Comparing the best domain registrars of 2024 

If you’re starting a small business, it’s a good idea to register a domain name for it. A domain name can be used to create a custom email address for your business, as well as for your website address.  

As long as a particular domain is registered to you, no one else may use it.

But with over 2,000 ICANN-approved domain registrars to choose from, where should you start your search? 

We have compiled a list of the top 10 domain registrars based on their:  

• Reputation  
• Features  
• Pricing*  
• Customer support

Whether you’re looking for peak affordability, dazzling customer support, an easy-to-use interface or reliable security measures, you’re sure to find a domain registrar on this list that meets your needs. 

*Prices were accurate as of 1 December 2023. Please check each registrar’s websites for current pricing. 

10 of the best domain name registrars

Let’s take a look at each of the top domain registrars in 2024 and what they offer.  

NOTE that all except DreamHost and bluehost offer .com.au domain names. Only seven of the 10 top domain registrars show prices in Australian dollars (AUD).

1. GoDaddy

GoDaddy is one of the world’s most recognisable domain name registrars. It’s also known for its easy website builders, WordPress web hosting (as well as virtual private servers), site security products and its Studio content creation tools. 

Founded in 1997 and managing over 84 million registered domain names, it’s the largest domain name registrar worldwide. 

GoDaddy offers a huge range of domains from which to choose, including many in-demand .au and com.au top-level domains and even localized extensions, like .melbourne or .sydney.

GoDaddy pricing:

Domain privacy: Free domain privacy is included with all GoDaddy domain registrations. This shields your name and contact information from public view to help keep you off spammers’ lists.  

Domain transfers: Incoming domain transfers start from $10.99 and include one free year of registration. Outgoing transfers do not have a cost and can be completed by the customer from within their account.  

Additional services: Each GoDaddy domain registrations includes:  

• A free site builder   
• Free domain privacy  
• A free logo maker tool

GoDaddy also offers 24/7 customer help via phone and chat. 

2. Crazy Domains

Crazy Domains was founded in 2000 in Perth, Australia. It now has offices and data centres networked all over the world including Australia, Europe, Asia, India, New Zealand, the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. 

Crazy Domains pricing: 

Domain privacy: Domain name privacy for domains registered with Crazy Domains is an additional $9.00 a year.  

Domain transfers: Crazy Domains offers free incoming domain transfers.  

Additional services: Crazy Domains offers a suite of services including 24/7 sales and support, servers, hosting and email products. 

3. VentraIP Australia 

Founded in 2008, Nexigen Digital Pty Ltd (trading as VentraIP) is 100% Australian owned and operated. It is the largest privately-owned web host and domain name registrar in Australia. 

VentraIP Australia pricing: 

Domain privacy: Domain privacy is included free with all VentraIP Australia domains. 

Domain transfers: Incoming domain transfer fees do not come at a cost; however they note that different domain extensions are managed by different registries.  Depending on how that registry processes transfers, customers may need to renew the domain as part of the transfer.   

Additional services: VentraIP Australia offers 24/7 customer service and technical support. They also provide web hosting, email services, SSL certificates and virtual servers.

4. Namecheap 

Namecheap is a major domain registrar and web services company that offers hosting, web builder and other tools. Founded in 2001, it manages more than 18 million domain names. 

Namecheap pricing: 

Domain privacy: Namecheap offers free domain name privacy for all registered domains.  

Domain transfers: Incoming domain transfers of the TLDs listed above start at $15.96 and include one year of registration. Outgoing transfers do not have an associated cost and can be completed by the customer from within their account.  

Additional services: Namecheap offers support via ticket, hosting and email products, as well as paid social and review management services.  

With domain purchases, they offer trial versions of their Social Media Manager, Business Email and Review Manager. 

5. Domain.com 

Founded in 1999 and based out of Jacksonville, Florida, Domain.com is a domain and hosting provider that currently has almost two million domains registered through them. 

Domain.com offers Australian TLDs, however the prices listed are in US currency. The company doesn’t have a dedicated Aussie landing page. 

