- Advisor
- Business
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Amy Nichol Smith,Kelly Main
Contributor,Editor
Reviewed By
Cassie Bottorff
Editor
Reviewed By
Updated: Apr 29, 2024, 10:12am
Important Disclosure: The content provided does not consider your particular circ*mstances and does not constitute personal advice. Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation.
If you require any personal advice, please seek such advice from an independently qualified financial advisor. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, this does not include all available products from across the market. Although the information provided is believed to be accurate at the date of publication, you should always check with the product provider to ensure that information provided is the most up to date.
It can be surprisingly tricky to choose the best domain registrar. Many offer attractive introductory rates, buffered by high renewal rates, inclusions and contract lengths. To help take the guesswork out of the process and to avoid any surprises along the way, we’ve rounded up our pick of the top domain registrars to have on your radar.
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- Featured Partners
- Our top 11 domain name registrars of 2023
- Who is Forbes Advisor Small Business?
- NameCheap
- IONOS
- Domain.com
- Google Domains
- Dreamhost
- Hover
- GoDaddy
- Bluehost
- HostGator
- Network Solutions
- BuyDomains
- How to choose a domain name registrar
- Methodology
- What is a domain registrar?
- Why WHOIS privacy is important
- What’s the difference between domain extensions?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Featured Partners
1
GoDaddy
Starting price
£0.99 per year (with two-year billing)
Renewal cost
£17.97 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
1
GoDaddy
On GoDaddy’s Website
2
NameCheap
Starting price
£4.76 for the first year
Renewal cost
£11.60 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
2
NameCheap
On NameCheap’s Secure Website
3
Domain.com
Starting price
£8.72 ($10.99)* for the first year
Renewal cost
£15.85 ($19.99)* per year
Free WHOIS privacy
No
3
Domain.com
On Domain.com’s Secure Website
Our top 11 domain name registrars of 2023
- NameCheap:Best overall
- IONOS:Best for comprehensive hosting packages
- 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
- BuyDomains:Best for premium domains
Who is Forbes Advisor Small Business?
The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content to guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.
We analysed the top players in the space and narrowed it down to scrutinise and rank the top 11 across 12 key metrics. Our ratings consider factors such as transparent pricing, employee self-sufficiency, compatibility with third-party integrations, access to customer support and ratings. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
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Best Overall
NameCheap
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
£4.76 for the first year
Renewal cost
£11.60 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
On NameCheap's Secure Website
Starting price
£4.76 for the first year
Renewal cost
£11.60 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
Why We Picked It
NameCheap is one of the best domain name registrars because it offers low registration prices for top-level domain names (TLD). The popular .com extension costs as low as £4.76 per year for your first term and renews at £11.60 per year (with discounts for multiple-year renewals). Other TLDs are a bit pricer: £9.53 for .net and .org, and £11.92 for .io.
Every domain registration gets free WHOIS privacy for as long as you use NameCheap as your registrar. NameCheap charges for a few extras, including DDoS protection and SSL certificates. It offers web hosting, VPNs, and email at a cost, also.
Who should use it:
NameCheap is an ideal domain registrar for anyone who needs domain names. Its free domain privacy, fair registration fees and low renewal costs are why NameCheap is one of the best domain registrars.
Pros & Cons
- Low registration prices
- Fair renewal prices
- Free Whois privacy
- Hosting available
- Low cost for SSL certificates
- 24/7 support via live chat
- No phone support
- DDoS protection costs extra
- Expensive for .io extensions
- Pricing increases upon renewal
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BEST FOR COMPREHENSIVE HOSTING PACKAGES
IONOS
4.9
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
£1 for the first year
Renewal cost
£9 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
On IONOS's Secure Website
Starting price
£1 for the first year
Renewal cost
£9 per year
Why We Picked It
With IONOS’ compelling package, one can get more than just a domain name. It goes beyond the basics to offer a suite of features that accommodate your business needs. Notably, its inexpensive pricing for the first year of domain registration stands out, particularly for .com domains, which are known for their credibility and recognition. Its introductory pricing is just £1 for your first year. Or if you buy a hosting package, your first year is free.
