Top 5 Domain Registrars That Give You More Than a URL

Registering your website domain is a very important step in building an online presence. Where you get your domain from matters, not just for the sake of quality, but for all the additional features and services you can find to help make registering and setting up your domain easier than you ever expected. 

While you should take the time to familiarize yourself with the domain registration process, don’t worry about trying to figure out which registrars are best. In addition to helping you better understand what a registrar is and what they do, we’ll review the top five registrars out there so that you can be on your way to picking one even more quickly than anticipated. 

What is a domain name registrar? What do they do?

A registrar is a company that facilitates the purchase and registration of domain names. Domain names were created to make the Internet accessible and easy to use. If not for them, we’d still be entering IP addresses to access websites – and who can possibly remember all those numbers? 

Domain name registrars have to be accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbering (ICANN), which is a non-profit organization that’s in charge of managing all domain names. These registrars compete with each other to sell the best and most domain registrations and licenses. Because of the competition, you will find a host of premium tools and services that come along with purchasing a domain name. 

The top 5 domain registrars you need to know

Now that you know more about what domain registrars are and what they do, it’s time to look at five of the best options. We’ve reviewed the best of the best to make sure that you get more than just a domain. With these providers, you’ll get a dynamic launching point for your website that includes plenty of additional support and solutions. 

1. Google Domains

Rated as the best registrar for ease of use, Google Domains works just like everything else Google does: straightforward and simple. Plus, WHOIS privacy is included, as is DNS security, and renewal increases don’t exist here. Although there are a limited number of domain extensions, it’s a great choice for those who need a basic domain registration. There are not a lot of upsells or extras that are thrown at users, either, keeping it simple. Plus, as you would expect, the platform integrates seamlessly with the rest of your Google tools, and you can manage everything from your Google account. 

  • Starts at $12/year for domain registration
  • WHOIS privacy included at no extra charge
  • Integrates with Google account and tools 
  • No SSL certificates
  • Support via chat and email (no phone support)

2. Domain.com

Domain.com offers a solid online presence, a wide selection of domains and extension options, and more than 20 years of experience to give you confidence in your choice. They have premium domains, free DNS management, and email forwarding, and web hosting is available, too. Multi-year registrations can garner discounts, and there’s even a site builder and marketing packages available for your social media and SEO campaigns. The site does charge extra for SSL certificates and privacy protection, but it’s still a bit cheaper than most other registrars. Plus, you can register for up to five years at a time, and their support is always helpful. 

  • Starts at $9.99/year
  • WHOIS privacy available for $8.99/year
  • Premium domains and country-specific domains available
  • Marketing tools included
  • SSL certificates are $39.99

3. Bluehost

Bluehost is a web host first, but they also offer domain registration to users. They have affordable prices that are ranked based on the extension that you choose. You can also get it all from Bluehost, but it will be priced individually. If you purchase a bundle, you’ll save a lot of money by getting a free domain for the first year and included extras free. They have 24/7 support via phone and live chat. Email is available, too, for those who need it. 

  • Starts at $12.99/year for domain registration
  • Hosting bundles available 
  • WHOIS privacy costs extra
  • 24/7 live support
  • Individually priced services can add up

4. GoDaddy

GoDaddy is one of the most popular domain registrars out there today, and for good reason. They have some great introductory discounts that can get the initial cost down to just one penny per year, and the site offers all-in-one solutions for registration, hosting, email and eCommerce, WordPress, and more. You can search up to 2,000 domains at once and register domains for up to 10 years. While SSL security costs extra, it’s not something people shy away from. 

  • Starts at $0.01/year for registration, hosting, and more
  • WHOIS privacy included
  • Some domains require 2-year commitment
  • Unlimited phone, chat, and text support
  • CSV/XLS uploads supported
  • SSL security certificates start at $64

5. Hostinger

Hostinger offers the best bundle for domain registration and hosting. With competitive pricing and data servers on four continents, users all over can enjoy affordable plans that include plenty of extra features. There are three shared hosting plans available, and they offer shared, VPS, cloud, WordPress, and cPanel hosting, along with domain registration and email hosting. Included features like SSL encryption, DNS protection, free site migration, and others make sure that it’s easy. Plus, there’s a business plan that lets you host up to 100 websites. 

  • Starts at $4.99/year for registration
  • WHOIS privacy available for $5/year
  • Promo periods available for discounts
  • Free email accounts
  • Unlimited data transfers
  • No phone support (Chat and email only)

Once your domain is registered, will you be ready to field the leads?

Setting up a website is no easy feat. Once your site is live, are you going to be ready for the incoming traffic? When you partner with Smith.ai, you’ll get support for 24/7 phone answering, live website chat, lead intake, appointment setting, and even assistance with your outreach campaigns to get those leads in the first place. 

To learn more, schedule a consultation to discuss what our virtual receptionists can do for you, or reach out to hello@smith.ai

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Business Education
Elizabeth Lockwood

Elizabeth Lockwood is the content marketing associate at Smith.ai. She focuses specifically on writing and editing engaging articles, blog posts, and other forms of publication.

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