- June 10, 2023
- by Zac Geekie
- Domain Names
- 0 Comments
One of the best things about the internet is that it gives everyone and anyone the ability to obtain a domain name and launch their own website. Whether it’s a personal blog, a side hustle, or a serious online business, registering the domain name is usually step number one.
There are countless companies that offer domain registration services with varying features, prices and level of customer support.
I have dealt with many domain registrars and this will be a quick review of some of the best I’ve seen so far in terms of affordability, security and support.
Best Places to Buy a Cheap Domain Name
These are some of the most trusted placed where you can buy a domain name for a fairly low price, based on my own experience as well as popular recommendations on Reddit.
1. Dynadot
I have been using Dynadot for several years now and never had a single issue with them. They have very competitive prices, simple checkout process and a nice interface.
You get an additional layer of security for your domains with the account lock feature, which prevents domain transfers and other critical changes while the account is locked. In order to unlock the account, you’ll be required to enter your birthday (any value you provided when you created the account).
On top of the low registration and renewal fees, Dynadot gives you full Whois privacy for free as a default option with each domain purchase or transfer.
2. NameCheap
This is my second favorite domain registrar where I’ve been keeping some of my valuable domains at. I switched from overpriced GoDaddy to NameCheap a while ago and never looked back.
There are usually big sales on certain TLDs running at NameCheap. Discounted prices are only applicable to the initial registration term, but their renewal prices are also quite reasonable.
NameCheap is one of the top recommended places to buy domains according to Reddit user recommendations, and I also give them a +1 for their fair pricing and solid service.
Note: If you need a reliable DNS service for your small business website, I suggest you opt for the Premium DNS add-on.
3. NameSilo
NameSilo is another major player in the domain registration market, and this one is particularly popular among domainers who own a large number of domains.
If you are going to register many domains, you can take advantage of their discount pricing for bulk orders. But even if you’re just looking to register one domain, their prices are among the lowest you can find these days.
4. Google Domains
Well, you can’t miss this one! Like it or hate it, there is no question that Google offers highly reliable services, and this holds true for their domain registration service.
One thing I especially admire about Google Domains is their transparent pricing. There aren’t any marketing gimmicks or surprise charges when your domain renews. Initial registration and annual renewal fees are the same for each TLD, and they are mostly on the lower end of the price scale.
Whois privacy, as well as email forwarding and DNS are all included for free with each registered domain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Buy a Domain With Free Email?
Many domain registrars offer free email forwarding with each domain name. This allows you to create custom email addresses (aka email aliases) for your domain that can only be used for receiving email from others, which gets automatically forwarded to another email address.
Almost no company will offer you free full email accounts that can send and receive email messages. This is usually offered as a separate premium service or as part of a web hosting plan.
Can You Buy a Domain Name Forever?
Domain names are registered on a yearly basis with a minimum registration period of one year for most TLDs. The maximum registration period for a domain name is ten years.
So, technically, it is not possible to have a domain name registered forever (or more than 10 years).
Should You Buy a .com Domain for Your Business?
The .com TLD is by far the most popular and desirable of all domain extensions. You can’t go wrong with a .com domain, especially if it is intended for a small business or company website.
However, due to the high demand for this TLD, it’s not easy to find a suitable .com name that is still available for registration. If you are unable to find the right .com name, you may want to consider some other popular TLDs, such as .net, .co, .io, and others.
Who Needs Whois Privacy?
Well, basically everyone should use Whois privacy these days. A private domain registration service removes your personal contact information from the public Whois database and replaces it with the registrar’s contact information.
You will still be the legal owner of the domain, however, anyone looking up your domain’s Whois record will not be able to see your personal details like your name, email address and phone number.
A Whois privacy service is very important because it protects your personal data from abuse by spammers, scammers, marketers and other bad actors on the internet.
How to Secure Your Domain Name?
There are different things you can do to protect and secure your domain name. Here are a few of the most basic measures to take:
- Make sure the domain is in “locked” status at your registrar to prevent unauthorized transfers.
- If available, enable Whois privacy for the domain.
- Use a unique and strong password for your account.
- If available, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to increase the security of your account.
- Turn on automatic renewal to prevent accidental expiration.
In addition to the above, some registrars offer additional protection features to safeguard your domain against various risks. This is usually available as a premium add-on aimed at small business and professional users.