7 Best Domain Registrars in 2025

A domain name is an address for your website, and it typically includes a name and a domain extension such as .com or .net. Interestingly, just those two domain name extensions make up over 169.8 million domain registrations globally as of March 2025, according to the latest Domain Name Industry Brief.

Choosing the best domain registrars can be daunting with so many options, especially if you’ve never built your own website before. The choice is complicated even further by the fact that some websites only offer domain names, while others also offer hosting.

Picking one company for your domain purchase and web hosting provides benefits like better support and easy management, but it can complicate things if you change hosts later.

There are other factors to consider too, such as renewal fees, upsells, transfers, and security. With the global domain name market projected to reach nearly $10 billion by the end of 2025 and 368.4 million domain registrations worldwide, choosing the right registrar is more important than ever.

Below, we explore the best domain registrars and what they offer to help you decide which is best for you.

Best Places To Buy a Domain

• Domain.com
• Namecheap
• GoDaddy
• Bluehost
• Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains)
• Hover
• Dynadot

1. Domain.com

The aptly-named Domain.com is the best platform if you only want to register a domain name. However, it also offers related services, including web hosting and full website design.

You don’t get a lot of freebies with your domain and privacy protection and SSL certificates cost extra.

The website builder is available as an add-on and is a powerful tool for beginners. It’s intuitive and allows beginners to create websites from scratch. It also has a drag-and-drop interface, so you won’t need any coding skills.

Transferring domains is easy as long as the domain is more than 60 days old. When you want to transfer a domain out of Domain.com, all you need to do is unlock it, opt out of domain lock, and then disable privacy.

Introductory Pricing (annual):

*You can also save 25% on domain name registration by using coupon code WEBSITESETUP25 on the checkout page.

Renewal pricing (annual):

Upgrades & Extra Costs:

• Domain Privacy + Protection: $8.99/year
• Google Workspace (email hosting): Starts at $6/month/user
• WebsiteBuilder: Starts at $1.99/month
• Web hosting: Starts at $1.99/month
• SSL certificates: $2.25/month
• Sitelock: $3.99/month
• Transferring a domain to Domain.com: Starts at $9.99

Freebies:

• DNSSEC
• Email forwarding
• Google two-step verification
• Domain and subdomain forwarding

Best domain registrar for: Those who just want domain registration.

2. Namecheap

Namecheap is one of the most popular domain name registrars with over 18 million domains under management as of 2025. You can buy domains or even full web hosting packages at affordable prices. WHOIS protection is free forever with all domains, but you have to pay extra for SSL certifications, PremiumDNS, and a VPN.

Namecheap’s user interface makes domain management a breeze. You sign in, click a button to enter the dashboard, and configure the nameservers. There are no extra hoops to jump through.

Transferring the domain is easy too, but not always fast. The transfer typically takes 30 minutes to six days to complete. However, your domain will need to be older than 60 days to transfer out of Namecheap.

Namecheap has an extensive knowledge base that’s helpful for first-time domain buyers. It walks you through the entire setup process, and if you need more help, you can contact support through its 24/7 live chat support or initiate a ticket.

Introductory Pricing (Annual):

Renewal Pricing (Annual):

Upgrades & Extra Costs:

• PremiumDNS: $4.88/year (renews at $9.98/year)
• FastVPN: $0.99/year (renews at $5.88/month)
• PositiveSSL certificate: $5.99/year (renews at $6.99/year)
• ICANN fee: $0.18 per year on most domains

Freebies:

• Free WHOIS and private name registration protection for the life of your domain registration
• Free DNSSEC security
• Two-month free email account trial

Best domain registrar for: Small businesses and anyone on a budget.

3. GoDaddy

GoDaddy is the world’s largest domain registrar with over 84 million registered domain names and 20+ million customers as of 2025. Its domain management interface is user-friendly to make set up simple for everyone.

You can choose from a ton of top-level domains (TLDs), such as .com, .org, .net, and .biz. You can also get a .com domain for as little as $0.01 for the first year if you pay for three years at once — but note that subsequent years are at regular rates.