Domain.com pricing (in US currency):

Domain privacy: Domain name privacy is $8.99 USD per year, per eligible domain. 

Domain transfers: Incoming domain transfers are $9.99 USD. Outgoing transfers do not have an associated cost and can be completed by the customer from within their account. 

Additional services: In addition to domain registration, Domain.com offers site builders, email, email marketing and hosting services. 

6. DreamHost 

DreamHost is a Los Angeles-based web hosting provider and domain name registrar. It is owned by New Dream Network, LLC, founded in 1996.  

DreamHost pricing (in US currency): 

Domain privacy: All domains purchased through DreamHost include free domain privacy for all eligible domains. 

Domain transfers: Prices start at $9.99 USD for domain transfers. 

Additional services: DreamHost is primarily a web hosting company, although they do offer a drag-and-drop website builder. Another feature is a real-time SEO suggester.  

7. HostPapa 

HostPapa was founded in 2006 in Burlington, Canada and operates in many countries including Canada, United States, United Kingdom and Australia.  

The company is best known for its web hosting services, however it also offers domain names for purchase. 

HostPapa pricing: 

Domain privacy: Domain name privacy is $15.99 per year, per eligible domain. 

Domain transfers: Incoming domain transfers start at $28.99. Outgoing transfers do not have a cost and can be completed by the customer from within their account. 

Additional services: HostPapa offers web hosting, website builder capabilities, custom email addresses and Google Workspace security & privacy protection. 

8. Squarespace Domains  

Squarespace was founded in 2003 and is based in New York City. The company is primarily a website building and hosting company.  

Google Domains was a domain name registrar and management service run by Google between 2014 and 2023. It was acquired by Squarespace in September 2023. 

Squarespace pricing: 

Domain privacy: Squarespace removes personal contact information from the WHOIS record at no extra fee. 

Domain transfers: Incoming transfers are free; however you must pay a one-year domain registration fee. How much you pay for that year of registration will be based on the incoming domain’s TLD (top-level-domain or extension) with prices ranging from $20 to $70 USD (AUD not available). 

You will keep the time remaining on the original registration on top of the extra year registered through Squarespace Domains. 

Additional services: Squarespace provides software as a service for website building and hosting. They offer pre-built website templates with drag-and-drop elements to create and modify webpages. 

9. SeekaHost 

SeekaHost is a London-based web hosting company that offers a variety of services and products relating to web hosting and domain management throughout the UK and internationally.  

SeekaHost pricing (in US currency): 

Domain privacy: SeekaHost will provide privacy protection on your domain name for an additional $5.00 (USD) a year.  

Domain transfers: Anyone can transfer their domain from another registrar to SeekaHost for $9.99 (USD). 

Additional services: SeekaHost offers a range of gaming and website hosting services including WordPress, shared and VPS server hosting.  

10. bluehost 

Headquartered in Orem, Utah, bluehost was founded in 2003 and is primarily a hosting provider that also offers domain registrations. Bluehost offers a range of domain extensions as well as a number of web tools to launch a successful website online. 

bluehost pricing: 

Domain privacy: Domain name privacy with bluehost is $18.05 per year, per eligible domain.  

Domain transfers: Incoming domain transfers are $12.99. Outgoing transfers do not have an associated cost and can be completed by the customer from within their account.  

Additional services: Bluehost is a hosting provider that also provides email services. They also offer 24/7 support. 

What does a domain registrar do?

A domain registrar is a company or organisation that manages the registration of domain names on the internet. All registrars must be approved by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).  

Domain names are unique addresses that are used to identify websites on the internet.

News.com.au is a domain name, as is NSW.gov.au.

To register a domain name for your website, you’ll need to go through a domain registrar.  

All domain registrars:  

• Provide a platform for you to search and register available domain names  
• Ensure that domain names are unique and available for new registration  
• Allocate IP addresses via DNS (domain name system) 

In short, domain registrars are essential for establishing and maintaining an online presence.  

