These are the best domain registrars out there right now. We've tested the main providers on our list by purchasing real domains from each service and adding them to test websites so there's one less thing you have to worry about. We know how to judge prices for TLDs, and we've used each service in our comparison checks to pick out the best, as well as those which offer the best value for money.
A lot of the best web hosting providers include domain registration for one year so if you're looking for hosting too it may be worth checking them out first before you commit to using a domain registrar. Still, renewal at hosting companies is often more expensive so you can save yourself some time instead of money by using a domain registrar first instead of the free domain supplied with hosting. If you already have a site and you're looking for another place to manage your domain names then this guide is for you too.
The quick list
These are our top three picks. You can dive in to get more details on each option below, alongside a price comparison tool so you can find the best deals right now.
The best domain registrars in 2024
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Here you'll find full reviews for each of the best domain registrars in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be confident our recommendations can be trusted.
The domain registrar overall
✅ You want top-level security: Namecheap offers various security tools, including SSL certificates, a virtual private network (VPN), cyber insurance (for US-based customers only), and free lifetime privacy protection for every domain name.
✅ You want a cost-effective solution: Namecheap is true to its name and offers competitively priced TLDs. Plus, it supports a whopping 1,500+ domain name extensions.
✅ You’re still looking for a perfect domain name: Namecheap’s domain search tool is undoubtedly the best I’ve tried. It’s versatile, comes with a ton of filters, and allows you to enter up to 5,000 domains or keywords.
❌ You want telephone support: although Namecheap offers customer support through email and live chat, there's no telephone support option. This means you can’t directly talk to a customer support representative when you're facing issues.
🌐 Namecheap is relatively affordable, which is its main advantage. The platform has a broad feature set, making it attractive to prospective customers, but it isn’t without its disadvantages. Its UI is pretty complicated and its pricing structure can also be confusing due to having too many plans ★★★★½
Namecheap is an American domain registrar and web hosting provider based in Phoenix, Arizona. An entrepreneur named Richard Kirkendall started Namecheap in 2000 and has led the company as CEO for over two decades. The service offers cheap domains and a world-class domain search tool, making it our top choice.
Namecheap domains have a broad price range because the company supports numerous TLDs. Generic TLDs like .COM, .ORG, and .NET cost between $10 and $15 per year, which is cheaper than many rival platforms. On the flip side, uncommon, premium TLDs like .IO and .AI cost between $30-$80 yearly.
The platform supports over 1,500 domain name extensions - a remarkable number for any domain registrar. You can search for any domain name on the platform and buy it right away if it's available. Namecheap also allows you to search for contact information for specific domain names in the WHOIS database.
Speaking of searching for domains on Namecheap, the platform has an advanced and user-friendly domain checker-cum-generator that’s, simply put, one of the best we’ve tried. You can enter your preferred domain name and the tool will show you what TLDs are available for purchase. It will also show you the ones that have already been registered with a “make offer” button right next to them in case you’re interested.
Namecheap’s domain checker is a versatile tool with five options: domains, auctions, handshake, generator, and beast mode. As the names suggest, domains allow you to search for specific domain names (and apply filters to narrow down your search) and auctions allow you to bid for trending and popular domain names. “Beast Mode” is Namecheap’s domain generator on steroids. It makes it even simpler to find the best domain name for your requirements. You can enter up to 5,000 domains or keywords to get started, select a price range, select one or multiple TLDs (1,196 TLDs in total) that are all neatly organized under various categories (popular, international, finance, politics, etc.), and even give permission to the tool to use domain hacks, drop the last vowel, pluralize nouns, and/or append prefix/suffix.
Namecheap is also one of the few registrars to offer handshake domains. These are new TLDs (such as .1, .C, .API, and .SAAS) based on a distributed and decentralized blockchain-based system. However, it’s worth noting that handshake domains are not yet compatible with most traditional DNS systems. What’s more, the company also offers easy domain transfer.
Security is top-notch, too, as Namecheap offers various security tools, including SSL certificates, a virtual private network (VPN), and cyber insurance (for US-based customers). You can also claim free lifetime privacy protection for every domain name, which helps to prevent spammers from contacting you easily. Next, free DNSSEC security will protect your website visitors from fraudulent activity by preventing redirection to fraudulent websites and unintended addresses.
Namecheap offers customer support through email and live chat, which will allow you to directly talk to a customer support representative when you're facing issues. There's no telephone support option, though, but we wouldn’t consider it a huge miss because live chat is often the first and only port of call for users. Namecheap's support reps typically respond to email inquiries within 24 hours.
