Domain name refers to the address of your website people enter in the browser URL bar to view your site. There are domain names available in a number of different extensions and you can purchase them from a domain registrar. However, trying to shortlist the best domain registrar to purchase a domain name from can be a difficult and time consuming process.
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Hence, we have shortlisted the 10 best domain registrars in this article and highlighted what they are best for - so you can easily decide on the right one for your e-commerce business!
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10 Best Domain Registrars
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1. Namecheap
- Best known for a fuss-free buying experience
- Pricing: starting from $8.88 per year
Namecheap is a top domain registrar in the market with a powerful domain search tool that allows you to search for the best domain name and offers great alternative suggestions when your first choice is not available. They also provide domain add-on services such as premium DNS and domain privacy. Â
Namecheap offers domains that are relatively inexpensive and a minimal price hike in the second year. Thankfully, purchasing a domain is a pleasant and easy process as the site has a readable and uncluttered layout that allows you to find everything you need easily. In addition, you will get access to many extra services that come together with your domain – such as website security, email accounts, site hosting, and many more. Plus, they have a 24/7 customer service that you can turn to whenever you need help!
2. GoDaddy
- Best known for its popularity with small business owners
- Pricing: from $19.99 for .com domains
Managing over 77 million domain names for more than 18 million users, GoDaddy is known to be one of the most popular domain registrar that has been around for the longest time. They offer a wide variety of popular name extensions at extremely competitive prices as well as a free basic Whois privacy. GoDaddy is great for beginners who are looking for a bundled domain registration and hosting offer.
3. DreamHost
- Best for handling data
- Pricing: starting from $6.99 for .com domains
If your E-commerce business involves handling a lot of customer data, you should definitely consider DreamHost. It is one of the few registrar that includes a free SSL certificate for encrypting data on your website. If you are looking for additional data security, there is the advanced SSL certificate that costs only $15 every year. DreamHost also offers quality site hosting, basic website builder, and personalized email at competitive prices.
4. Dynadot
- Best for purchasing and selling current domains
- Pricing: starting from $5.99 per month
Dynadot is an interesting site that offers unique benefits such as IDN and Bulk search tools, and advanced options that allow you to define the domain extensions you want to include in your search. You will also get access to a number of extra services, including a website builder that can help you build and host a simple and responsive one-page site.
5. Domain.com
- Best for protecting your website
- Pricing: $9.99 per year
Established in 2000, Domain.com is a popular domain name registrar that comes with a quick domain search tool and has a beginner-friendly user interface. You will have access to almost all the domain management tools expected of a top domain registrar such as easy DNS management, bulk registration, private registration, email account, easy transfers, and other additional services. If you wish to, you can also purchase web hosting from Domain.com.
6. Bluehost
- Best for bundling with web hosting
- Pricing: Free domain with hosting at $2.95 per month
If you want to have your domain name and hosting in one spot together, Bluehost is one of the best sites in the market. Their simple and straightforward user interface makes it extremely easy to make your first purchase with them. They offer a great deal where you will receive a free domain even with the cheapest hosting package, which begins at $2.95 a month.
7. Google Domains
- Best for no-frills domain purchases
- Pricing: $12.99 per year
Everything is simple with Google Domains, whether you are looking to purchase a domain name or an email. The checkout process is streamlined with no upsells and if you are familiar with the Google interface, this site will be extremely comfortable to use. In addition, they have made it easy to integrate your domain with Google tools like Google Analytics, G Suite, and Google Search Console.
At only $12.99 every year, Google Domains offer free privacy protection and is an affordable option if you do not need more than 10 domain names. However, if you are looking to purchase more than that, other sites like NameSilo may be cheaper.
8. HostGator
- Best for old-school top-level domains
- Starting at $2.75 per month
HostGator offers a one-stop shop to e-commerce business owners for shared website hosting and domain names, offering a wide selection of domain privacy, extensions, and DNS management tools that are easy to use. It includes a domain search tool that is great for beginners and allows you to swiftly find an ideal domain name for your business. They have a beginner friendly domain management area which is well documented, making it fuss-free to transfer domains whenever you need to.
9. Hover
- Best if you are choosing a URL
- Pricing: $12.99 per year for .com domains
Hover is considered to be a relatively new domain registrar that does one thing really well- selling domains and related email accounts. This company is dedicated to simplicity, and it can be seen in their checkout process. Throughout the entire customer journey, there are entirely no upsells and a wide variety of payment methods such as PayPal, credit cards, and Apple Pay are accepted.
10. NameSilo
- Best for bulk purchases
- Pricing: starting from $8.99 per month
If you are looking to buy several domain names to cover alternative extensions or common misspellings for instance, NameSilo is the best option. They offer discounts for bulk orders of more than 50 domains. For purchase of less than 49 domain names, it costs $8.99 a year for each .com domain. For 50 to 100 domain names, each one will costs $8.89 a year.
Alt text: Choosing the best site to buy a domain name for your small business
Whether you are intending to purchase domain names, host websites, or run ads for your e-commerce business, do remember to check out cards and business accounts that can offer you greater savings. For instance, the Aspire Corporate Card will give you 1% cashback on all online marketing and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) purchases, allowing you to get more for less. View the full list of eligible merchants here.