10 Best Affordable Domain Registrars
Looking to start your online journey? Whether you’re planning a personal blog, setting up an online store, or launching a business website, you’ll need a domain name first. But finding a reliable domain registrar that won’t break the bank can be tricky.
Think of a domain name as your digital address – it’s how people find you online. Getting the right one at the right price is crucial for your online success. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the most affordable and trustworthy domain registrars.
We’ll explore their pricing for ‘.com’ domains, additional features, and what makes each one unique, so you can choose the perfect registrar for your needs.
What is a Domain Registrar?
A domain registrar is a company that sells domain names (addresses for websites) in the online world. A domain name, for instance ‘google.com’ in ‘www.google.com‘, is what people type into the browser’s URL bar to visit your website.
These registrars are accredited by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), a non-profit organization that oversees all domain names globally. After purchasing a domain name from a registrar, you gain official ownership of that address on the internet.
In a Nutshell
| Price / Year | Whois Privacy Proection | |
|---|---|---|
 |
$7.99/yr | Yes (Free) |
 |
$10.99/yr | Yes ($8.99/yr) |
 |
$12.99/yr | Yes ($1.25/mth) |
 |
$9.48/yr | Yes (Free) |
 |
$1 (first year), $15 (subsequent) | Yes (Free) |
 |
$9.99/yr | Yes ($1.99/mth) |
 |
$13.99/yr | Yes (Free) |
 |
$7.99/yr | Yes (Free) |
 |
$12/yr | Yes (Free) |
Cheap and Affordable Domain Registrars
Here are nine of the most affordable places where you can register your domain, along with their prices.
1. GoDaddy
GoDaddy is one of the leaders in domain registration, offering a wide range of services to help individuals and businesses establish their online presence. With over 500 domain extensions and serving 21 million customers, they provide a simple, user-friendly platform for domain management.
They offer 24/7 customer support, free domain privacy, and real-time monitoring. A .com domain is priced at $7.99 for both initial registration and renewal, with free basic Whois privacy included.
2. Domain.com
Domain.com is a trusted platform for online presence management, serving customers for over two decades. They offer domain registration with more than 300 extensions, web hosting, website building, and professional email services through Google Workspace.
Their comprehensive solution includes domain hosting packages and expert customer service through live chat support and a knowledge base. Domains start from $0.99 for the first year for non-premium TLDs, with .com domains at $10.99. Privacy protection costs $8.99.
3. Bluehost
Bluehost offers a wide array of domain name extensions with a user-friendly interface. Their service includes domain forwarding, auto-renewal, domain lock, and expert support. They also provide domain privacy protection and a lightning-fast domain search feature.
A .com domain costs $12.99 per year, with .org domains starting at $9.99. Customers who purchase a shared hosting plan receive a free domain name.
4. Namecheap
Namecheap is known for competitive pricing and comprehensive offerings. They provide a wide range of top-level domains at discounted rates, including free privacy protection for life and a free email address with domain registration.
A .com domain costs $9.48 for the first year and $13.98 on renewal. They offer various TLDs like .co.uk at $2.98 (first year) and .org at $8.99 (first year). WhoisGuard privacy protection is included free.
5. IONOS
IONOS provides comprehensive domain services with valuable extras. Each domain registration includes a free SSL certificate, domain email address, and up to 10,000 subdomains. They also offer a free 2GB email account and easy integration with third-party services.
Their domains start at just $1 for the first year. After the initial period, .com domains renew at $15/year, while .org, .net, and .biz renew at $20/year.
6. Network Solutions
Network Solutions, the world’s first domain registrar, offers comprehensive digital services including domain registration, website building, and hosting. They provide professional email services, Google Workspace integration, and various online marketing tools.
Their .com domains are priced at $9.99 per year, with private registration available free for the first month, then $1.99 monthly thereafter.
7. Hover
Hover makes domain management accessible for everyone, from beginners to IT professionals. Their Hover Connect feature allows easy linking to popular publishing tools and site builders, while offering bulk pricing for multiple domains.
They provide .com registration at $13.99 for the first year, with free WHOIS privacy protection included.
8. Dynadot
Dynadot offers domain registration with over 500 extensions at competitive prices. They include a free website builder and comprehensive domain management tools with intuitive controls.
Their .com domains are priced at $7.99 for both initial registration and renewal, making them one of the most affordable options available.
9. Google Domains
Google Domains provides a straightforward domain registration service with over 300 domain endings. The service features email forwarding, privacy protection, one-click DNSSEC, and Google 2-Step Verification, all backed by 24/7 support.
All their domains (.com, .co.uk, and .org) are uniformly priced at $12, with free WHOIS privacy included.
Domain Registrations FAQ
Can I own a domain name forever?
Well, it’s not exactly like owning a piece of land that you can keep forever. When you get a domain name, you’re actually leasing it for a certain period, typically up to 10 years. But don’t worry, you won’t lose it after that time as long as you remember to renew your lease before it runs out. So, in a way, you can hold onto a domain name for as long as you want.
What happens if my domain name expires?
So, let’s say you forget to renew your domain name and it expires. It’s not the end of the world. There’s a grace period where you can still get it back. But if you still don’t renew it during this grace period, it goes into what’s called a redemption period. During this time, you can still get it back, but it might cost you a bit more. If you still don’t claim it, then it’s up for grabs and anyone can register it.
What is domain privacy and why might I need it?
Domain privacy, or WHOIS privacy as it’s also known, is like a cloak of invisibility for your personal information. When you register a domain, your contact details (like your name, email, phone number, and address) are listed in a public database called WHOIS. Now, if you’re not keen on sharing this info with the world, domain privacy is your friend. It swaps out your details with those of a forwarding service. This way, you’re less likely to get bombarded with spam or have your identity stolen.
How do I choose a good domain registrar?
Picking a domain registrar is a bit like choosing a good restaurant. You want to look at the price, the service (like customer support), the extras (think email hosting or website building tools), and of course, what other customers have to say about it. One more thing – make sure the registrar is on the good side of ICANN, the big boss of internet domain names. ICANN stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and they’re in charge of all the internet’s domain names.
What happens when my domain name expires?
If your domain name expires, it’s a bit like forgetting to renew a library book. You have a grace period (usually about 30 days) to renew it at the usual price. If you miss that, it goes into a redemption period where you can still get it back, but it might cost you a bit more. If you still don’t claim it after that, then it’s like a book returned to the library shelf – anyone can pick it up.