The first step to building an online business is registering your domain. This guide to the best domain registrars will explain everything you need to know to help you buy your first domain:
Let’s dive into it!
What is a domain registrar?
Domain registrars are companies that register domain ownership with the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) on consumers’ behalf. These companies also connect domains to IP addresses, which are the addresses computers use to recognize websites.
Domain registrars vs web hosts
There are two types of companies that can help you register a domain: domain registrars, which we discussed already, and web hosts.
Web hosts give you the server space and tools you need to actually build a website. Hosting services are typically more expensive than buying your domain directly from a domain registrar, but many of the best web hosting services include a domain in their hosting packages. This can be the most cost-effective route if you’re planning to build your site right away.
What makes a good domain registrar
There are a few features you should look for in a domain registrar:
WHO.IS privacy
This keeps your domain ownership information out of the WHO.IS database. This is particularly important if you’re registering the domain using personal information instead of a company as the WHO.IS database includes addresses and phone numbers.
Web hosting
Many domain registrars offer some level of web hosting, which makes it possible to create a website at your domain right away. Alternatively, you can always register your domain name at one registrar and then use nameservers or DNS records to point it to web hosting from a different provider.
Other extras
Most domain registrars offer a variety of internet services. Along with web hosting, email hosting and DNS services are quite common. You may want to go through the checkout process with different domain registrars to learn about what’s available.
Promotional pricing vs ongoing pricing
You can typically rely on a .com domain to cost somewhere between $10 and $20 when purchased through a registrar, but there is variation. Most domain registrars also offer first-year discounts. If you choose a registrar with a first-year discount be sure to calculate the long-term cost as well.
Now that you’re armed with this information, let’s take a look at the domain registrars.
The best domain registrars
Since most people looking for a domain usually want a .com extension, we’ve put together this quick reference table that shows you the registration price and the renewal price for .com domains at each of the registrars.
When you’re done looking it over, feel free to click on any of the names to skip directly to that registrar, or otherwise, you can start at the top with Namecheap.
| Domain Registrar | Registration for .com | Renewal for .com |
| Namecheap | $5.98 (new customers) / $10.28 (existing customers) | $13.98 |
| Porkbun | $9.37 (with promo code) | $10.37 |
| Cloudflare | $9.15 | $9.15 |
| Hover | $17.99 | $17.99 |
| OVHcloud | $11.75 | $13.99 |
| Bluehost | $0 (w/ web hosting) / $12.99 | $21.99 |
| IONOS | $0 (w/ web hosting) / $1 (new customers) | $17.00 |
| Domain.com | $11.99 | $21.99 |
1. Namecheap
- Number of TLDs: ~550
- Web hosting services available: Yes
- WHO.IS privacy: Included with all domains
- First-year cost of a .com domain (on average): ~$7 per year (there are almost always discounts)
- Renewal cost of a .com domain (on average): $13.98 per year
Namecheap is a dedicated domain registrar that includes WHO.IS privacy free with every domain purchase. This helps you keep your personal information safe.
Most domains on Namecheap cost between $10-15 per year and you can often find discounts bringing this to under $10 for the first year of registration. Namecheap’s other offerings are also fairly extensive, which makes it a great one-stop shop option if you’re looking to have both your domain and web hosting under one roof.
👉 Who this registrar is best for
Namecheap is a great choice for keeping costs low because they offer good first-year discounts while still having competitive renewal prices. Namecheap also offers a range of other cheap services, including web hosting and email hosting. Plus they have tons of useful free tools, like a graphic designer platform called Stencil, a logo maker, a business name generator, and more.
🤔 Any drawbacks?
The only real minor downside, which isn’t even going to be relevant to most people, is that Namecheap does not currently provide IPv6 support. You’ll be stuck on IPv4 only. Again, it’s not a huge deal – especially in the near term – but if you plan on launching a resource heavy site like an ecommerce store with a lot of product pages, then lack of IPv6 might be a drawback in the future. (💡 If you’re not familiar with these terms, you can learn more about IPv4 and IPv6.)
2. Porkbun
- Number of TLDs: ~550
- Web hosting services available: Yes
- WHO.IS privacy: Yes
- First-year cost of a .com domain (on average): $9.37 (with promo code)
- Renewal cost of a .com domain (on average): $10.37
Porkbun has arguably the most playful website of any domain registrar out there. But even though they present themselves with a sense of humor, there is one thing that they do take seriously: domains.
They offer some of the best promo pricing on both highly sought after TLDs and niche ones. Their renewal pricing is also fairly competitive and often times only has a slight markup above cost. Plus, if you buy a domain with them, they also toss in a lot of premium features for absolutely free. This includes domain privacy, an SSL certificate, URL forwarding, and DNS management powered by Cloudflare.
Porkbun also offers web hosting services if you want to use them for that too, but the options are somewhat limited and nowhere near as scalable as Namecheap. If you plan on having a simple website, then you can probably make it work.
👉 Who this registrar is best for
Porkbun is an excellent choice for ultra-low promotional pricing on a range of TLDs. Just take a look below for a small sample of some of the deeply discounted prices they offer:
Their renewal costs are also competitive and aren’t overly marked up above the baseline ICANN price – which is the price that all registrars get the domain for before they pass it on to you.