If you get a hosting package, IONOS enhances the value proposition with additional inclusions such as a professional email address linked to your domain, wildcard SSL security for protecting your visitors and boosting your Google rank, the capacity to create up to 10,000 subdomains and a one-click activation process. All these are backed by round-the-clock customer support. The package stands out for its considerable offerings that cater to a holistic digital experience, not just domain registration.
Learn More: Read our full IONOS review.
Who Should Use It:
Businesses seeking a comprehensive web hosting package with an emphasis on security and support.
Pros & Cons
- Affordable first-year pricing for .com domains
- 24/7 customer support
- Can have up to 10,000 subdomains (such as help.yoursitename.com, blog.yoursitename.com)
- Charges extra to protect your domain and DNS data
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
Best For Long-Term Discounts
Domain.com
4.9
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
£8.72 ($10.99)* for the first year
Renewal cost
£15.85 ($19.99)* per year
Free WHOIS privacy
No
On Domain.com's Secure Website
Starting price
£8.72 ($10.99)* for the first year
Renewal cost
£15.85 ($19.99)* per year
Free WHOIS privacy
No
Why We Picked It
Pricing for domains at Domain.com is a bit buried, but you can find a full list to make it easier for you to decide which extension is most affordable for you. The standard .com costs £8.72 ($10.99)* for the first year and renews at £15.85 ($19.99)* per year. Rather than get a discount for a longer term, you’re charged more: A .com domain costs £43.58 ($54.95)* for five years.
Domain.com charges extra for domain privacy and DDoS protection, but it bundles those features in one price (£7.13 ($8.99)* for the first year). You can get hosting, SSL certificates and email at an added cost. Other domains are a bit pricey at Domain.com: A .io extension costs £38.06 ($47.99)* the first year (£49.96 ($62.99)* renewal) and .shop is £1.58 ($1.99)* (£35.68 ($44.99)* for renewal).
Who should use it:
You could do well with Domain.com for short-term website projects. You can only register a domain for five years at a time, and then you’ll be locked into a higher renewal cost.
* conversion 14 June 2023
Pros & Cons
- Competitive introductory pricing
- Wide range of extensions available
- Phone & live chat support available
- Web hosting available
- Domain privacy costs £7.13 ($8.99)* per year extra
- DDoS protection costs extra
- Pricing doubles upon renewal
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Best Value For Price
Google Domains
4.7
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
£10 per year
Renewal cost
£10 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
Starting price
£10 per year
Renewal cost
£10 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
Why We Picked It
Google Domains is a straightforward domain registrar. Pricing is transparent and fair, and you can see how much you’ll pay before even going to your cart. Most popular extensions are £10 per year (.com, .net, .org, .us, .info), but .io is pricier at £49 per year. You get domain privacy for free, but there are no options for DDoS protection. In fact, the only other add-on is for Google’s Workspace suite. Also, Google Domains doesn’t offer nearly as many extensions as other registrars.
We like that Google Domains offers insights about your domain choice. For example, we chose a .com with the word “castle” in it, and Google Domains pointed out people might hear “kassel” and type it incorrectly. Registering a domain with Google Domains is simple and there are few upsells.
Who should use it:
Google Domains is strictly a domain registrar (okay, email registrar, too), so this is best to use if you already know which web host you want to use.
Pros & Cons
- Pricing does not increase upon renewal
- Easy to use
- Backed by advanced security features
- Built-in email forwarding
- Workspace addon available
- Limited number of domain extensions available
- No DDoS protection
- .io extension is pricey
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
BEST FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Dreamhost
3.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
£6-34 ($7.99)* per year
Renewal cost
£14.27 ($17.99)* per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
On DreamHost's Secure Website
Starting price
£6-34 ($7.99)* per year
Renewal cost
£14.27 ($17.99)* per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
Why We Picked It
The price for a .com domain with Dreamhost is £6.34 ($7.99)* per year for your first year, then £14.27 ($17.99)* per year upon renewal. Dreamhost is better known as a web host, so it’s no surprise to see an upsell in the checkout process to get hosting. However, if you have an existing web hosting plan with Dreamhost you may get additional discounts on domains.
