Where to Buy a Domain Name
Your host gives you a free domain for the first year. Then the bill arrives and nobody told you what it would be. Here is what a domain really costs and where to buy one.
Porkbun
4.6One flat price to register, renew or transfer. Nothing jumps later.
Namecheap
4.5A .com for $6.79 if this is your first domain with them.
Cloudflare Registrar
4.4Sold at cost with no markup, if you are happy on Cloudflare DNS.
Compared at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Rating | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Porkbun | One flat price that does not jump at renewal | .com $11.08/yr, flat | — | 4.6 | Visit |
Namecheap | A cheap first year with free privacy for life | .com from $6.79 first year | — | 4.5 | Visit |
Cloudflare Registrar | The lowest long-term cost if Cloudflare DNS suits you | At cost, no markup | — | 4.4 | Visit |
The 10-second answer
What a .com actually costs
| Registrar | First year | Every year after |
|---|---|---|
| Porkbun | $11.08 | $11.08 |
| Namecheap | $6.79 | $14.98 |
| Cloudflare | At cost, no markup | Same, no markup |
Prices are for a .com in US dollars, read from each registrar's own page on 8 September 2026. Namecheap's $6.79 is for new customers. Cloudflare does not publish a fixed number because it passes on the registry price without adding to it.
Why the first year is the wrong number to compare
You keep a domain for as long as you keep the business. So the number that matters is the renewal, not the discount.
Over five years Namecheap's .com costs $6.79 plus four renewals at $14.98, which is $66.71. Porkbun costs $11.08 five times, which is $55.40. The cheaper headline is $11 more expensive by year five.
Watch the WHOIS privacy line
Which one fits you
- You want to set it and forget it — Porkbun. The price never changes.
- Money is tight this month — Namecheap. Just diarise the renewal.
- You already use Cloudflare — Cloudflare Registrar. Nothing beats at-cost.
- You want everything in one dashboard — buy it from your host, then check the renewal.
The Cloudflare catch worth knowing
Cloudflare is the cheapest way to hold a domain long term, but its own documentation is clear about the trade-off: every domain registered there uses Cloudflare nameservers and you cannot switch to another DNS provider while the domain stays with them. That is fine for most small sites. It is a problem if your host or agency needs to run your DNS.
About that free domain from your host
Hostinger and Bluehost both include a domain free for the first year. It is a genuine saving, so take it. Just know that the domain then renews at the host's own rate, which is usually higher than a dedicated registrar. Check that number in year one rather than year two. Move the domain if it is not competitive.
How we compared them
We read each registrar's public pricing page on the same day and compared the .com rate, because that is what most businesses buy. Five-year totals are our own arithmetic from those rates. We did not test transfers or support response times for this page.
Need hosting to go with it?
See the best hosting for small businessThe tools, in detail
Porkbun
Best for: One flat price that does not jump at renewal
Why we picked it
The same price to register, renew or transfer, with privacy included.
Pros
- No renewal jump
- Free WHOIS privacy
- Free SSL and email forwarding
Cons
- First year costs more than a promo
- Smaller brand
Namecheap
Best for: A cheap first year with free privacy for life
Why we picked it
Affordable domains and free WHOIS privacy, no hard upsells.
Pros
- Cheapest first year
- Free privacy protection
- Clean dashboard
Cons
- .com renews at $14.98
- Intro price is for new customers
Cloudflare Registrar
Best for: The lowest long-term cost if Cloudflare DNS suits you
Why we picked it
Sells domains at cost with no add-on fees and no renewal markup.
Pros
- No markup on renewals
- Free privacy
- No upsells at checkout
Cons
- You must use Cloudflare nameservers
- No internationalised domains
Independent
Rankings aren't for sale.
Kept current
Reviewed and dated.
Clear method
Same 5 criteria, every time. See how
Frequently asked questions
Which domain registrar is cheapest?
Cloudflare, because it sells at cost with no markup. Porkbun is cheapest among registrars that publish a flat rate, at $11.08 a year for a .com. Namecheap is cheapest for the first year only, at $6.79, then renews at $14.98.
Should I buy my domain from my web host?
It is convenient and the first year is often free, so it is a reasonable start. Check the renewal rate before that year ends. Hosts usually charge more than a dedicated registrar to renew.
Does it matter where I register my domain?
For price and renewal terms, yes. For how your site works, no. You can point any domain at any host. You can also move a domain to another registrar after 60 days.
What is WHOIS privacy and do I need it?
Domain owner details are public by default, including your name, address and phone number. WHOIS privacy replaces them with the registrar's details. All three registrars here include it free, so there is no reason to go without.
Can I move my domain later?
Yes. ICANN rules lock a domain for 60 days after registration or transfer. After that you can move it. The transfer usually adds a year to the registration.
Is a cheap .xyz or .online domain a bad idea?
For a business, a .com is still what people type and trust. Cheap alternatives often carry a low first-year price and a much higher renewal. If a .com is available for your name, it is usually worth the few extra dollars.
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