7 Best Domain Registrars of 2024: (Reviewed and Compared)

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Are you looking for the best domain registrars of 2024 to purchase your website’s domain name?

You have come to the right place. 

In this post, I look at the 7 most popular domain registrars in the market.

Our Top Pick of the best domain registrars 2024

Here is a list of our top picks of the best domain registrars for small businesses in 2024.

I will explain how each one of them measures up in terms of pricing, customer support, and ease of use.

These top domain name registrars are ICANN-accredited, which means the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has officially permitted them to register domain names.

Let’s get started!

What is a Domain Name Registrar

A domain name registrar is a company that allows you to buy and register domain names.

All domain name registrars are accredited by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).

The non-profit organization is responsible for the management of domain names.

Everyone can use the internet with a domain name. If you don’t have a domain name, you have to enter long strings of numbers (I.P. addresses) to visit websites.

This problem is solved using easy-to-remember words in domain names, such as Bloggingask.com, Google.com, and Facebook.com.

What do Domain Registrars Do?

A centralized database called a registry holds all domain name records.

The database needs to be filled with all the related information for a domain name to be recognized.

To make changes to your domain name’s information in the database on your behalf, a domain name registrar is permitted by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

You can use the easy-to-use tools provided by a domain name registrar to make such changes.

How to Choose the Best Domain Registrar

A domain name is a series of alphanumeric characters that identifies an Internet website. There are currently two types of domains: generic and country-specific extensions (such as .io, .in, or ly).

Some registrars may only offer the ability to buy specific extensions, while others may give special deals on their promotional offers.

When deciding which registrar to pick and register with, customers consider many things – some may want cheaper domains as their promotional offer.

In contrast, others would instead get free add-ons over anything else.

We look at four criteria when selecting the best domain name registrar.

1. Pricing and Registration Period

The first thing you should do is check the prices. Some domain registrars may provide you low prices for the first year of registration, but their renewal charges can be higher than usual.

A minimum period of 1 year is required to register a domain name. Some companies’ base period of domain registration is two years.

It is possible to register a domain name for ten years at a time.

If you buy a new domain name, we recommend you register it for a year. It would be best if you turned on automatic renewal, so your domain won’t expire.

There are additional fees for domain transfers, renewal, and other charges that you need to check with your domain registrar. 

2. Domain Transfers

It is possible to move a domain name from one domain registrar to another.

Usually, you wouldn’t need to transfer your domain unless you are unhappy with your current domain registrar, then this option is always available. 

You can’t transfer a domain name during the first 60 days of registration. The Internet Corporation decides the initial period for Assigned Names and Numbers.

After the initial 60 days of registration, you can move your domain to any other registrar you want.

Although most domain registrars don’t charge you any extra fee for transferring domain names, some registrars charge an additional fee to remove domain locks. 

It is best to review the domain transfer policy before you purchase a domain name from any registrar. 

3. Domain Expiration Policies

A domain name is registered for a specific period. If you want to continue with the domain name, you need to renew it before its expiration. 

Someone can take over a business’s domain name. To make sure that this doesn’t happen, you can set up auto-renewals.

If you use the automatic renewal feature, it’s best to check your domain’s expiration policy.

Some domain registrars offer a grace period even after the expiration of a domain name.

And this period allows you to renew your expired domain name in a period specified by the domain registrars in their terms.

Many horror stories of business owners losing their domain name because of expired credit cards, and the domain registrar does not have a grace period.

This is one of the reasons why it is crucial to choose the right domain name registrar.

4. Add-on Services

You may want to check out what your domain registrar offers other services.

It’s always good to know that they have these services, even if you don’t need them while purchasing a domain name.

There are add-on services offered by domain registrars that include domain privacy, domain parking, and more. 

Some domain registrars offer WordPress hosting, website builder, email hosting, and more.

Top best domain registrars in 2024

1. Domain.com (www.domain.com)

There is a variety of services at domain.com, but their main focus is on selling domain names.

Domain.com Pricing

• .com – $9.99
• .co – $6.99
• .net – $12.99

Ease of use

The domain.com checkout process is relatively easy, but there are a lot of upsells.

If you only want to purchase a domain name for one year, you will need to manually adjust the base time because they have a base time for two-year domain purchases.

Additional services

Domain.com also offers web hosting services, including their Website Builder. The services are not recommended.

We recommend looking elsewhere for hosting if you use Domain.com for your domain registration.

Customer support

The reviews say that Domain.com customer service is slow to respond. If you buy a domain from this, these reviews will give you a good idea of how customer support will work with you.

While these reviews may be for their hosting products, there are good insights if you buy a domain from them.

2. Bluehost (bluehost.com)

Bluehost is your one-stop shop if you’re looking for the best in domain name and web hosting.

Bluehost is a hosting provider that specializes in giving you all your needs at one location.

They are the perfect domain registrar for people who want their website, server, and domain name under one roof!

Bluehost pricing

The prices are comparable to what you would find in the industry standard.

The best thing about Bluehost is that you get a free domain with the cheapest hosting package, starting at $2.95/month.

If you want to sign up for a web hosting account with Bluehost, you can use our affiliate links on this page. 

If you purchase through them, we will get a small commission. And you’ll also unlock a discounted price that is especially for Blogging Ask readers.

Ease of use

It’s easy to purchase your first domain name on Bluehost. We like their easy-to-use interface and the fact that they aren’t aggressive with their upsells.

We recommend Bluehost for purchasing your first domain name. We like their easy use of the interface and the fact that they don’t upsell aggressively.

Additional services that Bluehost offers

• They have a discounted plan for web hosting with a free domain and a free SSL certificate.
• Website design and marketing services are available.

