Best Google Domains Alternatives (After Squarespace) (2023)

Back in June 2023, Squarespace acquired Google Domains for $180 million in June 2023, and in Q3, the acquisition is expected to close. As part of the transition, Google Domains customers will be migrated to Squarespace Domains. Squarespace has said that it will honor renewal pricing for at least 12 months after the transaction is completed. But, what about Google Domains alternatives if you don’t like Squarespace?

In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the best Google Domains alternatives. We will compare their features, pricing, and customer support so that you can choose the best registrar for your needs.

Some of the factors we consider when choosing alternatives are:

• Pricing: How much does it cost to register a domain name? Are there any hidden fees?
• Features: What features are offered, such as email forwarding, DNSSEC, and privacy protection?
• Customer support: How good is the customer support? How easy is it to get in touch with someone if you need help?

Best Google Domains Alternatives: Now Owned By Squarespace (2023)

1. Namecheap

Namecheap is a company that primarily offers domain registration and web hosting services. Founded in 2000 by Richard Kirkendall, Namecheap started as a domain registrar but has since expanded its service offerings to include web hosting, SSL certificates, email hosting, VPN services, and more.

Namecheap Key Advantages

1. Affordable Pricing: Namecheap often offers competitive prices for domain registrations, renewals, and other services.
2. User-friendly Interface: Namecheap’s website and management dashboard are intuitive, making it easier for users to manage their domains and services.
3. Wide Range of Services: Beyond just domain registration, Namecheap offers web hosting, SSL certificates, email hosting, VPN services, and more.
4. Privacy Advocacy: Namecheap offers free WhoisGuard, a privacy protection service, to its users. This shields domain owners’ personal information from public view in the WHOIS directory.
5. Strong Stance on User Rights: The company has been known to support internet freedom, user privacy, and net neutrality.
6. 24/7 Customer Support: Namecheap provides round-the-clock customer service to address users’ questions and issues.
7. Reliable Hosting: For those who use Namecheap’s hosting services, they offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee.
8. Secure: Namecheap offers a range of security features, including two-factor authentication for account access and robust security options for their hosting plans.
9. Transparent Policies: The company is upfront about its pricing, renewal rates, and service terms.
10. Educational Resources: Namecheap offers a variety of articles, tutorials, and resources to help users understand domains, hosting, and other related topics.

2. Hover

Known for a clean interface and excellent customer support, Hover focuses exclusively on domain registration and management, without any upsells or added services. It’s a division of Tucows, a company that has been in the internet services business since the early days of the web.

Hover Key Advantages

1. Domain Registration: Hover primarily focuses on domain registration. They offer a wide variety of top-level domains (TLDs) for purchase.
2. Simplified Service: Unlike some other registrars that bundle hosting, website builders, and other services, Hover focuses solely on domain registration and email, aiming for a clutter-free and straightforward user experience.
3. Privacy: Hover includes WHOIS privacy protection for free with domain registrations, which helps keep users’ personal information private.
4. User-Friendly Interface: Hover is known for its clean, simple, and user-friendly interface, making it easy for customers to manage their domains.
5. Customer Support: They pride themselves on offering robust customer support to help users with their domain-related queries.
6. No Upsells: One of the notable features of Hover is that they don’t aggressively upsell other services. Their checkout process is straightforward, and they focus on providing the service you chose without pushing numerous add-ons.

3. Web.com

Web.com is a company that provides a suite of online services targeted mainly at small businesses wishing to expand their presence on the internet. Founded in 1999, Web.com has become known for its various web-related services.

Web.com Key Benefits

1. Website Design and Hosting: Web.com offers tools and services for creating and hosting websites. This includes DIY website builders as well as professional design services.
2. Domain Registration: Like many other web services companies, Web.com provides domain name registration services.
3. Online Marketing: The company offers a range of online marketing services, including search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click advertising (PPC), and social media marketing.
4. E-commerce Solutions: For businesses that want to set up online shops, Web.com provides tools and services tailored to e-commerce.
5. Local Business Listings: They offer services to ensure that businesses are listed and visible in local directories and online maps.
6. Email Services: Web.com provides professional email address services that are tied to a business’s domain name.
7. Customer Support: The company emphasizes its customer support services, offering assistance with the various products and services they provide.
8. Diverse Product Portfolio: Over the years, Web.com has expanded its range of services, aiming to be a one-stop solution for small businesses seeking to establish or enhance their online presence.

4. GoDaddy

One of the largest and most recognized domain registrars in the world, GoDaddy also offers a wide range of web hosting and related services.

