Who are the best domain providers of 2025? A comparison

Domain providers sell top-level domains in partnership with registries that have different registration rules. In addition to classic options like .com, .net, or .org, there are also newer choices such as .nyc, .club, or .bio.

An overview of the best domain providers

What is a domain provider?

A domain provider acts as an intermediary between ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) and users who want to register a domain. ICANN delegates the management rights of top-level domains to registries, which then work with registrars (domain providers). These registrars handle domain registration and billing. Often, domain providers also offer additional services such as email mailboxes or hosting solutions alongside domain registration.

How do domain providers differ from each other?

Worldwide, there are thousands of ICANN-accredited domain registrars listed in an official Registrar Directory. Anyone wishing to verify the trustworthiness of a provider can find the necessary information there. For greater security, it is recommended to choose established internet service providers (ISPs) that also offer domain registration services. Their offerings mainly differ in four key areas.

Domain selection

A primary consideration when choosing a suitable provider is the range of top-level domains (TLDs) available for registration. The key factor here is how many and which registries the domain provider has contracts with. While some providers strive to cover a wide spectrum of domain extensions, others specialize in selling particularly exclusive domain endings. Traditional TLDs like .com usually remain part of the standard portfolio, as well as the country-specific extensions for the target market(s)—for example, a domain provider operating in the U.S. should support the registration of .us domains regardless of their chosen business model.

Price

For registries, selling domain extensions is a lucrative business. When ICANN introduced the new top-level domains, certain promising extensions were highly contested. This intense competition is reflected in the price of TLDs, which can range from just a few cents to several dollars per month. Due to negotiated contracts with the registries, providers have some flexibility to attract customers with discount promotions and outbid competitors as the most affordable domain provider. Given the vast selection of domain extensions and providers, it is highly recommended to perform a price comparison of different services before registering a domain.

Service

A major advantage that professional domain providers have over smaller registrars is their ability to offer comprehensive and reliable service and support. To simplify the search for a suitable and available domain, most providers offer a domain availability check. Another possible service is the reservation of domains with extensions that have been announced but are not yet active. For questions regarding domain offerings, providers typically offer telephone hotlines and/or email support.

Additional services

Many domain providers offer their customers not only domain registration but also a suitable hosting environment. These bundled packages secure the desired name for the web project while simultaneously providing storage space as well as web server and database power to run the website. Other additional services include website builders, SEO and marketing tools, email mailboxes, and support with domain transfer or domain migration.

The best domain providers compared

The criteria outlined in the previous section highlight what matters most in a domain provider: the ideal intermediary for domain registration is affordable and offers a wide range of both standard and exclusive top-level domains. Additionally, it stands out by providing good service that supports you from registering your internet address through to contract termination. The more additional services it offers—such as developer tools, web hosting, or personalized email solutions—the better. Equally important are trustworthiness and reliability. Below, we present five reputable domain providers in a direct comparison.

Namecheap

Founded in 2000 and based in Los Angeles, Namecheap is known as one of the most affordable and user-friendly domain providers in the US. The company has built its reputation by offering straightforward domain registration services focused on budget-conscious customers who want a no-fuss experience. Namecheap provides a variety of domain-related features, including up to 100 additional subdomains and email forwarding for multiple alias accounts with every regular domain. The company operates a reliable network of DNS servers located in both the US and Europe, enabling fast and secure URL and email forwarding, while minimizing downtime through automatic IP address updates.

Security is a top priority at Namecheap. Every domain registration includes free WhoisGuard privacy protection, which keeps your personal information private in the Whois database. Namecheap also offers a range of SSL certificates, including basic Comodo Positive SSL and Wildcard SSL options, helping website owners secure their domains with flexible pricing.

Standard .com domain pricing generally ranges from $8 to $15 per year, with WhoisGuard included at no extra cost. SSL certificates and other add-ons are priced separately, with Wildcard SSL certificates typically costing between $70 and $100 annually. Customer support at Namecheap is available 24/7 via live chat, supported by a comprehensive knowledge base and ticketing system. While dedicated phone support is limited, users benefit from prompt and helpful assistance through available channels.

