To register a domain name, check that the name is available, choose a domain registrar such as Namecheap, GoDaddy or Squarespace, add the name to your cart and pay for one or more years. A standard .com costs about $10 to $25 per year in October 2026. Turn on free WHOIS privacy and auto-renew, then point the domain at your website with DNS. The whole process takes about ten minutes.
This guide covers each step, how to pick an extension and a registrar, what it costs, and the mistakes to avoid.
Updated October 2026.
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How do you register a domain name?
You register a domain name through a domain registrar, a company accredited to sell names under extensions such as .com, .net and .org. The process takes about ten minutes:
- Choose an extension (TLD) such as .com, .co, .org or a country code like .co.uk.
- Search for an available name with a domain checker and shortlist a few options.
- Consider a premium or aftermarket domain if the exact name you want is already registered.
- Pick a registrar, comparing first-year price, renewal price and included extras.
- Register and pay for one or more years, with accurate contact details, privacy protection and auto-renew turned on.
- Point the domain at your website by updating its DNS settings or nameservers.
Each step is explained below.
Step 1: Which domain extension (TLD) should you choose?
The top-level domain (TLD) is the part after the dot. IANA’s root zone list contained 1,437 TLDs in October 2026, but for most businesses the choice comes down to a few. Our guide to what TLDs are covers the full list of types.
- .com is the default people type and trust most. Verisign’s Domain Name Industry Brief counted 411.6 million registered domain names across all extensions in the third quarter of 2026, and .com remains the largest single extension. If a good .com is available, take it.
- .net and .org are established alternatives. .org is common for nonprofits, communities and information sites.
- Country codes (ccTLDs) such as .ca, .co.uk, .de or .com.au signal a local business and are often easier to get. Some require a local presence.
- Newer generic TLDs such as .shop, .studio, .app or .agency can describe what you do, but some carry higher renewal prices. Check the renewal price before you buy.
If you can afford it, register your main name in more than one extension (for example the .com and your country code) and redirect the extras to your main site. That stops others from registering a confusingly similar address.
Step 2: How do you check if a domain name is available?
Search the name you want in a domain availability tool. Namechk checks domain extensions and social media usernames at the same time, so you can secure a matching brand name everywhere. Our guide on how to run a domain name check explains how to read the results.
Your first choice will often be taken. To find alternatives:
- Rearrange the words, or add a short, relevant word such as your city, “hq”, “get” or “shop”.
- Use a thesaurus for alternatives to the main keyword.
- Try the domain name generator or the business name generator for brandable ideas.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers unless they are part of your brand, since they are easy to mistype when spoken aloud.
Keep a shortlist of three to five available names, say each one out loud, and check that none of them contains another company’s trademark.
Step 3: Should you buy a premium domain name?
A premium domain is either a name the registry prices above the standard rate (often short or dictionary words) or a name that someone already owns and is reselling on the aftermarket. Prices range from under $100 to six figures or more.
A premium name can be worth it if it is short, memorable and central to your brand. Before you pay, check two things:
- Renewal price. Aftermarket names usually renew at the standard rate once transferred, but registry premium names can renew at a premium price every year.
- Escrow and transfer. Buy through a reputable marketplace or registrar that holds payment in escrow until the domain is in your account.
Step 4: How do you choose a domain registrar?
Registrars sell the same .com names, but their prices, renewal rates and extras differ a lot. Compare these points:
- Renewal price, not just the first-year price. A $1 first year can renew at $20 or more.
- Free WHOIS privacy. Most leading registrars now include it at no charge.
- Security: two-factor authentication and a registrar lock to prevent unauthorized transfers.
- DNS tools and email forwarding for connecting the domain to your website and inbox.
- Support by chat or phone if you are new to domains.