Customer support

Quite a few complaints are floating around online, and Bluehost isn’t the worst for customer service. They were near the bottom of the most popular hosts in the hosting survey, with a 3.2 out of 5.

This support score is only for hosting (not for domain name registration), but it gives you a good idea of what support you can expect.

3. Namecheap (www.namecheap.com)

Namecheap is one of the most trusted names in the industry; the Internet Corporation fully accredits it for Assigned Names and Numbers(ICANN).

When it comes to price and support, Namecheap is one of the best.

Namecheap pricing

The prices for Namecheap are:

• .com – $12.98 (currently on sale at $8.88)
• .net – $12.98
• .co – $25.98 (currently on sale at $6.48)

WhoisGuard privacy protection is free if you register a .com domain with Namecheap. This is a bonus for people who don’t like being public with their contact information.

Ease of use

It is easy to purchase a domain name on Namecheap.

Unlike GoDaddy, the checkout process is simple and straightforward, and they don’t try to jam with so many upsells as possible.

The domain management panel at Namecheap is easy to use, and they get brownie points there.

Additional services that Namecheap offers

Namecheap also offers:

Customer support

First things first: Namecheap offers 24/7 live chat.

The live chat function of Namecheap is easy to use, and the answered inquiries within minutes.

I am also using Namecheap for the last 4-5 years, and they are the best domain registrar in terms of support.

Namecheap keeps its customers in the loop about their scheduled maintenance and other issues on its Status Updates blog.

4. Hover (www.hover.com)

Hover is a new domain seller in the industry, and they place themselves as the place “Where the internet’s best ideas get named.” 

The company’s appeal is that they are a simple company that does one thing: selling domain and email accounts.

Hover pricing

• .com – $12.99
• .org – $13.99
• .net – $15.49

Ease of Use

The checkout process at Hover shows that the company is devoted to simplicity.

They accept various payment methods, including a variety of credit cards, and there are no upsells during the checkout process.

Additional services

Hover provides email addresses with the domain name, but they do not offer any other services.

Customer support

Customers can reach out to them via phone, email, or live chat. 

They only have customer service representatives from 8 AM-8 PM Monday-Friday and 12-5 PM Saturday and Sunday.

If you live in a different time zone, this may be a problem for you.

5. GoDaddy (www.godaddy.com)

It’s pretty much a household name for GoDaddy, one of the largest ICANN-accredited domain registrars.

But is it a good fit for you? Let’s find out!

GoDaddy pricing

The prices for GoDaddy are:

• .com – $17.99
• .net – $19.99
• .co – $34.99

Ease of use

We don’t like the checkout process at GoDaddy.

It’s because there are so many Upsells.

It gets frustrating when you get bombarded with upsells.

Additional services that GoDaddy offers

GoDaddy offers other services:

Customer support

Many would disagree with GoDaddy being the “World’s #1 ICANN-accredited domain Registrar”.

They have gotten a lot of bad reviews for their customer service. 

GoDaddy was near the bottom in terms of support quality in this hosting survey. 

It’s a good indicator of the company’s overall reputation since the survey only dealt with hosting rather than just domain registration.

6. HostGator (HostGator.com)

HostGator is a popular web hosting service provider, and they also offer domain name registration.

HostGator is the only platform on this list that sticks to 15 traditional and most popular top-level domains.

HostGator might be a good option if you don’t want to use other suggestions.

Some common extensions offered by Hostgator .com, .website. Org,, .club, .net,. Co, .me, .space, .online, .site, etc.

They also offer an auto-renewal feature so that you don’t lose your domain name if you failed to renew it.

You can use domain privacy to protect your information. Identity theft, unwanted mail, etc., are avoided by domain privacy. 

They also provide you “Domain Locking” feature that helps you prevent or hijack your domain name. 

You can quickly transfer your existing domain name to Hostgator, but your domain name should be a valid registration for a minimum period of 60 days with any other domain registrar. 

HostGator Pros:

Hostgator Domain Pricing:

Here are pricing plans for some top-level domain extensions:

• .com: $12.95 per year
• .website: $0.95 per year
• .space: $0.95 per year
• .site: $0.95 per year
• .info: $12.95/yr
• .org: $12.95/yr
• .co: $12.95/yr

7. Dreamhost (DreamHost.com)

Dreamhost is a domain registrar service that offers a domain tools search engine. Just enter your name, and they’ll find you the best domain for your business.

DreamHost provides over 400 top-level domains (TLDs), including .online, .club, .shop, and many more.

Dreamhost is one of the domain registrars that offer free WHOIS domain privacy. With every domain registration, you get free WHOIS domain privacy, and it automatically renews.

You also get free unlimited subdomains if you buy a VPS, Dedicated, or Shared hosting package from them.

Dreamhost is a domain hosting provider. Their service includes website builders, email, and security at a fraction of the cost of other providers.

You can manage your domains from one account that connects all your managed services with access to one panel that lets you edit DNS records, set up domain forwarding, and more.

DreamHost can also remove emails from proxy addresses and protect your domain from phishing.

DreamHost Pros:

Dreamhost Pricing:

Here’s the pricing list of some domain extensions offered by Dreamhost:

• com: $6.99 per year
• .net: $10.99 per year
• .org: $13.95 per year
• .info: $13.95 per year
• .club: $0.99 per year

You also get free private registration, security measures, and subdomains with all the domain extensions that DreamHost offers.

Wrapping it up: Top Domain Registrars

If you ask us, which is the best domain name registrar?

My simple answer is Namecheap.

Their customer service is excellent. They offer a variety of different services at the lowest prices.

They also provide you free WHOIS privacy protection with every domain. 

If you are looking to start a blog or to build a website for your business, then you can get a free domain name from HostGator and Bluehost when you purchase hosting packages from them. 

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