Read our full Namecheap domain registration service review
Best for AI tools
✅ You want domain privacy protection as standard: to avoid your personal data from going into the public domain, all Hostinger domain registrations include guaranteed privacy protection.
✅ You’re looking for best-in-class AI tools: Hostinger’s built-in AI tools suggest unique, relevant alternative domain name options, and its AI domain name generator is simply the best one out there.
❌ You're creative with names: If you can think of domain names that are suitable for your business and not taken then use a cheaper registrar.
🌐 Hostinger has a simple interface and reliable support. However, the selection of domain extensions is more limited compared to other registrars, making it less ideal for those seeking niche TLDs. If you're struggling to think of a domain name then Hostinger can you with creativity. ★★★★½
Hostinger’s user interface and AI tools make managing your domain names easy. Its domain availability checker doesn’t just allow you to check if a particular domain name is available, but it goes one step ahead (thanks to AI integration) and also suggests unique, relevant alternatives, giving you insights you might have missed when choosing your domain name.
Even better, there are handy filters, such as international, education, technology, and business, which you can select to pinpoint your search for a domain name that’s appropriate for your industry. However, a small gripe I have here is that the filters don’t appear until after you’ve searched for a domain name, whereas Namecheap makes them available to you right out of the gate.
The best part about Hostinger, though, is its AI domain generator. It helps you look for unique domain names that are perfectly in line with what your brand/business/idea stands for. All you have to do is write a short description of your project and press Generate. I tried it out first-hand with the input “a door-to-door grocery delivery service,” and some of the responses I received were doorstepgroceries.net (awesome, isn’t it?), grocery4you.app, groceryhub.online, and localgroceries.biz.
The good news keeps coming as Hostinger provides privacy protection as standard on all domain purchases. Without this protection, your personal information would be made available on public databases such as WHOIS. With the protection, however, Hostinger guarantees that your information is hidden from third parties for maximum security.
If you've already purchased a Domain then you can transfer it with Hostinger, too. This transfers all the domain management from your current registrar, plus it's incredibly easy to do. One of the other benefits of going with Hostinger is that most of its web hosting packages come with free domains. This includes all of the popular extensions, such as .com, .net, and .org.
Hostinger offers 24/7 live chat and email/ticket support in ten languages for customer inquiries. While their web knowledgebase articles can be short and not well organized, they cover a wide range of topics (including tasks related to other registrars) and provide useful information. Their response times are fast (both via live chat and tickets), and overall their support is better than what you'd expect from a budget hosting provider.
Consider the total cost of ownership of the domain over the entire subscription before you make a purchase. Hostinger offer domain names at a discount rate for the first year but you need to buy a two year subscription. In the second year prices are not as competitive making the overall cost more than some of the competitors.
Best for budget
✅ You’re on a budget: Porkbun hits it out of the park with its wallet-friendly pricing (no renewal hikes, either), and you'll be hard pushed to find a better registrar if you're on a budget.
✅ You’re after free extras: with every purchase of a domain, you’ll also get free domain name privacy, an SSL certificate, email and URL forwarding, and a trial of Prokbun’s web hosting, email hosting, and site builder services.
✅ You’re in it for the long haul: to save you the hassle of registering your domain every year, Porkbun offers registrations that can last up to 10 years.
❌ You need round-the-cloud support: with many domain registrars providing 24/7 support, it's disappointing to see that Porkbun isn't following suit.
❌ You’re a beginner: Porkbun is not great at guiding new users through the domain registration process. There’s also a lot assumed in the user interface, especially when it comes to extensions. If you're new to the world of domains, then this could be a problem.
🌐 Porkbun is an excellent choice for budget-conscious buyers, offering some of the lowest prices on the market. The platform includes free WHOIS privacy and straightforward management tools, but its limited upselling features might not appeal to those looking for additional services. ★★★★½
Known for its friendly, approachable vibe, Porkbun is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Unlike larger names like Namecheap and GoDaddy, Porkbun has cultivated a loyal, almost fanatical following. Plus, with over 2 million domains under management, it also has the numbers to show for it.
One of the best things about Porkbun is its budget-friendly pricing. The normal price of a .com domain is $11.06 per year, which is admittedly good, but where it gets better than almost every other service on the list is that there are no renewal hikes whatsoever. I put this to the test by looking up the cost of krishichowdhary.com on all three platforms. Porkbun proved to be the cheapest long-term, at flat $11.06 per year. Hostinger, although the most affordable for the first year, renews at a whopping $16.99, whereas Namecheap’s standard yearly rate is $14.98 (you get 25% off on this for the first year).