Domain name privacy comes standard, keeping your personal information private. However, one downside compared to the other best domain name registrars is that there are no options to add on DDoS protection.
Who should use it:
Dreamhost offers low-cost domain registration for the first year, but renewals are pricey. However, it could be an attractive option if you also plan on using Dreamhost for your web hosting or for beginners who might need extra assistance from support.
* conversion 14 June 2023
Pros & Cons
- Low-cost intro rates starting at £6.34 ($7.99)* per year
- Free domain name privacy included
- Competitive pricing for .io extensions
- Low-cost email hosting plans available
- Free domain with the purchase of a web hosting plan (starts at £2.34 ($2.95)* per month)
- Pricey renewals
- Only allows up to three years’ registration
- No DDoS add-on
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
Best for Bulk Discounts
Hover
3.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
£11.89 ($14.99)* per year
Renewal cost
£13.47 ($16.99)* per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
Starting price
£11.89 ($14.99)* per year
Renewal cost
£13.47 ($16.99)* per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
Why We Picked It
Hover is first and foremost a domain registrar, but it also offers email. If you choose Hover for your domain registration, you’ll have to find a separate web host. Hover’s pricing is slightly above average for the industry, but it does offer free domain privacy. A .com extension costs £11.89 ($14.99)*, £11.10 ($13.99)* for a .org, £13.47 ($16.99)* for a .net and £27.75 ($34.99)* for a .io. Renewal prices are the same.
Hover offers sales often on specific extensions, so you may be able to get a deal at regular prices. You can register a domain for up to 10 years, but there’s no discount for multiple years. Hover discounts bulk domain renewals, though. So, if you need multiple domains, you can save on 10 or more domains when you renew after the first year (discounts also apply to multi-year plans). For example, if you register 10 domains for two years each, the second year for each domain gets a discount.
Who should use it:
Hover is a great choice for anyone who needs multiple domains, thanks to its discount for bulk domains.
* conversion 14 June 2023
Pros & Cons
- Transparent pricing
- Free domain privacy
- Email available as an add-on
- Phone and live chat support
- Slightly expensive domains
- No hosting available
- The .io extension is expensive
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Best for Ultra-Low Intro Rates
GoDaddy
2.9
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
£0.99 per year (with two-year billing)
Renewal cost
£17.97 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
On GoDaddy's Website
Starting price
£0.99 per year (with two-year billing)
Renewal cost
£17.97 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
Why We Picked It
GoDaddy is one of the first big names in domains, so there’s an expectation for it to be one of the best domain name registrars. Over the years, it’s become more than it once was—now it offers web hosting, email, marketing tools and a website builder. It’s a one-stop shop for web services.
Pricing is a bit expensive with GoDaddy, even though it offers deep first-year discounts. A .com costs £17.97 regularly, .net is £19.97, .org is £19.97 and .io is £59.99, all with the same renewal prices. When you search for a domain name, GoDaddy shows you the results along with insights about your choice. And then you get to the upsells—and there are a lot with GoDaddy.
Who should use it:
The best use case for GoDaddy is when you need an all-in-one domain registrar, web host and site builder. You’ll get a deep discount on your first term, but to make the best of it, you’ll have to commit to a long-term contract.
Pros & Cons
- Deep discounts for first term
- All-in-one web services shop
- 24/7 live chat and phone support
- Free domain with web hosting plans (starting at £3.99 per month)
- Expensive renewal pricing
- Expensive domain protection
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
Best for Bundling Domains and Hosting
Bluehost
2.9
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
£10.17 per year
Renewal cost
$21.99 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
No
On Bluehost's Website
Starting price
£10.17 per year
Renewal cost
$21.99 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
No
Why We Picked It
Bluehost is best known as a web host, but it also offers domain registration services. Pricing starts at £10.17 for .com (renews at $21.99 ), £14.87 for .net (renews at $19.99 ), £11.74for .org (renews at $18.99 ) and £3.91 for .tech (renews at $69.99). Its pricing is average for the first term, but renewals are a bit more expensive.