GoDaddy Key Benefits

1. Extensive Experience: Being in the business for over two decades, GoDaddy has a long track record and extensive experience in domain registration and web hosting.
2. Wide Range of Services: GoDaddy offers a plethora of services beyond domain registration, including web hosting, website builders, SSL certificates, email hosting, and more.
3. User-Friendly Website Builder: GoDaddy’s website builder is designed for users without technical expertise, enabling them to create and launch a website easily.
4. Large Marketplace: GoDaddy has a vast marketplace for buying and selling domains, which can be beneficial for those looking into domain investments.
5. 24/7 Customer Support: GoDaddy offers round-the-clock customer service, which can be especially beneficial for businesses operating in different time zones.
6. Comprehensive Hosting Solutions: From shared hosting to dedicated servers and cloud hosting, GoDaddy provides a range of hosting solutions suitable for various needs.
7. Marketing Tools: GoDaddy offers digital marketing tools, including SEO services and pay-per-click advertising assistance, to help businesses grow online.
8. Security Features: They offer security products like SSL certificates, website backups, and malware scanning and removal services.
9. Promotional Deals: GoDaddy often runs promotions and deals, allowing users to get domains or hosting services at discounted prices.
10. Integrated Solutions: For businesses, GoDaddy provides a suite of tools that can integrate various aspects of an online presence, from website creation to email marketing.

5. Dynadot

A registrar that offers a simple and clean interface for domain management, often with competitive pricing.

Dynadot Key Benefits

1. Competitive Pricing: Dynadot often offers attractive pricing for domain registration, especially during promotional periods.
2. User-Friendly Interface: Dynadot’s website and control panel are designed to be intuitive and straightforward, making domain management relatively easy.
3. Bulk Tools: For users managing multiple domains, Dynadot offers bulk search and registration tools, streamlining the process of acquiring and handling many domains.
4. Free Domain Privacy (WHOIS Privacy): Dynadot offers free WHOIS privacy protection, helping users protect their personal information from being publicly displayed.
5. Domain Marketplace: Dynadot has a platform for users to buy and sell domains, which can be beneficial for domain investors or those looking for a specific domain.
6. Advanced Security Features: Dynadot provides two-factor authentication to enhance the security of user accounts.
7. Website Builder: Dynadot offers an easy-to-use website builder, allowing users to create websites without advanced technical knowledge.
8. SSL Certificates: Users can purchase SSL certificates through Dynadot to secure their websites.
9. Comprehensive Knowledge Base: Dynadot has an extensive knowledge base and FAQ section, providing answers and guidance on a wide range of topics.
10. Responsive Customer Support: Dynadot offers multiple channels for customer support, including email, chat, and phone support.
11. Diverse TLD (Top-Level Domain) Offerings: Dynadot supports a wide array of TLDs, catering to various user needs and preferences.

6. Bluehost

While primarily a web hosting provider, Bluehost also offers domain registration services, making it convenient for those looking to both host and register a domain in one place.

Bluehost Key Benefits

1. Long-standing Reputation: As one of the original domain registrars, Network Solutions has decades of experience in the industry.
2. Wide Range of Services: Network Solutions offers a broad array of services, including domain registration, web hosting, SSL certificates, email hosting, and online marketing services.
3. Professional Website Design: Apart from DIY tools, they also provide professional website design services for businesses.
4. Domain Transfer Services: Network Solutions offers a streamlined process for users wishing to transfer domains.
5. Domain Forwarding: Users can forward their domain to any URL or website of their choosing.
6. Custom Email: They offer custom email addresses based on your domain, which can enhance the professional appearance of your business correspondence.
7. Online Marketing Services: Network Solutions provides a range of marketing services, including search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, and email marketing.
8. eCommerce Solutions: For businesses wishing to set up an online store, Network Solutions provides eCommerce packages with features such as shopping carts, payment processing, and inventory management.
9. Secure SSL Certificates: They offer various SSL certificates to encrypt user data and improve website security.
10. 24/7 Customer Support: Network Solutions provides round-the-clock customer support to assist with any issues or inquiries.
11. Personal Domain Assistant: For premium customers, they offer a service where a dedicated expert helps manage domain portfolios.

7. Network Solutions

One of the earliest domain registrars, they offer a wide variety of web services including domain registration.

Network Solutions Key Benefits

1. Long-standing Reputation: As one of the original domain registrars, Network Solutions has decades of experience in the industry.
2. Wide Range of Services: Network Solutions offers a broad array of services, including domain registration, web hosting, SSL certificates, email hosting, and online marketing services.
3. Professional Website Design: Apart from DIY tools, they also provide professional website design services for businesses.
4. Domain Transfer Services: Network Solutions offers a streamlined process for users wishing to transfer domains.
5. Domain Forwarding: Users can forward their domain to any URL or website of their choosing.
6. Custom Email: They offer custom email addresses based on your domain, which can enhance the professional appearance of your business correspondence.
7. Online Marketing Services: Network Solutions provides a range of marketing services, including search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising, and email marketing.
8. eCommerce Solutions: For businesses wishing to set up an online store, Network Solutions provides eCommerce packages with features such as shopping carts, payment processing, and inventory management.
9. Secure SSL Certificates: They offer various SSL certificates to encrypt user data and improve website security.
10. 24/7 Customer Support: Network Solutions provides round-the-clock customer support to assist with any issues or inquiries.
11. Personal Domain Assistant: For premium customers, they offer a service where a dedicated expert helps manage domain portfolios.