Here is how popular registrars compare for a .com, based on their published pricing in October 2026:
| Registrar | .com first year | .com renewal | Free privacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Namecheap | $15.98 (from Nov 1, 2026) | $19.98 | Yes |
| Porkbun | $11.08 | Same price each year | Yes |
| Cloudflare Registrar | At cost (about $11.17 after Nov 1) | At cost | Yes |
| Squarespace Domains | $20 | $20 | Yes |
| GoDaddy | $0.01 with a 3-year purchase | $22.99 | Check at checkout |
| Hostinger | $0.01 | $19.99 | Yes |
| Network Solutions | $11.99 | $22.99 | No (paid add-on) |
For full write-ups and our ranking, see our guide to the best domain name registrars. If you are also buying hosting or a website builder plan, check our guide to getting a free domain name, since many plans include the first year at no cost.
Step 5: How do you register the domain and pay for it?
Add the name to your cart, create an account, and complete checkout. Pay attention to these settings during registration:
Registration period
You can register most domains for one to ten years. Multi-year registration protects the name and locks in the current price, but some registrars only discount the first year, so compare the total cost.
Accurate contact details
ICANN rules require registrants to provide accurate contact information. Use an email address you will keep long term, because renewal notices and transfer approvals are sent there. If the email bounces or is out of date, you can miss renewal warnings.
Domain privacy
Privacy protection replaces your personal details in public registration data with the registrar’s or a proxy service’s details. Since January 2025, ICANN’s RDAP system has replaced the old WHOIS service as the official lookup for generic domains, but the principle is the same: without privacy or redaction, some contact data can be visible. Most major registrars include it free. If yours charges for it, that cost belongs in your comparison.
Auto-renew and account security
Turn on auto-renew and keep a valid payment method on file. Turn on two-factor authentication for the registrar account, since anyone who gets into it can redirect or transfer your domain.
Add-ons you can skip
Checkout pages often bundle extras such as premium DNS, website builders, email or SEO tools. Add only what you need now. Free SSL certificates are included with most hosting and website builder plans, so you rarely need to buy one from the registrar.
Step 6: How do you connect a domain to your website?
The Domain Name System (DNS) translates your domain into the address of the server that hosts your site. Our explainer on what DNS is covers how it works in more detail.
- Same company for domain and hosting: the connection is usually automatic.
- Different companies: either change the domain’s nameservers to the ones your host provides, or keep the registrar’s DNS and add the A record (IP address) or CNAME record your host or website builder gives you.
- Email: if you use a provider such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, add its MX and verification records too.
DNS changes usually take effect within minutes to a few hours, though some can take up to 48 hours to reach every network. Once the site loads on your domain, make sure HTTPS is active. See how to enable an SSL certificate.
Tips and tricks for registering a domain name
These tips help you avoid the most common domain-buying mistakes.
Think outside the box
If the obvious keyword domains are taken, go brandable. Your business name on its own, or your business name plus your city or a short word like “hq”, is often available and easier to remember than a long keyword phrase.
Keep it short
Aim for two or three words at most and as few characters as possible. Short names are easier to type, fit better on business cards and social profiles, and are less likely to be misspelled.
Leave room to grow
Avoid a name that boxes you in. A dog walker who registers a “pet services” name can add pet sitting later without rebranding.
Avoid trademarks
Do not include another company’s brand name or a trademarked phrase in your domain. Trademark owners can take infringing domains through the UDRP process, and you could lose the name and your investment in it.
Turn on HTTPS
Browsers flag sites without HTTPS as “not secure”. Free SSL certificates are included with almost every host and website builder, so make sure yours is active once the domain is connected.
Do not overthink SEO
Exact-match keyword domains no longer give a meaningful ranking advantage. Choose a name that suits your brand and is easy to remember, and earn rankings with good content.
Prepay or auto-renew
Register for several years or turn on auto-renew so the domain cannot expire by accident. Expired domains can be registered by anyone once the grace and redemption periods end.
Bundle when it saves money
Many hosting and website builder plans include a free domain for the first year. Bundling is convenient, but compare the renewal price with a standalone registrar before you commit.
Watch first-year promotions
Very cheap first-year prices are common. Always check the renewal price, which is what you will pay every year after.
Consider matching extensions
Registering your name in .com plus your country code, or common misspellings, stops others from registering confusingly similar addresses. Redirect the extras to your main site.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is the human-readable address of a website, such as namechk.com. Behind the scenes, websites live on servers with numeric IP addresses, and DNS maps the name to the right server. Every domain ends in a top-level domain such as .com, .org or .uk. Read more in our guide to what a domain name is.