🤔 Any drawbacks?
Something to be aware of, is that Porkbun does not have 24/7 customer service. In practice, this means that if you run into any issues outside of their normal business hours, then you’ll be stuck on your own until they open up shop again.
Also, if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution with web hosting and email hosting available as well, then there are better options elsewhere. To be fair, if you plan on launching a simple site that won’t require a lot of horsepower, then the hosting might be adequate enough. In that case, your overall cost for both domain and hosting will be marginally lower than some other options on the market. It’s just not the best choice for this purpose.
3. Cloudflare Registrar
- Number of TLDs: ~350
- Web hosting services available: No
- WHO.IS privacy: Technically not, but your information is fully redacted by default so your privacy will still be protected
- First-year cost of a .com domain (on average): $9.15
- Renewal cost of a .com domain (on average): $9.15
Cloudflare is a web performance and security company that provides DNS services and other security services to millions of websites. It also works with many web hosts to provide CDN services to their customers, which allows those companies to provide faster loading times.
You can purchase a domain from Cloudflare at cost (that is, Cloudflare doesn’t make any profit). For a .com domain, this means paying $9.15 per year. Cloudflare charges the same amount every year so you don’t have to worry about rising costs. If there ever is a change in pricing (as happened in fall 2022), you’ll be notified months in advance.
You can also rest assured that your data is safe when you purchase a domain through Cloudflare, as data for all domain registrations is automatically redacted. This isn’t technically WHO.IS protection, but it provides the same level of security.
Here’s an example of what your information will look like if someone tries to look up your domain name:
👉 Who this registrar is best for
Cloudflare is an ideal choice if you’re planning to use your domain for a long time and you don’t mind using Cloudflare for your domain’s nameservers (more on that in a moment). It’s also literally the cheapest way possible to register a domain name for the long-term. This is because Cloudflare does not mark up their domain prices above the baseline ICANN price. It’s an extremely unique pricing strategy in the registrar world because almost every registrar adds some kind of markup to their renewal prices.
🤔 Any drawbacks?
Cloudflare does not offer traditional web hosting so you can’t use it as an all-in-one solution for a regular website. However, the Cloudflare Pages service lets you deploy static sites if that’s something you’re interested in. Otherwise you’ll need to find hosting elsewhere and connect your domain(s) to it.
Another thing to note is that you must use Cloudflare’s nameservers if you use Cloudflare Registrar. You cannot change them. However, you can edit the DNS records and point your domain name to your web host that way, so you’re still totally free to use your domains with any web host.
Finally, because Cloudflare sells domains at cost, there are no promotional discounts. The price is the price and that’s it. That could be a pro or a con, depending on your individual perspective.
4. Hover
- Number of TLDs: ~490
- Web hosting services available: No
- WHO.IS privacy: Yes
- First-year cost of a .com domain (on average): $17.99 per year
- Renewal cost of a .com domain (on average): $17.99 per year (no increase on renewal)
Launched in 2009, Hover focuses on domain registration, management, and transfer. It also offers a professional business email service for a customized business email, using your company’s domain. Hover is an ideal choice for individuals and businesses that want a fast and hassle-free experience of purchasing domains. The product offers free WHO.IS protection on all plans, with .com domains costing $17.99 per year.
👉 Who this registrar is best for
Hover is one of the best domain registrars for users who want to keep their domains separate from their web hosting. Small businesses and professionals will benefit from the user-friendly interface and transparent pricing. You’ll pay the same amount to renew your domain every year as you did to register it, so this will also appeal to users who prefer a clear pricing model.
🤔 Any drawbacks?
Hover doesn’t provide web hosting, so it may not be ideal for you if you’re looking for a platform that acts as both a registrar and host. However, there are plenty of other useful services available, and Hover Connect allows you to easily link your domain to your preferred hosting provider with just a few clicks.
5. OVHcloud
- Number of TLDs: ~900
- Web hosting services available: Yes
- WHO.IS privacy: Yes
- First-year cost of a .com domain (on average): $11.75
- Renewal cost of a .com domain (on average): $13.99 per year
OVHcloud is primarily known as a cloud service provider, offering a wide range of services such as virtual machines, dedicated servers, and various cloud-based solutions. However, OVHcloud also provides domain registration services as part of its comprehensive offerings.
One of the advantages of opting for OVHcloud as a domain registrar is the integration of domain management with other cloud services. This can simplify the process if you want to leverage OVHcloud for hosting or other cloud-based solutions.
Registering a .com domain through the platform will cost you $11.75 for your initial year and then $13.99 per year to renew it. Each registration will also include DNS Management, DNS authentication, and easy redirect that allows you to redirect your domain name to a webpage you choose.
👉 Who this registrar is best for
OVHcloud is best for users who are seeking an integrated solution for both domain registration and advanced web hosting services. It’s particularly appealing to tech-savvy individuals, developers, or businesses that need high-performance computing capabilities, such as GPU instances for data-intensive tasks like AI or data science. OVHcloud’s generous storage allowances and unlimited bandwidth also make it suitable for websites or projects expected to scale or handle significant traffic.
