How to Choose the Best Domain Registrar

Do you want to know which domain registrars (domain providers) will be the best in 2021? Domain registrars are the businesses in charge of registering and managing domain names for all of the world’s websites.

Because there are so many ways to be duped, picking the correct domain name registrar is crucial. We’ll show you how to choose the best domain registrar by analyzing their benefits and drawbacks in this article.

Summary: Want to skip the reading and get our expert’s recommendation instead? According to our study, the top domain registrars are Domain.com if you’re just buying a domain name and Bluehost if you’re building a website because they’ll offer you a domain name for free.

What is a Registrar of Domain Names?

A domain name registrar is a corporation that sells and registers domain names on your behalf. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), a non-profit body in charge of domain name management, has accredited all domain name registrars.

Everyone can utilize the internet thanks to domain names. If you don’t have a domain name, you’ll have to visit websites by typing long strings of digits called IP addresses.

This problem is solved by domain names, which allow websites to choose addresses that are easy to remember, such as wpexpertpro.com or google.com.

ICANN permits companies to apply for accreditation and become domain registrars in order to make domain names more broadly available.

These businesses then compete to offer domain name licenses, allowing you to enjoy better service and tools when you buy your domain name.

What Exactly Do Domain Registrars Do?

The registry is a centralized database that stores all domain name records. A domain name must be added to the database, along with any related information, in order for it to be recognized.

ICANN grants a domain name registrar authorized to make modifications to your domain name’s database information on your behalf. A domain name registrar also offers simple tools for making those adjustments through your web browser.

So, let’s have a look at how to find the finest domain registrar for your website address quickly and efficiently.

How to Choose The Right Domain Registrar

All domain registrars do not have the authority to sell all domain extensions. Some registrars, for example, can only offer domain names with country-specific extensions (like .io, .in, or .ly).

Along with domain name registration, each domain provider may provide additional services. Some registrars may provide discounted domains as a promotional offer, while others may provide free add-ons to entice clients.

We consider the following four factors while selecting the best domain name registrar:

1. Costs and Time to Register

The first thing you should look at is the cost of a domain name. Some domain registrars, for example, may offer low upfront rates for the first year of registration, but their renewal prices can be much more.

A domain name can be registered for a minimum of one year. However, some businesses may demand a longer registration time, such as a minimum of two years. A domain name can be registered for up to ten years at a time.

We recommend registering your domain name for one year if you are purchasing a new web address. Your domain will not expire if you enable automatic renewal.

You should also look into any additional fees associated with domain transfers, renewals, and other expenses.

2. Domain Switches

A domain name can be transferred from one registrar to another. Normally, you wouldn’t need to transfer your domain name immediately away, but if you’re dissatisfied with your current registrar, you should be able to do so quickly.

The first thing to remember is that a domain name cannot be transferred within the first 60 days of registration. ICANN decides on the starting period. Following that, you are free to transfer it to any other registrar.

The majority of domain registrars make it simple to transfer domain names for no additional cost. Some, on the other hand, may try to make it difficult or charge a price to remove the domain lock.

Before you buy a domain name from a registrar, make sure you read the domain transfer policy.

3. Expiration Policies for Domains

Domain names are only registered for a limited time. You can extend the life of your domain provider before it expires. If you forget to renew your domain name, it will expire and anyone will be able to register it.

For businesses, this means that their domain name could be taken over. You can set up auto-renewal for your domain name to prevent this from happening.

Even if you utilize the automatic renewal feature, it’s a good idea to check the expiration policy of your domain registrar. Even after the domain has expired, some registrars provide a grace period. You can renew your expired domain name within this grace period.

We’ve heard scores of horror stories about business owners who lost their domain name because their credit card expired and their registrar didn’t provide a grace period. This is just one of the many reasons why picking the appropriate domain name registrar is crucial.

4. Supplementary Services

You should also look into what other services your domain registrar provides. Even if you don’t require these services right now, it’s helpful to know that they are available.

Domain privacy, domain parking, extended expiration protection, and other add-on services may be available. Some domain registrars may also offer WordPress hosting, website builders, and other things.

