5 Best Domain Registrars (And How to Choose One)

When launching a website, you’ll need to purchase a domain. Deciding on the perfect domain name can be a challenge, especially if it’s for your brand. Plus, if you want your business to succeed, you’ll want to choose from one of the best domain registrars.

To determine which domain registrar is the best match for your website, you’ll need to consider key factors like domain transfer policies, domain privacy, and pricing. It’s also a good idea to think about whether you’d like to have web hosting bundled with your domain.

In this post, we’ll briefly explain what a domain registrar does and share tips for picking the right provider. Finally, we’ll look at the five top domain registrars on the market. Let’s get started!

What is a Domain Registrar?

If you’re reading this, you might not be sure what a domain registrar is. So, let’s start with the basics.

To put it simply, a domain registrar is a company that’s certified to offer domain registration services. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) accredits domain registrars and oversees their operations:

Basically, a domain registrar sells domain names. It assigns an IP address to each domain name that it registers and manages those records. This way, the Domain Name System (DNS) – managed by ICANN – functions properly and users can easily search for websites on the internet.

As you can imagine, domain registration is an important service (considering the number of websites on the internet). Plus, things like Top Level Domains (TLDs) often require special attention. That’s because some are associated with countries (.us), specific government bodies (.gov), or educational institutions (.edu).

In addition to assigning IPs, registering domain names, and managing renewals, these companies typically offer supplementary services. For example, many domain registrars also provide web hosting services and domain privacy protection.

4 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Domain Registrar

Now that you know what a domain registrar is and what it does, here are the most important factors to consider when choosing a provider:

• Web hosting. To launch a website, you’ll need a domain name and web hosting service. Some providers bundle domain registration into their web hosting plans. Therefore, if you’re looking for a streamlined solution, you’ll likely want to consider this option.
• Domain privacy protection. When you register a domain, you’ll need to provide contact details like your name, phone number, and address. Without domain privacy, this data will be available publicly on ICANN’s WHOIS database. With WHOIS protection, your information will be masked by generic data from your domain registrar. This can help protect you from online scams and phishing schemes.
• Domain transfers. Ideally, you’ll want to select a reputable domain registrar from the get-go (and stick with it). However, you might have to change your domain registrar or hosting provider in the future. Therefore, it’s a good idea to look up the domain transfer policy before you commit and ensure that you can easily switch domain registrars if needed.
• Pricing. Lastly, you’ll want to consider the cost of registering your domain name. This can vary, depending on the domain name extension you want. For example, a popular extension such as .com will be more expensive than lesser-used options. Also, an industry-specific choice like .io might have a higher price tag.

When you consider the above, you’ll be better prepared to make the right choice for your website. After all, everyone’s needs are unique, and the best domain registrar for you might not be the right option for someone else.

5 Best Domain Registrars

Now, let’s look at the top domain registrars on the market.

1. NameHero

When it comes to the best domain registrars, NameHero is without a doubt our top recommendation. It offers an excellent user experience and quality web hosting services.

NameHero’s Smart Search tool makes it easy to find your perfect domain. You can search by categories like Business, Popular, and Shopping, and filter for premium domains.

Plus, you can instantly transfer a domain name to NameHero and manage it via the user-friendly Client Portal. You’ll also get WHOIS privacy protection, easy domain renewals, and 24/7 customer support.

As we mentioned, NameHero’s web hosting is also top-notch, and you can use it to create any type of website on any website builder or Content Management System (CMS), including WordPress:

In addition to WordPress hosting, you can get ecommerce plans, enterprise solutions, or even reseller hosting for agencies.

2. Bluehost

Bluehost is a popular web hosting provider that also offers domain registrations. This may be a good option if you’re looking for a bundled deal.

When you use Bluehost to register a domain name, you’ll get easy domain management, domain forwarding, and an auto-renewal option. You’ll also get to choose from both popular and creative domain extensions like .me, .tech, .blog, and more.

If you decide to get a domain name with one of the Bluehost hosting packages, make sure you read the fine print. Bluehost offers generous introductory deals, but then prices go up significantly.

What’s more, these deals encourage you to commit to a longer contract period, which can make it difficult to change your domain registrar later on.

For example, the most affordable Bluehost web hosting plan costs $2.75 per year. But, you’ll be locked in for 36 months, and the price increases to $11.99 after that.

3. GoDaddy

Next up on our list of the best domain registrars is GoDaddy. This company also offers web hosting plans for your website.

With GoDaddy domains, you can choose from over 500 domain extensions. Plus, you’ll get up to 100 subdomains. This may be useful if you want to create different versions of your site in multiple countries.

Furthermore, you’ll get free domain privacy forever.

One thing that sets GoDaddy apart is that it allows you to create a payable domain. That means you can send a link to a customer without needing a website attached to it.

Its AI Domain Search tool can also help you come up with a suitable domain name.

4. Namecheap

Now, let’s take a look at Namecheap. This can be an affordable option as the company offers lots of promotions based on the duration of your contract.

Namecheap also has a large selection of domain name extensions. These include common options like .com, .net, and .org. You’ll also get more original choices such as .dev and .xyz.

With Namecheap, you’ll enjoy some free add-ons like lifetime domain privacy, free DNSSEC security, and a free email address (for two months).

As with many other dual web hosting companies/registrars, you can get a domain bundled with Namecheap web hosting.

5. Domain.com

Domain.com offers everything you’d expect from a reputable domain registrar. This includes domain privacy, domain transfers, and web hosting.

Additionally, Domain.com has a specific search tool for premium domain names, which can help distinguish your website from the competition. You can also use its AI domain generator if you need some help brainstorming.

If you want to transfer a domain to Domain.com, this is super easy to do. The company can handle the entire process for you, and provide extra assurances like email forwarding and URL forwarding.

Conclusion

Picking the right domain name for a website is important, but so is choosing a domain registrar. You’ll want to look at factors like pricing, domain transfers, domain privacy, and web hosting.

NameHero is our top recommendation because it offers affordable prices, easy domain transfers, and plenty of available domain extensions. With NameHero, you can also get a reliable web hosting service when you register a domain name.

Do you have any questions about the best domain registrars on this list? Let us know in the comments section below!