You never own a domain outright. You lease it for a set period and keep it for as long as you renew it.
What is a domain name registrar?
A domain name registrar is a company that registers domain names on behalf of customers. Registrars are accredited by ICANN (for generic TLDs such as .com) or by the relevant country-code registry, and they work with registries such as Verisign, which operates .com and .net.
The registrar holds your registration, manages renewals and DNS, and lets you transfer the domain to another registrar or another person. Many registrars also sell hosting, email and website builders, but you can keep your domain at one company and your website at another.
How much does it cost to register a domain name?
A standard .com costs about $10 to $25 per year in October 2026, depending on the registrar and whether you are paying a first-year promotional price or a renewal. On November 1, 2026, Verisign raises the wholesale .com fee from $10.26 to $10.97 per year, and ICANN adds a $0.20 fee per domain per year, so expect most retail .com prices to rise slightly from November.
- First-year promotions can be very cheap, but check the renewal price.
- New and specialty TLDs range from a few dollars to $50 or more per year.
- Free domains are usually included for the first year with an annual hosting or website builder plan, then renew at the provider’s standard rate.
- Premium and aftermarket names cost anywhere from about $100 to millions of dollars. Voice.com, reported to have sold for $30 million in 2019, remains one of the most expensive publicly disclosed sales.
Can you transfer a domain to another registrar?
Yes. To move a domain, turn off the registrar lock at the current registrar, request an authorization (EPP) code, and start the transfer at the new registrar. Most transfers to a new registrar add one year to the registration, so you pay roughly a year’s renewal fee.
Under current ICANN policy, you cannot move a domain to a new registrar within 60 days of registering it or of a previous transfer. ICANN’s transfer policy review has recommended shortening that lock to 30 days, so check the rule in force when you plan a move. Our guide to domain name disputes explains what happens when two parties claim the same name.
Ready to start? Check your name on Namechk, then register it at a registrar such as Namecheap, Squarespace Domains or GoDaddy.
FAQs
How much does it cost to register a domain name?
A standard .com costs about $10 to $25 per year in October 2026, depending on the registrar and whether you pay a first-year promotional price or the renewal price. Cloudflare and Porkbun charge around $11, Namecheap $19.98 at renewal from November 1, 2026, and GoDaddy $22.99 at renewal. Specialty extensions and premium names can cost much more.
Can I register a domain name for free?
Yes, for the first year. Many web hosts and website builders, including Hostinger, Bluehost, HostGator, Squarespace and Wix, include a free domain for one year with an annual plan. After that you pay the provider’s normal renewal price, typically $20 to $24 for a .com. Truly free, permanent domains are limited to subdomains and a few niche services.
How long does it take to register a domain name?
Registration itself takes a few minutes: search, add to cart and pay. Most domains become active almost immediately. If you point the domain at a website on another provider, DNS changes usually take effect within minutes to a few hours, though some networks can take up to 48 hours to see the update.
Do I own my domain name forever?
No. You register a domain for a fixed term, usually one to ten years, and keep it as long as you renew it on time. If it expires and is not renewed during the grace and redemption periods, anyone can register it. Turning on auto-renew and keeping your contact email current is the best protection.
Should I register my domain with my web host?
You can, and it is convenient, especially when the first year is free. However, many site owners keep the domain at a separate registrar so they can change hosts easily and avoid higher renewal prices. Either way, register the domain in your own name and keep the account login yourself.
What is WHOIS privacy and do I need it?
WHOIS privacy, also called domain privacy, hides your personal contact details from public registration lookups, which are now served through ICANN’s RDAP system. It reduces spam and protects your home address. Most leading registrars, including Namecheap, Porkbun, Cloudflare, Squarespace and Hostinger, include it free, so it is worth turning on.
Which domain extension should I choose?
Choose .com if a good name is available, because it is the extension people type and trust most. If not, consider .co, .net or .org, or your country code (such as .co.uk or .ca) if you serve a local market. Newer extensions like .shop or .studio can work, but check their renewal prices first.
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