When choosing a domain name registrar, there are three things to keep in mind.

Due to the high level of competition in the domain registration industry, you will come across businesses that have some really appealing offers. While these deals may appear to be attractive, there may be some drawbacks that you are unaware of.

When picking a domain name registrar, there are a few factors to keep in mind.

1. Value-added pricing

When you buy a domain name, certain domain name registrars will immediately check for add-on services. If you do not uncheck those choices, your cost will be much higher. A.com domain name should not cost more than $14.99 a year on average. It should raise a red flag if it does.

You must pay attention to the checkout page and uncheck any optional services or upsells, such as WHOIS Guard, that you do not require. Additionally, it’s a good idea to double-check the total amount charged on your credit card accounts.

2. A Negative User Experience

Most domain registrars strive to make their websites as user-friendly as possible in order to retain your business. Some domain registrars, on the other hand, do the exact reverse.

It would be impossible for you to update your domain name settings, such as nameservers, as a result of this. If you want to transfer your domain to a new host or registrar, you’ll need to do so.

The simplest method to find out is to check up on domain provider reviews on the internet. Keep in mind that only a small percentage of satisfied consumers leave internet reviews, so read them carefully.

3. Fees that are not disclosed

When choosing a domain provider, keep an eye out for hidden prices and fees.

For first-time domain registrations, some domain registrars may have special offers for cheaper domains. The renewal fee of the domain is often extremely different and even greater, which most newcomers are unaware of.

Transferring your domain name to a new company is simple with all good domain registrars. Some, though, will charge an extra cost.

Let’s take a look at some of the greatest domain name registrars and see how they stack up against one another.

Best Domain Registrars for Purchasing a Domain

Choosing the correct domain provider will help you avoid future issues. It not only helps you secure your brand name, but it also makes switching to a different host or service provider a breeze.

These are the best domain registrars to buy your domain name from, based on the criteria we outlined before.

1. Domain.com

Domain.com was founded in 2000 and is now one of the most popular domain name registrars on the planet. You may register all top-level domain name extensions (TLDs) as well as hundreds of country code top-level domains with them (ccTLDs).

You can use Domain.com’s rapid domain search tool to do your domain name research. Their search results also include premium domains.

Private registration, whois privacy protection, free whois, bulk registration, quick transfers, easy DNS management, email account, email forwarding, and other domain management features are all available, as you would expect from a top domain registrar. If you like, you can even get web hosting from them.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to their friendly customer service team through live chat or email. They also offer a large knowledge base full of useful guides.

WPExpertPro readers can get a 25% discount on domain items at Domain.com. All you have to do is use our domain.com coupon code: nameboy

If you merely need a domain name and don’t need web hosting, Domain.com is a great option. Option #2, on the other hand, maybe beneficial for you if you want to start a blog or website because you can get a free domain name.

2. Bluehost

Bluehost is an official WordPress hosting partner and one of the world’s largest hosting businesses. They offer domain name registration as part of their web hosting service.

WPExpertPro customers may get a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, and a discount on web hosting from Bluehost, which is a great value for anyone wishing to start a website.

Basically, for $2.75 per month, you can get started and acquire a free new domain name.

To Take Advantage of This Limited-Time Bluehost Offer, Go Here.

For numerous of our tiny websites, we use Bluehost as our web hosting service. Their UI is user-friendly for beginners, it comes pre-installed with WordPress, and their chat assistance is really helpful when needed.

They also include a number of services that website owners require, such as the option to create an infinite number of subdomains, malware protection for websites, professional emails via G Suite (Google Workspace), and more.

3. Network Solutions

With over 7 million domains registered, Network Solutions is one of the world’s largest domain registrars. You can register a wide range of domain extensions, including the well-known.com,.net,.org,.biz,.info, and pretty much any other specialty TLD.

Web hosting, website builder, website security tools, business email address, online marketing, SEO services, and even IT support are all available through Network Solutions, one of the largest domain registrars.

They can basically be your one-stop-shop for your online web presence as a small business.

