Where to Get Cheap Domain Names? Best Sites to Search and Buy a Domain

The complexity involved in choosing and buying a domain name is twofold.

First, you must think of a suitable name. Most people start websites with a specific purpose or theme. If you are hoping for a domain name that is roughly associated with that purpose or theme, the number of possibilities drops even further.

After you’ve decided on a name it also must be still available. There are already a ton of names that have been registered – as of Q1 2022, there have been a total of 350.5 million domain names that have already been registered. To put this into context, the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary has complete entries for 171,476 words.

Best Sites to Search & Buy a Domain

So if you want a domain, you have to hope it hasn’t yet been bought or that the owner is willing to sell it to you. The following sites are some of the best sites you can perform domain searches and purchase them at affordable prices.

1. NameCheap – .com starts at $6.98 per year
2. Hostinger Domain – .com costs $0.99 during first year
3. GoDaddy – .net starts at $15.17 per year
4. Hover – .com starts at $13.99 per year
5. Gandi – .com starts at $16.59 per year

1. NameCheap

Founded two decades ago, NameCheap is one of the bigger names in the industry and is an ICANN-accredited domain name registrar. It has a potent combination of affordable domain name pricing, great customer support, and a huge selection of top-level-domains (.com, .net, .uk, etc.).

One of the best parts of buying form NameCheap is that they offer WhoIs Privacy Protection for free and often have domain names on sale, with prices dropping to as low as $0.50 on occasion. Do remember though, that domain name discounts are often only on the first year of registration, so pay attention to renewal rates!

NameCheap also sells value-added services for domain names such as email-only hosting at $10.88 per year, guaranteed uptime with their PremiumDNS system at $4.88 per year, and the option for SSL certificates which starts at $11 per year.

NameCheap Domain Prices

Note: Listed pricing is on annual basis. Domain Privacy Protection is free for life when you register your domain with NameCheap.

2. Hostinger

Hostinger is not well-known as a domain registrar. However, they have very decently priced packages, some of which include a free domain name.

Hostinger Premium and Business shared web hosting plans (which cost only $2.79 and $3.99 respectively per month) both come with a free domain name registration. If you are buying domain only – .online, .fun, .tech, and .store are sold at $0.99/year.

Hostinger Domain Prices

Note: Listed pricing is on annual basis. Free Domain Privacy Protection is included.

3. GoDaddy

GoDaddy is probably one of the singular most recognizable domain name registrars in the world. It is what I consider a full-service web company since they are a one-stop-shop for anything you need to start up your own website, from domain name to hosting.

Prices on GoDaddy are more or less standard but they have a service that lets you buy some special domain names via auction. You can find some great domain names here that are already registered but whose owners are willing to let go of – for a price. Other features that they provide are WHOIS privacy, SSL certificates and of course, web hosting.

GoDaddy Domain Prices

Note: Listed pricing is on annual basis. Note that GoDaddy charges an additional $9.99 per year for Full Domain Protection.

4. Hover

Hover focuses purely on being a domain registrar site and you can get a domain here for as low as $5 per year. Their pricing system is extremely transparent and the cost of renewals and other facilities like transfers are indicated on the same page. There are discounts available if you’re purchasing in bulk (more than 10 domain names) at once. You can get your standard TLDs here such as .com or even some of the nTLDs like .io.

As mentioned, Hover doesn’t offer web hosting so you will need to know how to point your DNS to the right servers if you buy from them. One advantage is that they do include free WHOIS privacy protection with all their domain names.

Being a specialist in domain names also has its advantages as they have great add-on services like email forwarding to your domain name or even allowing the creation of a domain inbox for $20 per year.

Hover Domain Prices

Note: Listed pricing is on annual basis; Domain Privacy Protection is included for certain Top Level Domains (TLDs).

5. Gandi

Not to be mistaken with the similarly-named Indian activist, Gandi is one of the longest-existing domain name registrars in the industry. Their forte has been a fuss-free domain name registration experience and tends not to distract customers too much by overwhelming them with options and offers.

Gandi also has one of the biggest selections of domain name extensions available with more than 800 to choose from. Anything from .abogado to .zine is up for grabs here. They also have a list of top-level-domains options that gets updated regularly, along with articles that discuss new TLDs that will be upcoming.

Prices can be affordable depending on domain name extension with some going for as little as $2.99 per year. With the domain names you get free WHOIS privacy protection and email obfuscation (when available) for free and two email boxes with up to 10,000 aliases included.

Gandi Domain Prices

Domain Registry, Domain Registrar and Domain Registrant Explained

What is a Domain Registrant?

