Top 12 Domain Name Registrars in 2025 for Affordable Domains

Are you looking for the best domain name registrars in 2025 to register your domain name? Here, you can find the top domain name registrars through which you can register your first domain name.

The first thing is to get a domain name for your blog or business. Sometimes, it might be the second step after choosing an ideal hosting plan because some hosting giants offer TLD’s domain name for free with their hosting packages.

And in this post, we are going to share every necessary step to keep in mind before buying a domain name. We will also delve into what these domain registrars are, how they work, and how to register your domain name with the most trusted and reliable domain registrars along with their pros and cons.

But before delving deep into the post, let me share my top domain name registrars that I find most reliable and trusted. I always prefer using them for all of my domain name registrations, and I believe you will love using them too.

My Favourite Domain Name Registrars

• Google Domains
• GoDaddy
• NameSilo
• NameCheap
• Hover

Recently, Cloudflare also launched a low-cost domain registrar. This new domain registration service promises to only charge the wholesale price that the top-level domain registry (such as Verisign) charges. Typically, registrars charge additional fees on top of that and attempt to upsell you to a hosting plan or other unnecessary services.

Watch Out These Things Before Buying a Domain Name

I have already shared some notable features that you should consider before purchasing a domain name from any registrar. Here are some additional features that you should also check before making your purchase.

Some domain registrars provide free add-ons and privacy protection as part of their hosting platform, while others charge for these services.

Here, I am listing some important features that you should consider when choosing a domain name registrar. Paying attention to these details is worthwhile, as it will help you find an even better domain registrar.

• Domain Renewal Cost
• Privacy Protection (Free or Paid)
• Transfer Fees
• User Interface (UI)
• Freebies

Top Domain Name Registrars Compared

1. Google Domains (Acquired by Squarespace)

Google Domains is a domain name registrar operated by Google. It was launched in 2014 and is currently in beta version, available only in select countries.

Google Domains offers domain names for your business, but does not provide recommendations for hosting or other services. You can quickly obtain your domain name through Google Domains. The domains registered with Google Domains come with free privacy protection and have the same DNS lookup time as google.com.

Additionally, you can easily manage your DNS, Email Forwarding, and other features directly from their user-friendly control panel.

Major Highlights of Google Domains

• Simple and transparent backend UI.
• Free privacy protection along with your domain name.
• Low TTL for DNS lookup.
• Integrations with Google Apps for Business.
• Transparent domain pricing and no extra renewal costs.

2. GoDaddy

GoDaddy is one of the largest domain name registrars in the world. They offer a .COM domain name for just $0.99/year for the first year to new customers. One of the standout features of GoDaddy is their easy-to-manage DNS system. It allows users to efficiently configure and control their domain settings with ease. Additionally, GoDaddy is known for its reliable customer support. They have a dedicated team that is available to assist customers with any issues or concerns they may have.

One downside of using GoDaddy as a domain registrar is the lack of included domain privacy protection. Unlike Google Domains, GoDaddy charges an additional fee for privacy protection. This can be a concern for those who value their privacy and want to keep their personal information secure.

Despite this drawback, GoDaddy offers a range of benefits to its customers. They have over 17 million customers worldwide, which speaks to the trust and popularity of their services. Moreover, GoDaddy provides a free domain name (on selected domain extensions) with every hosting plan. This is especially beneficial for customers on a limited budget who are looking to establish an online presence at an affordable cost. Additionally, their hosting plans come with several useful features such as MS Office 365 Business Email, Email Forwarding, cPanel Based Control Panel, and Full SSH access, making it a comprehensive solution for individuals and businesses alike.

Major Highlights of GoDaddy Domains

• Simple and Transparent Backend UI.
• Domain Name Promotions.
• Top ICANN-Accredited Domain Registrar.
• 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.
• Additional Services Like Hosting, SSL, and Email.

3. DynaDot

Dynadot is my favorite domain name registrar, which I prefer for buying domain names at the cheapest possible price. It offers .COM domain names with free privacy protection for just $6.99/year, along with many other benefits.

The website has a clean and simple user interface that allows you to easily manage your domain names. It is another great domain registrar after GoDaddy that I prefer to use, and I have already hosted over 30 domain names in my current Dynadot account.

Moreover, Dynadot also offers a wide range of other services, including a website builder, SSL, email services, and web hosting plans. You can even click here to get $5 cashback when you make a sale of $12 or more within 2 days.

Major Highlights of Dynadot

• Simple and clean UI.
• Straightforward and most affordable domains at unbeatable prices.
• Top ICANN-accredited domain registrar.
• Lifetime free privacy protection along with domain name.
• Additional services like hosting, SSL, and emails.