IONOS

When IONOS was founded in 1988 in Montabaur, the company initially operated as a service provider for marketing and advertising in electronic media. However, the company only became well-known in 1996 as a DSL and fixed-line provider — two years later, it entered the hosting business by acquiring Schlund+Partner GmbH. Today, IONOS’s offerings also include mobile contracts, server and email solutions, marketing tools, website builders, accounting and office plans, as well as domain registration. For domains, over 600 different classic and new extensions are available, categorized into groups like “Trade,” “Travel,” or “Shopping & E-Commerce.” The availability of a given web address can also be checked via a domain checker.

Choosing IONOS as your domain provider comes with numerous additional features: For every web address, you get an email inbox with two gigabytes of storage, free subdomains, and an SSL certificate. IONOS also offers private WHOIS data registration, where the internet service provider submits its own contact information to the registry while keeping the customer’s data hidden. Domain contracts can be chosen for either 12 or 24 months, with the first year usually costing less due to promotional discounts — for example, .de domains are free in the first year. After that, the domain automatically renews for another year. If you have questions or run into problems, IONOS support is available around the clock.

united-domains

Founded in August 2000 in Starnberg, Germany, united-domains is steadily gaining recognition and expanding its presence in the U.S. market. The internet service provider is accredited by numerous registries (including DENIC, Donuts, Verisign, EURid, and dotASIA) and therefore offers a vast selection of over 700 country-specific and generic top-level domains. On its website, united-domains lists the various extensions both alphabetically and sorted into different categories such as “Community,” “Sports/Hobbies,” or “Shops/Trade.”

The annual cost for each TLD (with a minimum contract term of 12 months) is displayed alongside the listings. Customers can check the availability of any domain at any time using the company’s own search tool. Newly introduced domain extensions that have not yet been released can be pre-ordered, sometimes binding and sometimes free of charge.

For every domain registered through united-domains, the company automatically handles the necessary nameserver and DNS entries. Additionally, the provider takes care of forwarding to an existing website and offers free customer support (excluding weekends). Also included at no additional cost is email forwarding. An email mailbox can be added for a fee. Since 2003, united-domains has also operated a platform for buying and selling domains. Beyond domain names, the provider offers webspace and email plans for businesses. Customers can optionally add these services to a domain registration or rent them for an existing address. Where possible, united-domains also provides anonymous domain registration (Whois Domain Privacy).

GoDaddy

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, GoDaddy is the largest domain registrar in the United States, holding more than 30% of the market share. As a trusted name in domain registration, GoDaddy offers a user-friendly platform that makes selecting and purchasing a domain easy—even for those without technical expertise. Their domain search function helps users find competitive options quickly. Like many competitors, GoDaddy allows up to 100 subdomains per domain and supports up to 400 professional email aliases. It also boasts the widest selection of domain extensions available worldwide.

In terms of security, GoDaddy provides a Business Security plan that prevents accidental or malicious domain transfers, protects personal information, and includes an online business card feature. Their standard Privacy Protection option masks and replaces registrant details to keep personal data private. Both plans are available for an additional fee.

Pricing varies depending on features and add-ons. For example, a two-year domain registration can start around $18.68 per year, with private registration costing about $9.99 annually, an ICANN fee of $0.36, and Wildcard SSL certificates priced significantly higher—up to several hundred dollars per year. This means the total cost can add up substantially when including extra security and privacy services.

GoDaddy’s award-winning customer service is available 24/7 and includes live chat, a comprehensive knowledge base, community forums, and detailed how-to guides, ensuring customers can get assistance whenever needed.

BlueHost

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bluehost is a well-established web hosting and domain registration company in the United States. Known primarily for its comprehensive hosting solutions, Bluehost also offers a straightforward domain registration service with an easy-to-use control panel that simplifies managing domains and website settings, even for users without technical expertise.

Bluehost allows users to manage DNS records across multiple domains with ease and includes features such as auto-renewal to prevent accidental domain expiration and Domain Lock to protect domains from unauthorized transfers.

Pricing for standard domain registrations starts at $11.99 per year for a .com domain, with prices varying based on the domain extension. Domain Privacy Protection is available for an additional $0.99 per month, while CodeGuard backup services cost $2.99 per month. Each domain includes a free SSL certificate, with an option to upgrade to a Comodo Wildcard SSL certificate for $299 per year. A $30 redemption fee applies if domains are not renewed on time. However, Bluehost frequently offers significant discounts throughout the year.

Unlike some competitors, Bluehost does not provide email hosting or email aliases as part of its domain services. Its customer support includes 24/7 phone and live chat assistance to help users with any issues.