The cost of a standard .co.uk is also incredibly affordable, with a price of $5.66. For something a little more sought after, like .ai you'll be looking at a cost of $72.40 per year. Searching for a domain name will generate loads of options, and you can click on “show all extensions” at the bottom of the initial recommendations to get an almost endless alphabetically arranged list of suggestions. Put together, Porkbun offers over 500 TLDs to choose from.
What’s more, if you're looking for multiple domains all at once, then Porkbun's bulk search feature is a game-changer. You can input up to 100 domains at a time and instantly see which ones are available. The ability to add available domains directly to your cart streamlines the process and saves you time.
I also really like Porkbun’s clean, uncluttered interface that’s designed to guide you through the process. This makes it ideal for people looking to register a domain for the very first time. The company brands itself as one providing “an oddly satisfying experience,” and I didn’t come across anything that argues against that.
With every domain you purchase, you’ll also get WHOIS privacy, SSL certificate, email and URL forwarding, and a trial of Prokbun’s web hosting, email hosting, and site builder services, as well as access to Porkbun’s incredible customer support. Porkbun offers phone support during most of the day, every day, although unfortunately not 24/7. You can also reach them via live chat or email if you don't want to hang around on the phone.
While Porkbun does offer additional services like website building and hosting, they avoid overwhelming users with aggressive upselling or cross-selling tactics. The focus remains on the core domain search and registration process, ensuring a seamless and efficient experience.
best for support
✅ You need reliable customer support: GoDaddy provides 24/7 customer support through telephone, live chat, and text message. Additionally, its web knowledgebase is also one of the most comprehensive available.
✅ You’re looking for a broad range of TLDs: GoDaddy offers a great breadth of domain name options, from common ones like .com and .net to uncommon ones like .blog, .cloud, and .ai.
✅ You value simplicity: GoDaddy’s tools are simple to use, and the main user interface is intuitive as well as easy to navigate.
❌ You want a low-cost solution: GoDaddy’s prices are significantly higher than what you'll get on rival platforms.
❌ You want excellent AI integration: GoDaddy’s AI domain name generator provides just a few options, and that too, are limited to only .com domain names.
🌐 GoDaddy is easy to use and offers proper customer support for users. Of all the domain registrars we’ve reviewed, GoDaddy has one of the broadest selection of domain extensions. However, its domains are expensive compared to rivals, especially for individuals and small businesses ★★★★½
GoDaddy is an American domain registrar and web hosting provider with over two decades of experience. It’s one of the biggest companies in the sector, with over 20 million customers and over 9,000 employees.
Although GoDaddy’s standard domain name rates are significantly higher than what you'll get on rival platforms, it tries its best to make up for that by offering hefty discounts for the first year of a 2- or 3-year term. For example, while a .com domain extension costs $21.99 yearly, you can get it for $29.98 if you commit to a 2-year term upfront. It’s also worth noting that you still get a generous 45% discount even if you choose to buy the domain extension for just a single year.
Furthermore, uncommon domain names like .cloud, .blog, and .today cost between $30 and $40 per year, and some select premium domains can run up to hundreds or thousands of dollars. For example, a .ai domain name’s standard cost is $144.99 yearly, whereas Porkbun offers them for $72.40, which is almost twice as cheap as GoDaddy.
Additionally, you can buy SSL certificates for your GoDaddy domains. They cost between $95 and $245 a year. Every GoDaddy domain name comes with free privacy protection, but extra protection costs an extra $11.99 per year. This includes preventing hackers from stealing your domain or making any unauthorized changes and requiring 2FA for deleting or transferring your domain.
So, if pricing isn’t GoDaddy’s biggest plus, what is? Well, it’s their customer support! GoDaddy boasts award-winning support, providing 24/7 access to its in-house domain experts via telephone and live chat. You can send them a text message, too, which is also available round the clock. Additionally, its web knowledgebase is also one of the very best I’ve come across; it’s neatly arranged, with different sections for different topics, covering almost everything you could have a query regarding. I then dove deep into the ‘domains help’ section and was pleased to find in-depth resources on registering a domain, setting up, DNS, renewals, etc.
There’s a dedicated GoDaddy WHOIS database search tool you can make use of. If you type in the domain name in this database, you should see the email address used to register it. In some cases, domain name owners enable privacy protection so that their information doesn’t appear. Like the competition, GoDaddy also facilitates auctions for specific domains.