A Domain Registrant is the person or company looking to register a domain name. As a registrant, once you have decided what domain name you would like to have, you will register it with the relevant Domain Registry. This application process is usually quick (completed almost instantly) and done via a third party known “Domain Registrar”.

When we said “buy a domain” – what we actually meant is registering a domain name on the Domain Registrar's platform.

What is a Domain Registrar?

A Domain Registrar is the middle man in the domain registration process. A domain registrar, for example NameCheap.com, usually offers a variety of related services – including , domain renewal, domain ownership transfer, and domain privacy protection. It is important to consider the criteria listed when choosing a registrar, such as price, duration of registration, and customer support. We will discuss more about this shortly.

What is a Domain Registry?

Above the Domain Registrar is the Domain Registry. A domain registry is responsible for the general administration of top level domains, and they make decisions regarding registrations, settings, zone files, and provide registrants with information. They also resolve disputes between different parties and impose third-level domains.

Verisign, for example, is the registry for .com, .name, .gov, .edu, and .net domains. The company provides the routing support for approximately 170 million domains and process more than 220 billion DNS queries a day (source).

How to Choose the Right Domain Name Registrar?

Today, you can buy a domain name practically anywhere on the Internet. From dedicated domain name registrars to web hosting companies, they’re available all over the place.

Yet not all places are the same and there are some points you can take note of before registering your domain name from somewhere.

Good domain name registrars (sites authorized to sell domain names) often share similar qualities that give them the edge over the competition. Ideally, you want to find a registrar which is ICANN accredited, has transparent pricing and renewal fees, offers good customer support and most importantly, has a system that lets you manage your domain name easily.

ICANN Accreditation

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, is the key non-profit body which monitors and regulates the entire domain name industry. Always ensure that wherever you are planning to buy a domain name from is ICANN accredited.

These registrars must follow ICANN regulations and there are guidelines issued which ensure that those who sign up via accredited registrars are safeguarded. Not all companies which sell domain names are ICANN accredited.

Pricing and Renewal

I consider domain names as services rather than goods, because you must pay renewal fees in order to keep the domain name. Because of this, it is important to ensure that the registrar you are buying the domain name from has a transparent pricing and renewal structure.

Like regular consumer goods, domain names often go on sale and some registrars may offer dirt-cheap deals on domain names. Note that these sales are often only applicable to new domain name registrations and only for the length of time you buy them for. Renewals will be at regular rates.

Always keep an eye on both the purchase price as well as renewal price of any domain name you’re buying. Different registrars also have different pricing, so do shop around before you make your decision to buy.

Customer Support

Good customer support is a must for any company, and this applies to domain name registrars as well. Before ordering any products from the registrar, try to get in touch with their support staff to see how responsive and helpful they are. Companies which respond quickly are more likely to have a better support system in place to deal with any issues which might arise.

Domain Name Management

Aside from letting you buy and renew domain names registrars have to provide you with a system that allows you to manage your domain name. This includes setting the DNS for the domain name or other functions such as transferring to another registrar.

Some registrars have terrible systems and it can be difficult to use to handle your account. I recommend you sign up for an account with a registrar you are interested in to explore their system a little before you make a purchase. I once signed up with a registrar that had such a terrible system in place it was practically unusable.

More About Domain Name

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is basically the address to your website. It is how people who are online navigate to where your site is being hosted. Think of it as a physical street address which lets people find their way to a location.

Some people mistake domain names for web hosting, but it is important to note that they are not. The domain name and web hosting are two distinct elements that combine to help a site function. Examples of domain names are –

Apple.com   USA.gov  Amazon.com  BBC.co.uk

Every domain name in the world must be unique.

You will not be allowed to register a domain name that is already owned by someone else. There are some caveats to this, and to understand how two domain names which look similar can exist, you need to understand Domain Name Extensions.

What Are Domain Name Extensions?

When I listed the few examples of domain names above, you may have noticed that each of the names was followed by a “.” – something. That is known as the domain name extension. Domain names must always be accompanied by an extension in order to work.

Top Level Domains (TLDs)

When the web was just beginning, there were only a few domain name extensions introduced. These were called Top Level Domains (TLDs) and examples of them include:

.com   .net  .org

country-code TLDs (ccTLD)

Because of the speed at which the web grew, there was a need for more domain extensions and from there emerged country-code TLDs (ccTLD). These were used to identify websites originating form specific countries, such as

.uk  .cn  .sg

for the United Kingdom, China, and Singapore.

Generic TLDs

Soon, other TLDs were also added for various purposes, such as

.dev   .travel   .biz   .store   .guru   .inc

These were dubbed new generic TLDs (gTLDs or nTLDs).

