A domain is a unique and recognizable name to trace and identify any website online. It’s an essential component for the existence of any website. But when it comes to purchasing a domain name, most users fall into a dilemma as there are countless domain registrars online.
They tend to get confused about which domain registrar to select. In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the best domain registrars with their key features and pricing so you can make up your mind confidently. A snapshot of the domains we’ll cover (ratings are collected from Trustpilot).
| Domain Company | Number of Domains Registered | Rating |
| GoDaddy | 81+ million | 4.7 |
| Namecheap | 19+ million | 3.9 |
| IONOS | 5.9+ million | 4.2 |
| NameSilo | 5.8+ million | 4.6 |
| Dynadot | 4.8+ million | 4.1 |
| Domain.Com | 2+ million | 4.0 |
| Hostinger | 1.9+ million | 4.7 |
| Porkbun | 1.3+ million | 4.8 |
| BlueHost | Not found | 4.0 |
Let’s get into the discussion of the best places to buy domain names.
What is A Domain Registrar?
A domain registrar is a company or organization authorized by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). It allows individuals, businesses, or organizations to purchase and manage their website domain names.
They act as intermediaries between domain name owners (registrants) and the central domain name databases (registries). They provide DNS services that translate domains into IP addresses, which computers use to locate and access websites on the internet.
Some domain registrars store detailed information (name, address, email, phone, etc.) about the domain owners in the WHOIS database. It allows general people to identify the original owners of the domain addresses.
How to Choose the Best Domain Registrar?
There are several important things you must consider checking while selecting a domain registrar. This will help you find reliable domain registrars. Let’s explore them below.
a. Accreditation and Reputation
Verify that ICANN or the relevant national domain authority accredits the domain registrar. Also, check the registrar’s reputation by reading customer reviews and ratings about the registrar on platforms like Trustpilot, G2, Brideye, PowerReviews, etc.
b. Availability of Domain Extensions
Ensure the domain registrar offers a wide collection of domain extensions like .com, .org, .net, .info, .co, .io, .ai, .dev, .me, etc.,
c. Domain Management Tools
Check the intuitive level of the domain management interface provided by the registrar. Its interface should be so easy that you can manage domain settings, DNS records, and other related services.
d. Pricing and Renewal Fees
Compare the domain registration and renewal prices among different registrars. Be aware of scrutinizing any hidden fees or additional costs associated with the domain registration process.
e. Customer Support
A good domain registrar maintains multiple channels for customer support, such as email, phone, and live chat. Make sure this support is available in your registrar.
f. Domain Transfer Policies
Look into the registrar’s domain transfer policies. Transferring your domain to another registrar should be easy without any unnecessary restrictions or charges.
g. Additional Services
Some registrars offer additional services like web hosting, email hosting, SSL certificates, website builders, two-factor authentication for security, etc. If you need these services, ensure they are available in the domain registrar.
Best Places to Buy Domain Names
I will now introduce you to some of the best places to buy domain names with their key features and reasons why they are the best. I have read tons of online articles and talked with the affiliate representatives of many of these domain registrars online to cover this section. Keep reading!
1. GoDaddy
GoDaddy is one of the leading domain registrars in the world today. It has registered over 80 million domains, which is the highest number for any domain registrar company. It testifies to its popularity and reliability in the domain registration market.
For several reasons, GoDaddy has earned this status. It provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface that simplifies the domain registration process. Competitive pricing is another key factor that sets GoDaddy apart.
GoDaddy regularly offers discounts and deals on domain registrations, making it affordable for individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises. Take a look at its key features below:
- Has over 400 different domain extensions
- Offers user-friendly domain management tools
- Availability of 24/7 round-the-clock customer support
- Safeguards the WHOIS database, enhancing privacy
- Has reliable hosting services that prevent cyber threats
- Website security includes malware scanning and firewall protection
- Lets you sell your domain name through the auction process
2. Namecheap
Namecheap is a prominent domain registrar founded in 2000. It has registered over 19 million domains, establishing itself as one of the largest and most trusted domain registrars worldwide. A key reason to choose Namecheap is its ability to offer competitive and budget-friendly prices for domain registrations.
Namecheap provides discounts for longer-term domain registrations. You’ll find almost every type of domain registration opportunity on this platform. Their dedicated support team offers you 24/7 support through live chat and other channels.
Take a look at the key features of Namecheap:
- Easy domain search and registration process
- Offers free WHOIS privacy protection
- Charges no additional costs for domain transferring
- Free DNS hosting and email forwarding
- Two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security
- Provides a user-friendly control panel
- Includes a wide range of hosting plans
- Free domain transferring services
3. IONOS
IONOS is one of the oldest domain registrars, founded in 1988. With a remarkable track record of over thirty years, IONOS has established itself as a top domain registrar and hosting service provider. They’ve registered around 6 million domains so far.
Its user-friendly interface eliminates the need for prior technical knowledge or expert advice. Whether starting a new website or transferring an existing one, IONOS simplifies the entire process. Take a look at its key features:
- Offers features like domain locking, protection, and subdomains at zero cost
- Finds available domains based on your preferences and requirements
- Domain mapping links your domains with specific web or online resources
- Lets you create and manage subdomains under their primary domain
- Grants you full control over your domain’s DNS management
- Ensures WHOIS privacy protection for registered domains
- Simplifies the process of transferring domain names
4. NameSilo
NameSilo started its journey as a domain registrar in 2010. But despite being a newer player, they have gained tremendous recognition worldwide. They have registered over 5.5 million domain names so far, which isn’t a trivial figure.