Finally, GoDaddy's tools are simple to use, and the interface is uncluttered and easy to navigate. I took GoDaddy’s AI domain name generator, GoDaddy Airo, for a spin and found that while the suggestions it churned out were undoubtedly great, they were very few in number. Also, it only came up with .com domain names, whereas Hostinger (my #1 choice for AI) gives you a wide variety of extensions to choose from. All in all, if you need a domain registrar with the best-in-class support, I’d recommend GoDaddy in a heartbeat, but for AI tools or a long list of suggestions, I’d suggest Hostinger and Porkbun, respectively. They’re also cheaper than GoDaddy.
Best domain registrar for the tech savvy
✅ You’re a bargain hunter: Cloudflare is one of the most affordable domain name registrars, with popular TLDs like .com and .co.uk available for just $10.44 and $5.22 per year, respectively. Plus, there are no renewal hikes.
✅ You have large DNS records: unlike other registrars, Cloudflare doesn’t limit the size of your DNS records.
✅ You’re looking for great security features: Cloudflare has a range of enterprise-level security features, including native integration with Cloudflare DNS, CDN, and SSL services, for domain names.
❌ YouYou want a hassle-free experience: if you’re a first-time user, Cloudflare won’t allow you to search for a domain name until you sign up.
❌ You’re looking for bells and whistles: while many would swear by Cloudflare’s simplicity, its lack of a long list of alternatives, search filters, and AI tools make it less modernized than its peers.
Cloudflare says it will only ever charge you what it pays to register your domain name, and that shows in its pricing. It’s one of the most affordable domain name registrars on the market right now, with a .com domain name priced at just $10.44 per year, both .uk and .co.uk at $5.22, and .net at $11.84. Furthermore, uncommon TLDs like .cloud, .blog, and .online are also super affordable, priced between $15-$25 yearly.
The best part, however, is that there are no renewal hikes. While this also means that there aren’t any flashy first-year discounts to speak of, that’s no problem, seeing as domain name for most people is a long-term expense. Cloudflare has got it absolutely spot on with its affordable pricing. Cloudflare also supports bulk domain name transfers, making it ideal for folks who have multiple domain names that they want to bring under the management of Cloudflare.
Another advantage is Cloudflare's security features. Custom domain protection can protect your organization from domain hijacking by requiring offline verification for changes to your registrar account. It also offers universal DNSSEC and natively integrates with Cloudflare DNS, CDN, and SSL services, offering top-notch security and performance.
What I didn’t like about the service is that it doesn’t allow you to search for a domain name right away - you have to sign up first. Now, it’s not a deal breaker by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s just a small annoyance I wish first-time users didn’t have to deal with. Once you’ve signed up, though, you’ll be greeted with cheap domain names, irrespective of the TLD you’re looking for.
The platform itself is easy to use, and it’s a simple two-step process from searching for a domain name to completing your purchase. However, when looking for a particular domain name, Cloudflare doesn’t give you a long list of alternatives like some of the other providers do. There are also no filters to narrow down your search or AI tools to generate domain name ideas based on prompts.
All in all, while Cloudflare has a simple domain name generator that lacks the bells and whistles of more modernized competitors, it works perfectly well if you know what you’re looking for, and the registrar as a whole is cheap, reliable, and highly recommended.
The best domain registrar for low up-front costs
✅ You want an affordable option: if you're on a budget, IONOS has some of the most competitive prices you’ll ever find for domain names, with significant discounts for the first year.
✅ You want free SSL certification: IONOS assigns free SSL certificates for all its domains, which digitally authenticate your site as being secure. You also receive free privacy protection for any domain name you purchase.
✅ You need comprehensive customer support: you can get in touch with IONOS’ customer support 24/7 through phone or live chat.
❌ You want cheap renewal rates: although IONOS is super affordable to get started with, its renewal prices aren’t as budget-friendly as some of the top dogs in the industry.
🌐 Ionos is affordable and offers free extras like SSL certificates and privacy protection. However, it isn't the best in user-friendliness. We also noticed aggressive upselling from the company, which can be distasteful ★★★★½
IONOS is a German web hosting company and domain registrar that was founded over three decades ago. It currently manages a staggering 22 million domains and has an impressive 4.6 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot.