To get started, use their domain name search tool to rapidly see what domains are available. Premium domains are also displayed in their results.

Their platform includes all of the domain management capabilities you’d expect, such as DNS control, private registration, and WHOIS privacy, among others.

Network Solutions is offering a 25% discount on domain names to our readers. During checkout, you’ll need to utilize our link from their site, as well as our Network Solutions promo code: WPBEGINNER.

Note that the promo coupon code is case-sensitive and must be entered in all uppercase letters.

4. HostGator

Another prominent firm that provides website owners with a one-stop-shop for domain names and shared website hosting is HostGator. They have a good range of extensions, domain privacy, and DNS administration tools that are simple to use.

They feature a simple domain search engine that will help you select a good domain name for your company quickly. Their domain control interface is user-friendly and well-documented, making it simple to transfer domains if necessary.

Aside from domain names and hosting, they’ve also launched Gator, a fresh new drag-and-drop website builder. All of their website builder plans include a free domain name and hosting.

We used HostGator as our web host in the early days of WPExpertPro. We used their VPS hosting options until our website grew too huge, at which point we had to move to the Google Cloud Platform.

5. GoDaddy

GoDaddy is one of the most well-known and well-established domain registration companies. For over 18 million consumers, they administer over 77 million domain names.

They provide a large number of popular domain name extensions from which to pick. Their pricing are extremely competitive, and you may even qualify for a substantial discount on the first year of domain registration.

GoDaddy’s domain management interface is simple to use and allows you to transfer your domain name, change name servers, update contact information, handle bulk domain renewals, and configure a variety of other domain settings.

Other web services offered by GoDaddy include hosting, website building, email marketing, and more.

6. Namecheap

Namecheap is another well-known domain provider. They feature a robust domain search engine that assists you in finding the perfect domain name and suggests alternatives if your selected domain name is not available.

Domain add-on services such as domain privacy and premium DNS are also available. Their domain control area is well-designed, but it lacks the user-friendliness of GoDaddy’s new UI.

One of NameCheap’s best features is that all of their domain names come with free whois privacy.

We used to use NameCheap, but we had too many problems going into their domain management interface, so we decided to move our primary domains to another supplier.

7. DreamHost

Another famous domain name registrar and web hosting service provider is DreamHost. Anyone who signs up for their Shared Unlimited hosting plan will receive a free domain name with domain privacy included.

For $8.99 a year, you can register a domain name without purchasing hosting, which includes free private registration.

DreamHost has over 400 TLDs to choose from, as well as all of the domain management tools you’d expect from a large domain provider.

Aside from shared hosting, Dreamhost also offers DreamPress, which is managed WordPress hosting for larger websites.

8. BuyDomains

You may use BuyDomains to look for premium domain names that match your search terms. Domain names that have previously been registered but are available for purchase from a third party are known as premium domain names. These domains are more expensive since they are more memorable, shorter, and brandable.

If you can’t discover a good domain name and have the funds, you can look for a premium domain name on BuyDomains.

Final Thoughts – Domain Registrar of Choice

Hundreds of alternative domain registrars and resellers are available, including Hover, Google Domains, Tucows, 1&1 Ionos, Shopify, eNom, Name.com, Namesilo, and others.

The reason for this is that they all essentially provide the same services, and we want to make it as simple as possible for our users to choose the best and most secure domain registrar without becoming overwhelmed.

Domain.com, in our opinion, is the best domain registrar on the market for both small and large enterprises. They have the most competitive pricing and all of the features.

If you want to start a website, both Bluehost and HostGator provide a free domain name when you join up for their web hosting.

They are both among the greatest web hosting businesses on the planet, and they both provide step-by-step website setup for any form of a website, including real estate, small company websites, online stores, and more.

Domain Name Registrars: Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve answered a lot of questions after assisting over 670,000 consumers in finding the best domain registrar. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about domain name registrars and their responses.

What difference does it make which domain registrar I use?

Because not all domain registrars are made equal, it does. They could have distinct domain extensions, features, and costs, for example. Above all, you want to go with a domain registrar that provides excellent customer service and secure network architecture.

