Best Domain Registrars in 2022 (Ranked & Reviewed)

You want your website to be memorable, accessible, and stand out from the crowd. The domain name is what gives your website individuality and defines your brand. The name is what people remember. It's a gateway to your website.

When conducting a domain registrar ranking exercise, it can take time to discover all the hidden values a domain registrar might have. Some comparison categories are easy to make, like which offers free domain registration, but there are also categories where all providers tout their value, like being the safest domain registrar.

We've put them all through our tests, so let's find out which domain registrars offer the best products and services.

What are the best domain registrars?

The best domain registrars offer the best deals, provide extra services, features like domain privacy, domain lock, and free WHOIS privacy, and, most importantly, are reliable.

To make your domain registrar-finding process easier, we have collected data from ten leading domain registrars so that you can make the right choice when purchasing a domain.

NameSilo

With NameSilo, you can register a domain in a clean, fast, and easy way. NameSilo also has services for renewals and domain management. NameSilo offers multiple levels of security available to keep your domain assets safe, including domain lock and domain privacy. They offer simple, flat, and transparent pricing for their services.

NameSilo, like most domain registrars on this list, also offers free WHOIS privacy. Along with free domain privacy, you can also purchase inexpensive web hosting services with NameSilo.

Pros of NameSilo

• NameSilo offers a good user interface and security features
• Customer service phone support is available
• Inexpensive domain solutions
• Two-factor authentication adds security
• The domain control panel is easy to use
• Free WHOIS privacy for life
• SSL certificates

Cons of NameSilo

• Domain security can prove to be too extreme for novice users
• No discounts when registering new domain names

NameSilo User Reviews

Here’s how software review sites are rating NameSilo

Capterra – No review and rating are currently available.

G2 – 3.9 out of 5, based on 39 ratings and reviews.

NameSilo Pricing 

Here is the cost of different .com domain services provided by NameSilo:

• Registration for a .com domain is $9.95 for the first year.
• Renewal cost for a .com domain is $9.95/year.
• Transfer cost for a .com domain is $8.99.

NameSilo Support

Users can search the database of NameSilo to access popular resources to get answers related to domains, security, web hosting, WHOIS privacy policy, and much more. Users can also call or contact their support team via live chat or email.

Namecheap 

Namecheap is a reliable domain registrar as it has been around for more than 20 years, helping over three million customers register domains and more. Namecheap offers very affordable services, including hosting, domain registration, email, WordPress hosting, apps, etc.

Namecheap is a straightforward solution and a decent option when it comes to domain names and domain management. They offer free WHOIS privacy for all domain purchases and have free DNS and premium DNS services.

Namecheap also provides web hosting services at an affordable price. The domain management tools offered by Namecheap make it easy to buy multiple domain names, check for available domains, do bulk domain renewals, and look up expired domains.

Pros of Namecheap

• They are cheaper than other domain providers
• The services provide the customer with simple and easy instructions for website onboarding
• Provides the customer with the benefit of website management
• Full suite of services and products for all business needs
• Free WHOIS privacy for purchased domains
• Bulk domain search for easy domain assessment

Cons of Namecheap 

• Better discounts could be offered for longer-term domain registration
• Limited domain purchase assistance compared to other domain registrars

Namecheap User Reviews

Here’s how software review sites are rating Namecheap

Capterra – No review and rating are available currently.

G2 – 4.4 out of 5, based on 186 ratings and reviews.

Namecheap Pricing

Namecheap domain name pricing for a .com is as follows:

• Registration for a .com domain is $5.98 for the first year.
• Renewal cost for a .com domain is $13.98/year.
• The transfer cost for a .com domain is $9.98.

Namecheap Support

Namecheap offers a knowledge base, help center, how-to videos, and more resources for users to get immediate help. If you are looking for specific assistance, you can contact their support via live chat or submit a ticket on their website.

DreamHost

DreamHost is also a domain registrar that has a long track record. It is a great place both for beginners and entrepreneurs as it provides features that suit both really well.

The stand-out point of DreamHost is that they have set up their pricing so well, particularly for the customers that are appealed more toward month-to-month domain plans is a massive game-changer. You also get free WHOIS privacy with any hosting plan of DreamHost.

DreamHost is highly rated in the best domain name registrars list for its reliability and fast working speed. They also offer excellent web hosting plans and a free domain name for the first year with any of their web host plans.

Pros of DreamHost

• Free SSL certificate
• Free subdomains
• Great customer support
• 100s of domain extensions are available
• Easy domain transfers
• 30-day grace period for domain expiry
• Free WHOIS privacy for domains
• Simplified website development 

Cons of DreamHost

• Additional domain features cost extra money
• Less expensive options are available
• Limited support hours

DreamHost User Reviews

Here’s how software review sites are rating DreamHost

Capterra – 4.0 out of 5, based on 1 rating and reviews.

