Here are a few examples and the excellent rates you can find on Porkbun for them:
- .shop: $2.04 for the first year, $26.85 renewal
- .store: $2.55 for the first year, $41.69 renewal
- .tech: $2.55 for the first year, $36.54 renewal
- .help: $7.77 for the first year, $21.09 renewal
- .reviews: $8.22 for the first year, $16.97 renewal
So you want to stay on top of domain management. In addition to autorenewals, some of the key management features to look out for include:
- Email: Having email accounts @yourdomainname.com looks professional and serves as the place where you receive information about your domain. Some registrars a few free email accounts, whereas others only provide email forwarding.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This is an extra layer of protection that makes sure someone can’t hack your account with a stolen username/password. The second factor of authentication could be a text message sent to a trusted device that only you own.
- Domain lock: Sometimes called “Transfer lock,” this feature prevents anyone from transferring your domain.
- DNS management tools: Domain name system (DNS) records are stored in databases called nameservers and tell web browsers where to find websites. You may have to update DNS records from time to time. It’s not difficult, so long as your domain registrar provides easy DNS tools.
You also get email forwarding, which lets you set up professional email addresses with your domain name. Receive all your messages in your current inbox or set up another free Gmail to handle it. Your call, it won’t cost anything either way.
If you are paying way too much for your domain right now, consider transferring to Namecheap. When you switch, Namecheap will carry over unused time from your previous registrar if possible. It’s a nice bonus on top of all the other great savings.
There are two options for avoiding this—buy a domain for as long as possible upfront or find a registrar with affordable, predictable renewal pricing.
Domain names may feel like a “set it and forget it” type of thing. But in reality, they require ongoing management including renewals, security, and accessibility.
Let’s walk through the criteria I use when evaluating my domain registration options.
For example, most registrars offer auto renew services, meaning you don’t have to manually renew your domain registration every year. It’s important to get the auto renewal set up properly, because if your domain expires, it might cost you a lot to get it back.
All of this comes at a really easy-to-swallow price.
There are basically three ways to get a domain name:
- Use a domain registrar
- Get a domain name bundled with hosting
- Buy a domain name through a reseller
If you’re interested in buying 50+ domains, NameSilo is your best option. You get competitive pricing on domains and free WHOIS privacy forever (which saves money on every site).
I really like it when a domain registrar makes it easy for you to take advantage of all the different domain extensions available. Basically, you are looking at two things:
- How many different TLDs do they offer?
- How easy is it to search for domain names?
With Hostinger, you get a free domain for the first year when you sign up for hosting and the renewal rate is usually only a few dollars more.
It’s also super simple to set up and get oriented, even if you have never done anything like this before.
With Domain.com, your website will be replaced by a parked domain and the email will stop working if you do not renew on time. From there, you’ll have 30 days to renew your domain for the normal price.
Domain name registration involves providing your personal details to the domain registrar. However, doing so means your information is now part of the public record.
Better still, you can use my exclusive offer code for 25% off any purchase (except premium domains) on Domain.com. Just enter NEILPATEL in the discount code box at checkout.
But if you don’t currently have web hosting for your site or you aren’t thrilled by the quality of your current hosting situation, I’d go with Hostinger.
They offer a killer combination of some of the best first-year price deals on new, trending, and alternative extensions as well as the best renewal rates nearly across the board. They beat the market on renewal pricing for over 200 domain extensions.
But the good news is it doesn’t have to be, thanks to WHOIS privacy.
So, if you get a bit creative with extensions, you can still deploy all your keywords as domains–and maybe save a good bit of money, too.
As you can see, the price starts low, stays low (the red with strikethrough is renewal), and gets cheaper the more you get. I couldn’t fit the entire chart in a nice screenshot, but the bulk pricing for .com drops all the way to $7.29 for 5,000+ domains.
