Choosing the right domain name is one of the first steps in building a successful website. Your domain name is the address people will use to find you online, so it’s important to pick a platform that makes the buying process simple and offers great features like privacy, security, and customer support.
Here are the top 10 domain registrars 2024 to help you choose the best place to buy a domain name for your website.
Kajabi
Kajabi isn’t just a platform to buy a domain—it’s an all-in-one solution for building and running a digital business. Designed for creators, Kajabi lets you register a domain, create a website, and sell digital products like online courses and memberships. You can handle everything from email marketing to sales funnels within Kajabi, making it ideal for those looking to build an entire business without needing multiple platforms.
What Makes It Unique:
- Perfect for digital product businesses: If you plan to sell courses or memberships, Kajabi has everything you need in one place.
- Simple domain management: Register and manage your domain directly from the Kajabi dashboard.
Get your free 30-day trial, then $199 per month afterward
Key Features
Built-in course and membership site management
Email marketing and automation tools
Advanced analytics to track user engagement
Why We Recommend It
Storage and Bandwidth:
Unlimited hosting
There are no specific limits on bandwidth
Extras:
Marketing automation tools
Webinar and event tools
Pros & Cons
- All-in-one platform for educational content creators
- No need for third-party tools
- Excellent customer support
- Higher cost, making it less accessible for beginners
- Overwhelming features for those just needing an essential website
Squarespace
Known for its beautiful website templates, Squarespace also makes buying a domain and building a professional site easy. Squarespace integrates domain registration with website building, allowing you to handle everything in one place. It offers built-in security features, SEO tools, and e-commerce capabilities, making it perfect for both personal websites and online stores.
What Makes It Unique:
- Gorgeous templates: Build a beautiful, responsive website in minutes.
- All-in-one solution: Domain registration, hosting, and e-commerce features are bundled together.
Starting from $23 per month
Use Our Discount Code: MYFIRSTWEBSITE at checkout for 10% off
Key Features
Beautiful, award-winning design templates
Built-in SEO and analytics tools
Mobile-optimized right out of the box
Why We Recommend It
Storage and Bandwidth:
Unlimited storage and bandwidth, allowing for extensive product listings and high traffic volumes without additional charges
Extras and Inclusions:
Mobile-optimized checkout to ensure a seamless shopping experience on smartphones and tablets
Built-in analytics to track visitor behavior and sales trends
Inventory, orders, tax, and customer management are integrated into the platform
Pros & Cons
- Beautiful, design-focused templates
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface
- There are no transaction fees on sales
- Limited e-commerce features compared to Shopify
- Fewer payment gateway options
Hostinger
Hostinger is one of the most budget-friendly options for domain registration, especially if you need web hosting. It offers competitive pricing, free WHOIS privacy, and great customer support. Hostinger is perfect for those who want affordable hosting with easy domain management.
What Makes It Unique:
- Low-cost packages: Get a domain and hosting at a fraction of the price compared to others.
- Free WHOIS privacy: Keep your information private without extra fees.
Starting from $2.99 per month + 2 month FREE
Use Our Discount Code: MYFIRSTWEBSITE
Key Features
Extremely affordable
User-friendly control panel
LiteSpeed Cache for faster loading times
Why We Recommend It
Storage and Bandwidth:
30 GB SSD storage
100 GB bandwidth
Extras:
Free SSL certificate
Pros & Cons
- Low starting price
- Good performance for the price
- No free domain in the lowest-tier plan
- Support can be slow during peak times
Bluehost
If you’re building a WordPress site, Bluehost is one of the top recommendations. It offers a free domain for the first year when you sign up for hosting, along with free SSL certificates. Bluehost is known for its seamless WordPress integration, making it a favorite among bloggers and business owners alike.
What Makes It Unique:
- Best for WordPress: Optimized hosting, easy setup, and 24/7 support for WordPress users.
- First-year free domain: Free domain registration for one year with hosting packages.
