Top 5 Domain Providers
If you want to build a website and showcase it to the world, you will need a domain to go with it. Knowing where to purchase from can be daunting as there are a lot of competitors in the market with even more deals to choose from. Let us talk you through what to look for when considering where to purchase your domain from and which registrars we recommend.
What is a domain registrar?
Domain registrars are companies that hold, manage and sell domain names. Provided the domain name you want is available, you can purchase it from a domain registrar who then liaises with ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) on your behalf to allow you to make changes easily.
How much does a domain cost?
Anywhere from 99p to £11.50 is considered a reasonable amount to pay for an annual domain fee.
Which domain registrar is right for me?
Your preference will depend on the needs you have for your domain, but here’s some great tips to help you choose which domain registrar to purchase from:
Restrictions
Make sure that you can purchase the domain you want from the domain registrar, as there may be restrictions or limits on what is available (Google Domains for example do not allow purchases from addresses based in certain countries - see their full list of authorised purchase countries here).
Pricing
Make sure the plan is right for you now and at renewal, as some providers may have great introductory offers but then inflate the price at renewal time. And be aware that some registrars may add on purchases that increase the total and may not even be necessary! As according to Google, ‘The details of any domain registration must be published to the public WHOIS and RDAP directories, and registrars should allow you to change these details as needed, without additional costs. Watch out for registrars who charge an 'administration fee' when you need to edit your WHOIS or RDAP records’.
Automatic Renewal & Grace Period
Wise Birdy recommends selecting a registrar that offers automatic renewal and a grace period. Opt for automatic renewal so your website doesn’t go offline when you forget to renew - or worse still, the domain gets bought up by another business! A grace period will allow you to renew your domain, even if you miss the payment because of a failed/expired card!
Domain Transfers
You may not even be thinking about domain transfers right now, but it is always a good idea to ensure that the registrar allows for easy domain transfers in case you need this service in the future. (You will need to wait at least 60 days after purchase before you can transfer a domain.)
Extra Services
Registrars may offer additional services you can add on to your package/subscription like email hosting, marketing, domain privacy and protection which you may want to check out in advance in case you want to purchase everything in one place.
Website Build
If you intend to build your website from a particular platform, you may wish to have everything in one place and make the setup easy by purchasing your domain name, email inboxes, and hosting from the website builder platform.
Customer Care
Make sure your registrar provider has a good track record for customer satisfaction which can often be found with a quick Google to check out their customer reviews.
Our Top 5 Recommended Domain Registrars
Google Domains
Wix.com
Namecheap
Domain.com
Go Daddy
Let’s look at the pros & cons…
Google Domains + Simple & easy to use + Reliable annual renewal fee - May not be able to purchase if you do not live in their approved country list.
Wix.com + Easy to use + Can do everything in one place (buy domain, hosting, email & build your site!) - You cannot use a Wix Domain with another web host unless you transfer the domain
Namecheap + User friendly + Pricing is highly competitive + High security standards - No phone support
Domain.com + Lower than average prices + Helpful knowledge base filled with video tutorials - No customer support available via email
Go Daddy + Telephone support & regular check ins to make sure you are happy with the product + Great ad-on options + Great introductory offers - High renewal prices
If you need support choosing a domain registrar, connecting it to your site or redirecting domains, get in touch with us at Melissa's Copy today!