Do you want to know which domain registrars will be the best in 2022? Domain registrars are the businesses in charge of registering and administering domain names for all of the world’s websites.
Because there are so many ways to be duped, picking the correct domain name registrar is crucial. We’ll teach you how to select the best domain registrar by analyzing their benefits and drawbacks in this post.
Want to skip the reading and receive our expert’s recommendation instead? According to our study, the top domain registrars are Domain.com if you’re just buying a domain name and Bluehost if you’re building a website, since they’ll offer you a domain name for free.
Here’s a brief rundown of what you’ll discover in this tutorial for those of you who prefer in-depth research:
What is a Domain Name Registrar
A domain name registrar is a corporation that sells and registers domain names on your behalf. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), a non-profit body in charge of domain name management, has accredited all domain name registrars.
Everyone can utilize the internet thanks to domain names. If you don’t have a domain name, you’ll have to browse websites by typing long strings of digits called IP addresses.
This difficulty is solved by domain names, which allow websites to pick addresses that are easy to remember, such as prowebskill.com or google.com.
What Domain Registrars Really Do?
The registry is a centralized database that stores all domain name records. A domain name must be added to the database, along with any relevant information, in order for it to be recognized.
ICANN grants a domain name registrar authorization to make modifications to your domain name’s database information on your behalf. A domain name registrar also offers simple tools for making those adjustments through your web browser.
So, let’s have a look at how to find the finest domain registrar for your website address quickly and efficiently.
How do I choose the best domain name registrar for my website address? Let’s take a look at how you can choose the right one for you and our guide on how to choose the most effective one for your website address.
How to Choose The Right Domain Registrar
Along with domain name registration, each domain registrar may provide other services. Some registrars may provide discounted domains as a promotional offer, while others may provide free add-ons to entice clients.
We consider the following four factors while selecting the best domain name registrar:
1. Pricing and Registration Period
The first thing you should look at is the cost of a domain name. Some domain registrars, for example, may offer cheap upfront rates for the first year of registration, but their renewal prices might be much more.
A domain name can be registered for a minimum of one year. However, certain businesses may demand a longer registration time, such as a minimum of two years. A domain name can be registered for up to ten years at a time.
We recommend registering your domain name for one year if you are purchasing a new web address. Your domain will not expire if you enable automatic renewal.
2. Domain Transfers
A domain name can be transferred from one registrar to another. Normally, you wouldn’t need to transfer your domain name immediately away, but if you’re dissatisfied with your current registrar, you should be able to do so quickly.
The first thing to remember is that a domain name cannot be transferred within the first 60 days after registration. ICANN decides on the starting period. Following that, you are free to transfer it to any other registrar.
The majority of domain registrars make it simple to transfer domain names at no additional cost. Some, on the other hand, may try to make it difficult or demand a price to remove the domain lock.
3. Domain Expiration Policies
Domain names are only registered for a limited time. You can extend the life of your domain registration before it expires. If you forget to renew your domain name, it will expire and anybody will be able to register it.
For companies, this implies that their domain name might be taken over. You may set up auto-renewals for your domain name to prevent this from happening.
Even if you utilize the automatic renewal function, it’s a good idea to verify the expiration policy of your domain registrar. Even after the domain has expired, some registrars provide a grace period. You can renew your expired domain name within this grace period.
We’ve heard scores of horror tales about business owners who lost their domain name because their credit card expired and their registrar didn’t provide a grace period. This is just one of the many reasons why picking the appropriate domain name registrar is crucial.
4. Add-on Services
You should also look into what other services your domain registrar provides. Even if you don’t require these services right now, it’s helpful to know that they are available.
Domain privacy, domain parking, extended expiration protection, and other add-on services may be available. Some domain registrars may also offer WordPress hosting, email hosting, website builders, and email marketing services, among other things.
Top 3 Things to Watch Out for When Choosing a Domain Name Registrar
Due to the high level of competition in the domain registration industry, you will come across businesses that have some really appealing offers. While these deals may appear to be attractive, there may be some drawbacks that you are unaware of.
When picking a domain name registrar, there are a few factors to keep in mind.
1. Add-on Pricing
When you buy a domain name, certain domain name registrars will immediately check for add-on services. If you do not uncheck those choices, your cost will be much higher. A.com domain name should not cost more than $14.99 a year on average. It should trigger a red flag if it does.
You must pay attention to the checkout page and uncheck any optional services or upsells, such as WHOIS Guard, that you do not require. Additionally, it’s a good idea to double-check the entire amount charged on your credit card accounts.
2. Bad User Experience
Most domain registrars strive to make their websites as user-friendly as possible in order to retain your business. Some domain registrars, on the other hand, do the exact reverse.
It would be impossible for you to update your domain name settings, such as name servers, as a result of this. If you wish to transfer your domain to a different server or registrar, you’ll need to do so.
The simplest method to find out is to check for domain registrar reviews on the internet. Keep in mind that only a small percentage of satisfied consumers write internet reviews, so read them carefully.
3. Hidden Fees
When picking a domain registrar, keep an eye out for hidden prices and fees.