You can get everything you need from Bluehost to get started with a website, but everything comes at an added cost, including domain privacy. The best deal you can get with Bluehost is as a bundle, but as a domain registrar, you’ll pay higher prices.
Who should use it: If you’re looking to start a website and you’re not sure what your plans are for it after the first year, getting a bundle from Bluehost is a good choice to get a free domain name for the first year.
* conversion 8 August 2024
Pros & Cons
- Web hosting bundles offer free domain name for first year
- Web hosting available
- Email availableGet a free domain with the purchase of a web hosting plan (starting at £8.99per month)
- 24/7 phone and live chat support
- Pricey renewals
- Domain privacy costs an extra $15.00 per year
- Lots of added costs
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
Best for Low-Cost Hosting with A Free Domain
HostGator
2.9
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
£8.99 per year
Renewal cost
£12.99 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
No
On HostGator's Secure Website
Starting price
£8.99 per year
Renewal cost
£12.99 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
No
Why We Picked It
HostGator is primarily a web host that also offers domain registration. In fact, as a domain registrar, it focuses on TLDs, such as .com, .store, .biz and .org. HostGator doesn’t offer premium domain extensions, like .io.
Introductory pricing is on the high end – especially when it renews at £12.99 per year and does not include domain privacy. Meanwhile, providers such as Google Domains offer domains for £10 per year and the pricing does not increase upon renewal. It does, however, offer web hosting plans, which include a free domain name and costs as little as £2.59 per month.
Who should use it:
If you plan on sticking to the most popular domain name extensions and you need a web host, HostGator could be a good pick for you, but it is a bit expensive.
Pros & Cons
- Web service bundles available
- Discounts on first-year domain registration
- 24/7 phone and live chat support
- Free domain with web hosting plans (starting at £2.59 per month)
- Limited domain extensions
- Expensive domain privacy
- Above-average domain registration prices
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
Best for 100-Year Registrations
Network Solutions
2.8
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
£19.83 ($25)* per year
(billed annually)
Renewal cost
£30.13 ($37.99)*
per month
Free WHOIS privacy
No
Starting price
£19.83 ($25)* per year
(billed annually)
Renewal cost
£30.13 ($37.99)*
per month
Free WHOIS privacy
No
Why We Picked It
Network Solutions has an advantage in the domain registrar industry because it’s a pioneer – it’s been around for more than 25 years. Perhaps that’s why its prices are so high. Single-year registration of a .com domain is £19.83 ($25)*, and it renews at £30.13 ($37.99)* per year. It isn’t just the .com extension that’s pricey. A .net and .org are also £19.83 ($25)* per year, and a .io is £63.44 ($79.99)* per year.
You’ll have to pay extra for any addons at Network Solutions. You can have access to hosting, SSL certificates, email and marketing tools, all at added costs. One of the most frustrating things is that Network Solutions may offer a promotional service that’s free for the first month, and in the fine print is the cost you’ll pay after that. If you don’t remove it from your cart, you’re stuck paying extra fees.
Who should use it:
You might want to choose Network Solutions if its longevity seems like insurance for your domain. It offers 100-year domain registration plans, and it’s the longest-living registrar, so unlikely to go out of business.
* conversion 14 June 2023
Pros & Cons
- Register a domain for up to 100 years
- Phone and live chat support
- Oldest domain registrar around
- Easily setup business email with Google Workspace
- Lacks transparent pricing
- Domains are unusually expensive
- Expensive domain privacy addon
- Expensive DDoS protection
- Tricky promotions that end with surprise charges
FEATURED PARTNER OFFER
Best for Premium Domains
BuyDomains
2.4
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Starting price
N/A
Renewal cost
N/A
Free WHOIS privacy
N/A
Starting price
N/A
Renewal cost
N/A
Free WHOIS privacy
N/A
Why We Picked It
BuyDomains is a unique type of domain registrar. It’s more like an auction site for former domains that have a high value. So, if you search for a domain name that’s available on other domain registrars, it won’t show up on BuyDomains, but similar domains that are for sale will. For example, we searched for “ghostlycastle.com” and a list of domains for sale popped up, including “castleonline.com” for £4,035.14 ($5,088)*.