4. NameSilo

Founded in 2010, NameSilo is one of the most flexible ICANN-accredited domain name registrars. The reason why I placed NameSilo in the 4th position is because of their flexible domain name pricing. Here, you can get a top-level domain name at an unbelievable price of $6.99/yr with free privacy protection, no ICANN fees on the domain name, and more powerful security features. Moreover, their renewal charge is the same as their new domain name. They don’t charge any extra fees for domain name renewal.

Most customers are moving to NameSilo because of their flexible and affordable domain name prices, as well as their straightforward domain renewal charges. When I checked user opinions on Quora about NameSilo, 100% of customers were satisfied with their service and spoke highly of using NameSilo as their primary domain registrar.

Major Highlights of NameSilo

• ICANN-accredited domain name registrar.
• Straightforward and most affordable domains at unbeatable prices.
• Lifetime free privacy protection along with domain name.
• Straightforward domain renewal charges.

5. NameCheap

NameCheap was founded in 2000 by Richard Kirkendall. It is one of the independent ICANN-accredited domain name registrars that is not owned by the EIG group or GoDaddy. Namecheap is a highly trusted and reliable domain registrar that I personally use. Their interface is clean and makes it easy to manage a large number of domain settings and DNS.

In addition to domain registration, Namecheap also offers a variety of exclusive deals on hosting plans and domain names. They also provide web hosting, email services, SSL certificates, and more. I have personally tried their starter hosting package, which offers cPanel and SSD-based hosting for up to three websites at an incredibly low price.

Furthermore, Namecheap offers free website migration to their platform, as well as free privacy protection for the first year. My overall experience with Namecheap has been incredible.

Major Highlights of NameCheap Domains

• Free Domain & Migration.
• Lowest Price Offer.
• 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
• Provides 99.9% Uptime SLA.
• Offers Additional Services Like Hosting, SSL, and Email.

6. BlueHost

Bluehost is a well-known brand in the web hosting industry. It is one of the largest web hosting brands and is owned by the EGI Group. Bluehost is officially recommended by WordPress.org. In addition to web hosting, Bluehost also offers top-level domain (TLD) registration.

However, one drawback of using Bluehost as a domain registrar is that they have a limited selection of TLDs available for registration. This means that you can only register certain top-level domain extensions with Bluehost, and you will need to explore other domain registrars for other TLDs and gTLDs.

In my experience, Bluehost (bluehost.com) has been excellent. Their support team is reliable and knowledgeable. However, I have found that the same level of service is not provided on their Bluehost India (Bluehost.in) site.

Major Highlights of BlueHost

• Offering a Free Domain Name with Hosting Plans.
• Domain Privacy Protection for $11.88 per year.
• A custom email with GSuite costs $5/mo per user.
• Exciting Promo Codes Available (Up To 60% OFF).
• Additional Services include WordPress Hosting, SSL, and Emails.

7. eNom

Founded in 1997, eNom is one of the leading ICANN-accredited domain name registrars in the world. It is the world’s second-largest domain name registrar after GoDaddy, managing over 15 million domain names. eNom offers various services including shared hosting plans, reseller hosting plans, and domain name registration. You can register new TLDs, gTLDs, and classical domain names with eNom.

eNom is the top marketplace for domain name sellers and investors. If you’re tired of your current domain registrar’s appearance or want to try other registrars, I highly recommend checking out eNom. It offers advantages such as integration with Google Apps for Business and a simple, easy-to-use domain transfer option. However, it also has some disadvantages, such as charging $8/year for Privacy Protection.

Major Highlights of Enom

• All Top-Level and Classic TLDs Available.
• Second Largest ICANN-Accredited Domain Registrar.
• Privacy Policy Cost $8/year.
• Additional Services can Include Shared Hosting, SSL, Emails, and Website Builder.

8. 1and1

1&1 is another reliable domain name registrar in the world. They manage more than 5 million domain names. They are one of the registrars that offer a significant discount for the first year. Additionally, 1&1 not only provides affordable domain names, but also offers cheap hosting plans.

They also have similar offers to GoDaddy; new customers can get a domain name for just $0.99/year. Furthermore, they offer hosting at a significantly reduced price. You can also receive free privacy protection (whois protection) with your domain name, making 1&1 one of the most affordable domain registrars.

