What should I look for in a domain registrar?
Pricing and Fees
The registrar should clearly show renewal prices, not just promos. Check for fees on transfers, privacy, and DNS. Some registrars charge for things others include free.
Watch out for auto-renewal traps. You should be able to turn it off easily. Also, see if they offer discounts for multi-year registrations.
Features and Tools
A good control panel makes it easy to manage DNS, renew domains, and set up forwarding. Look for bulk editing if you have many domains. API access is useful for developers.
Security features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and domain locking are important to prevent hijacking. Some registrars also offer WHOIS privacy for free.
- Easy-to-use control panel
- Free WHOIS privacy
- Two-factor authentication
- Domain locking
- DNS management
- Email forwarding
Support and Reputation
Check if support is available 24/7 and via your preferred channel (chat, phone, email). Response times matter if your domain goes down. Look for a registrar with a long history and good reviews.
Avoid registrars with a pattern of poor support or hidden fees. Search for '[registrar name] review' and read recent comments on forums like Web Hosting Talk.
Common mistakes
- Overlooking the importance of 2FA and domain locking.
- Assuming all registrars offer free WHOIS privacy.
- Not checking if the registrar charges for DNS management or email forwarding.