Overview

Have you come up with your unique domain name? What’s next? You may be buying a domain name that is available to register, or a premium domain – in both cases you will need a registrar. The registrar is the company that manages the reservation of addresses on the internet.

We all have a physical address; we’re all going to need an address in cyberspace. They’re becoming increasingly important. I believe we’ll get to the point where when you’re born, you’ll be issued a domain name.

Bob Parsons, CEO of GoDaddy.com for TheDomains

Why do you need a domain name registrar?

A domain name registrar is essential if you’re planning to establish and maintain an online presence. Domain registrar is a company that facilitates the acquisition and registration of domain names. They can also provide privacy features, security tools, and valuable insights into your website’s traffic patterns and visitor behaviour. In addition, a domain name registrar can help you manage your online reputation by monitoring your web presence for harmful or abusive content.

Domain name registrars are accredited by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), a non-profit organisation in charge of domain name management. There are also different governing bodies for various domain extensions, like Nominet for the UK for example. The rules applying to domain registrations can even spread to the sort of content you have the right to publish on those, so you should be extra careful when using country domain extensions and do your research before investing in those and building your business online.

How to choose the best domain name registrar for you?

If you’re looking to purchase a domain name, or transfer your newly bought domain to a new registrar, your best bet is researching different domain name registrars and comparing them. Consider your budget and what features are most important to you, such as customer service, satisfaction rates, pricing, hidden fees, domain transfers, expiration policies, and support options. Read online reviews from other users to get feedback on these factors. Check if the registrar offers discounts or coupons to save money on your purchase. Make sure the registrar you choose offers 24/7 customer support in case you have any problems down the road.

The top domain name registrars

Domain name registrars operate in a very competitive space and so branding is very important to them. Here, we have chosen to highlight some of the names that stand out from the list of over 60 companies.

Namepicks

Domain.com

Domain.com is a well-known market player that has been in business since 1998. More than 1.7 million websites and domains are now housed on their servers, a testament to their steady growth throughout the years. Domain.com provides a quick domain search tool that returns premium domains as well. Additional services include web hosting, email hosting, SSL certificates, and even web design and online marketing.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy is the largest domain registrar of all accredited companies, with over 60 million domain names presently registered. This represents roughly 18% of the whole domain name market. The company provides numerous services, including domain registration and transfer. It also holds domain name auctions and assists in investing in domains.

GoDaddy provides a premium Domain club membership with discounted domain pricing for professionals. This makes perfect sense if you’re registering or managing a large number of domain names.

Namecheap

Namecheap hosts about 9 million domain names, giving them a 2.5% market share. Namecheap, as the name suggests, is one of the most affordable registrars. Namecheap provides web hosting, WordPress hosting, email hosting, integration with third-party apps and website builders (such as Weebly), security services, and many others.

Name.com

Name.com has been a well-known name in the domain name landscape since its inception in 2003. They are the home of over 1.9 million domain names. Name.com has some of the best prices in the industry for registering domain names. Thanks to its bulk domain search engine, this platform makes it extremely simple to choose the perfect domain name. Name.com provides web hosting, WordPress hosting, Google Workspace, website builders, email hosting, and more in addition to domain names.

Hover.com

Founded in 2008, Hover is a relatively new domain registrar that bills itself as the “place where the internet’s best ideas get named.” They currently have over 300 TLDs and provide users with email mailboxes or email forwarding. Hover is built on the Tucows wholesale reseller services provided by OpenSRS. Hover provides various domain extensions, domain privacy, transfer lock, and email services, along with phone, email, and live chat support to customers.

Highlights

The majority of the companies on the list, 62 out of 64, operate on exact brand match premium domains, meeting all criteria for a perfect domain name, such as being short, easy to remember, and containing a precise keyword or a meaningful, brandable name. The idea behind owning a descriptive word in the name, such as “domain” or “name,” in this case, is to occupy the digital space with keywords that are somehow related to the brand, its products, or services. Benefits include increased visibility in search engine results, lower cost per click (CPC), higher product relevance, and excellent branding possibilities thanks to a simple and straightforward message.

Only 2 companies out of 64 have chosen to operate on an alternative to the .com extension. 

None of the companies on the list have included a hyphen in their domain names.

When choosing a domain name registrar, keep your unique situation in mind. Depending on your specific needs and requirements, some companies will always be better than others.

A better domain name will lower your lifetime marketing costs.

Frank Schilling, Internet-investor

While we make every effort to ensure the data on our site is accurate, complete, and up-to-date, we cannot guarantee its reliability. Our data is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, financial, or other advice. We strongly recommend that you independently verify any information before relying on it.

Other resources

• Finding the Perfect Name for Your Business: Top Business Name Generators
• What Makes Premium Domain Names Strategic Assets?
• The Importance of Investing in a Strong Domain Name for Your Business
• A Short Guide to Buying a Premium Domain Name

How does your brand name match your company vision? What new horizons can a better name open? Get in touch if you feel your brand deserves a better name, we are always happy to help.

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