Top 5 Cheapest Ways to Buy a Website Domain

If you’re in the market for a website domain, you’re going to have a lot of different options ahead of you. There are dozens of different places to buy cheap domains, but there’s a lot more to the investment than just getting the lowest price. After all, “cheap” might be just what you get if you’re not careful—limited features, hidden fees, limited domain support that’s never available when you need it—you don’t want to set yourself up to fail because you’re too focused on scrimping pennies. 

With that said, some cheap domain registrars are also reputable and reliable so you won’t have to spend more than you can afford. Before we get to those, though, let’s take a look at some unique tips that will help you save money on your domain registration and get a better domain along the way. 

Cheap tip #1: Brainstorm domain names first

This is something often overlooked, but absolutely worth the time. Once you have a domain, you’ll spend countless hours and probably thousands of dollars building your online visibility and generating traffic. If you don’t have the right domain name, none of it will matter. You can save a lot of time and money if you plan ahead and do your homework. 

Feel free to make a list that includes a few different options for your domain name. Research what’s available at the different extensions (.com, .co, .biz, .legal, .org, .net, etc.) and make sure that your preferred URL isn’t already registered in one form or another. The more work you do in advance, the more you’ll be able to focus on getting the best deal on your domain name. 

Cheap tip #2: Buy a multi-year registration 

Several perks come with purchasing a multi-year registration for your domain name. Not only can it help you get a lower per-year cost, but it will ensure that you don’t have to remember to re-register each year. Plus, Google actually rewards sites that have a multi-year domain registration with a higher ranking because it proves their reputability and staying power. 

More than giving you a cheap domain, this helps you save money so that you can get the right domain for your business. Two years is good, but if you can register for up to five, you’ll get even higher marks from the search engine indexers. And again, it’ll be one less thing that you have to worry about while trying to run your business. 

Cheap tip #3: Read the fine print

Too often, those who are new to buying domains don’t read the details. They grab a ‘cheap domain’ provider and pick a URL and go on about their marketing. Then, the fees start racking up. Administrative fees, site fees, premium hosting fees—you name it, companies can make it up to try to get extra money out of unsuspecting people. 

Don’t fall victim to this. Make sure that whether you’re getting a cheap domain or paying a little more for a better registrar, you always read the fine print and ask about all fees that will be incurred. If anything sounds suspect, feel free to challenge the provider to explain the charge so that you know you’re not getting stuck with unnecessary fees and costs. 

Cheap tip #4: Don’t settle for a “good enough” domain

These days, it can be difficult to find the perfect domain at a reasonable price. That’s where the first tip of brainstorming will come in handy. When you get to shopping, don’t settle. It can be tempting to get a domain that’s close enough and call it a day, but what if it’s already registered under another extension (such as if you bought the .co and there’s a company with the .com already)? 

What if it doesn’t get the traffic or visibility that you desire? Get the domain that you want the first time. if you did the brainstorming part right, this step should be easy, as well. 

Cheap tip #5: Buy from established domain registrars

You will find dozens of registrars claiming to have the cheapest domain names, but you can’t trust them all. First of all, you might not be getting the best service if you just choose the first cheap domain provider you can find. Then there’s the risk that they might go out of business or be unable to deliver the support that you need. All of that can spell trouble for your domain and avoiding that is worth spending a little more money. 

The most reputable cheap domain registrars

There are several domain registrars that offer cheap domains for those who need to build their presence online. Some of the leading registrars with affordable pricing and quality solutions include:

• Namecheap.com
• Bluehost
• Domain.com
• GoDaddy
• HostGator
• Google Domains
• BuyDomains
• OVH

Naturally, working with these providers will ensure that you get a cheap website domain, no matter what you’re trying to register and build. Of course, there’s more to buying your domain than just getting the lowest price. Like everything, it’s about taking the time to learn what you get for your money. 

It doesn’t matter how cheap a domain is to purchase if it doesn’t serve your needs and deliver the support you deserve. You’ll be happy to know that most of the registrars listed here offer 24/7 support. 

Smith.ai can deliver 24/7 support for lead intake and more 

And speaking of round-the-clock solutions, once your domain is up and running, you’ll want to make sure that you have the systems in place to manage all the incoming leads. That includes a 24/7 answering service, and when you partner with Smith.ai, you’ll also get a team of virtual receptionists to handle things like lead intake, appointment scheduling, live website chat, and even assistance with your outreach campaigns. 

Schedule a consultation to discuss what the virtual receptionists at Smith.ai can do for your business or reach out to us at hello@smith.ai. 

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