Heck, take a look at their renewal pricing on .com extensions against some of the big names:
Get in touch with Domain.com today and take advantage of all the tools and resources they have to offer. And don’t forget to use my discount code–NEILPATEL–at checkout for 25% off.
#3 – Namecheap — The Best Domain Names for $1 or Less
That’s not typical. Usually you just lose whatever time you had remaining from your old registrar.
You can even eschew the rock-bottom first-year pricing in favor of locking down a URL for up to a decade. Even then, you’re still getting some of the best rates in the biz. For example, a .shop extension can be secured for ten years for just $228.93. That’s even better than their renewal pricing rate, which itself beats many of Porkbun’s competitors.
It comes with a vast library of over 500,000 stock and licensed images to use on your site, too. So you can go from nothing to a full-fledged homepage in less than a lunch break.
The interface and navigation scheme will be very familiar. It’s really easy to find your way around, even if domain management is not your forte.
You get well-built tools that don’t take a ton of technical skill to use. Connect your site with confidence to other Google and third-party services, like your email, online store, or business databases.
If you have a lot of domains, this is a big deal. With other providers, you might only get a cut of what your parked domain earns. Or, you might get nothing. NameSilo doesn’t get in your way.
How do you decide which of these good options will be the best for you?
Domain.com, NameSilo, and Google Domains offer free email forwarding, so you can keep using your current accounts to manage your new domain. All three of these registrars also offer free DNS management tools.
Summary
Namecheap also offers a bulk domain search and good prices, so it might be another good option for people who need a lot of domain names.
However, both charge extra for privacy protection.
I understand that option is not for everyone, but Network Solutions also offers 20-year registrations. This is twice as long as you can get with other vendors.
The next step up, Business, is $6.99 per month. You’re allowed unlimited pages and get site analytics, revision history, and phone support.
The bulk domain search is useful, too. You can simply check off the domains you want, filtering your search by TLD or extension category.
Let’s talk a little bit more about these TLDs and how to choose a registrar that will make your hunt for the perfect domain as easy (and as affordable) as possible
Domain Extensions and Search Tools
Why? To make sure no one else can buy a similar name or intentional misspelling to steal their traffic. It also ensures your website is easy to find, even if someone doesn’t know how to spell it or what extension you’re using.
Domain.com includes a lot of features that are great for people who need to transfer domains. You get DNS management tools, email forwarding, URL forwarding, and transfer lock to prevent someone else from hijacking your domain.
Let’s start with the fundamentals.
Hostinger’s rates are extremely affordable for both standard shared hosting and WordPress hosting. Right now, the cheapest shared hosting plan with a free domain name starts at $2.59 per month.
What’s important is getting the domain name and extension you want at a reasonable price with the protection and security you need.
Some great web hosting providers, like Hostinger, offer domain names bundled with hosting.
Otherwise, the transfer can cause unwanted downtime or accessibility issues for your website.
That’s just a sampling. And guess what? Each of those promotional first-year prices and renewal rates are the best available for the extension, sometimes by a good few dollars.
But others have done just what I needed them to. I was able to snag a domain I liked at a good price, with very little work and time spent on my end.
Improve security, take advantage of Google’s best-in-class IT infrastructure, and save money doing it. Start using Google Domains today.
What I Looked at to Find the Best Domain Registrar
If the name you want isn’t available, registrars will offer suggestions for slightly different names or alternative TLDs that are available. This can help you find something much quicker than having to search each name individually.
And if you are unsure about DNS records or how to get your site set up, you can reach out to Namecheap 24/7.
I’ve had to secure dozens of different domains over the years. That’s meant searching and browsing through many domain registrars to find the right URL for my new projects and blogs.
The incredibly rich search tools make it easy to find similar domains with different TLDs. Or you can search based on batches of keywords (up to 5,000), which can yield results of available domains you might not have thought about otherwise.
But, it’s crucial to focus on renewal pricing for any domain extension.
