We all know that a domain name is an essential asset to create an online presence. Without a domain name, people won’t find your website.
Similarly, a domain registrar is a must, because without them you cannot register a new domain!
They all play a vital role in managing, registering, and maintaining your domain name and making your online presence workable.
So if you are looking for an in-depth guide to Domain Name Registrar, I’ve got you covered!
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about domain registrar in a descriptive guide for what it is, how it works, why it’s important, and more.
So, let’s get started to learn more.
What is a Domain Registrar?
A domain registrar is a company or organization that allows individuals and businesses to register and manage domain names. They are accredited by ICANN and certified by the registries to sell domain names.
When you want to create a website, you usually need to register a unique domain name, such as example.com. Generally, they provide a platform where we can search for and purchase a domain name if that name is not yet registered.
Why is Domain Registrar Important?
Domain registrars are a must because without them you cannot buy a domain name. They play an important role in the functioning of the Internet and establishing an online presence.
However, you can become an accredited domain registrar and purchase an unlimited domain name for yourself just to maintain ICANN costs and fees.
How Does a Domain Registrar Work?
A domain registrar acts as an intermediary between the registrant and the ICANN and IANA organizations responsible for managing the wide variety of domain names and IP addresses on the internet.
Remember, a domain name registrar doesn’t give you an IP address for your domain name. They typically redirect your domain name to your assigned IP address that is provided by Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
Domain registrars usually provide DNS management tools that are used to translate the domain name into an IP address, which resolves traffic to the correct hosting server location for your website.
You can configure DNS records, such as A records, CNAME records, MX records, etc., to specify where the domain will point (eg, to your website hosting provider or CDN server).
What’s the Difference Between Domain Registration and Domain Registrars?
In simple terms, domain registration is the act or process of acquiring a new domain name, while domain registrars are entities that offer services and infrastructure to enable and maintain domain registrations.
What’s the Difference Between a Domain Registrar and a Domain Registry?
Domain registrars are companies that provide domain name registration services, while domain registries are organizations responsible for managing the technical infrastructure and maintaining databases for certain top-level domain extensions.
What’s the Difference Between Domain Registrars and Domain Hosts?
A domain host (aka DNS host) is responsible for hosting your DNS (Domain Name System) records, acting as the authoritative source for your domain’s DNS information. On the other hand, a domain registrar acts as a platform where you can purchase and manage your domain names.
What to Look for in a Domain Registrar?
When choosing a domain registrar, there are several things you need to consider to ensure you select the right one.
Here are some key points to choose the right domain name registrar:
- Domain Pricing: Compare prices across different registrars. Some may offer discounted initial registration fees but higher renewal rates. So go with transparent pricing structures that fit your budget. Also, some web hosting providers offer a free domain name with an annual hosting plan.
- Domain Extensions: Domain extensions, also known as top-level domains (TLDs), are the suffixes at the end of a domain name. Ensure that the registrar you choose supports the domain extension you want to register.
- DNS Management: Make sure the registrar provides a user-friendly DNS management interface for configuring domain settings, such as setting up subdomains, adding multiple nameservers, managing DNS records, and URL forwarding services.
- Privacy Protection: Ensure the registrar supports whois privacy protection to protect your name, address, and phone number from being publicly accessible via the WHOIS database.
- Security Features: Domain security is crucial to protecting your online presence. Look for registrars that offer features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and domain locking to prevent unauthorized domain transfers or changes.
- Customer Support: Choose by considering how they will help you if you encounter technical problems or need assistance. Find 24/7 support through channels like live chat, ticket, email, or phone calls. Ensure your domain registrar offers a live chat option such as Namecheap and Porkbun.
- Reputation and Reviews: Research the latest registrar’s reputation and read reviews from other customers that you’ll find on Trustpilot or other websites. Read feedback on reliability, uptime, customer support, and overall user experience.
However, you don’t have to waste time by accompanying with these! Simply choosing our recommended registrar, you get all these benefits in all the registrars below.
What are the Best Domain Registrars to Buy a Domain Name From?
The top 5 most popular domain name registration providers of all time:
1. GoDaddy
GoDaddy is one of the most popular and largest domain registrars worldwide. Offering a wide range of domain extensions and other web hosting services since 1997.
People mostly like them for their easy domain search and registration process that helps to find the perfect domain name they want to buy.
Overall, GoDaddy is suitable for new customers who are looking for a discounted .com domain name, which is $3.17 only for the first year of new user registration. However, they charge high renewal bills of up to $21.99 per year. This is why most people then transfer the domain to another registrar.
2. Namecheap
Namecheap is one of the popular domain name registrars that provides a user-friendly interface for managing domains. Their control panel is intuitive and straightforward, allowing users to easily update DNS settings, configure domain options, and manage their portfolio of domains.
They also offer a discounted domain name coupon (NEWCOM598) for new users. Their price is straightforward and slightly up-sells when renewals are coming.
Still, they are great for getting a lifetime free WHOIS privacy protection service to keep your personal information private, as well as two-factor authentication (2FA) and other security features.
3. Google Domains
Google Domains is a leading domain registration program that offers a transparent rate for both domain registration, renewal, and transfer costs.
They offer Premium DNS for all their domain names and easy DNS management capabilities. Overall, Google Domains is a reliable and secure domain name registrar that I recommend. The only drawback is that they are not available in all countries.
Here’s the list of supported countries for Google Domains.
4. Porkbun
Porkbun offers competitive pricing for domain registration and renewals. They aim to provide affordable domain services without sacrificing quality or customer support.
They offer much more than other registrars and the best thing is that there is no upsell for domain renewal and transfer. This is why I recently moved one of my domain names from Namechip to Porkbun to save my money.
So you don’t have to worry about any kind of things in the future when you go with them!
5. Bluehost
Bluehost is mostly known for its web hosting services as it is the top hosting provider that WordPress recommends. So when you are looking to build your website, instead of just looking for domain names, you can consider them.
Bluehost offers a free domain name with all of its annual web hosting plans, including shared hosting, WordPress hosting, eCommerce hosting, and dedicated hosting.
So by choosing a hosting plan from them, you will get a free domain name which will be great for beginners to start their first website. They are ready to help you with 24/7 live chat support and phone calls at 844-303-1728.
Conclusion
Registrars must adhere to certain rules and guidelines set by this governing body to ensure the proper management and administration of domain names, as well as domain users.
By choosing a reputable domain registrar, you ensure that ownership of the rights to your online presence is protected and that you have full control over your domain name.
Which domain registrar do you mostly prefer?
I hope you find our guide helpful. If yes, please share this article on your favorite social media site or blog, and if you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us using our contact form or leave a comment below! We’ll be happy to hear your thoughts.