G2 – 3.7 out of 5, based on 76 ratings and reviews.

DreamHost Pricing 

DreamHost pricing for .com domains is as follows: 

• Registration for a .com domain is $7.99 for the first year.
• Renewal cost for a .com domain is $17.99/year.
• Transfer cost for a .com domain is $9.99.

DreamHost Support

DreamHost offers an academy to their users to teach them about website building and how to get more traffic to the website. They also have a rich knowledge base, a forum, and a customer support team to guide you when you face any problem.

Hover 

Hover has a lot to offer when it comes to registering a domain name and is an attractive option. Hover is a domain registrar service provider. They can register a company with a new domain name on your behalf and then authorize you to use that domain for whatever you need.

Hover provides you with the best services backed by 14 years of experience. It was launched in late 2008 as a branch of Tucows, one of the oldest domain registrars on the market. The idea behind Hover was to make domain registration as easy as possible so that anyone could handle the process, even if it was their first experience with domain names.

You can buy multiple domain extensions from Hover at an affordable price. Hover doesn't charge a transfer fee for common domain extensions. However, you have to contact their support to get the pricing for transferring exclusive domain extensions like .io from your current domain registrar. Domain renewal prices are reasonably priced but not the least expensive.

Pros of Hover 

• They offer a quick and easy domain registration process
• No domain transfer fees for common domain extensions
• They offer dedicated customer support when you're encountering any trouble
• Simple easy to navigate interface
• 100’s of extensions are available
• Free WHOIS privacy protection

Cons of Hover

• Hover's service tends to be a bit pricier compared to others
• It doesn't offer web hosting as other companies do

Hover User Reviews

Here’s how software review sites are rating Hover

Capterra – No review and rating are available currently.

G2 – 4.1 out of 5, based on 21 ratings and reviews.

Hover Pricing 

Here are Hover's prices for a .com domain. 

• Registration for a .com domain is $13.99 for the first year.
• Renewal cost for a .com domain is $15.99/year.
• Transfer cost is free, you just need to pay for a year of registration.

Hover Support

Hover has a great knowledge base; you can browse their popular articles to get instant answers to your queries. For more personalized help, you can contact their support team via email or phone support.

GoDaddy 

GoDaddy is one of the domain registrars that most users recognize when it comes to purchasing domain names for their websites. The proclaimed feature of GoDaddy that makes it stand out is that the platform is beginner-friendly and highly accessible. They offer domain registration and other services at affordable prices.

It uses artificial design intelligence to create your website efficiently and easier than ever with its free website builder. GoDaddy takes the data provided by the user to formulate the customized and individual website in just a few minutes. It makes a domain purchase and management a walk in the park.

GoDaddy has a special section for premium domains. You can also buy multiple domains in bulk. You also get WHOIS privacy for free with GoDaddy. They are one of the best web hosting companies available.

GoDaddy is your best bet for finding unique domain extensions. GoDaddy also offers domain auctions that allow one to scoop up domain names at inexpensive prices.

Pros of GoDaddy

• WHOIS privacy (domain privacy) protection at two levels
• 24/7 customer support
• One of the most comprehensive in terms of options
• Reputable company
• Hundreds of extensions offered
• Protection policies
• Domain auction services

Cons of GoDaddy

• Too little control
• Can be overpriced for renewals
• Too many upsells in the cart and checkout process
• Domain privacy not provided for free

GoDaddy Pricing

GoDaddy offers domain registration services for a .com extension for the following pricing:

• Registration for a .com domain is $5.98 for the first year.
• Renewal cost for a .com domain is $15.98/year.
• Transfer cost for a .com domain is $9.98.

GoDaddy Support

GoDaddy has an updated blog for their users, and they also have an active community for the users to get help quickly. GoDaddy has different support numbers for people from all across the globe. You can also contact their support team using live chat and email.

Domain.com

Domain.com is a reputable domain name registrar. The company has 300 domain extensions to choose from. Having this many options allows you to have a domain extension that fits your requirements.

They provide reliable domain registration services, as well as additional domain services like domain privacy, and they can also be the web host for your site if needed. It is easy to transfer domains and perform bulk domain searches within the Domain.com interface.

The web hosting service offered by Domain.com is fairly affordable. They offer a free domain name for a year with their paid web host plans. Domain transfers are also available at an affordable price. You also get an SSL certificate for free with the purchase of any hosting plan.

DNS management and transferring domains are easy with Domain.com. They offer a website builder and email management with their website hosting services.