Before you choose a registrar

Before you settle on a domain registrar, there are several things to compare. Here are seven of the most important:  

1. Price: Domain registrars charge different fees for domain registration, renewal and transfer. Compare the prices of any domain registrars you’re considering, making sure to look beyond the first-year pricing.  
2. Features: Different domain registrars offer various features, such as domain privacy, which may affect your decision. You’ll need to think carefully about the TLD (top level domain) that you’d like to purchase. This forms the last part of the domain name (e.g. .com.au or .com). Registrars vary in which TLDs they offer for registration. Get help choosing the right TLD in this article.  
3. Reputation: Consider the reputation of the domain registrar. Look for reviews and feedback from other people to get an idea of the company’s track record.  
4. Customer support: Make sure that the domain registrar offers reliable help when you need it. Choose a company that provides support through various channels, such as phone, email and live chat. Getting help via support tickets tends to take longer than chat or phone. 
5. Security: Ensure that the domain registrar provides adequate security measures to protect your domain name and personal information from cyber threats.  
6. Domain transfer policy: Check the domain transfer policy of any domain registrar you’re seriously considering. Choose a company that allows easy domain transfers away in case you decide to switch to a different registrar in the future.  
7. User interface: Select a domain registrar with an easy-to-use dashboard that lets you manage your domain names easily and efficiently (including on mobile).  

By weighing these factors for each registrar, you can choose one that provides the features, pricing and support that you need.

Finding the best domain registrar for you

Choosing the right domain registrar is an important step in establishing and maintaining an online presence. It’s essential to review the suitability of each company, based on your own requirements.  

Not every registrar will have the services that will suit everyone’s needs.  

While comparing prices of different domain registrars can help you find the most affordable option, there are other factors you’ll want to keep in mind. For example:

• Checking the company’s reputation and customer support can ensure that you’ve selected a reliable and trustworthy registrar. 
• Is their customer dashboard easy to use?   
• Will you be able to contact their help staff at 2 a.m.? 

Another factor to consider would be whether they have other services you need, such as email hosting and website building tools. Many find it easiest to work with one provider for all their business website services.  

Hopefully, our guide has given you some information that will help you find the best domain registrar for you and your business.  

By selecting a domain registrar that fits your requirements, you can ensure that your website has a strong foundation and is positioned for success in the future. 

Related FAQ about domain name registrars 

Who is the largest domain registrar? 

GoDaddy is the largest domain registrar, with over 84 million registered domain names under their management.  

Which domain registrars offer the best privacy options?  

Most domain registrars offer domain name privacy (some for free), as well as two-factor authentication for accounts set up through them.    

Domain privacy, also known as WhoIs privacy, is a service provided by domain registrars to protect the personal information of domain name owners. This feature helps keep owner information private and out of the hands of scammers.  

Some domain registrars go a step further and offer domain protection services, which prevents unauthorised domain transfers away.  

Do all registrars offer the same domain extensions?  

No, not all registrars have the same domain extensions available. Most tend to offer more common domain extensions — for example, .com, .net and .co. 

If you have a particular TLD in mind, you’ll need to be sure that your domain registrar offers it. View all GoDaddy TLDs here. 

Does it really matter which domain registrar I use?  

It does. Registering a domain name for business use often leads to a longer relationship and not all domain registrars are the same.  

Some offer more free services with domain names than others. For example, a few domain name registrars on this list offer free domain privacy, while privacy requires an extra fee at other domain registrars. Keep this in mind as you weigh your options.  

Can I use more than one domain registrar?  

Using more than one domain registrar for your domains is not necessary, but it’s up to you. 

In general, most website owners use a single domain registrar to manage all their domain names. This simplifies the management process and reduces the risk of confusion or errors.  

Regardless of whether you use one or multiple domain registrars, it’s important to keep your domain names organised and ensure that you have access to all your domain accounts.  

This includes keeping track of domain registration and expiration dates, maintaining accurate contact information, and regularly monitoring your domains for any unusual activity. 

*Prices were accurate as of 1 December 2023 and are shown in Australian Dollar (AUD), unless stated otherwise. All prices listed are subject to change. 

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