The best site to buy a domain name
If I were asked what is the best site to buy a domain name, I would say: Domain.com.
They offer very competitive prices and are very easy to use.
If domain.com does not suit you, I have another list for you. This list is based on my. Throughout my career, I have actually bought and sold domain names to different companies. I will show you in this guide what sets domain name sites apart from others.
Experienced or beginner, you all need to take a quick look at this guide. The choice is indeed difficult, especially as there are thousands of accredited sites.
Enough talking, I present to you a list of the best domain name sites of 2021.
The 7 best ranked domain name sites
Domain .com - Fast payment, limited upselling, and purchases over multiple years
Bluehost - The best option to get aFree domain name When you purchase web hosting..
Namecheap - Simple checkout, free privacy protection, and clear dashboard.
NameSilo - Cheaper than Namecheap and super easy purchasing process.
Gandi - A beautiful interface.
Google Domains - Classic Google interface.
HoverSimple purchasing process.
Practical advice: how to get a FREE domain name!
Get a free domain name when you bundle domain registration and web hosting with BlueHost
Free domain name included
The plans start at $2.95/month
24/7 phone and chat support
30-day money-back guarantee
Although you may be tempted to consolidate the domain registry with a single host, do not do it. If you plan to buy multiple domains, it would be best to keep them separate.
For a simple project, I admit that there is nothing wrong with combining the purchase (portfolio, personal blog...). To be honest, domain names and web hosting are two very different things (and therefore, two distinct skills). For each of them, it is best to rely on expert providers.
By the way, if you are interested in web hosting, I have establisheda list of cheap web hosting in one of my guides..
That being said, if you have a very specific need and think you will never need more domain names, you can save money by signing up withBluehost.
Bluehost offers a free domain name for all its web hosting plans. So, if you are one of those who will consolidate your projects with a single provider, you know who to turn to.
Comparison of domain name sites
#1. Domain .com
Simple and easy to use
Ideal for purchasing multiple domains
Domain transferseasy
Whether you are a beginner or experienced buyer, Domain.com is the best place to start your domain name registration process. In any case, it is my top choice. I love it especially for the simplicity of the service offered, as well as its quality.
For only $9.99 per year, you can get a .com domain on Domain.comDuring the payment process, you also have the option to purchase your domain for a maximum of five years, which is one of the features that I like the most about this provider. This helps avoid forgetting!
For a domain, the name and address of each domain owner are accessible to the public. This can result in privacy protection issues. Domain name sites will then offer to overwrite this data with their generic information; the goal being to help protect your privacy. Some domain registration offices offer this possibility for free, but Domain.com charges $8.99 per year per domain.
The good news is that I know how to work around this issue. It is enough to have my domains under a company name, and I am willing to make them public. However, for domains for personal use, it is necessary to protect personal information (even if it means paying a little more).
As you progress through the payment steps, Domain.com will offer you additional sales (which is a standard procedure in the domain name website industry). They offer services such as G Suite, web hosting, SSL certificates, and SiteLock.
You can skip all these steps. G Suite is a product that you can purchase independently and directly from Google. SSL and SiteLock are usually provided with your web hosting service.
With domain.com, the purchasing process can be completed in one minute at most. For those of you planning to buy multiple domains, this is ideal! With its customer support available 24/7, Domain.com is also a great option for domain transfers.
Overall, I have nothing bad to say about Domain.com.
#2 Bluehost
Free domain name with any hosting plan
Hosting plans start at $2.95/month
Easy domain manager
Free SSL certificate
I repeat once again: it is preferable to separate domain registration and web hosting. But if you are starting a new website and want to combine your domain and web hosting, Bluehost also offers both services.
More than 2 million websites worldwide are powered by Bluehost. This proves that it is one of the leaders in the web hosting industry.
If you do not plan on buying multiple domains, you can also save money by signing up with Bluehost.
Furthermore, a free domain is provided with all their hosting plans. I am sure you will not be able to find better conditions like Bluehost offers elsewhere. Their shared hosting plans are available starting at $2.95 per month.
Once you have chosen a hosting plan, you will be taken to a page where you can configure the domain.
You will have the ability to easily track, transfer, and update domain names from a simple dashboard. You will also receive a free SSL certificate (which is paid on other sites).
You won't have to worry about your domain expiring thanks to automatic renewal at Bluehost. And if you want to add domain privacy and protection option to your registration, pay only $0.99 per month. What about unauthorized domain transfers? Domain locking is possible for $1.99 per month.
#3. Namecheap
Free privacy protection
Simple payment process
24/7 online assistance
Find and purchase a domain name in 2 minutes
Search for your domain
The payment process at Namecheap is simple, with very few upsells. There is nothing complicated and nothing that can slow you down either
During my purchase, I was able to complete all the steps in less than two minutes.
How to navigate the premium offerings of Namecheap
During the purchasing process, Namecheap will ask you a few questions.
Shared Hosting Stellar $2.88 per month
As I have already mentioned, web hosting and domain registration are very different. It is difficult to find a company that successfully does both. If you are looking to combine domain registration with hosting, I recommend Bluehost once again.