They offer competitive pricing with no hidden fees, transfer-out fees, or renewal fees. NameSilo goes the extra mile by offering free privacy protection to safeguard your detailed contact information.
They also offer hosting options that cater to businesses of all sizes, from shared hosting to VPS and dedicated hosting. Take a quick look at the key features of NameSilo.
- Includes free domain privacy protection to safeguard your data
- Allows you to park your registered domains until it’s ready to use
- Enables users to forward domains to redirect traffic from different domains
- Gives customers full control over their DNS settings
- Offers bulk registration and management to let you handle multiple domains
- Provides domain backorder to let you acquire expiring or registered domains
- AGP system reduces the risk of unintentional domain deletions
5. Dynadot
Dynadot is another reputed domain registrar founded in 2002. They also support bulk domain registration, streamlining the process for customers with multiple domain needs. Its efficient DNS management tools further empower users to manage their domains.
You can easily update DNS settings, forward domains, and safeguard personal contact information with domain privacy features. In addition, Dynadot offers a range of hosting solutions to cater to your diverse needs. Take a look at its key features below:
- Offers a diverse range of top-level domains (TLDs) to match various needs
- WHOIS protection safeguards your personal contact information
- Enables domain forwarding to redirect traffic to other websites
- Two-factor authentication ensures added security
- Supports internationalized domain names in non-ASCII characters
- Provides 24/7 customer support via phone, email, or chat
6. Domain.Com
Established in 1999, Domain.com has constantly delivered high-quality solutions to individuals and businesses to register their desired domain names. They provide a wide range of domain search and management tools to ease domain registration.
They offer a diverse selection of domain registration options: top-level domains (TLDs), country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), and new generic TLDs (ngTLDs). Customers can seamlessly transfer existing domains from other registrars to Domain.com.
They also offer customers various online marketing tools to enhance their visibility and reach through search engines. Take a look at the key features of Domain.com.
- Flexibility to set custom domain name servers
- Provides robust DNS management tools and supports DNSSEC for security
- Lets you park your registered domains temporarily
- Ensures WHOIS domain privacy protection
- Allows you to handle multiple domains simultaneously efficiently
- Ease the process of domain migration from other registrars to here
- Additional services like domain backorders and selling expiring domains
7. Hostinger
Hostinger, founded in 2004, is popular mostly as a hosting company. But it also offers top-notch domain registration services. They have registered around 2 million domain names. You can secure the ownership of your desired domain with just a few clicks.
With a diverse range of Top-Level Domains (TLDs), including country-specific domains, Hostinger empowers users to choose the perfect domain name for their websites. One of their key highlights is their exceptional customer support.
Take a look at the key features of Hostinger:
- Guarantees a reliable uptime of 99.9%, making your website stable
- Includes DNS management, domain forwarding, and WHOIS privacy protection
- Has special hosting services for WordPress users
- Provides a comprehensive knowledge base and help center
- cPanel supports all the popular CMSs
- Offers 24/7 customer support through live chat, ticketing, and email
8. Porkbun
Porkbun was founded in 2014. The name “Porkbun” is inspired by the popular Asian steamed bun known as “pork bun”. The founders selected this name to convey a sense of familiarity and accessibility in their services, just like the widely enjoyed food item.
Porkbun has registered over 1.3 million different types of domains so far. They aim to provide straightforward domain-related services without hidden fees or complex processes. They emphasize simplicity and easy usability.
Take a look at the key features of Porkbun
- A wide collection of domain extensions is available
- Offers an intuitive domain management system with DNS configurations
- Includes easy and hassle-free domain transfer process
- Provides WHOIS privacy protection free of cost
- 24/7 customer support by a dedicated support team
- Custom email hosting lets you create personalized email addresses
9. BlueHost
BlueHost was founded in 2003. Though they are renowned as a hosting company, they also have a good reputation as a domain registrar. Its success as a domain registrar has been applauded due to its user-friendly interface for domain management.
In addition to domain purchasing, if you host your website on this same platform, BlueHost’s management tools will offer you a seamless experience. It will help you skip the involvement of many third-party activities. Take a look at their key features:
- Offers a free domain for the first year to simplify the initial setup
- Protects your sensitive private data from getting displayed
- Lets you create custom email accounts associated with the domain
- Charges affordable prices for all types of domains
- Ensures 24/7 support with a dedicated support team
Conclusion
Finding a domain registrar online isn’t a difficult task today. You’ll find tons of domain registrars once you search online. But finding reliable ones won’t be so easy. If you scroll Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest, you may come across numerous ads offering domain registration services at very cheap costs.
You may be tempted to buy domains immediately from those registrars, seeing such cheap costs. But after a few days, you may find their WHOIS privacy protection, domain management, and customer support systems aren’t so good. We’ve seen many people have experienced the same.
So, in this article, we have talked about only domain registrars by which you’ll never get scammed. Rather you’ll receive top-notch customer support. Thanks for reading!