That’s an excellent deal if you’re reluctant to spend a lot upfront. But the renewal pricing is relatively expensive when compared with other registrars like Namecheap.

GoDaddy’s domain registration price includes free privacy protection, but you can also upgrade to Full or Ultimate domain protection by paying extra. The company has also introduced GoDaddy Airo, an AI-powered solution that simplifies the process of getting online.

You can also domain search in bulk on GoDaddy. If you want to buy multiple TLDs for the same name but with different extensions, the registrar makes the process a breeze and offers a bundling discount through their Discount Domain Club.

Introductory Pricing (Annual):

Renewal Pricing (Annual):

Upgrades & Extra Costs:

• Full Domain protection package: $9.99/domain/year
• Ultimate Domain protection package: $14.99/domain/year (renews at $29.99/year)
• Email Essentials Package: $1.99/month
• Email Plus Package: $3.99/month
• Business Professional Package: $8.99/month
• DNSSEC: Starts at $2.99/month
• ICANN fee: $0.18/year
• Discount Domain Club: $119.88/year (Basic) for savings on popular TLDs

Freebies:

• WHOIS privacy
• Domain lock
• Free website builder
• Free logo maker tool

Best domain registrar for: Buying bulk domains at a discount and comprehensive business solutions.

4. Bluehost

Bluehost is a popular web hosting service that offers a free domain name when you buy a hosting plan. But you can also just buy a new domain name without hosting.

The domain with hosting is free for the first year, but WHOIS protection is an extra $11.88/year (renewing at $15.99/year). You also get a user-friendly site builder that requires zero coding.

You can transfer your domain once it’s eligible, but it costs about $12.99/domain.

This web hosting company is recommended for WordPress hosting. If you’re building a WordPress website, choosing Bluehost makes sense. WordPress is pre-installed when you sign up, and if you need help setting up anything else, Bluehost offers 24/7 chat or phone support.

Introductory Pricing (Annual):

Renewal Pricing (Annual):

Upgrades & Extra Costs:

• Domain Privacy + Protection: $11.88/year (renews at $15.99/year)
• Google Workspace Starter: $3/month when billed annually
• Professional Email: $2.99/month (includes free trial for first month)

Freebies:

• Domain lock
• Domain forwarding
• Free SSL certificate

Best domain registrar for: Bundling with hosting and WordPress users.

5. Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains)

Important Update: Google Domains was acquired by Squarespace in September 2023, and all domain migrations were completed by July 2024. All former Google Domains customers are now managed through Squarespace Domains.

Squarespace Domains continues to offer the straightforward approach that made Google Domains popular. The setup process remains streamlined with step-by-step guidance throughout the entire process.

If you’re a business owner who wants to integrate with Google Workspace or connect to website builders like Squarespace, the platform includes tools to make this process seamless. They also offer 24/7 customer support.

Squarespace Domains focuses on transparent pricing with no hidden fees for over 300 domain extensions. The service maintains the reliability that users expected from Google Domains while adding Squarespace’s design-focused approach.

Most extensions start at competitive rates, and transferring domains is straightforward. The cost depends on the domain extension you want to transfer.

Introductory Pricing (Annual):

Renewal Pricing (Annual):

Upgrades & Extra Costs:

• Squarespace website plans start at $12/month
• Google Workspace integration available

Freebies:

• WHOIS protection
• DNSSEC
• Email forwarding (up to 100 addresses)
• Two-factor authentication
• SSL/TLS certificates from Let’s Encrypt
• Domain and subdomain forwarding

Best domain registrar for: Former Google Domains users and those wanting transparent, consistent pricing.

6. Hover

Hover is a no-fuss domain registrar with a user-friendly interface that makes registering domains simple.

You should consider Hover if you want to create an e-commerce website and connect it with an online store on Shopify, Etsy, or Facebook using Hover Connect. You can also connect your domain to a third-party hosting provider and publishing tools like Weebly and Jimdo.

You don’t pay any fees to transfer your domain to Hover, but the platform adds a charge for an additional year of domain registration from whenever it’s set to expire.