Now, remember where I said that two similar domain names might exist? This is because of the nature of the domain name extension. Again, all domain names must be unique and because of that, if you were to buy yourname.com, it is entirely possible that someone else might buy yourname.biz.

How to Pick the Perfect Domain Name?

Now that you’re aware of what makes up a domain name and some possible pitfalls of the system, how will you choose a good domain name?

Although technically you can register any domain name as long as you qualify for it, there are general guidelines to choosing better domain names.

1. Keep Your Domain Short and Simple

Short domain names are in very high demand and unless you’re opting for a nTLD, it isn’t likely you will find a suitable one very easily. Many short domain names have already been registered, for example one.com or g.cn.

Shorter domain names are easier for visitors to type as well as remember. This is especially helpful if you’re not a global brand such as Nike or Coca Cola.

Examples:

voice.com   360.com    insurance.com    rise.com    pingdom.com    goal.com

2. Avoid Slang

Because so many domain names have already been bought, the process of finding one that you want can be a frustrating and tedious process. However, do try and avoid using slang such as replacing ‘you’ with ‘u’ or ‘right’ with ‘rite’ as this makes it more likely your visitors will make typos.

3. Avoid Special Characters

This goes back to the point above about avoiding slang. Using digits (1, 2, 3, etc) or symbols like hyphens ( – )between words can help you find a domain name more easily, but they are difficult to type, and visitors are more prone to make mistakes. These factors easily cause confusion and can lead to frustration among potential visitors.

4. Use Strategic Words in Your Domain

Again, this might be very difficult to do but using a keyword that is associated with the nature of your business can be helpful. It acts associatively for people who hear it and can give you a leg up in terms of SEO as well.

For example, a domain name like BostonLocksmith might be helpful to a locksmith serving the Boston Area.

5. Be Cautious of Area Targeting

Although I gave the Boston example above, it would be wise to take care how it is used. Online businesses, for example, eCommerce shops, are often borderless and using an area-targeting keyword in your domain name wouldn’t be as effective. In fact, it can often be misleading and might result in the loss of potential business.

6. Choose the Right Domain Extension

Domain name extensions vary greatly and come at different prices, even if bought new. In fact, there are some domain name extensions such as .tk which are entirely free. Use them with caution as free domain name extensions have often been abused and many have gotten a very bad reputation.

Personally, I recommend using reputable TLDs or at the very least a ccTLD, especially if you’re in business.

7. Try a Domain Name Generator

If you really can’t decide on a good domain name and you’ve run out of ideas or friends to ask, there is another option. Try using one of the many free domain name generators floating around the Internet (see below). Even if you can’t find the ideal domain name, some of the suggestions may give you a new perspective and some inspiration.

This article features some free domain name generator to make use of.

How to Register and “Buy” a Domain Name?

The actual registration process of a domain name is something that should easily be completed in a few simple steps. The basic format is: search, choose, then buy. Although some of the terms used by sites that sell domain names may vary, the process should be similar.

1. Search for the Name You Want

Most registrars will have a section specially for domain names. There you should find a search box where you can type in the domain name you want. I recommend you type in the complete domain name, inclusive of TLD.

To perform a domain search, simply go to Hostinger Domain Checker.

2. Choose from the List Available

Once you’ve typed in the domain name you want, the system will do a search and see if it is available. Irrespective of whether it’s available or not, you will often be shown a list of the same domain name with various other extension you might want instead.

If none of these options appeal to you, then go back to step 1 and repeat the process until you find one that you’re happy with and is available. Some sites allow you to search for more than one domain name at a time.

3. Finalize Your Purchase

Once you have chosen the domain name you want to buy, the site will often ask if there are add-ons which you would like as well. Take note of what they offer as some of them offer greater privacy for you.

You also need to select the term of the purchase, meaning how long you want this registration to be for. The minimum length of time you can register for a domain name is one year. Once that’s done, all you need to do is pay for your purchase and details on managing your domain will be sent to you via email.

How Much to Pay for a Domain?

Domain names are just like any other product you can buy in stores. The price will vary depending on when you buy it and where you buy it from. For example, sites may have domain name sales from time to time.

Another factor that contributes to the price of a domain name is the extension. Different domain name extensions have different purchase and renewal prices. The .live TLD as an example can cost as little as $3.48 to register and $25.98 to renew annually.

Sometimes sites will also lower domain name prices based on how long you do your initial registration for. A one-year registration is standard, but they might drop the price if you register for two years or more at the same time.