Since WHOIS privacy is free forever with every purchase, you’re also saving $10-15 per year per site compared to a domain registrar who charges for it. With dozens or hundreds of sites, this adds up quickly.
Let your great-grandkids worry about the renewal.
The third option, domain resellers, are exactly what they sound like. They resell domain names in partnership with domain registrars, but resellers typically charge extra so they can make money, too. Also, they usually don’t have dedicated support.
Some of them have given me such a terrible, inconvenient experience that I’ll never use them again.
The Domain.com builder will ask you a couple quick questions and then intelligently set layout and image and content formatting for you, giving you a template to start from in a snap.
Most domain registrars offer promotional pricing for your initial contract term. Some limit your initial contract term to one or two years, while others may give you five to 10 years.
Now, granted, unclaimed .com domains are scarce. If your keywords aren’t available for that $9.99 .com rate, you have two options through Domain.com
Even if you don’t use Google products on the regular, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the minimal learning curve. Plus, the online knowledge base is extensive and organized really well.
And, since Hostinger is throwing in a free domain name, that saves you another $10-15 bucks in the first year, at least.
These are great prices, plus you can register for up to 10 years through Google. There are no hidden charges and all of the great features I just listed come standard with your registration fee.
These features are really important at scale. With email forwarding and portfolio management, it’s a lot easier to keep track of all your domains.
Look, it’s going to be ridiculously hard to find an available .com for your keywords at this point in the game. Unless you’ve gone the startup route of naming your company a cheeky misspelling of a real word, .com URLs are rare to find. Even if you do, you’re going to have to pay out the nose for it.
Just click the option on the left and enter your desired domain to see if it’s available. Once you’ve found a suitable option, select it and Hostinger will secure it for you for free.
Find your site’s best home on the web through Porkbun today.
#5 – Network Solutions Review — The Best for Long-Term Domain Registration
All of the recommendations on my list are domain registrars, with the exception of Hostinger.
Unsurprisingly, Google makes it really easy to search for the domain you want. What can I say—Google knows search. You can quickly discover which popular TLDs are available for your desired keywords, as well as a host of less common TLDs.
A final benefit I have to mention is that NameSilo will add a year onto your coverage if you transfer your domain. Instead of losing out on the time you already paid for with your old registrar (which is usually the case), you get to keep it.
So, regardless of what you need, your new domain name is just a few clicks away.
Want to skip the read and get right to my top pick? The best domain registrar for most people is Hostinger (get a free domain with their web hosting).
If you want to change domain registrars in the future, you have to do a domain transfer. Some registrars make this free and easy, while others charge for it.
Sure, you can get deals on domains through other registrars, but I recommend Namecheap because renewal pricing stays low.
Let’s talk about those low prices on domains:
If you already have a web host you like, I recommend using a domain registrar.
This will keep your site (and visitors) safer and ensure that your web address hasn’t been flagged as spam or worse.
The prices for domains are very competitive, starting at $9/year, but it’s everything that comes with that low price that sets Google apart.
Seriously, a .com from Domain.com can be registered for $9.99 per year for your initial commitment. Lock it up for up to five years at checkout and rest assured you’re getting predictable renewal price of $15.99 after that term.
One of the few things you don’t get with NameSilo are SSL certificates. Those cost extra, and the price is fairly high. I wouldn’t worry about that too much as it’s fairly easy to get a free SSL certificate.
Answer a few quick questions and Hostinger will offer you the right amount of assistance. Once you select your preferred site platform, Hostinger will let you either select a new domain to secure or connect one you already own.
Domain registrars handle the tech side of assigning IP addresses to domain names and reserving domain names as well.
For those looking for long-term domain registration, there are plenty of good options, but nothing compared to Network Solutions. Get started with them today and use coupon code NEILPATEL to get 25% off.
#6 – NameSilo Review — The Best for Buying Domains by the Dozen
Every domain registrar on my list offers the familiar TLDs like .com, but some offer a larger selection of alternative TLDs. There are hundreds of new TLDs, like .online, .blog, and even .ninja.