For domain privacy and renewal, you’ll have to transfer your domain to a typical domain registrar after buying the one you want from BuyDomains.
Who should use it: BuyDomains is a great place to buy a domain if you’re looking for a premium name that was previously registered. You can find some good deals and excellent domain names for businesses.
* conversion 14 June 2023
Pros & Cons
- Unique, hard-to-find domains available
- No upsells or add-ons
- Expensive domains
- No domain privacy
- No set pricing
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 (for example, .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.
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 (for example, .com or .org). However, if you’re interested in a unique extension, then 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
In order to determine the best domain registrars for small businesses, Forbes Advisor researched providers in the space and narrowed it down to the 11 top providers. We analysed 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 (for example, 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.
1
Domain.com
Starting price
£8.72 ($10.99)* for the first year
Renewal cost
£15.85 ($19.99)* per year
Free WHOIS privacy
No
1
Domain.com
On Domain.com’s Secure Website
2
GoDaddy
Starting price
£0.99 per year (with two-year billing)
Renewal cost
£17.97 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
2
GoDaddy
On GoDaddy’s Website
3
NameCheap
Starting price
£4.76 for the first year
Renewal cost
£11.60 per year
Free WHOIS privacy
Yes
3
NameCheap
On NameCheap’s Secure Website
Top 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I buy a domain name?
A domain registrar service will let you quickly search for available domains. Once you’ve chosen one that you like, the service will walk you through the checkout process and offer guidance on how to connect your domain to your site.
Does it matter which domain registrar I use?
Not all domain registrars offer the same domain name extensions (.com, .net, etc.) or features. Some include free domain privacy. Others offer additional web services, such as web hosting, email and marketing tools. Many of thebest web hosting servicesusually offer domain registration.
How do I permanently buy a domain name?
The short answer is, you can’t. Domain registration is more like a rental or leasing service. Most domain registrars allow you to register your domain for up to 10 years at a time, and they’ll usually offer an auto-renewal service, so you don’t lose your domain.
How do I look to see if a domain name is available?
Using one of the domain registrars listed here, you can enter the domain name that you would like to use in the designated name search field. If the name is not in use, no information will come up and you can claim that name. If the name is currently in use, you can find out information that includes the domain name owner, creation date and expiration date.
What do the different domain extensions stand for?
The most popular domain extension, .com, stands for commerce. Other commonly seen ones include .net for network, .org for organisation, .edu for education, .gov for government, .info for information, .biz, for business, . mil for military and .pro for professional.
Many countries also have domain names that end in letters related to them, such as .uk for the United Kingdom, .ru for Russia and .cn for China. Some less-common domain extensions include .aero for the air transport industry, .museum for museums, .name for individuals, .coop for cooperatives and .travel for businesses in the travel industry.
Do I need a domain for a website?
It is possible to create a website without registering a domain name, but you won’t be able to properly brand your site. For example, if you choose a free website plan from a web host, you’ll be given a subdomain of the host’s domain (yoursite.webhost.com).
It’s more professional (and easier to remember) than an actual domain – plus, it helps with your brand equity and ranking in search engines. Learn how to make a website for your business.
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Amy Nichol SmithContributor
Amy Nichol Smith has more than 20 years experience as a journalist and editor, writing on a range of topics, including tech products and services, the gaming industry, and small business. She has been featured in Tom's Guide, L.A. Times, Business.com, Reader's Digest, and Investopedia. Her favorite tech product is a tie between her Roomba and gaming PC.
Kelly MainEditor
Kelly is an SMB Editor specializing in starting and marketing new ventures. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist covering small business marketing content. She is a former Google Tech Entrepreneur and she holds an MSc in International Marketing from Edinburgh Napier University. Additionally, she manages a column at Inc. Magazine.