Major Highlights of 1and1

• ICANN-Accredited Domain Registrar:
• Free Privacy Protection with Every Domain Name
• Free Business Email Addresses
• Additional Services Including Hosting, SSL, Emails, and the 1&1 Website Builder Plus

9. Hover

Hover is one of the best domain name registrars because they focus solely on helping you register your domain name. They are the third-largest ICANN-accredited domain registrar. The backend of the Hover domain dashboard is easy to use and impressive. With Hover’s clean and straightforward interface, you can easily manage your DNS settings without any hassle.

However, it’s worth noting that Hover only offers domain registration services and does not provide hosting plans, SSL certificates, or email services. If you need any of these additional services, you will have to look for them elsewhere.

The price for a .COM domain at Hover starts at $12.99 per year for the first year, with a renewal cost of $14.99 per year.

Major Highlights of Hover

• Third largest ICANN-accredited domain registrar.
• Simple and straightforward UI.
• Easy-to-use domain name settings.
• .COM domain names start from $12.99/year.

10. Gandi

Founded in 1999, Gandi is a leading domain name registrar, managing over 1.5 million domain names and offering registration for over 700 domain extensions. In addition, Gandi provides 2 mailboxes, each with 3GB of storage, along with unlimited email forwarding and aliases. Furthermore, when you register a domain name with Gandi, you receive several security benefits for free, such as a complimentary SSL certificate and Privacy Protection to safeguard your identity from spam.

My experience with Gandi domains has been excellent. Their LiveDNS tool allows you to quickly and easily set up the DNS for your domain name. Furthermore, Gandi offers a range of additional services, including hosting plans, emails, SSL certificates, and more (please note that these services come with a fee).

Major Highlights of Gandi

• Top ICANN-Accredited Domain Registrar.
• More than 700 domain extensions available.
• LiveDNS tool allows instant record changes.
• Offer additional services like hosting, SSL, and emails.

11. Name.com

Name.com is one of the top ICANN-accredited domain name registrars that offers top-level domain names at a cost-effective price. In addition to domain names, you can also get a hosting plan, emails, and a DIY builder from name.com. If you want everything to be managed under one roof, then name.com is a good option for you.

I haven’t tried this domain name registrar, but people claim to have had a good experience here. The starting price for a .COM domain name is around $12.99 per year, and unlike some other registrars, the renewal cost at name.com is straightforward. However, their customer support is not available 24/7, so you may have to wait for assistance.

Major Highlights of Name.com

• Simple and easy-to-use backend UI.
• Straightforward domain name pricing.
• ICANN-accredited domain registrar.
• Lack of customer support.
• Offers additional services like hosting, SSL, and emails.

12. Network Solutions

Before GoDaddy, Network Solutions was one of the largest domain registrars that offered top-level TLDs like .COM, .NET, and .ORG. They also provided flexible domain name and hosting packages on their servers. Network Solutions is an American-based company founded in 1979. According to their recent survey, they have hosted approximately 7 million domain names on their servers.

In addition to being a domain registrar, they also offer hosting plans, email hosting, a DIY builder, and various other online marketing services.

My experience with Network Solutions has been good. I registered some of my domain names using their exclusive .COM domain name coupons. The website’s backend is quite complicated, and it takes some time to understand how to use their features. However, like all domain registrars, Network Solutions has its advantages and disadvantages. A complex user interface is one of their disadvantages. Nonetheless, their flexible domain rates and customer support are also advantageous when choosing them as your primary domain registrar.

Major Highlights of Network Solutions

• Complex backend UI.
• Largest ICANN-accredited domain registrar offering top-level TLDs.
• Flexible domain rates and knowledgeable customer support.
• Also offers additional services like web hosting, SSL, and emails.

Bonus: Best Domain Name Registrars

In addition to these top 12 domain registrars, there are several other reliable domain registrars available where you can register your domain name. These registrars also offer various freebies, and some even provide free whois protection with your domain name. You can use them to register your domain name effortlessly.

1. Cloudflare Domain Registrar

Popularly known for its CDN services, Cloudflare recently launched a new domain registration service that allows you to register your domain name at wholesale price with free WHOIS protection.

They offer domain names at the lowest price, with a wide range of features and free WHOIS protection. However, currently, they only provide the option to transfer your domain name from your current registrar to Cloudflare.

The overall experience with Cloudflare’s domain registrar is fantastic. You can easily link your debit or credit card and instantly transfer your domain name to Cloudflare at the lowest price in the market.

Major Highlights of Cloudflare Domain Registrar

• Well-known for their awesome CDN service.
• Offer domain names at wholesale prices.
• Free Whois protection with every domain name.