Be aware that not all domain registrars offer the same selection of TLDs. As a random example, NameSilo offers both .theater and .theatre, whereas Google doesn’t have the British spelling.
A great place to check for a bargain deal on one of the newer TLDs is Namecheap. They run promotional pricing for domains as low as $0.99/year:
Domain.com has you covered on both the most recognizable domain extensions as well as new and emergent top-level domains (TLDs). Prices and renewal rates for either are easy to find and, generally, quite affordable.
Let’s get started so you can lock in a great deal on your domain as soon as possible.
#1 – Hostinger Review— The Best for Getting a Free Domain for Your New Website
You also can get step-by-step support from the company’s 24/7 customer service teams during the transfer, so the end result is a smooth domain transfer with zero downtime.
Register for one year, two years, or up to 10 years. It’s just a good deal.
Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.
Different domain registrars may handle domain management differently, so it’s crucial to understand how things work with the company you choose.
For a limited time, you can even get a .com for under $1 per year. That’s right, you don’t even have to compromise—find a .com through Namecheap today, register it for two years, and get it for just $1.96 at checkout.
#4 – Porkbun Review — The Best Renewal Pricing on the Market
Choose NameSilo for the massive selection of TLD’s, the fantastic search tools, great prices, and discounts for bulk purchases.
With new TLDs, you want to pick something that’s going to age well and makes sense with your business. Just keep searching until you find one that works.
Finding a good domain registrar is a task I’m very familiar with.
Every feature and capability you could ever want is available, you just have to purchase them a la carte.
But if that’s a bit too much to pony up right away, Hostinger has decent deals on shorter commitments. A 24-month term runs you $3.99 per month, but you can grab Premium Shared Hosting for a single year for just 40 cents more per month than the three-year option.
Including the privacy and security features I’ve listed, Google Domains includes:
- Free privacy protection (unlike Domain.com and Hostinger)
- Native integration with Google services
- Domain management sharing
- Cloud DNS
- DNS exporting
- 24/7 customer support
- Email forwarding
If you’re willing to think outside the box, you can get a memorable, short domain for next to nothing. With all the new TLDs available, you may actually find a URL that works better than a .com.
You can expect similar renewal savings on any extension you buy from Porkbun.
Namecheap, for example, has a process that you can follow that results in zero downtime. On top of that, you get to carry over any remaining time from your previous registration to Namecheap.
Get the best deal on the most domains with NameSilo today.
#7 – Google Domains Review — The Best Free Security and Privacy Features
You also can get a competitive website builder from Domain.com for cheap.
So, if you transfer a .com to Domain.com, you’ll only pay $9.99.
Which domain registrars have you tried in the past? And how was your experience?
NameSilo is my top pick for people who need a lot of domains at once.
Take a .tech domain. It costs you only $4.99 per year for one to five years, but then renews at $44.99 per year. Quite the rate hike, but that’s also Domain.com’s fault. You’ll see the same or close to it from other domain registrars.
First, you could opt to pony up for a premium domain. You can search for one the same way as any other TLD on Domain.com. Or, if this sticker shock is real, you can reach out to Domain.com’s team and they can help you find the right digital real estate at the right price.
For these reasons, I don’t recommend buying through a reseller.
As I said, you can definitely find good deals through Google Domains:
But if their registration is expired for long enough, they might lose their domain altogether. This is bad news, especially if they have sunk a ton of time and energy into building their site and online presence.
Keep in mind that renewal pricing can also change depending on your initial commitment. If you’re going to stick with Hostinger for the long haul, you may want to go for the longer term so you don’t get gouged on renewal after the initial term ends.
NameSilo has a massive selection of TLDs. You’re never going to run out of options.
Google Domains has a good selection of TLDs, more than 300 in fact. Virtually any popular TLD is available and quite a few of the newer ones as well.