IONOS charges different fees for different TLDs, but they’re all reasonably and competitively priced. Widely-used domain extensions like .COM, .NET, and .INFO cost between $17 and $25 annually if we’re talking about non-discounted (or renewal) rates. On the other hand, uncommon extensions (e.g., .AI, .CASINO,) go for up to $200 per year.
However, you won’t actually have to shell out the above-mentioned amounts because IONOS provides significant discounts for the first year. For example, krishichowdhary.com would cost me just $10 for the first year - and then it renews at the standard rate. If you pay for multiple years in one stretch, the company charges as low as $1 for the first year for certain TLDs. It’s a promotional strategy that seems to work well for the platform.
Like Hostinger, IONOS too offers domain name generation with AI using prompts. I tried it out, and while it undoubtedly provides the most number of options out of any other tool I’ve tried, the suggestions weren’t as good as Hostinger’s. However, the breadth of its AI’s coverage is still praiseworthy.
Registering a domain name with IONOS is a simple process. To get started, navigate to their Domains page and use the search bar to check the availability of your desired domain name. If it's available, you can add it to your cart immediately and checkout in just a few clicks. Moreover, if you already have a domain registered elsewhere, you can transfer it to IONOS. However, keep in mind that there's a 60-day waiting period, meaning a domain must be registered for at least 60 days before it can be transferred.
IONOS provides complimentary SSL certificates for all its domains, ensuring your website is marked as secure by leading web browsers. Additionally, the service also offers free privacy protection for any domain you register, shielding your contact information from spammers and online marketers. It does so by acting as your proxy for WHOIS data registration. Finally, you also get a free 2 GB email address matching your domain name.
IONOS tops off a well-rounded service by providing round-the-clock (24/7) customer support via phone and live chat, offering easy and quick access to knowledgeable experts who will help you in case you run into any issues while registering, maintaining, or transferring a domain name with IONOS.
The best domain registrar for businesses
✅ You’re looking for a free domain: Network Solutions provides a .online domain name completely free of charge for one year if you purchase a .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, or .us domain name.
✅ You’re a business with tons of domain names: Network Solutions offers domain management services, with a dedicated account manager to help you maximize your domain portfolio investment and protect it from security threats.
❌ You want long-lasting free domain privacy: Network Solutions provides free domain privacy, Premium DNS, and SiteLock Premium for just one month, beyond which they renew at their usual rates of $2.50-$6.99 monthly.
❌ You need a clutter-free interface: Network Solutions’ interface is rather clunky, plus it holds back from showing the domain names’ prices right away.
🌐 Network Solutions is a suitable domain name registrar and web hosting service. It offers a broad range of domain name extensions and excellent uptime for hosting customers. However, we observed a significant drawback in its aggressive upselling. ★★★★
Network Solutions was established way back in 1979, making it the most experienced domain registrar on the block. This American company, now a subsidiary of Web.com, manages over 10 million domain names and has over 80 direct domain registry connections. While domain registration is its core service, Network Solutions also offers a comprehensive suite of web services, including web hosting, design, online marketing, and search engine optimization to help businesses establish a strong online presence.
Network Solutions charges $11.99 per year for a .com domain name, and you can purchase it for a maximum of up to 5 years at a time. However, keep in mind that it renews at $28.99 yearly, irrespective of your initial purchase’s duration. So, if you buy a .com domain for just one year, you will have to shell out $28.99 per year next year onwards. Other generic TLDs like .net and .org cost the same initially (i.e., $11.99 annually), but their renewal prices differ and range between $30-35 per year. Finally, uncommon ones like .app, .club, and .tips cost between $20-$40 yearly.
A highlight of Network Solutions is that it offers a .online domain name (worth $49.99 per year) completely free of charge for one year if you purchase a .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, or .us domain name. This means you essentially get two domain names for the price of one. Additionally, both domain names come with free domain privacy, which prevents spam and protects your personal information.
However, the .online domain name's privacy protection is free for a whole year, while the privacy protection for the purchased domain name is free for just one month and then renews at $2.50 per month. Other freebies include one month of Premium DNS (valued at $4.99 monthly) and SiteLock Premium (valued at $6.99 monthly) for the purchased domain. All in all, I find Network Solutions a perfect match for businesses looking to launch mission-critical sites and would therefore require airtight security right from the get-go.
Another advantage of Network Solutions for businesses is its domain management service. Under this, you’re assigned a dedicated account manager who then helps you maximize your domain portfolio investment, protect your brand and trademarks, and identify vulnerabilities to minimize security threats. Even better, you can get a free domain portfolio consultation to help you decide if this service is right for you.