For first-time domain registrations, certain domain registrars may have special offers for cheaper domains. The renewal fee of the domain is often extremely different and even greater, which most newcomers are unaware of.
Transferring your domain name to a new company is simple with all reliable domain registrars. Some, though, will charge an extra cost.
Let’s take a look at some of the greatest domain name registrars and see how they stack up against one another.
Best Domain Registrars to Buy a Domain Name
Choosing the correct domain registrar will help you avoid future issues. It not only helps you secure your brand name, but it also makes switching to a different host or service provider a breeze.
These are the best domain registrars to acquire your domain name from, based on the criteria we outlined before.
1. Domain.com
Domain.com was founded in 2000 and is now one of the most popular domain name registrars on the world. You may register all top level domain name extensions (TLDs) as well as hundreds of country code top level domains with them (ccTLDs).
You may use Domain.com’s rapid domain search tool to do your domain name research. Their search results also include premium domains.
Private registration, whois privacy protection, free whois, bulk registration, quick transfers, easy DNS administration, email account, email forwarding, and other domain management features are all available, as you would expect from a top domain registrar. If you like, you can even get web hosting from them.
If you have any questions, you can reach out to their friendly customer service team by live chat or email. They also offer a large knowledgebase full of useful guides.
Prowebskill readers may get a 25% discount on domain items at Domain.com. All you have to do is use our domain.com link from our website.
If you merely need a domain name and don’t need web hosting, Domain.com is a great option. Option #2, on the other hand, may be beneficial for you if you want to Start a blog or website because you can acquire a free domain name.
2. Bluehost
Bluehost is an official WordPress hosting partner and one of the world’s largest hosting businesses. They provide domain name registration as part of their web hosting service.
PROwebskill customers may get a free domain name, free SSL certificate, and a discount on web hosting from Bluehost, which is a great value for anybody wishing to start a website.
Basically, for $2.75 per month, you can get started and acquire a free new domain name.
Are you ready to start your blog? Get started for just $2.95/month (63% off your hosting plan) with my link below:
For numerous of our tiny websites, we utilize Bluehost as our web hosting service. Their UI is user-friendly for novices, it comes pre-installed with WordPress, and their chat assistance is really helpful when needed.
They also include a number of services that website owners want, such as the option to create an infinite number of subdomains, virus protection for websites, professional emails via G Suite (Google Workspace), and more.
3. Network Solutions
With over 7 million domains registered, Network Solutions is one of the world’s largest domain registrars. You may register a wide range of domain extensions, including the well-known.com,.net,.org,.biz,.info, and pretty much any other specialty TLD.
Web hosting, website builder, website security tools, business email address, online marketing, SEO services, and even IT support are all available via Network Solutions, one of the largest domain registrars.
They may basically be your one-stop shop for your online web presence as a small business.
To get started, use their domain name search tool to rapidly check what domains are available. Premium domains are also displayed in their results.
Their platform includes everything you need to get started.
Network Solutions is giving a 25% discount on domain names to our readers. During checkout, you’ll need to utilize our link from their site, as well as our Network Solutions promo code:
4. HostGator
Another prominent firm that provides website owners with a one-stop shop for domain names and shared website hosting is HostGator. They have a good range of extensions, domain privacy, and DNS administration tools that are simple to use.
They feature a simple domain search engine that will help you select a good domain name for your company fast. Their domain control interface is user-friendly and well-documented, making it simple to transfer domains if necessary.
Aside from domain names and hosting, they’ve also launched Gator, a fresh new drag-and-drop website builder. All of their website builder options include a free domain name and hosting.
5. GoDaddy
GoDaddy is one of the most well-known and well-established domain registration companies. For over 18 million consumers, they administer over 77 million domain names.
They provide a large number of popular domain name extensions from which to pick. Their pricing are quite competitive, and you may even qualify for a substantial discount on the first year of domain registration.
GoDaddy’s domain management interface is simple to use and allows you to transfer your domain name, change name servers, update contact information, handle bulk domain renewals, and configure a variety of other domain settings.
Other web services offered by GoDaddy include hosting, website building, email marketing, and more.
6. Namecheap
Namecheap is another well-known domain registrar. They feature a robust domain search engine that assists you in finding the perfect domain name and suggests alternatives if your selected domain name is not available.
Domain add-on services such as domain privacy and premium DNS are also available. Their domain control area is well-designed, but it lacks the user-friendliness of GoDaddy’s new UI.
One of NameCheap’s best features is that all of their domain names come with free whois privacy.
We used to use NameCheap, but we had too many problems going into their domain administration interface, so we decided to move our primary domains to another supplier.
7. DreamHost
Another famous domain name registrar and web hosting service provider is DreamHost. Anyone who signs up for their Shared Unlimited hosting plan will receive a free domain name with domain privacy included.
For $8.99 a year, you may register a domain name without purchasing hosting, which includes free private registration.
DreamHost has over 400 TLDs to choose from, as well as all of the domain administration features you’d expect from a big domain registrar.
Aside from shared hosting, Dreamhost also provides DreamPress, which is managed WordPress hosting for larger websites.
