Domain Name Registrars

Here, I give you recommendations on which site to use to register your domain names.

Introduction

Two of the most popular companies people used in the past to register domains are Network Solutions and Register.com. Network Solutions has been around since the beginning of the internet and was the first company to sign people up, so many people look at them as a stable company. Register.com is also another stable company that people will know will be around. They charge $35/year to register a domain (discounts available for 3-5 years).

Over the past few years though, domain name registration has become a commoditized service where many companies are competing and prices have dropped to the $7-9 level. The two best low-price companies are Namecheap and GoDaddy. Both companies are cheap and reliable. Some people still use Register.com and Network Solutions for their great support but this is a personal choice that is up to you.

The other trend going on in the industry is that the domain name registrars are starting to offer hosting services and the hosting companies are also starting to offer domain name registration. This has resulted in many of the hosting companies giving away free domains with a hosting package. If you are planning on buying a domain but also know you wil be buying a hosting package then I recommend that you look at my hosting plan comparison page to see which hosting plans offer a free domain.

Recommended Domain Name Registrars

Namecheap
Namecheap is part is the eNom network. Founded in 1997, eNom specializes in domain registration and currently ranks as the 3rd largest domain registrar worldwide. They also have the best back-end system to manage your domains.

Review | Web site

GoDaddy
GoDaddy started doing business in November 2000 and has been growing like crazy and is now the world’s largest Domain Name Registrar. Everyone has only good things to say about them.

Review | Web site

Network Solutions
In 1993, Network Solutions developed the Internet's domain name registration service. From then on, Network Solutions became the first and only domain name registrar until 1999, when the domain industry opened up to competition.

Review | Web site

Largest Registrars - (as of November 30, 2006)

Registrar	Market Share	Domains	Web Site	Review
Go Daddy	14.4%	14,412,245	web site	review
Network Solutions	6.6%	6,637,903	web site	review
Enom (Namecheap)	5.5%	5,536,819	web site	review
Tucows	5.4%	5,431,875	web site	review
Melbourne IT	4.1%	4,159,631	web site	review
Schlund+Partner	3.0%	2,981,302	web site	review
Register.com	2.7%	2,733,475	web site	review
Wild West Domains	2.1%	2,096,492	web site	review
Moniker	1.8%	1,781,311	web site	review
Nameking	1.5%	1,500,417	web site	review
Bulkregister	1.4%	1,442,539	web site	review

Fastest Growing Registrars - (as of November 30, 2006)

Registrar	Sign Ups Last Month	Domains	Web Site	Review
Go Daddy	458,750	14,412,245	web site	review
DomainDoorman	356,087	1,394,347	web site	review
BelgiumDomains.com	350,219	1,303,372	web site	review
Capitol Domains	321,984	1,310,608	web site	review
Nameking	147,883	1,500,417	web site	review
Moniker	143,385	1,781,311	web site	review
Name.com	88,430	261,862	web site	review
Tucows	87,673	5,431,875	web site	review
Schlund & Partner	82,055	2,981,302	web site	review
Name.net	81,362	392,481	web site	review