Best Domain Registrar 2023: Top 10 Picks & Reviews

When you’re starting a new business, one of the first things you’ll have to do is design a website, but even before that, you’ll need to make sure your desired domain is available. This can be a tricky process, and there are so many domain registration services to choose from! We’ve rounded up 10 of the best domain registrars currently on the market. 

Read More: Best Website Builder For Your Business 2023

What are Domain Registrars?

Domain registrars are large lists of domains that aren’t currently housing websites. Most domain registration services have their own registrar full of thousands of options to choose from, including different extensions (.com, .net, etc.) to choose from. 

What Do Domain Registrars Do?

Domain registrars serve the purpose of selling and reserving domains for anyone who might need one. They resell the domains they own so individuals and businesses can customize the sites and populate the internet with information.

10 Best Domain Registrar 2023

Top 10 Best Domain Registrar March 2023

Domain.com

On top of their package deals, we like Domain.com’s pricing, their awesome customer support, and their professional email options. They also partner with Google and Microsoft to make a seamless integration for your email and SEO needs. However, we will note that they have reports of website downtime with their hosting services (which isn’t good news for those looking to buy a domain name).

GoDaddy

In addition to their great prices, GoDaddy offers free domain privacy forever, user-friendly processes, and a free domain name when you purchase web hosting. We will point out that they aggressively upsell their services, so make sure you read the fine print before renewing your services with GoDaddy.

Bluehost

Bluehost offers everything you need for website management and domain registration. They are also one of the best web hosting providers out there, so if you need a web host along with your domain name, Bluehost is a great place to start. They do have frequent add-on prices, and their services can get pricier over the years.

NameCheap

NameCheap is also great for buying domain names in bulk, and they offer anything you need for your website management needs after you get the domains you want. For those who aren’t sure which domain name they should go with, buying all the possibilities might be a great option, and there are discounts to buy in bulk with NameCheap. On the other hand, they don’t offer a free SSL certificate with their domain registration services.

DreamHost

In addition to this perk, DreamHost has free subdomains, a site builder, and free private registration with your domain purchases. We will say that some customers complain that their support team isn’t always super helpful.

HostGator

Another feature we love that HostGator offers is their one-click WordPress install. They also have a great customer support team and a money-back guarantee. They do fall on the more expensive side of the domain name registration world, but their awesome quality makes it worth it, in our opinion.

Hover

Users rave that Hover is extremely user-friendly, and their pricing is transparent and predictable when compared to other domain registrars. On the other hand, they aren’t a web hosting provider and they don’t offer a site builder.

Network Solutions

On top of this awesome feature, Network Solutions offers privacy protection for their domains and over 500 options for your domain extension. We will point out that they only offer shared hosting and no dedicated hosting for larger clients. 

Namesilo

Namesilo also boasts many options for your domain extension, web host services and email services. We will point out that they don’t have a site builder and their SSL certificates are to be purchased a la carte.

Google Domains

Google Domains also offers DNS management tools, email management, and site-building as well as hosting. Some customers do complain that when they try to integrate other programs, the process can be a bit cumbersome.

How Do Domain Registrars Work?

Purchasing a domain from a domain registrar is like buying a piece of property with a realtor. Each realtor has different properties in their management, and buyers can peruse and buy this property under the direction of the realtor. With domain registrars, potential domain buyers can look at the options the domain registrar has available for purchase, and decide which one to buy. Then, they purchase the domain through the domain registrar, and they are the proud new owner of a little corner of the internet. 

Why Do You Need a Domain Name Registrar?

Typically, to buy, own, and design your website, you’ll need to go to a domain registrar to purchase your new site. You need to find out if your potential domain is available and purchase it from the domain registrar that currently owns it. 

How Much Does a Domain Registrar Cost?

Domains typically cost anywhere from $10-$50 per year, depending on the domain extension, the domain registrar you go through, and the services offered by the registrar you go with. 

How to Choose The Best Domain Registrar?

There are a few steps that go into choosing the best domain registrar for your website. We’ve outlined them below.

Costs and Fees

First of all, check out the fees the registrar charges for purchasing one of their domains, and for retaining the domain name year by year. Many domain registrars charge one upfront fee and continue charging as you renew your domain registration. Some might have more fine print and hidden fees than others, so make sure you read through each agreement before pulling the trigger. 

Domain Registration Period

Some domain registrars offer their services for longer than others, but the registration period indicates how long you’ll own your website domain. Typically, this is anywhere from 1-10 years. 

Included Features

Features like a free domain name with web hosting, free WHOIS privacy, and add-on services like website design are perks to look for when looking at a domain registrar. All of these features contribute to the affordability and helpfulness of your domain registrar service.  

Easy Domain Transfers

If you already own domains with another registrar, it’s a good idea to check out if your new registrar offers a simple domain transfer process. This research will help you understand if it will even be possible to transfer your domain.

Ease of Use

Ease of use is always a consideration when looking at new domain registrars since you’ll use their interface to buy and manage new domain names. We recommend watching a demo video or looking at customer reviews to see how beginner-friendly the domain registrar’s services can be.

Domain Expiration Policies

Sometimes, domain registration expires and you forget to pay the fee to reserve the domain name for another period. In this case, some domain registrars have a grace period where they reserve the name for you, and then they begin to charge a higher fee for your future registration. Check on the expiration policies for the domain registration companies you’re considering. 

Customer Support

Customer support is so important when it comes to your business. If you have a site outage, a registration issue, or even a question about the services you have available to you, you’ll need an excellent customer support team.

Customer Reviews

Customer reviews can show you if the claims to fame provided by your domain registrar are true. We recommend taking your time going through customer reviews to make sure you’re choosing the right domain registrar with awesome customer service. 

Final Thoughts

Owning your own domain name is a step you’ll need to take if you want to make your business legitimate online. Most domain registrars offer the same main features, but several stand out from the rest. We hope you feel prepared to choose which domain registrar service is right for you now that you have an overview of the best in the industry.