In this article, I’m going to reveal the top 5 domain registrars providers for your WordPress site. If you’re like me, you love shopping for a deal. There’s nothing worse than overpaying for a service that’s offered for a better price somewhere else. But domain shopping isn’t all about price—there’s other things to consider, such as site speed, security, and scalability, which I’ll get into in a moment. If you’re in a hurry to purchase a domain for your WordPress site and you just came here for a quick solution, then I’ll strongly recommend going for the Namecheap domain registrar. It has great features out of the box while being affordable.
Things to consider before buying domain
So does it really matter which domain registrar you choose? Honestly, when you buy a domain name for your website, the process is pretty similar no matter where you shop—you visit their website, search for a domain name, and click through to buy it. But in reality, they can actually be quite unique, and I’m going to show you why it makes a big difference depending on which one you choose to go with. Let’s take a quick look at the main factors you need to consider before choosing a domain registrar for your business.
Pricing and Renewal Rates
I know for a lot of people this is going to be a major factor when making a decision, but always read the fine print because price isn’t everything. Be aware of the many different pricing structures. Some domain registrars offer low prices upfront while charging you a higher renewal price later on. Others might offer packages that include hosting, email, and other services, so it’s crucial to look at the overall value and not just the initial price. Additionally, be mindful that certain companies may require you to register your domain for a longer period than the standard 12 months, which can increase costs significantly.
Customer Support and User Reviews
This is what I would call doing your due diligence. Good support is essential for resolving issues promptly and getting your site back online. Check their support section and user reviews for insight into their performance. You can even test their responsiveness by contacting their customer support in advance.
Ease of Use
The interface and usability of different domain registrar control panels can vary widely. Some are very user-friendly, while others can be confusing. If you’re not particularly tech-savvy, you’ll want something with an easy-to-navigate site. Just to clarify, all of the top 5 domain registrar options that I’m showing you today pass this ease of use test.
ICANN Accreditation
Always choose an ICANN accredited registrar to make sure you’re working with a reputable company.
Additional Services and Features
Don’t ignore the extra features that may not be relevant to you right now but can be useful later on when your site grows.
Domain Transfer Policies
In case you’re unhappy with the new domain registrar, it’s good to have the option to transfer your site’s domain to another one of your choice. This also applies if you’re looking to migrate your existing domain to your new domain registrar.
Expiration Policy
What happens if you forget to renew your domain name? Some domain registrars offer a grace period. In contrast, others might charge you with a Redemption fee or even sell your domain if you don’t renew it in time. My tip is to read reviews on websites like Trustpilot to give you an idea of how they handle these situations.
5 best domain registrars for WordPress sites
Alright, whether you’ve stayed with me this whole time or just skipped ahead to this part, it’s time to reveal our picks for the 5 best domain registrars for WordPress sites.
1. Namecheap
Namecheap is a professional domain registrar and web hosting solution designed to let businesses of all sizes easily manage WordPress web hosting and set up new domains. The great thing about Namecheap is that it comes with a range of features that help your business select the best domain name possible. For starters, it comes with a free domain name checker that lets users search for available domain names. This makes it easy to view all domain name options in one place and pick the best one. Namecheap also secures you from identity theft. Once you register, there’s no obligation to provide your personal information for your domain name to work. They also hide your personal information from databases, so it’s out of reach for hackers and spammers.
In addition to this, you can also use the Domain Vault feature from Namecheap to further extend your security. In terms of cons, it can sometimes be difficult for businesses in remote areas of the world to purchase or pay for their subscription using a credit card, and it can be a bit difficult to understand, especially if it’s your first time setting up a domain name. At Barn2, we use Namecheap because we find it the most affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use option, making it our top recommendation on this list.
2. GoDaddy
GoDaddy is an ICANN accredited domain registrar designed to let anyone, even non-tech-savvy users, create and set up their own domain for a WordPress site. With over 21 million users trusting GoDaddy as their domain registrar, it’s one of the best solutions in the game. It comes pre-built with SSL security. This way, businesses that want to collect sensitive customer information from site visitors, such as credit card information, won’t have to worry about their data getting intercepted. This not only helps your site visitors feel safer when browsing your brand site but also encourages them to buy from your eCommerce store.
While you can use GoDaddy to search for your desired domain name for free, its hosting features are also top-notch and one of the best in the industry. Whether you already have a WordPress website or are looking to set up a new one, you can use GoDaddy’s hosting for maximum site uptime and robust security features. The main downside is the price. Considering other offers like Namecheap provide the same services for less.
3. Google Domains
Google Domains is a well-known domain registrar that’s not only simple to use but offers top-notch server performance with more than 300 domain endings. Google Domains is the number one choice for businesses that want to create a memorable domain name. Thanks to Google’s dedicated DNS servers, you don’t have to worry about the performance of your WordPress site, even if you run into issues. Google Domains offers 24/7 support that makes it easy to solve problems quickly and get your site back online.
Google Domains also integrates with other Google services such as Google Ads, allowing you to drive traffic to your site as soon as you launch. However, keep in mind that compared to other domain registrars at a similar price, Google Domains lacks some key features such as SSL certificates.
4. Bluehost
Bluehost is a WordPress.org recommended hosting provider that comes pre-built with lots of domain registrar features. If you buy any hosting plan for Bluehost, the domain names come free as part of the bundle, or you can buy domain names individually from Bluehost and get access to their management tools, which are easy to navigate even for non-tech-savvy users.
On top of this, you won’t need to worry about expiry dates, as Bluehost offers domain auto-renewal. They essentially lock in your selection, preventing unauthorized users from accessing or transferring your domains.
5. Hover
Unlike other options on this list, our final pick, Hover, is a dedicated domain registrar that comes with features designed to help you find the perfect domain. One of the highlighted features of Hover is that they make the domain finding process super easy for users. Once you set your requirements, Hover does all the work for you and finds new custom domains that are on sale or might be a perfect fit for your brand.
Once it has a few good selections, you’ll receive an email that allows you to purchase a domain for your website. On top of having robust domain and email forwarding tools, Hover also comes with plenty of privacy and security features. However, on the downside, it’s limited in terms of other features such as SSL certificates and the ability to set up hosting.
As you can see, choosing the right domain name for your site boils down to your individual needs and preferences. I hope today’s list helped you find exactly what you’re looking for. If you still find yourself in analysis paralysis, then I’ll remind you that our number one pick, Namecheap, ticks all the boxes at an attractive price point.
Thanks for reading. Hope to see you soon.