The majority of business owners rely on their domain registrars for DNS, which helps consumers find their way to your website. Even if your web hosting server is up and running, your users will be unable to access your website if your domain registrar’s network is down.

Furthermore, you should look for domain registrars with strong customer service and a high reputation, since this will come in handy in the event of an emergency.

This is why we prefer Domain.com, Bluehost, or GoDaddy, as they all offer a secure infrastructure and infrastructure.

We also highly advise customers to avoid domain registrars such as NameBright, which utilize fraudulent business techniques to prevent people from moving their domains.

What is the most affordable domain registrar?

Nothing surpasses free when it comes to value. Bluehost is the cheapest domain registrar since they include a free domain name with site hosting.

WPExpertPro users may use our Domain.com discount code to save even more money on Domain.com, making the prices even more appealing.

What is a decent domain name price?

Prices for domain names vary depending on the type of extension and registrar you select, but a typical domain should cost between $9 and $14.99 per year.

Here’s how much a new domain registration costs with different registrars as a fast guide:

• Bluehost offers a free domain along with hosting. a monthly fee of $2.75
• Domain.com – $7.45 with our coupon code for.com domain names
• Network Solutions –.com is $7.49 with our promo code, or it’s free with their site hosting bundle.
• HostGator — includes a free domain and hosting. a monthly fee of $2.64
  $11.99 at GoDaddy
• DreamHost – Includes a free domain and hosting. a monthly fee of $2.59

Is it possible to buy a domain name indefinitely (permanently)?

No, a domain name cannot be purchased indefinitely. The registration of a domain name is done once a year. You can, however, pre-pay for up to ten years, ensuring that you will have a domain name for ten years.

You can have the domain for as long as you pay the annual renewal money, and no one can take it away from you.

Unstoppable domains are selling NFT domains for crypto wallets that may be purchased permanently.

These Web3 domains presently do not work natively on all browsers, but we anticipate that as blockchain evolves, businesses will be able to own their names for the foreseeable future, even if they are registered with one of the prominent registrars listed above.

Why is it more expensive to renew a domain?

Domain registrars frequently provide steep savings on the first year’s domain registration fee, but renewals are charged at the usual rate.

As a result, we propose pre-paying the registration amount for a period of two to three years to lock in your domain registration discount.

Which domain registrar is the safest?

Because all domain registrars must adhere to ICANN standards, they are all theoretically safe. However, you can take further precautions to prevent your domain name from being stolen.

Implementing Domain Lock, for example, will prohibit unauthorized domain transfers.

You should also look for a domain provider that provides two-factor authentication as well as security.

Bluehost and GoDaddy are the safest domain registrars in our experience.

Many businesses use Cloudflare Domains and MarkMonitor for security if they’re seeking corporate solutions.

Is it possible to utilize numerous domain registrars?

Yes, if you choose, you can use multiple domain registrars. Domain.com, Bluehost, GoDaddy, NameCheap, Name.com, and others are among the registrars where we have domains registered.

This is mostly due to the fact that we buy and sell domains, and it’s just faster to move a domain from one registrar account to another.

It can take up to 7 days to transfer domains to a different registrar.

Who decides whether or not a domain is a premium?

Premium domains are usually owned by an established company or entrepreneur. The pricing of their premium domain will be set by that person.

Some premium domains are sometimes held back by the domain registry and only released at a premium price. The pricing is set by their sales team in this situation.

For example, for our company Awesome Motive, we purchased a two-letter am. codomain, which was a premium domain.

In your perspective, what are the top three best domain registrars?

The following are our top three picks for the best domain name registrar:

Domain.com is the best domain provider in the world (overall). Plus, we’re offering special prices to our readers.

If you’re seeking web hosting, Bluehost is the best domain provider. Bonus: the domain name is completely free.

Solutions for Networks

This isn’t a joke, and the last question isn’t a joke either. Even after referring individuals to this tutorial, we still get this inquiry.

We hope that this post has taught you how to select the finest domain provider for your company.