Google Domains no longer exists. Google sold its domain registration business to Squarespace, and by July 10, 2024 every Google Domains registration had moved to Squarespace Domains. Squarespace Domains keeps the parts people liked about Google Domains: free WHOIS privacy, free SSL, DNSSEC, email forwarding, two-factor authentication and Google Workspace email, with 300+ extensions and 24/7 support. It is a good registrar for Squarespace site owners and former Google Domains users who want a clean dashboard, but bargain hunters can often find lower renewal prices elsewhere.
Updated October 2026.
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Google Domains (now Squarespace Domains): key facts
| Item | Squarespace Domains (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Status of Google Domains | Sold to Squarespace; migration completed July 10, 2024 |
| Owner | Squarespace, taken private by Permira in October 2024 |
| Starting price | Varies by extension; shown in Squarespace domain search (.com is in the lowest price tier) |
| Renewal price | Renews at the same standard price for the extension (no promo pricing on transfers) |
| Best for | Squarespace site owners and former Google Domains customers |
| Free domain? | Yes, first year free with an annual Squarespace website plan (lowest price tier) |
| Free WHOIS privacy? | Yes, on eligible domains |
| Rating | 4.0/5 (our assessment) |
Pros:
- Free WHOIS privacy and free Let’s Encrypt SSL on eligible domains
- DNSSEC, two-factor authentication and DNS on Google Cloud DNS infrastructure
- Email forwarding, URL forwarding and parking pages included
- Google Workspace email available as a paid add-on
- Clean dashboard that feels familiar to former Google Domains users
- Free first-year domain with an annual Squarespace website plan
Cons:
- Google Domains itself is gone; you are now a Squarespace customer
- Prices are only shown in search, not on a public price list
- Not the cheapest registrar on renewal for many extensions
- Free domain offer only covers the lowest price tier and only for one year
- No promotional pricing on transfers
What happened to Google Domains?
Google announced on June 15, 2023 that it had agreed to sell its Google Domains registrations to Squarespace. The deal closed on September 7, 2023, at which point all Google Domains users became Squarespace customers. Google says that by July 10, 2024, all domains had migrated to Squarespace. The deal added about 10 million registered domains to Squarespace.
Squarespace itself changed hands shortly afterwards: private equity firm Permira agreed to take Squarespace private in May 2024 and completed the deal in October 2024. Squarespace Domains continues to operate as the registrar for former Google Domains customers.
I had a Google Domains account. What should I do now?
- Sign in to your Squarespace account and confirm all of your domains are listed.
- Check that auto-renew, contact details and the payment method are correct, since billing now runs through Squarespace.
- Turn on two-factor authentication in your Squarespace account.
- Review DNS records and email forwarding to make sure they match what you had before.
- If you would rather use another registrar, you can transfer away; Squarespace does not charge a transfer-out fee.
How much does Squarespace Domains cost in 2026?
Squarespace does not publish a full price list. Its help center says to check a domain’s price in the Squarespace domain search or the domains dashboard. Prices vary by extension, sales tax may apply, and domains renew at the same standard price at the end of each term.
- Free domain offer: sites on an annual Squarespace website plan get one free domain for the first year, limited to the lowest price tier (which includes .com). After the first year it renews at the standard rate.
- Transfers in: the transfer is free, but you pay for a one-year extension at the regular rate (not a promotional price). WHOIS privacy and SSL are included.
- Transfers out: Squarespace does not charge a fee to transfer a domain away.
- Registration terms: .com, .net and .org can be registered for 1 to 10 years; .ai requires a minimum of 2 years.
Because the price is only shown in search, compare the renewal price with another registrar before registering several domains. Our best domain name registrars guide covers lower-cost options such as Dynadot, which lists .com at $10.88/year in October 2026.
What features does Squarespace Domains include?
- Free WHOIS privacy on every eligible domain
- Free SSL/TLS certificate from Let’s Encrypt, renewed automatically
- Premium DNS powered by services such as Google Cloud DNS, with DNSSEC built in
- Email forwarding and domain/URL forwarding
- Spam-free parking pages
- Two-factor authentication for your account
- Google Workspace professional email (paid)
- 300+ domain extensions and 24/7 customer support
Most of these match what Google Domains offered, which is why the move was relatively painless for many customers. If you are new to DNS settings, our guide to what DNS is and how it works explains the records you are most likely to edit.
Who is Squarespace Domains best for?
- Former Google Domains customers who want to stay put with minimal changes.
- Squarespace website owners, who get a free first-year domain and one-click connection to their site.
- Small businesses that want simplicity: privacy, SSL and DNSSEC are included without upsells.
- Google Workspace users who want domain and email set up together.
Squarespace Domains is less ideal for domain investors with large portfolios or anyone chasing the lowest renewal price. For those, a budget registrar such as Dynadot or NameSilo is usually a better fit.
How do you register a domain with Squarespace Domains?
- Check that the name is free with a domain and username checker, so you can also claim matching social handles.
