8.99.
5. Google Domains
Best for simple domain registration.
Unlike other domain registrars, Google Domains is no frills and charges less for .com domains than most other services. In addition, using Google Domains as your registrar allows you to easily run paid ads; if you plan on using Google Ads to promote your business, this website is very easy to set up.
Quick Info:
- Pricing: Pricing for new domains starts at $9 per year. All plans include email forwarding, 24/7 customer support, Google 2-step verification, and subdomain and domain transfers.
- Domain Transfer: Transferring a domain to Google is easy, but the cost may vary depending on the domain you transfer.
- Privacy protection option: with free WHOIS protection.
6. GoDaddy
Best for ultimate domain privacy.
GoDaddy is the world's most popular domain registrar, but also the most expensive. Domains come with high renewal fees and privacy is offered as an add-on; GoDaddy may be a good choice if you want to register with a well-known domain service, but based on price alone, it is not suitable for budding entrepreneurs.
Quick Info:
- Pricing: .com domains are $11.99 for the first year. Renewals are expensive and can only be confirmed in your account after domain registration.
- Domain Transfer: Transferring a domain is easy, starting at $7.99 for a .com TLD.
- Privacy options: three levels of domain protection are available, each including WHOIS protection.
7. dynadot
Ideal for premium domains.
With a variety of top-level domains (TLDs), Dynadot is an ideal choice for creating niche websites; a TLD is the end of a domain, such as .com, .tech, .restaurant, etc. The service offers hundreds of these, so you are likely to find the right one for your business. Dynadot's website is quick and easy to navigate, making it a great place to start your domain search.
Quick Information:
- Pricing: .com prices start at $7.99 and renewals are $8.99. You can find both registration and renewal prices for all TLDs on the Dynadot website.
- Domain Transfer: Transferring a domain is easy and costs $8.99 for a .com domain.
- Privacy Options: Domains come with WHOIS protection. In addition, Dynadot offers two-factor authentication for all account holders.
Domain Registration for Business
As you can see, there is no shortage of domain registrars. As such, business owners have many options to choose from. Nevertheless, the choice of registrar ultimately depends on your needs and personal preferences.
Some registrars offer full-featured plans that include e-mail addresses, web hosting, and alternative top-level domains. Most domain registrars offer a stand-alone .com domain registration service with a few add-ons such as WHOI privacy.
See what packages and bundles registrars offer to save money and manage everything from one place.
Domain Registrar FAQ
Is it important to choose a domain registrar?
Yes, the domain registrar you choose will determine how quickly your website is built. Ideally, you want to use a registrar that offers domain hosting and domains for purchase, such as Shopify.
Which are the best domain name registrars?
The best registrar for domain name registration is one that offers the features you need at the price point you want. Look through the list above and choose the one that is right for your business.
What is the best way to purchase a domain name?
Open the domain registrar's website and use the search function to find available domain names. For example, if you want to build a clothing website, you can quickly find a relevant domain via Shopify and register it in minutes.