Starting from $1.99 per month
Key Features
Recommended by WordPress
One-click WordPress
Free domain name for the first year
Why We Recommend It
Storage and Bandwidth:
50 GB SSD storage
Unmetered bandwidth
Extras:
Free SSL certificate
Pros & Cons
- User-friendly for beginners
- Good customer support
- Renewal rates can be high
- Site migrations are not free
SiteGround
SiteGround is another great choice, and it is known for its excellent customer support and security features. They offer a free domain when you sign up for hosting, robust security options, and expert support. SiteGround is ideal for those who prioritize security and support over low-cost solutions.
What Makes It Unique:
- Top-notch support: 24/7 expert help to keep your website running smoothly.
- Strong security: Daily backups, anti-hack systems, and free SSL are all included.
Starting from $3.99 per month
Key Features
WordPress-Optimized Hosting, including automatic updates, caching tools, and staging environments for development
Excellent Customer Support
Good Balance of Price and Performance
Why We Recommend It
A well-rounded option for WordPress websites seeking a balance between affordability, performance, and user-friendly features
Suitable for beginners and growing websites that don’t require the high-powered features of WP Engine
Pros & Cons
- Affordable pricing
- User-friendly interface with cPanel control panel
- Excellent customer support
- Shared hosting, meaning resource limitations compared to dedicated hosting
- Upsell attempts for additional services can be frequent
- Lacks the advanced security features compared to WP Engine
Wix
Wix is a user-friendly website builder that allows you to purchase and manage a domain directly through its platform. Known for its drag-and-drop website builder, Wix offers 500+ customizable templates to help you create a professional-looking site without technical skills.
What Makes It Unique:
- User-friendly builder: Great for beginners who want to create a website quickly.
- Affordable pricing: Domains and websites are priced reasonably and have a wide range of templates.
Get a Free Trial and enjoy the affordable pricing starting from $17 per month
Key Features
Extensive collection of templates
App Market for adding extra functionality
Advanced design features like video backgrounds and animation
Why We Recommend It
Storage and Bandwidth:
From 500MB storage and 1GB bandwidth on the free plan to 50GB storage on higher plans
Extras and Inclusions:
Wix offers a wide range of customizable e-commerce templates
Built-in SEO tools to help your store rank better in search results
Multiple payment solutions and business apps through the Wix App Market
Pros & Cons
- Pros: Intuitive site builder with drag-and-drop features
- A wide variety of templates
- Competitive pricing
- Shopify is more scalable for large e-commerce operations
- E-commerce tools need to be more comprehensive
Namecheap
As the name suggests, Namecheap is known for its low prices on domain registration. It’s an excellent choice for those who need an affordable option with a user-friendly interface. Namecheap also offers web hosting, email hosting, and SSL certificates, giving you everything you need to run a website.
What Makes It Unique:
- Competitive pricing: Low-cost domains with no hidden fees.
- Easy management: Manage multiple domains with ease through an intuitive dashboard.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is one of the largest and most well-known domain registrars in the world. It offers a wide range of services, including domain registration, hosting, email, SSL certificates, and a website builder. GoDaddy is often a top choice for businesses because of its wide selection of domain extensions and services.
What Makes It Unique:
- Largest registrar: A trusted name with a huge selection of domains.
- One-stop shop: Domains, hosting, email, and website builder are all available in one place.
Shopify
Shopify is the go-to platform for e-commerce businesses. While it’s primarily known for building online stores, Shopify also lets you buy and manage domains. This makes it easy for entrepreneurs to handle everything from domain registration to product sales on a single platform.
What Makes It Unique:
- Ideal for e-commerce: Everything you need to sell products online, from domains to payment processing.
- Integrated tools: Shopify includes built-in marketing and sales tools to help you grow your online store.