This domain registrar also has an AI domain generator, which works well in practice and generates fairly accurate results. However, I didn’t quite like the fact that Network Solutions doesn’t display any prices (neither on its standard domain name search tool nor on its AI name generator). You need to add a domain name to the cart to check out its pricing, which can make the process of finding a suitable domain name time-consuming.
Unfortunately, Network Solutions has a user interface that's rather clunky. Plus, it isn't as modern as what you'll find on some competing platforms and thus makes searching for domain names less fun than what it should be. It’s undoubtedly effective, but a little more flair, intuitiveness, and transparency with pricing will go a long way in improving the overall user experience.
Lastly, Network Solutions offers customer support through 24/7 live chat, which I find to be satisfactory, primarily due to the abundance of support resources. However, some users would also prefer email and/or telephone support options.
Read our full Network Solutions domain registration service review
Best of the rest
great value and easy to use
✅ You want simple and affordable pricing: Bluehost is not only one of the cheapest solutions out there, but it also doesn’t come with any renewal hikes or confusing discounts.
✅ You appreciate a seamless experience: Bluehost is an easy-to-use domain registrar, with an intuitive interface that nails the basics.
❌ You want email or phone support: although Bluehost’s live chat is available round-the-clock, it lacks other support channels such as email and telephone lines.
❌ You want top-notch domain privacy: Bluehost doesn’t come with any free privacy add-ons, and you’ll need to pay an extra $11.88 per year on top of your domain’s cost if you want to stay protected.
🌐 Bluehost's underpowered VPS and dedicated hosting plans mean it may not work for the largest and most demanding business-critical sites, but it excels everywhere else, with all the feature-packed shared, WordPress, website-building and ecommerce plans you need to build fast and reliable personal and small to medium business sites ★★★★
Not only is Bluehost one of the most reputable domain registrars around, but it’s also one of the cheapest. Bluehost sells .com domains at $12.99 per year and .org at $14.99, for example. I was immediately impressed by the simplicity of both the platform as well as the pricing structure: there are no discounts, sure, but there are no renewal hikes and complex calculations to find out the best deal for yourself, either. It’s simple, effective, and exactly what many would prefer.
Speaking of Bluehost’s ease of use, it delivers a seamless experience, which is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the best in the industry. Searching for a domain name generates plenty of alternative options, with their prices mentioned alongside for quick and easy comparisons. However, it’s worth noting that between adding your preferred domain name to the cart and checking out, there’s an extra window that appears where Bluehost tries to sell its hosting packages, but nothing too pushy or irritating about this, as Bluehost is genuinely one of the best in the hosting space.
I tried out Bluehost's AI domain name generator, but it didn't perform as well as some other ones I tested. For example, a lot of the suggestions the tool churned out were unavailable, which made little sense and was honestly quite frustrating. However, those that were available were good suggestions, although I prefer Hostinger’s AI because it also shows the price of the suggested domains.
One of the biggest reasons Bluehost doesn't rank higher on this list is the lack of free privacy add-ons. While most domain registrars offer free domain privacy (different providers offer different lengths, with Namecheap being the best here because it offers free lifetime domain privacy), Bluehost has no such offer. If you want to protect your domain from spam and keep your personal information private, you’ll need to pay an extra $11.88 per year on top of your domain’s cost.
Bluehost’s customer support is top-notch, though. The web knowledgebase is powered by AI and boasts a handy search bar, allowing you to find exactly what you’re looking for. In case the support resources don’t come through for you, you can reach out to Bluehost experts using 24/7 live chat. However, like Network Solutions, there aren’t any telephone lines or an email ticketing system.
Read our full Bluehost Web Hosting review
best for privacy, and one of the best domain search tools
✅ You’re looking for class-leading privacy: Hover automatically includes free lifetime WHOIS privacy protection in every domain name purchase. It also offers 2FA and follows stringent data-processing practices.
✅ You want excellent customer support: Hover offers email, telephone, and live chat support options, giving you ample opportunity to get in touch with an actual customer support representative and resolve your query.
✅ You’re looking for the best domain search tool: Hover’s domain name search tool gives you a lot of options all at once, but it’s not overwhelming because all of them are neatly segregated into different categories.
❌ You want a low-cost solution: Hover has straightforward pricing, but it’s more expensive than some of its competitors.
❌ You want 24/7 customer support: although the quality of customer support is excellent, it isn’t available at every hour of the day.