I’ve set Domain.com up as the best option for getting a wider suite of domain and domain-adjacent services. Beyond all the ease of locking down a good domain and the help you can get from Domain.com’s pros, there’s even more to love.
The domain registrars that have gotten the job done for me in the past are the ones I review below. One of them is certain to be a solution that works for you, too.
If you are not happy with your current domain registrar, Domain.com will help you transfer quickly. And you’ll only have to pay a renewal price that’s usually equivalent to the low rates for an initial purchase of the same extension.
I like the example Namecheap gives: instead of helpme.com, you could just go with help.me. It’s shorter, easy to remember, and still preserves the keywords you want to use in the domain.
And while a multiple domain strategy is great for growing your business, it’s rarely necessary if you’re just starting out.
If you order more than 50 domains, NameSilo will cut the price. If you order more than 100, the price drops even further. Need 500? 1,000? 2,500? The price keeps going lower at every tier.
The good news is that there is not a ton of work that goes into domain management, especially if you only have one site. If you have a bunch of domains under your control, the management features become a lot more important.
On the other hand, NameSilo, Google Domains, and Namecheap offer this protection for free.
Another nice aspect of NameSilo is that you earn 100% of the profits from parked domains. These are sites you own that are directed to your main site and, usually, they have advertising that brings in a little revenue.
Domain.com has been around for a long time, holding on to perhaps the most coveted web address for domain registrars. Over the years, they have grown considerably by offering the best array of domains, extensions, and adjacent services.
Google 2-Step Verification is also included with every purchase, which adds an additional layer of protection to your accounts. Even if an attacker got a hold of your password, they’d still be locked out of your account unless they got a hold of your mobile device or security key.
Picking your domain registrar is the most important part of creating your website. Get it right and go with Hostinger. Here’s why.
With other options you might have to set features up on your own, which can be complicated. And they might cost extra, whereas both are baked into Hostinger free of charge.
In fact, there’s a lot about going with Namecheap as your domain registrar that will save you money in the long term.
You can register your domain for a century with Network Solutions. I’m not kidding. If you want, the company will let you sign up for 100 years.
Looking for the absolute lowest cost to register your domain? Namecheap is the way to snag your site’s real estate for dirt cheap.
I don’t always pick the same one, because certain domain registrars are better to use in different situations.
First, you can purchase a robust security add-on along with your domain. Not only does it deliver standard WHOIS privacy protection, but you also get malware scanning and blacklist monitoring.
Google Domains will give you up to 100 aliases for free, so you can receive email at plenty of different professional looking email addresses.
The entry-level plan for individuals is just $1.99 per month. That allows you to build up to six pages and build your site in minutes.
Plus, their great pricing doesn’t limit them from offering extras and options you’d expect from a good domain registrar. Every domain purchase comes with free WHOIS privacy, URL forwarding, and an SSL certificate.
With a 100-year registration, the savings are even greater. Lock in the best price of $9.99/year for a century. You get entry level pricing basically forever.
It’s not like you get a cheap domain and pay down the road once you’ve invested your energy into building your site and brand. A one-year renewal of a .com is $12.98, which is lower than the promotional pricing you’ll find with other vendors
There are no bulk pricing options, so it’s not for people who want to purchase a lot of domains. But for the small business owner who wants to keep their information private, this is a really cost-effective solution.
Make sure you read through your registrar’s transfer policy before making any final decisions. It’s important to choose a company you can count on, even when you’re transferring to a different service.
You get privacy protection for free, for all your domains, forever. Instead of putting contact information for your or your company on the WHOIS database (where it will no doubt be spammed relentlessly), Google Domains will let you keep that information masked.
You can find plenty of domains that start at just 99 cents for the first year and boatloads more that are no more than $6 per year.
Even if you go for one of the $0.99 TLDs, the renewal price is still good for most of your options. Yes, there are some pricey renewals for certain domains, but plenty of them are $9 or less to renew.
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