8. Register.com

Another old player in the domain registration game, Register.com provides both domain and hosting services.

Register.com Key Benefits

1. Established Brand: Register.com has been in the domain registration business since the 1990s, making it one of the older and more established registrars.
2. Wide Range of Services: Apart from domain registration, Register.com offers web hosting, website builders, SSL certificates, professional email, and online marketing services.
3. Website Builder: For those without technical expertise, Register.com offers an easy-to-use website builder tool that allows users to create professional-looking websites.
4. Dedicated Support: Register.com prides itself on its customer service, providing dedicated support for its products and services.
5. Domain Management: Users have access to a user-friendly domain management dashboard that simplifies the process of managing and renewing domain names.
6. Domain Transfer Services: Register.com offers assistance for those looking to transfer their domains to or from other registrars.
7. Professional Email: Users can set up professional email addresses tied to their domain, enhancing their business’s professional image.
8. SSL Certificates: To improve website security and build trust with visitors, Register.com offers SSL certificate services.
9. Online Marketing Tools: Register.com provides tools and services for search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising to help businesses improve their online visibility.
10. eCommerce Solutions: For businesses looking to set up online shops, Register.com offers eCommerce tools and solutions.

9. Name.com

Offers domain registration, hosting, and an easy-to-use website builder.

Name.com Key Benefits

1. User-friendly Interface: Name.com is known for its intuitive and clean interface, which makes domain search, registration, and management straightforward.
2. Competitive Pricing: They frequently offer competitive pricing and promotions for domain registrations, renewals, and transfers.
3. Broad Range of TLDs: Name.com offers a wide variety of top-level domains (TLDs) for users to choose from, including popular, country-specific, and new TLDs.
4. Free Domain Privacy: With their WHOIS Privacy protection, users can protect their personal information from being publicly displayed in the WHOIS database.
5. Web Hosting Services: Beyond domain registration, Name.com offers various web hosting solutions to cater to different needs.
6. Website Builder: For those without technical expertise, Name.com provides an easy-to-use website builder tool.
7. SSL Certificates: Users can purchase and manage SSL certificates through Name.com, enhancing their website’s security and credibility.
8. Email Services: Name.com offers professional email services that allow users to create email addresses associated with their domain names.
9. Two-Factor Authentication: For added security, users can enable two-factor authentication on their accounts.
10. Responsive Customer Support: Name.com has a reputation for offering helpful and responsive customer support to address users’ questions and concerns.
11. Transfer Services: Name.com makes it relatively easy to transfer domains both to and from other registrars.
12. Educational Content: The company often shares blogs, tutorials, and other informative content to help users navigate the domain and web hosting world.

10. Porkbun

Porkbun – An emerging domain registrar known for its transparent pricing and user-friendly interface.

Porkbun Key Benefits

1. Affordable Pricing: Porkbun often offers some of the most competitive prices in the industry, especially for new domain registrations.
2. Transparent Renewal Rates: Unlike some registrars that advertise low initial prices followed by higher renewal rates, Porkbun is transparent about its renewal prices.
3. Free WHOIS Privacy: Porkbun offers free WHOIS privacy protection, ensuring that your personal information remains private when registering a domain.
4. User-friendly Interface: The website and domain management dashboard are modern, intuitive, and easy to navigate.
5. Free SSL Certificates: For hosted domains, Porkbun provides free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates to secure the website and improve its credibility.
6. Email Forwarding: Porkbun offers free email forwarding for domains, allowing users to forward emails from their domain to their personal email address.
7. URL Forwarding: This feature lets you redirect your domain or a subdomain to another URL easily.
8. Secure: Two-factor authentication is available, adding an extra layer of security to user accounts.
9. Responsive Customer Support: Porkbun’s support team is known for being helpful and responsive to customer queries.
10. Domain Marketplace: Users can list their domains for sale or explore domains listed for purchase within the Porkbun marketplace.
11. Integrated Website Builder: While it might be basic compared to specialized website builder platforms, Porkbun does offer a built-in tool for creating simple websites.
12. No-Nonsense Approach: Porkbun prides itself on a straightforward, no-upsell approach, providing customers with what they need without aggressive add-on marketing.

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