2. Hostgator

Owned by EGI Group, HostGator is one of the largest web hosting brands, renowned for its web hosting services. At HostGator, you can find various types of hosting plans, such as shared hosting and WordPress hosting, tailored to meet your specific needs. Additionally, HostGator is an excellent platform for registering your domain name. Although unlike other hosting giants, HostGator does not offer a free domain name with their hosting plans, you can purchase a discounted domain name for just $4.99 per year (on selected domain extensions).

If you are seeking reliable hosting services paired with a domain name, HostGator is among the most trusted and advanced web hosting technologies available. (I have also compared HostGator and GoDaddy in another article on TheGuideX! Be sure to check it out.)

Major Highlights of Hostgator

• ICANN-Accredited Domain Registrar
• Up to 70% off promo codes
• Same backend user interface (UI) as Bluehost
• 45-day money-back guarantee
• Additional services include shared hosting, SSL, and emails

What is a Domain Name Registrar?

A domain name registrar is an internet service provider that allows you to purchase and register your domain name. Domain name registrars have been accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) or a national country code top-level domain (TLD) (such as .uk or .ca) to register domain names.

In simple terms, if an entrepreneur wants to establish an online presence for their business, they would first approach these registrars to secure a domain name for their company. If the desired domain name is available for registration, they can obtain it by paying the required fees.

During the domain name registration process, you will need to select a suitable domain extension. You can choose from available TLDs and gTLDs, such as .com, .org, .net, and many others.

Most domainers and business owners prefer a domain name with a .com extension. This extension is particularly popular for startups, blogs, businesses, and various other niches.

How to Choose the Best Domain Name Registrar?

Most domain name registrars offer top-level TLDs like .COM, .NET, .ORG, and many others. However, apart from these technical aspects, it is important to consider other factors when choosing a domain name wisely.

Once you have found your ideal domain name, you should purchase it from a reputable domain registrar. Here are some key features to consider before making a purchase.

• ICANN Accredited
• Domain Pricing and Renewal Costs
• Customer Support
• Domain Transfer
• Additional Services

1. ICANN Accredited

Make sure to register your domain name from valid ICANN-accredited sites. ICANN-accredited domain registrars are officially permitted by ICANN to register domain names.

Some resellers and white-labeled domain registrars offer domain names, but they may not provide sufficient security, support, and reliability.

In this post, I have only listed the top domain registrars that are officially approved by ICANN. Make sure to check them out.

2. Domain Pricing & Renewal Costs

Some domain registrars offer significant discounts on domain names for the first year to attract more customers, while others have straightforward renewal charges. If you plan to keep your domain name for more than one year, be sure to check the renewal fees.

For example, GoDaddy, one of the largest domain registrars, offers a domain name for just $0.99 for the first year to new customers. However, they charge $14.99 per year for renewals. On the other hand, NameSilo, another top registrar, offers a flat rate of $6.99 per year for both initial registration and renewals.

3. Customer Support

You need to ensure that customer support is responsible and knowledgeable enough to resolve your technical issues. If something goes wrong on your end, they need to be responsive and helpful in addressing your technical glitches.

When evaluating the customer support team, you should read website reviews and learn about their staff from real customers online. Quora, Facebook, and forums are the best places to find genuine customer reviews about domain registrars.

4. Domain Transfer

Well, you don’t want to move your domain name from one registrar to another (at least after you have done enough research to select the best domain registrar). However, if anything happens in the future and you want to transfer your domain name from one registrar to another, make sure that the new registrar offers a domain transfer option.

Domain transfer allows you to quickly transfer your domain name (Your domain needs to be at least 60 days old to be eligible for domain transfer) from one registrar to another. Check their privacy page for information on domain transfer.

Some domain registrars might charge a fee for domain transfers, while others do not allow domain name transfers within 60 days of registration, and some even offer free domain transfers. Be sure to research them further before selecting the best domain registrar.

5. Additional Services

Many top domain registrars, such as NameCheap and GoDaddy, offer additional services along with their domain names. If you want to build a complete website or need a site builder, SSL, and hosting in addition to your domain name, be sure to check their bundle prices.

Some popular web hosting providers even offer free domain names with their hosting plans, and some may provide Google Ads credit and other additional offers.

Therefore, if you’re looking for all-in-one domain name registrars that offer everything from domains to hosting, site builders, email, etc., it’s important to compare the pricing of their bundle plans.

Wrapping Up

Having a reliable domain name registrar is crucial for success. It is important to select a domain name provider that offers fast DNS lookup, security, and various benefits. Personally, I prefer using Google Domains, GoDaddy, and NameCheap because they provide the fastest DNS lookup along with numerous benefits.

We also recommend that you review all of these domain name registrars from the list and find the one that best suits your requirements.

You can also share your experience in the comment section below.