It can be surprisingly tricky to choose the best domain registrar. Many offer attractive introductory rates, buffered by high renewal rates, inclusions and contract lengths. To help take the guesswork out of the process and to avoid any surprises along the way, we’ve rounded up the top domain registrars you should have on your radar.
The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content to guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.
We analyzed the top players in the space and narrowed it down to scrutinize and rank the top 10 across 12 key metrics. Our ratings consider factors such as transparent pricing, employee self-sufficiency, compatibility with third-party integrations, access to customer support and ratings. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
When choosing a domain name registrar, it’s vital to consider a variety of factors. For example, you not only want a registrar that offers the domain name extensions (e.g., .com or .biz) you’re looking for, but also offers competitively priced domains (for your first year and every year thereafter), and includes money-saving extras.
Here’s what to consider when choosing a domain name:
By looking at the factors above, you can help find the best domain registrar for you and your unique preferences and needs.
In order to determine the best domain registrars for small businesses, Forbes Advisor researched providers in the space and narrowed it down to the 10 top providers. We analyzed them across five primary categories for a total of 12 different metrics. Then, we gave more weight to the features that matter most to small businesses.
Here are the metrics we used to evaluate the top domain name registrars.
Pricing is one of the driving factors in determining which of the leading domain name registrars are the best. This accounts for 40% of our scoring. Domain name pricing is notoriously tricky—many registrars offer low-cost introductory pricing, followed by a steep increase in pricing upon renewal. By looking at both the intro and renewal rates, we got a complete picture of long-term affordability.
While most domain registrars offer largely the same feature set, there are common features that many overlook, which is why we weighed this at 30% for our scoring. For example, the inclusion of domain name privacy, domain transfers, security and business email. We considered which providers offered these to determine further which ones offer the best value for the price.
It can be difficult enough to find an available domain name, but it shouldn’t be difficult to use a domain registrar’s site to buy a domain. Additionally, upon purchasing a new domain, it should be as easy as possible to connect your new domain to your content management system (CMS).
We combine features, value for the money, popularity and ease of use to account for 10% of our total score.
Domain registrar services should also help connect domains to websites through educational resources and guides. Not only should these be very easy to follow, but there should also be step-by-step instructions for all of the leading content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Squarespace and Shopify).
To gain insight into how users find these domain registrars, we looked at third-party user reviews. We considered how the providers were rated and what users like and dislike about the various domain registrars.
As straightforward as buying a domain should be, users often discover nuances during the checkout process or after becoming a customer. To avoid any surprises, we included our insights gathered from first-hand experience using these domain registrars.
A domain registrar is a service that “sells” domain names. When you register a domain name, you don’t really own it, rather you rent or lease it, which is why you have to renew your domain name every year or term. There are some add-on services you should know about before you choose a domain registrar.
Without going too in-depth into what ICANN and WHOIS are, suffice to say it’s the non-profit corporation that is responsible for keeping the internet secure and the naming structure of websites as it is. It requires anyone who registers a domain to provide accurate identifiable contact information, including name, address, email and phone number. Not everyone is comfortable with that information being public.
Domain registrars have found a way to keep your info safe and still provide ICANN with the info they need. These domain privacy features replace your information with the registrar’s info, at least publicly. Anyone can look up who registered a domain name, so having domain privacy can reduce spam for you, and keep you safe.
Arguably, the most popular domain extension is .com, but other TLDs include .net, .org, .edu and .gov. There are literally hundreds more from which you can choose, and the less popular extensions are usually less expensive, with a few exceptions. The popularity of .io and .co has skyrocketed recently, so they’re pricier.
Some extensions are restricted and you can’t purchase them unless you meet certain requirements. Restricted extensions include .edu and .gov. Overall, all extensions work the same. The .com extension is preferable because it’s easy to remember.
Because .com is so popular, you may have difficulty finding your business name available as a .com. You can try one of the more obscure extensions, such as .info, .store, .shop or any other of the hundreds available. If you’re set on getting a .com, though, consider using modifications on your business name.
Let’s assume “ghostlycastle.com” is not available, and then try these changes:
Disclaimer: It’s worth noting that many of the domain registrars we include in our list of the best domain name registrars are subsidiaries of Endurance International Group (EIG), including Bluehost, HostGator, Domain.com and BuyDomains. The fact that they’re all under one umbrella should not affect the service you receive for domain registration, but it’s good to know.
Canadian specific editing and research (including pricing) conducted by Anna Rey.
A domain registrar service will let you quickly search for available domains. Once you’ve chosen one that you like, the service will walk you through the checkout process and offer guidance on how to connect your domain to your site.
Not all domain registrars offer the same domain name extensions (.com, .net, etc.) or features. Some include free domain privacy. Others offer additional web services, such as web hosting, email and marketing tools. Many of the best web hosting services usually offer domain registration.
The short answer is: You can’t. Domain registration is more like a rental or leasing service. Most domain registrars allow you to register your domain for up to 10 years at a time, and they’ll usually offer an auto-renewal service, so you don’t lose your domain.
Using one of the domain registrars listed here, you can enter the domain name that you would like to use in the designated name search field. If the name is not in use, no information will come up and you can claim that name. If the name is currently in use, you can find out information that includes the domain name owner, creation date and expiration date.
The most popular domain extension, .com, stands for commerce. Other commonly seen ones include .net for network, .org for organization, .edu for education, .gov for government, .info for information, .biz for business, .mil for military and .pro for professional. Many countries also have domain names that end in letters related to them, such as .uk for the United Kingdom, .ru for Russia and .cn for China. Some less-common domain extensions include .aero for the air transport industry, .museum for museums, .name for individuals, .coop for cooperatives and .travel for businesses in the travel industry.
It is possible to create a website without registering a domain name, but you won’t be able to properly brand your site. For example, if you choose a free website plan from a web host, you’ll be given a subdomain of the host’s domain (yoursite.webhost.com). It’s more professional (and easier to remember) than an actual domain—plus, it helps with your brand equity and ranking in search engines.