Pros of Domain.com

• Domain.com has 24-hour customer service
• Easy DNS management
• A reputable and well-known company
• Bulk registration
• Easy domain name transfers
• Easy to navigate platform
• Total DNS management
• Non-aggressive upselling

Cons of Domain.com

• SSL has to be purchased as extra
• Security measures are better at other domain registrars

Domain.com Pricing

Domain.com offers the following .com pricing for its domain registration service: 

• Registration for a .com domain is $9.99 for the first year.
• Renewal cost for a .com domain is $15.99/year.
• Transfer cost for a .com domain is $9.99.

Domain.com Support

Domain.com offers a wide range of resources for its users. You can access their blogs, knowledge base, and video tutorials to enhance your knowledge. To get support from agents, you can use their live chat option to get help.

Bluehost 

Bluehost is one of the largest domain registrars, with millions of websites being registered or hosted. Three key features of Bluehost are that it is easy to navigate, reasonably priced, and built for small businesses, which are all positives for a domain registrar.

Bluehost has a simplified UI/UX. You can navigate the site whether you are a novice or a pro. You can park multiple domains with any of their plans. Domain costs are comparatively less than most domain registrars.

Bluehost is more known as a web hosting provider than a domain registrar. You get a free domain name for a year with any of their web hosting plans. Bluehost is recommended as one of the best web hosting providers for WordPress sites.

Domain purchase and domain transfers are also easy with Bluehost. They automatically renew your lease before your domain expires. If you have the right domain settings, you never need to worry about an expired domain.

Pros of Bluehost

• Auto-renewal for domain names
• Free domain name if bundled with hosting
• Free SSL if bundled with hosting
• A longstanding and reputable company
• Transparent pricing
• Bluehost has cheaper rates when it comes to the starter package deals

Cons of Bluehost

• Bluehost does not have the best-rated customer service, and there are knowledge gaps within the support
• The service has limitless constant upsell pitches that can get frustrating for the customer

Bluehost Pricing 

Bluehost offers the following pricing for domain registration:

• Registration for a .com domain is $12.99 for the first year.
• Renewal cost for a .com domain is $18.99/year.
• Transfer cost for a .com domain is $12.99.

Bluehost Support

Bluehost has a rich knowledge base where users can search existing articles and resources to get answers to their problems. They also have multiple phone support hotlines for their users to get effectively serve their users. You can also contact their support team using live chat or email.

Dotster 

Dotster is a well-known domain registrar that provides customers with domain names and domain services. Buying a domain name from Dotster is a very simple, and straightforward process.

Dotster has a limited product line, but what they have promises excellent performance and 24/7 support for the customer, which makes them stand out. They offer email services for an additional fee once you register a domain.

Dotster is also a web host provider. You can also opt for private registration for your domain by purchasing their domain privacy and protection option. Like most other domain registrar options in this list, Dotster is affordable.

Pros of Dotster

• Dotster is budget-friendly
• The service provides round-the-clock support to its customers
• Email services offered with domain registration
• Easy to navigate interface
• Free SSL protection on any registered domain

Cons of Dotster

• Dotster does not offer free WHOIS privacy
• The user needs to pay for all additional services
• Higher transfer prices than other options

Dotster Pricing 

Dotster has quite simple pricing deals for the customer depending upon the time of owning the domain.

• Registration for a .com domain is $9.99 for the first year.
• Renewal cost for a .com domain is $19.99/year.
• Transfer cost for a .com domain is $16.99.

Dotster Support

Dotster has a knowledge base and video tutorials to provide support to its users. You can reach their agents with the live chat options or email them. You can also call their support team to get help.

Network Solutions 

Network Solutions is one of the original domain registrars with over 25 years in business. It is a technology-based company with the stated goal of helping young entrepreneurs start and grow their online businesses.

They offer a diverse array of services, including domain names, hosting, online marketing, e-commerce, website design, and many more. It was one of the first platforms to be a domain registrar.

Pros of Network Solutions

• The services are quite flexible when it comes to making changes, which allows the user to have additional resources as the website grows
• WordPress, e-commerce, and good shared plans are available
• Offer a full suite of domain services
• Offer trademark protection services

Cons of Network Solutions

• Not the fastest support network when it comes to customer requests
• They do not have security and search engine optimization certificates
• They are much more expensive than other solutions, especially on renewal price
• SSL certificates cost extra
• Many additional services come with a steep price tag

Network Solutions Pricing 

The following pricing is offered as it pertains to a .com domain:

• Registration for a .com domain is $9.99 for the first year.
• Renewal cost for a .com domain is $37/year.
• Transfer cost for a .com domain is $9.95.

Network Solutions Support

NetSol offers an active blog and a rich knowledge base for its users to find out solutions to common problems on their own. They offer support via live chat and email.

Google Domains

Google Domains was launched in 2014 and offers domain registration, domain transfers, email services, and DNS forwarding. They are very transparent about their pricing and have a powerful server network, which makes them one of the best in the domain registration business.