🌐 Hover is a suitable domain name registrar. You can use it to find and register any domain name with ease or transfer a domain from elsewhere to its platform. The platform is user-friendly and offers straightforward pricing for customers. It also provides privacy protection for domain registrations, which is helpful. ★★★★
Hover is a Canadian domain name registrar based out of Ontario. It's a subsidiary of Tucows, a publicly traded American-Canadian internet services provider. Founded in 2008, Hover was created by merging three existing Tucows domain registration services: NetIdentity, It's Your Domain (IYD), and Domain Direct. While primarily focused on domain name registration, Hover also offers supplementary services such as email web boxes and forwarding.
Generic extensions like .COM and .NET cost $10 to $20 annually, and atypical ones like .IO, .APP cost $30 to $60 annually. Hover is admittedly not among the most affordable domain registrars on the list (a .com domain name costs $19.17 per year, for example), but it makes up for that by offering free forever WHOIS privacy to keep your personal information protected from the public WHOIS database. What’s more, it also comes with two-factor authentication (ensuring that only you can access your account) and follows stringent data-processing practices, thereby offering comprehensive security to all Hover domain name owners.
Hover offers one of the best domain name search tools in the industry. When you look up a particular domain name, you’re shown a long list of TLDs that are available for you to grab. Even better, these extensions are neatly segregated into different categories, such as popular, tech, business, home services, and many more. Put together, Hover boasts a vast selection of over 300 domain extensions, and given that they’re all shown to you without you having to tinker around, you're sure to find the perfect domain for your needs within just a few minutes. What’s more, the different TLD categories are available as filters, allowing you to quickly refine your search by selecting or deselecting them.
Hover is one of the very few domain registrars that allow you to transfer domains from other registrars at no additional cost, streamlining your domain management process. However, keep in mind that instead of a domain transfer fee, you’ll be charged an extra year of registration.
Another unique Hover offering is Hover Connect. It’s a partner program that allows businesses to provide domain names to their customers. When a customer wants to avail of a discounted or free domain offer with your business, they’ll be directed to a special Hover landing page that includes both your business's name and Hover's. Then, once they’ve used Hover’s intuitive and well-rounded domain name search tool to find the perfect domain for their needs, they’ll be redirected to a page of your choice on your website. Needless to say, Hover will look after the management of your customers’ domains, even providing them access to its customer support channels.
Speaking of customer support, Hover offers excellent assistance through email, telephone, and live chat. You can dial the support line and instantly get in touch with an actual customer support representative to help you whenever you're facing a problem. This service sets it apart from many platforms that give automated responses. Unfortunately, however, this support isn’t available 24 hours a day.
Read our full Hover domain registration service review
The best domain registrar for extras
✅ You’re looking for a full stack of extras: in addition to free lifetime domain privacy, Dynadot also offers access to its website builder, email service, and logo creator.
✅ You want a lot of domain name extensions to choose from: Dynadot supports over 500 domain name extensions, from generic ones like .com, .net, and .org to atypical ones like .io and .ai.
✅ You want a good AI domain name generator: Dynadot’s AI is better than most, as it churns out excellent suggestions and also comes with useful filters to narrow down your search.
❌ You want more creative website templates: Although you can take advantage of Dynadot’s website builder, the templates can be a little on the blander side.
🌐 Dynadot is a decent all-in-one web hosting platform. You can buy a domain, build a website, and host it, all on the platform. It also has transparent pricing, with no aggressive upsells whatsoever. However, Dynadot's tools outside domain registration aren't as good as you'd find in many rivals ★★★★½
Dynadot is a US-based domain registrar and web hosting company with additional offices in Canada and China. Founded in 2002 by software engineer Todd Han, Dynadot offers a wide range of services. However, its core business is domain name registration, which is what we’re here to talk about.
Dynadot supports over 500 extensions, from generic ones like .com, .net, and .org to atypical ones like .io and .ai. It’s, in fact, one of the few domain registrars to offer .ai domain names, making it a top choice for modern AI-related businesses. Speaking of costs, Dynadot is up to industry standards when it comes to affordability, with .com and .net domain names priced at $12.99 yearly, and others like .us, .co.uk, and .org ranging from $5 to $7 annually. Uncommon premium TLDs like .cloud, .blog, and .today cost anywhere between $19 and $26 yearly after renewal, although you can grab them for as little as $3.85 for the first year. This is right up there with Hostinger as some of the cheapest first-year domain name deals available right now. You can also buy specific domain names through an auction-like process at Dynadot. Likewise, Dynadot offers a domain marketplace where owners and sellers can negotiate prices directly.
