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Your domain name is the one piece of your online presence you should never lose control of. The good news: buying one is cheap and quick. The catch: some registrars make it confusing with upsells and expensive renewals. Here’s where we buy domains, and what to look for.

Our pick for most domains: Namecheap

Namecheap is our go-to registrar for .com, .net, .co and many other international domains. The search is fast, the dashboard is uncluttered, and it’s easy to point your domain at whichever host you use.

Why we like it

• Free WHOIS privacy on most domains, which keeps your personal details out of public lookups.
• Clear pricing with renewal prices shown before you buy.
• Simple DNS management for connecting hosting, email (such as Google Workspace) and other services.
• Easy transfers in and out — you’re not locked in.

What to watch

• Skip the checkout add-ons you don’t need. You can always add hosting or email later.
• First-year promos on some extensions renew at a higher price — check before you commit.
• Australian domains: if you want a .com.au or .au domain, check availability; you may need an Australian registrar (see below).

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Buying a .com.au or .au domain

Australian domains are managed under auDA rules, which require an Australian presence (for .com.au, usually an ABN or ACN). Not every international registrar sells them. Australian registrars such as VentraIP or Crazy Domains handle .au domains routinely and will check your eligibility at checkout. (We don’t earn a commission on these.)

Many Australian businesses register both the .com.au and the .com — one as the main site, the other redirecting to it — to protect their name.

Other options worth knowing

Cloudflare Registrar

Cloudflare sells domains at cost with no markup, which makes renewals very cheap. The trade-off is that you’ll need to use Cloudflare’s DNS, and it’s a little more technical for beginners. It doesn’t support every extension.

Your web host

Many hosts (including Hostinger) offer a free domain for the first year with a hosting plan. That’s convenient, but we generally recommend keeping your domain at a separate registrar so that if you ever change hosts, your domain stays put.

Domain-buying checklist

1. Keep it short, clear and easy to spell when said out loud.
2. Check the renewal price, not just the first-year price.
3. Turn on privacy protection if it’s offered free.
4. Enable auto-renew and keep your billing details current — expired domains can be snapped up quickly.
5. Use an email address you’ll always have access to on the account, and turn on two-factor authentication.
6. Register it in your business’s name, not a contractor’s, so you always own it.

Our verdict

For most international domains, Namecheap is our pick for its fair pricing, free privacy and clean interface. For .com.au domains, use an Australian registrar. Either way, keep your domain in an account you control.

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Next step: choose your web hosting. Prices and eligibility rules change — check the registrar’s site for current details. Last reviewed: October 2026.