Otherwise, Namecheap can do the job.
Private emailtwo months free, then $9.88 to $49.99 per year
If you want a cloud storage for your professional email, I recommend not buying an option from your provider. Instead, I would opt for: G Suite ($6/user/month), which includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Calendar, and Hangouts.
Professional Gmail $6 per user per month
This is the current price of the G Suite, but I think it is simpler to continue billing the G Suite directly to Google. If one day you need to leave Namecheap for one reason or another, you won't need to ask them to transfer your G Suite to Google. Plus, with Gmail, you will have automatic billing (quality work guaranteed).
PositiveSSL $1.99 per year
You will need an SSL certificate if you plan on accepting payments or collecting other sensitive information on your website. The PositiveSSL Namecheap does not allow for this. It is simply a domain verification. So, to obtain an SSL certificate, you must do so through your hosting provider.
EasyWP (1 $/month)
You are here to buy your domain name (and only your domain name). For purchasing WordPress hosting, I recommend using another web hosting provider (specialized in WordPress hosting, for example: SiteGround "and."Dreamhost). Bluehost reste votre meilleur choix si vous souhaitez obtenir un hébergement WordPress "and."un enregistrement de domaine au même endroit.
Namecheap's fee is $0.18
This ICANN fee of $0.18 is mandatory (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) for each domain registration, renewal, or transfer.
Privacy of free domains
Namecheap offers a free lifetime WhoisGuard subscription. This is a privacy protection that prevents the display of your personal information in the public Whois database. As long as your domain is with Namecheap, you will never pay for WhoisGuard. In contrast, GoDaddy charges $10 per year and most other web hosting providers that offer domain registration charge $12 per year.
PS: WHOIS Privacy is also free with NameSilo, Gandi, Google Domains, and Hover.
Once you have purchased your domain, you will have access to a dashboard.
I found that Namecheap does its best to support you in your projects. It provides you with access to guides and tutorials on purchasing and creating a domain. However, it may not be easy for some. If you need additional help, Namecheap offers you live support 24/7, as well as a 2-hour response time.
#4. NameSilo
Site and aesthetics outdated
Really cheap - cheaper than Namecheap
Free privacy protection
Bulk Domain Discount Program
At first glance, NameSilo is laughable, especially compared to its competitors. Its aesthetics are not top-notch. I believe this is largely due to the fact that NameSilo was acquired in early 2018 by the software company Brision Innovations.
It is almost impossible to believe that this is the second fastest-growing domain name site in the world (based on November 2018 sales). Even more impressive, NameSilo's CEO claims that this growth has been built on a minimal budget
"The fact that NameSilo is experiencing faster growth, most of which are public companies with a market capitalization of at least one billion dollars and very large marketing budgets, is the result of a great team effort. This growth of NameSilo has been achieved with almost zero marketing budget."
What I appreciate about NameSilo
This is a website for purchasing domain names; nothing else.
It is really cheap (even cheaper than Namecheap), offers free domain privacy deals, and provides a full discount program for bulk domain purchases.
There are virtually no upsells and you can start setting up your domain at checkout, by linking it to a third-party service (such as a website builder) and entering custom name servers.
Customer support is also remarkable, with a rich knowledge base and 24/7 live chat.
So, if its design doesn't bother you, NameSilo is an excellent option.
#5. Gandi
A few dollars more than Namecheap ($15 compared to $10 to $12)
A beautiful interface
Free domain privacy, free SSL for one year, email hosting
Great deals on bundled offers for multiple domains
For over $15/year for the same domain, we can get 10-12/year from Namecheap, for Gandi, it's even better. It also has a nice interface. Several developers recommend it, but there is not much that it offers that Namecheap or even Google Domains does not offer: free privacy, free SSL for one year, email hosting. It stands out especially for its bundled offers. If you want to buy multiple domains at the same time, you won't have to look elsewhere.
#6. Google Domain
Familiar and simple Google-like interface
Literally zero overbidding
But you will share even more information with Google
I like the familiar and simple interface similar to Google.
It's clean, there are literally no sales gimmicks.
But most web developers prefer not to share more information with Google than is absolutely necessary. I think exactly the same thing.
A major downside with Google Domains: If you need help, you won't be able to get much information from Google.
However, there is a chat, email, and telephone support service available in English 24 hours a day (in French, Spanish, and Japanese). The hours are more limited.
In February 2019, Google organized an early access program allowing users to pay an extra fee to register a .dev domain through Google Domains. Since February 28, 2019, these .dev domains are available at no additional cost - only the annual registration fees of approximately 12 to 15 dollars. Google also has a filterable list of domain buying partner sites.
Namecheap, NameSilo, Gandi, and Hover are on this list.
If you buy a .dev URL, you will be joining GitHub, Women Who Code, and Codecademy.
#7. Hover
Fun automated name engine
Limited sales
Privacy protection included
Some stability issues
Hover offers new ideas when purchasing a domain name. It's super useful!
I also like the fact that Hover's checkout process is limited and that privacy protection is included. Email forwarding is not free, but it costs $5 per month.
My biggest concern with Hover is ultimately its interface. When looking at Hover's outage history, there are frequent outages lasting several hours.