The domain costs and renewal prices are very competitive. You can find the most popular extensions, but if you are looking for a unique domain extension, chances are you won't find it within Google.

Pros of Google Domains

• Easy to use interface and an excellent domain search tool
• Seamless integration with other Google services
• Reliable servers
• Very affordable

Cons of Google Domains

• Their services are not available in many countries
• They don't offer web hosting and other services
• Many extensions are not available

Google Domains Pricing

Google offers domain services for a .com with the following pricing:

• Registration for a .com domain is $12 for the first year.
• Renewal cost for a .com domain is $12/year.
• Transfer cost is free, with the purchase of a year of registration.

Google Domains Support

Google Domains has an interactive help center and FAQ section where you learn about the common questions you have about the domain registrar. You can get help from a human agent 24/7 using live chat. You can also email your query to their support team.

What is a domain registrar, and why are they important?

A domain name is an identifier for your website, such as webtoolsadvisor.com. Domain registrars, on the other hand, are businesses that register your domain name on your behalf, ensuring that no one else can use it.

Finding the right domain registrar to partner with is important to ensure your domain name remains yours for as long as you intend to use it. A domain name is essentially leased, and if it expires and you don't have expiration protection, your domain name might become someone else's.

A brief overview of domain names

To better understand how registering a domain works, it's helpful to look at its history. Previously, if you wanted to create a URL for your website, you had to go to a single source.

In 1986, the original domain name database was made available to the public. It was operated via ARPANET, a product of the United States Advanced Research Projects Agency.

The only issue was that the original system was not scalable, which is why a man named Paul Mockapetris, in collaboration with Jon Postel and Zaw-Sing Su, invented what is now known as the Domain Name System (DNS).

Rather than searching for websites using IP addresses (numbers), you can search for them using an actual name, such as webtoolsadvisor, with an extension (.com).

Paul Mockapetris and his colleagues launched the first seven extensions, which included well-known domains such as .com, .edu, and .net.

Once DNS was launched, it grew at a breakneck pace. They moved so quickly that they need a third party to send the names to registrants. This is when Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI) entered the picture. NSI was in charge of distributing domain names to the general population.

At the time, domain name registration was mainly unregulated. By 1995, domain names had ceased to be free, and individuals were charged up to $100 for a two-year registration. Certain individuals felt the pricing was excessive, and the need for control rose.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was founded in 1998. ICANN made domain name registration available to firms other than NSI. ICANN is still in charge of the DNS and works to keep the Internet secure. To sell domain names, ICANN must accredit any credible registrar.

Does it matter who your domain registrar is?

The term “domain registrar” refers to a corporation responsible for registering and administrating domain names. It is accredited by ICANN, a non-profit organization that regulates online domain name registration.

Choosing a reputable domain registrar is critical since it can have a long-term impact on a project or organization. Select the incorrect one, and you risk incurring hidden fees or possibly being defrauded. For instance, there have been instances in which a domain registrar has induced people to purchase domain names identical to those they already own under false pretenses.

It can be difficult to choose from the hundreds of domain registrars available, as they all provide identical services. As a result, the following factors should be considered when selecting a registrar:

Pricing: Before purchasing a website domain, study the registrar's terms of service and inquire about hidden domain fees. Additionally, avoid registrants that charge modest initial registration fees but much higher renewal prices.

Domain expiration: It is critical to renew a domain name prior to its expiration date to prevent it from being registered by someone else. As a result, choose a registrar that offers auto-renewal and reminder services.

Supplementary services: Consider domain registrars offering additional value-added services such as domain privacy and parking. These services and others are best if they are free, but some will charge for domain privacy.

Domain transfers: It is feasible to transfer domain names to a different domain registrar, although some may make the procedure more complicated or demand additional fees. Prior to making a purchase, make sure to review the registrar's domain transfer policy not to make any unauthorized domain transfers.

As previously stated, individuals may also purchase a custom domain through a hosting business that provides domain services, such as GoDaddy.

Because both a web hosting package and a domain name are required to create a website, it may be more convenient to purchase and administer them in one location.

Best Domain Registrars Wrap-up

Having the perfect domain name for your website is an essential step in building a website. The entire process of registering a domain name can appear complicated, so it's best to partner with a reputable domain registrar.

The domain registrar helps you to buy the domain name on your behalf and then gives you control of the domain so that you can utilize it however you like. The best domain name registrars offer domain privacy for free, as well as other complementary services.

Choosing the best domain registrar is important to ensure proper guidance and privacy protection for your personal information. Top domain registrars are partners in your internet quest, and not all domain registrars are equal. Choose the one that best meets your need, and you'll be on your way to online success.