While Dynadot has hit it out of the park with its comprehensive list of domain names and affordable pricing, it also makes this list on the back of some amazing extras it offers along with domain purchases. These include free lifetime domain privacy (WHOIS privacy protects you from spammers and scammers) and limited access to its website builder (fully customizable, no coding required, with intuitive drag-and-drop tools), email service (you’ll receive emails connected to your domain), and logo creator (to make an awesome personal or business logo using various fonts, icons, and color schemes).
Dynadot, like many other domain registrars, offers an AI domain name generator. However, it’s better than most, seeing as it comes with useful filters, such as character count, prefix, suffix, and the ability to search for specific TLDs. It’s a lot like Hostinger, i.e., it generates a handful of domain name options, but all of them hit the sweet spot and come with their respective prices. Additionally, Dynadot's domain search tool features AI, too, in the form of AI suggestions. It’s a toggle button that can be pressed to display a long list of AI domain name suggestions, all of which are based on the domain name you’ve searched for. This gives you valuable insights for masterfully crafting a domain name that perfectly represents your brand, business, or idea.
Dynadot rounds off an excellent all-around domain registration service with round-the-clock live chat with human support representatives, email, and phone support (this one’s available from Monday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm). Moreover, the website’s support pages are thorough and easy to navigate, too, making it easy to find answers to your queries.
Read our full Dynadot domain registration service review
FAQs
How to choose the best domain registrar?
In order to choose the best domain registration service company, you need to know exactly what you are looking for. Typically, domain names consist of your name or business name, separated by a dot from the TLD (Top-level domain), such as .com or .xyz.
Your choice of both of these elements will significantly impact how easily visitors can find, remember, and recommend your website to others. Finding a domain registrar that can offer all the elements you need for the domain name you had in mind should be the one you go with.
You then need to check the domain name you want is available. Checking across multiple domain registration services is a great way to find out which one has the domain you want to purchase.
Make sure the domain registration service you've picked offers basic features like DNS management and email forwarding. Also, compare the pricing, renewal rates, add-ons, and support to see which one offers the best value for money.
Pricing structures can be complicated. A low headline figure could become expensive on renewal, for instance. Prices vary between domain extensions, too, so a registrar that offers great value for a .com domain might give you a poor deal on when it comes to .org.
There may be extra costs for tasks like transferring your domain to another registrar, too. Read the small print before you sign up.
Look for any bundled or optional extras. A Whois privacy service prevents your address, phone number and email address appearing as public contact details for the domain, something which could otherwise get you a significant amount of spam email and phone calls. We've seen this cost as much as $11.20 a year, but several registrars provide it for free.
Many domain registrars offer hosting as an extra, but keep in mind that web hosting companies can also register domains. If you have an idea of which web host you'd like to use, check the details of its plans: you may be able to register a domain for free when you buy hosting, and that's often the cheapest option.
Finally, take a look at the support a registrar offers. You may never need any help at all, but if anything critical crops up – maybe an issue which might cause a problem with renewal – it's important that your provider is on hand to ably assist.
Balancing all these priorities can be tricky, so that's why we've created this list of top domain registrars to help point you in the right direction.
How did you test the services?
How we test domain registration services is pretty simple. Our web experts simply insert a keyword with a domain extension on the homepage of each service provider and the system will reveal its availability.
We then purchase the domain and check whether the service comes with all the features it claims to offer. We also compare prices to check whether each domain registrar is offering a service that is good value for your money.
We also test additional features such as GoDaddy's domain broker service, where a representative will negotiate with the owner of a domain name you want but has already been taken, in order to buy that domain name from them at a reasonable price.
Should I pay more for domain protection?
It depends on what comes as standard from the registrar. Anyone can do a WHOIS search on a domain name to find out who registered it and if your personal details are there you open the floodgates to spam and hacking attempts.
As standard lots of domain registrars will hide your details which provides basic protection and is usually enough for most people. For example, Standard protections for domains at GoDaddy include domain locking to prevent unauthorized domain transfers and privacy protection to hide your personal information from the public WHOIS database. They also offer Full Domain Protection that includes privacy protection, domain locking, and automatic malware scans. It also adds security monitoring and protection against domain hijacking.
It's best to ask the registrar which services are included when you buy a domain and to look at your individual circumstances. In most cases for small sites that don't take transactions or for domain names that are not high value then paying extra for protection might not be worth it. Still, it's best to carefully think about how confident you are with security before you make the final decision.