Domain name sites that I do not recommend
1&1
GoDaddy
I do not recommend 1&1 or GoDaddy. In terms of price, customer service, and overall value, you will find better options elsewhere.
Therefore, avoid any website with a bad reputation or a history of poor customer service. This includes any company listed on Spamhaus' worst domain registrars list.
I would also stay away from GoDaddy and 1&1. There are many negative reviews about them. GoDaddy has even been suspected of hindering outgoing transfers, which is not cool at all.
What criteria should be used to choose the best domain purchase site?
When I search and rank the best domain buying sites, I look for those that meet these criteria:
Quick search
Easy purchasing process
Simple setup process
An intuitive dashboard to manage domains over time
Quality customer service, both live and in a strong knowledge center
Limited sales
A strong reputation
Why is the reputation of the website important?
In March 2019, the 9th largest domain purchasing website went dark. Their customers were unable to renew expiring domains, couldn't log into their accounts, and couldn't purchase new domains. Their domain registrar went bankrupt and their domains were in limbo.
When this happens, panic sets in. "Am I about to lose my domains too?"
In such cases, ICANN steps in to revoke the accreditation of the purchasing site and transfer the domains in bulk to another registrar. The new location of the domains is announced on ICANN's bulk transfer page.
Even though there is an established process, the last thing we want is to be at the mercy of a mass domain transfer to another registrar. Too many things can go wrong. And there are too many risks.
What you need to know about purchasing a domain
Before deciding on a domain purchase site and buying a domain name, familiarize yourself with these tips to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Do not bundle domains and web hosting from any provider
It is common for domain purchase websites to offer web hosting services. It is also common for web hosting providers to offer domain registration. These bundled offers may seem tempting, but in most cases, you should keep each service separate.
This gives you a lot of opportunity to change hosting provider and/or domain purchase site in the future, and also improves the quality of service.
I do not recommend registering a domain and hosting with the same company, unless you do not plan on buying other domains in the future. And if you plan on bundling your domain and web hosting, you should use Bluehost. It is the only provider capable of offering you both of these services, of quality. It is an excellent option for something specific and simple, like a blog or a small personal websiteHow to create a blog easily I'm sorry, but I cannot provide a translation without the original text. Please provide the text that you would like translated into English.
Always opt for respect for privacy in all areas
Most domain name purchase websites include it for free. Those that do not charge around $12 per year. So buy it. This prevents your personal information (including your name, phone number, email address, and postal address) from being listed in the public Whois database - and therefore escaping spammers. You can also use information about your business as it is already accessible to the public. But do not use your personal information.
Don't forget to activate automatic renewal
In many companies, automatic renewal is a sneaky way to make you pay for a product you have never used and forgotten to purchase in the first place. But when it comes to domain names, I absolutely recommend it.
If you forget to renew it, your website will collapse, as happened to Marketo, the giant of automated marketing, in 2017. Even worse, if you have a coveted domain name, it may be taken over before you can buy it back. This is what happened to Google.com in 2016. If someone else buys your domain, it could disappear forever. Never let your domain registrations expire.
Prioritize your URL over that of your shopping site
In most cases, if a domain name is available, you can probably buy it from one of the best domain buying sites. But some accredited registrars only offer limited top-level domains (TLDs). This is particularly common with small registrars or providers who offer domain registration as a secondary service, such as a web host. (For example, InMotion Hosting, one of our favorite web hosts, can only register .com, .net, .org, .biz, .us, and .info domains).
An purchasing site is different from a registrar. Registrars are the ones who actually hold the TLD and the associated names - for example, VeriSign controls all .com and .net domains while PIR controls all .org and .ngo domains. As for registrars, they manage the reservations of names provided by the registries, and must act according to each of them. Not all registrars work with all registries, which is why some only have access to specific TLDs.
What matters here is that you get the URL you want - if it is not available at the first place you check, look elsewhere. You can also purchase it with the help of a broker.
Don't make a big deal out of small price differences
Domain name purchase websites act as intermediaries between you and the domain registries that hold all the domains. It's a bit like department stores that are intermediaries between buyers and clothing manufacturers. The registries set their prices - the equivalent of wholesale prices - and the registration offices add their fees on top. This is how they make money. A registration office that sells a domain for a higher price than its competitor simply makes more money from selling the same product. When comparing prices, consider renewal fees, the price of privacy protection..
Summary of the best domain buying sites for 20221
Buying a domain name can be intimidating if you have never done it before (I wrote another article on the topic)Tips for buying a domain nameSorry, it seems like you forgot to provide the text that needs to be translated. Please provide the content you would like me to translate into English.
If you want everything to go smoothly, find a reliable domain buying site. The following are the best options to consider:
Domain.com - My main recommendation
Bluehost- The best option to get a free domain name when you purchase web hosting.
Namecheap - Fast checkout and free privacy protection
NameSilo - The best website for purchasing cheap domains
Gandi - Good deals for various domains
Google Domains - A simple interface and no overkill
Hover- Free Privacy Protection
No matter your situation, budget, or type of website, you can buy a domain name from one of the sites on this list.