🤔 Any drawbacks?
OVHcloud’s customer support is tiered, and if you’re a “lower tier” customer, then you won’t receive 24/7 support. You’ll only be attended to during their normal business hours.
In addition, because OVHcloud offers a lot of advanced services, their website can feel overwhelming and busy for a new user who wants a simpler navigation experience.
6. Bluehost
- Number of TLDs: ~300
- Web hosting services available: Yes
- WHO.IS privacy: Paid add-on @ $15 per year
- First-year cost of a .com domain (on average): $12.99 (or free with a hosting plan)
- Renewal cost of a .com domain (on average): $21.99 per year
Bluehost is mostly known as a web host, but it also offers domain registration services to its customers. You can easily find and claim your domain, and when you’re ready to start a website, you can add a hosting plan to it without having to deal with a new company.
👉 Who Bluehost is best for
Bluehost is a great choice if you’re planning to start building your website right away, especially if you want to use WordPress. However, if you want WHO.IS privacy, there are cheaper options.
🤔 Any drawbacks?
Unless you buy a hosting package, then you’ll typically be looking at a $12.99 sticker price for a .com domain in your first year, with a $21.99 per year renewal price. On top of that, you’ll need to allocate another $15 per year, per domain, for WHO.IS protection.
This makes Bluehost a bit expensive for just domain registration. However, if you purchase a hosting plan from Bluehost, you’ll get a free domain for your first year, which can help you keep costs down when you’re getting started.
7. IONOS
- Number of TLDs: ~420
- Web hosting services available: Yes
- WHO.IS privacy: Free for select TLDs; paid add-on for other TLDs
- First-year cost of a .com domain (on average): $1 for the first year or $0 if you buy hosting
- Renewal cost of a .com domain (on average): $17 per year
IONOS is a domain registrar that offers a variety of web services, including several different types of web hosting and email hosting.
IONOS also offers hefty first-year discounts. You can get most .com domains for $1 in their first year and add domain protection for another $1 in that first year. Web hosting packages from IONOS are heavily discounted too, with the Business WordPress Hosting plan available for $0.50 per month in the first year. This can help you start an online business on a tight budget, though you will have to be prepared for rising costs in the second year.
👉 Who IONOS is best for
IONOS is the best domain registrar if you’re trying to get an online business off the ground with an extremely limited budget. It has the lowest first-year price on .com domains compared to other registrars.
🤔 Any drawbacks?
One frustrating aspect of using the IONOS website to browse for domains is that it’s not that intuitive. For example, although there is a full TLD list, you really have to dig around to find it (it’s here by the way, in case you need it). The user experience is a lot more funnel-like, where IONOS tries to guide you to areas they want you to see, rather than areas that you might want to see.
8. Domain.com
- Number of TLDs: ~440
- Web hosting services available: Yes
- WHO.IS privacy: Add-on for $8.99 per year
- First-year cost of a .com domain (on average): ~$11.99 or $0 if you buy web hosting
- Renewal cost of a .com domain (on average): $21.99 per year
Domain.com started as a domain registrar and now offers a wide variety of web services for businesses. This includes web hosting, website and store builders, web design services, email and marketing services, and more.
Most Domain.com domains cost between $5 and $13 per year and registration only includes the domain itself. You’ll have to pay a separate $8.99 per year for WHO.IS privacy or access to any of Domain.com’s other online services.
However, be aware that renewal costs after the first year are usually higher.
👉 Who this registrar is best for
Domain.com is an ideal choice for companies with no major privacy concerns and users interested in the website builder or other Domain.com tools.
The website is also user-friendly and unlike IONOS above, lets you easily find what you’re looking for – such as their list of all available TLDs:
🤔 Any drawbacks?
For tech-savvy users or larger businesses with specific needs, Domain.com might lack some advanced features and configurations offered by other registrars (like OVHcloud or Namecheap for example).
Domain.com also tends to push additional products and services during the checkout process, such as website builders, hosting services, and SSL certificates. To be fair, virtually all registrars do this, but Domain.com is particularly aggressive about it, and it might feel off-putting for users who are looking for a more straightforward purchasing experience.
Choosing from the best domain registrars
Registering a domain is easy with all of the companies we’ve looked at today. The right domain registrar for you really depends on your goals. Let’s do a quick recap:
- For those who plan to build a website right away or know they’ll want to host a website with Bluehost later on, choose Bluehost. It’s especially a great registrar for WordPress users.
- If you want WHO.IS privacy bundled in with your domain, choose Namecheap, Porkbun, or Hover. If you also need an all-in-one solution with hosting included, then skip Hover and go for either Namecheap (preferably) or Porkbun (if you only plan to have a simple site).
- Assuming you are looking for an integrated solution that also offers high-performance computing capabilities for advanced web applications, then OVHcloud is your best choice.
- If you want to claim a domain for cheap before you build a website, then IONOS or Cloudflare are going to be the best domain registrars for you, with the latter being the top pick for long term use.
Making your first website? Check out 👉 our guide on how to make a website! We also have a post on how to choose an SEO domain name to help you rank in Google.