Starting from $17 per month
Get your free trial and $1 for the first month + free store builder
Key Features
AI-powered product recommendations and marketing
Advanced fulfillment and inventory management
Seamless omnichannel selling
Why We Recommend It
Storage and Bandwidth:
Unlimited storage allows you to upload as many products and images as needed
Unlimited bandwidth means your site can handle many visitors and lots of activity without slowing down
Extras and Inclusions:
Secure, integrated payment gateway, with transaction fees waived if you use Shopify Payments
Access to an extensive app store to add features and functionality
Built-in tools for SEO, marketing, and analytics
Pros & Cons
- Comprehensive store management tools
- Wide range of themes and apps
- Excellent 24/7 customer support
- It can get expensive with additional apps and transaction fees
- Limited SEO capabilities compared to other platforms
Carrd
Carrd is perfect for those who need a simple, single-page website. It’s affordable and easy to use, making it ideal for individuals or small businesses that only need a basic online presence. Carrd also offers easy domain connection and free SSL certificates, making it a cost-effective choice for anyone looking for a no-frills solution.
What Makes It Unique:
- Best for single-page sites: Simple, affordable, and perfect for personal or small business websites.
- Low-cost solution: Easy domain connection without the need for a complex website builder.
Tips on Buying Name and Building a Website
- Think Long-Term About Your Domain Name
Before choosing a domain, think about how it will represent your brand or business for years to come. A short, memorable domain is always better than a long, complex one. Avoid numbers or hyphens if possible, as they can cause confusion when people try to remember or type your domain.
Use a domain that matches your business name or keywords related to your niche. This helps with branding and makes your website easier to find through search engines.
Choose a .com extension if available. Although other domain extensions like .net, .org, or .co are becoming more common, .com remains the most trusted and widely recognized.
- Consider Domain Privacy Protection
Whenever you register a domain, your personal details (name, email, phone number) are added to a public database called WHOIS. This can make you a target for spam or data scraping. Domain privacy protection hides your details from the public. Choose a registrar like Namecheap or Hostinger, which offers free WHOIS protection. This service keeps your contact details private and prevents unwanted spam.
- Register for Multiple Years
Most domain registrars offer the option to register a domain for more than one year. This not only secures your domain for a longer period but also shows search engines like Google that you’re committed to maintaining your website, which can positively impact your SEO rankings. Register your domain for at least two years to avoid losing it if you forget to renew and send positive signals to search engines about your website’s longevity.
- Buy Variations of Your Domain Name
To protect your brand, consider purchasing variations of your domain name. This could include common misspellings, different extensions (.net, .org), or even geographic versions (e.g., yourdomain.us). This helps prevent others from buying similar domains that could confuse your audience or dilute your brand.
- Take Advantage of Promotions and Bundles
Many registrars offer discounts, especially for first-time customers. Keep an eye out for these promotions, especially during special events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Additionally, some registrars bundle services like web hosting, email hosting, and SSL certificates with domain registration, which can save you money.
- Set Up Auto-Renewal
Domains need to be renewed periodically, and if you forget to renew, someone else can register your domain. Most registrars offer auto-renewal options, ensuring that your domain stays active without you having to remember the renewal date. Enable auto-renewal with your registrar to avoid accidentally losing your domain.
- Consider Your SEO Strategy
Your domain name can have a big impact on your SEO strategy. A domain name that includes relevant keywords can help improve your website’s visibility in search engine results. However, avoid keyword stuffing or making the domain name too long in an attempt to boost SEO—it can backfire. Use a keyword-focused domain name, if it makes sense for your brand and audience. For example, if you’re selling handmade candles, “besthandmadecandles.com” could be a good option.
- Check for Domain Availability on Social Media
Once you’ve decided on a domain name, check whether the same name is available on social media platforms. This ensures brand consistency across the web and makes it easier for people to find your business.
Conclusion
Choosing the right place to buy your domain is an important step in building your website. Whether you need an all-in-one platform like Kajabi or Squarespace or prefer budget-friendly options like Hostinger or Namecheap, there’s a solution for every need. Each of these top domain registrars offers something unique, from simple domain management to integrated tools that make running a business easier. Take the time to evaluate your needs—whether you want a full website builder, strong security features, or the lowest price—and pick the registrar that fits best.