Because of this, there isn’t really a ‘standard’ on how much a domain name will cost you. Thankfully, much like airline tickets, there are places like TLD-List, where you can gather this information quickly to buy the domain name you want at the lowest rates.

As a general guideline, most TLDs will cost around $10 to $15 per year. If you buy an aged domain name, that will cost you much more depending on age and keywords. Free domain name are of course, free, but there is often much fine print you need to be aware of.

Saving Tips on New Domain

1. Some hosting companies give out free domain name to their first-time customer. You can take advantage of these deals to save money. Web hosts giving out free domain include GreenGeeks, InMotion Hosting and Hostinger.
2. NameCheap runs special promotions every month – the discount goes as high as 98%. Remember to check out their website before buying a domain.

How to Buy a Domain When It's Taken?

What if you wanted to purchase a domain that’s already active instead? You can choose to purchase active domains and transfer ownership through services such as a domain name escrow.

What is a Domain Name Escrow?

A Domain Name Escrow basically an independent third-party agent that assists in the selling-buying process of domain names on the internet. These sites provide a safe way for buyers to purchase domain names from sellers who want to let go of their domain name.

There are a number of domain name escrow services available, but here are a few that you can check out: Escrow.com, Sedo, and BuyDomains.

Buying a Registered Domain Using Escrow

Let’s say you found a domain name and both you and the seller have decided on the amount. The conundrum becomes: How do you safely pay the money and make sure the owner transfers the domain ownership to you?

That’s where escrow comes in. You can use escrow services to make sure that the transaction goes about smoothly. How do you actually do that? Here’s how:

1. Set up an escrow transaction between you and the seller
   Register an account at an escrow service site, and determine the terms of the transaction between you and the seller, which includes the domain name(s) and sale price.
2. Make your payment to the escrow company
   Once you decided on the amount, you make your payment (via wire, credit card or any other method) to the escrow company.
3. Domain name is then transferred from the seller to you
   When the escrow company receives and verifies the payment, they will then instruct the seller to transfer the domain name to you.
4. Confirm that you’ve received the domain name ownership
   You’ll need to confirm with the escrow company that the ownership of the domain name has been transferred to you. Use WHOIS or WHSR Tool to check if the owner profile has been updated or not.
5. The seller receives the money from the escrow service site
   The escrow company will verify that the domain name has been transferred and they will then give the money to the seller, minus their fee. (You can decide beforehand which party pays the fee or have it split down the middle.)

Determining the Value of a Pre-owned Domain

When you’re looking for a pre-owned domain name, which can usually be found on aftermarket services, private sellers, and auction houses – you’ll notice that their value can range anywhere from a few dollars to as high as a six or seven-figure range.

These might not be the best place to get a domain name if you’re just starting out.

How an existing domain gets its price can be determined by a number of factors such as length, language, trends, and demographics. There’s no one single method that can give you a perfect asking price. There are ways, however,  to give you a ballpark estimate of a domain name and it requires a little bit of researching on your part.

1. Using Recent Domain Sales

A good rule of thumb to understand how domains are valued is by looking at recent sales. A look at the recent sales can give you an idea of what type of domains are being purchased and for how much.

DNJournal posts a domain sales report which they regularly update and in it, they list out domain names that are recently sold from multiple premium domain services. When looking through, pay attention to the domain’s keywords, length, and other related factors to get an idea of how a domain name is valued.

2. Using Online Domain Valuation Tools

The other way to determine a domain’s value is through a domain appraisal service or an online valuation tool. These sites will allow you to enter a specific domain name and will give you a suggested asking price for it.

A few of the sites that you can check out are Estibot, WebsiteOutlook, and URL Appraisal.

These sites determine the value of a domain using SEO-related factors like search ranking, keywords, Alexa rank, monthly searches, number of searches, and cost per click.

One thing to note is that different sites can give you different estimations. A good plan would be to use several different sources and compare them to give you a better estimation of a domain name value.

Again, there are no definitive prices for buying a domain name and you can expect them to fluctuate quite often. If you want a general idea of domain name prices, you can go to sites such as Afternic or Buy Domains to get a feel for the cost.

Final Thought: A Good Domain Worth More Than You Think

Although this guide is meant to give you a better idea of where and how to get your domain name, you will notice that I’ve included sections on the domain name selection process as well as other tidbits of information.

No matter if you’re an individual looking to establish a small blog or a small business seeking to expand digitally, the domain name is much more than just a cheap name tag. Essentially, it represents you in the digital world and has all the implications that follow.

It needs to be built and nurtured, just as you would your own reputation in the real world. Choose, buy and protect your domain name carefully.

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