- Search for the name on domains.squarespace.com and compare the extensions and prices shown.
- Add the domain to your cart and choose the registration length (1 to 10 years for .com).
- Confirm that WHOIS privacy is on (it is included on eligible domains) and complete checkout.
- Turn on two-factor authentication and auto-renew in your Squarespace account.
- Connect the domain to your Squarespace site, or edit DNS records to point it at another host or email provider.
If you plan to build a Squarespace site on an annual plan, buy the plan first and claim the domain through it, so the first year is free instead of paid.
Can you use a Squarespace domain with another website builder or host?
Yes. A domain registered with Squarespace Domains does not have to point to a Squarespace website. You can edit DNS records to connect it to any host, website builder or email provider, or use domain forwarding to send visitors to another URL.
If you do want to build on Squarespace, the domain connects automatically. Our Squarespace website builder review covers plans and templates.
Is Squarespace Domains secure?
Squarespace Domains includes free WHOIS privacy, DNSSEC, automatic SSL and two-factor authentication. The most important step is to turn on two-factor authentication for your Squarespace account, because anyone with access to your account can change DNS records or transfer domains.
Also keep your account email up to date and enable auto-renew on important domains, so renewal notices reach you and the domain does not lapse.
What is Squarespace Domains support like?
Squarespace advertises 24/7 customer support for domains, plus a large help center with articles on every extension, transfers, DNS records and redemption fees. Former Google Domains customers now go through Squarespace support rather than Google; Google directs Cloud Domains customers to Google Cloud support.
Squarespace Domains vs alternatives
| Registrar | .com pricing (Oct 2026) | Free privacy | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squarespace Domains | Shown in search; free first year with annual site plan | Yes | Squarespace sites, ex-Google Domains users |
| Dynadot | $10.88/yr register and renew | Yes | Low prices, investors |
| NameSilo | Shown in search | Yes | Bulk portfolios |
| Namecheap | See Namecheap review | Yes | All-round registrar with hosting |
If you are leaving Squarespace, Namecheap and Dynadot are common destinations. If you are building a site on Squarespace anyway, keeping the domain there is the simplest option.
How we evaluated Squarespace Domains
This Google Domains review is based on Google’s official Google Domains transition page, Squarespace Domains’ product pages and help center articles on pricing, transfers and the free domain offer, and public reporting on Squarespace’s ownership, all checked in October 2026. We did not register test domains or contact support.
The 4.0/5 rating credits Squarespace Domains for included privacy, SSL, DNSSEC and 2FA and a smooth path for former Google Domains users, and deducts for search-only pricing and renewals that are not the lowest available.
FAQs
Does Google Domains still exist?
No. Google sold its Google Domains registrations to Squarespace, and according to Google, all domains had migrated to Squarespace by July 10, 2024. Former Google Domains customers now manage their domains in Squarespace Domains, and the Google Domains service no longer accepts new registrations.
What replaced Google Domains?
Squarespace Domains replaced Google Domains. Squarespace bought the Google Domains business, about 10 million registrations, and migrated every domain to its own registrar platform. Squarespace Domains keeps core features such as free WHOIS privacy, DNSSEC, email forwarding and Google Workspace email, with a dashboard designed to feel familiar.
How much does a Squarespace domain cost?
Squarespace shows domain prices in its domain search and dashboard rather than on a public price list, and prices vary by extension. Domains renew at the same standard rate each term. Sites on an annual Squarespace website plan get one free domain in the lowest price tier, which includes .com, for the first year.
Can I transfer my former Google Domain away from Squarespace?
Yes. Turn off the domain lock in your Squarespace domains dashboard, get the authorization code and start the transfer at your new registrar. Squarespace does not charge a fee to transfer a domain away, though the new registrar will charge for a one-year extension. Domains registered or transferred within the last 60 days usually cannot move yet.
Does Squarespace Domains include free WHOIS privacy?
Yes. Squarespace includes free WHOIS privacy on every eligible domain, along with a free automatically renewed SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt, DNSSEC and two-factor authentication. Some country-code extensions do not allow privacy because of registry rules, so check the help article for your extension.
Do I need a Squarespace website to use Squarespace Domains?
No. You can register a domain with Squarespace Domains and point it anywhere by editing DNS records, connect it to another host or website builder, or set up email with Google Workspace or another provider. A Squarespace website plan is only needed if you want the free first-year domain offer.
Who owns Squarespace now?
Squarespace is owned by private equity firm Permira. Squarespace agreed to be taken private in May 2024, and the deal closed in October 2024, ending its listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Squarespace Domains continues to operate as a registrar under the Squarespace brand.
Final verdict: is Squarespace Domains a good Google Domains replacement?
For most former Google Domains customers, Squarespace Domains is a reasonable home: privacy, SSL, DNSSEC and 2FA are included, the dashboard is clean, and Google Workspace still works. If price is your main concern, compare renewal rates with budget registrars before adding more domains.
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