All Hover domains include free WHOIS privacy protection, but the registrar charges extra for ICANN.

Transferring your domain to Hover is easy, but the exact fee depends on the domain you want to transfer.

Hover also offers bulk domain pricing and discounts on renewals when you have 10 or more domains registered through its service.

Introductory Pricing (Annual):

Renewal Pricing (Annual):

Upgrades & Extra Costs:

• Email forwarding: $5/year
• Email hosting: Starts at $20/year
• ICANN fee: $0.18/year

Freebies:

• WHOIS protection
• Hover Connect

Best domain registrar for: E-commerce businesses and those who want simple, no-frills domain management.

7. Dynadot

Dynadot isn’t the most widely known domain registrar but currently manages over 4 million registered domain names. Still, it’s worth considering, especially if you’re looking for a premium domain extension or want access to domain marketplace features.

The company offers domain names, email hosting, SSL certificates, VPS hosting, and a website builder. As a Dynadot user, you’ll have access to its marketplace, where you can buy or sell existing and expired domains.

All Dynadot domains include WHOIS protection, the website builder (limited functionality), and email (limited functionality). Plus, all accounts have two-factor authentication. Domain transfers are simple with competitive prices, costing $10.99 for .com domains.

Introductory Pricing (Annual):

Renewal Pricing (Annual):

Upgrades & Extra Costs:

• SSL certificate: $16.99/year (Regular) and $80/year (Wildcard)
• Website Builder Pro: $20/year
• Email Hosting Pro: $20/year

Freebies:

• Free website builder (limited functionality)
• Free professional email address (limited functionality)
• Free WHOIS protection
• Domain lock
• DNSSEC

Best domain registrar for: Anyone looking to purchase a premium domain or access domain marketplace features.

2025 Domain Industry Insights

The domain industry continues to evolve rapidly in 2025. Here are some key trends to be aware of:

New Generic TLDs Growth: New generic top-level domains (ngTLDs) posted a 13.5% year-over-year increase, significantly outpacing legacy TLDs in adoption. This includes extensions like .app, .shop, and .tech.

Rising Domain Costs: Due to wholesale price increases from registries, .com domain costs have risen approximately 28% between 2021 and 2024, with further increases expected.

Security Focus: With increasing cyber threats, more registrars are including DNSSEC and enhanced security features as standard offerings.

AI Integration: Many registrars now offer AI-powered tools for domain suggestions, website creation, and business setup, making it easier for beginners to get online.

Final Thoughts: The 7 Best Domain Registrars — The Best Places To Buy Domains

Our choice for overall best domain name registrar is still Namecheap for its affordable options, easy transfer process, proactive support, and popularity with over 18 million domains under management. However, you might find one of the other domain registrars to be a better fit for your specific needs.

For 2025, we also recommend considering Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains) for those seeking transparent pricing and reliable service, especially if you’re already familiar with the Google Domains experience.

Choosing any one of the registrars in the list that suits your needs will ensure you’re using a trustworthy, reliable domain registrar for your website. To make comparison easier, here’s the updated pricing for the most popular TLDs for all registrars on our list:

*GoDaddy’s $0.01 pricing requires multi-year commitment and subsequent years are charged at regular rates.

Key Considerations for 2025

Domain Security: With cyber threats increasing, prioritize registrars that offer free DNSSEC, two-factor authentication, and domain locking as standard features.

Renewal Pricing: Always check renewal rates before choosing a registrar. Introductory pricing can be misleading if renewal costs are significantly higher.

Transfer Policies: Understand each registrar’s transfer fees and policies, especially the 60-day transfer lock period that applies to most domains.

Customer Support: Choose registrars with 24/7 support, especially if you’re managing business-critical domains.

Additional Services: Consider whether you need bundled services like web hosting, email, or website builders, as this can affect your overall costs and convenience.

Remember that domain registration is just the first step in building your online presence. Whether you choose a budget-friendly option like Namecheap or a full-service provider like GoDaddy, the most important factor is selecting a registrar that meets your specific needs and provides reliable service for your domain management.d>$20.99