I need to register some .com domains, and it seems like a service I should be able to get very cheaply. Currently I use 123-reg.co.uk but I'm sure there must be something better out there. I'm also sure going with a cheap provider will likely turn out more expensive in the long run...
In case it makes a difference, I'd also like to migrate over a .name domain, to keep everything within one account.
<a href="http://name.com" rel="nofollow">http://name.com</a><p>I've used godaddy, namecheap, and 1&1, but ended up switching all my domains to name.com. One of the best interfaces I've used as it doesn't try to abstract the DNS records from you. That was one of my biggest issues with 1&1 and godaddy - their interface made it so that I never knew exactly what my DNS settings were, just what the spoon-fed messages that I was given told me. The only "abstracted" thing that they do is provide a one-click solution for setting the dns entries for google apps (which you can still manually edit, as they appear in your DNS records). Here's some screenshots of the backend:<p><a href="http://i.imgur.com/F5j5m.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i.imgur.com/F5j5m.jpg</a><p><a href="http://i.imgur.com/rx3uq.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i.imgur.com/rx3uq.jpg</a><p><a href="http://i.imgur.com/vGwwz.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i.imgur.com/vGwwz.jpg</a><p>Seriously, try it. I liked them so much that I paid to have my other domains transfered to them. That alone should show you how much I enjoy it over the others I've tried.
Just recently I launched <a href="http://dnsimple.com/" rel="nofollow">http://dnsimple.com/</a> since I was fed up with GoDaddy and decided that I never wanted to use them again in my life, and I knew others felt the same way. DNSimple has an easy to use web interface, a REST API for domain registration and DNS management and an iPhone app. The service is pretty new but the response so far has been positive.<p>Under the hood I used enom for domain registration and PowerDNS for the DNS portion. enom has the best API of all of the registrar APIs I looked at. To be a reseller there is a bit of an investment, but it's still significantly less expensive than becoming an accredited registrar.<p>I've been in the domain industry since 1999 when .com was deregulated, and built one of the first domain registrars (but I wasn't the founder thus left when the founder decided to go other directions) and it is unfortunate how little inovation has occurred in the domain industry. Hopefully that'll start changing soon.
<a href="http://joker.com" rel="nofollow">http://joker.com</a> or enom.com for domains<p><a href="http://easydns.com" rel="nofollow">http://easydns.com</a> for DNS (don't be cheap on DNS - most that registrars offer is slow/cheap/bad/down)
<a href="http://godaddy.com/" rel="nofollow">http://godaddy.com/</a> - Cheap (esp. for just a year, renewals are a bit more) but their interface sucks.<p><a href="http://namecheap.com/" rel="nofollow">http://namecheap.com/</a> - Almost as cheap, and has a much better interface.<p>Those are the two I use exclusively, minus some for ccTLD-specific domains.
I like <a href="https://www.nearlyfreespeech.net/" rel="nofollow">https://www.nearlyfreespeech.net/</a> for their policies on complaints and DMCA notices.
Google actually registers domains (in partnership with outside registrars):<p><a href="https://google.com/a/cpanel/domain/new" rel="nofollow">https://google.com/a/cpanel/domain/new</a><p>$10.<p>The advantage is they come all easily configured for Google Apps usage.
I use moniker, they're pretty good. They got bought out by oversee but the oversee people have seen fit to leave moniker to run as independently as possible.
I use Dreamhost because it's a no-bullshit admin, the price is decent, and I can easily host stuff that doesn't require a VPS or better (which is the majority of my domains) essentially for free.
NameCheap.com is my favorite 'retail' registrar. Their owner goes above and beyond to resolve things. He also is an expert about domains and the quality of their interface and features reflects it.<p>If you're registering 100+ then Fabulous.com is the best registrar around (though they only deal in com/net/org/info).
Google Apps (<a href="http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/index.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/index.html</a>) is a eNom reseller, and provides you with all the Google goodness (mail/docs/cal).<p>1 year = $10 (privacy included).
<a href="http://dynadot.com/" rel="nofollow">http://dynadot.com/</a><p>No fuss, no tricks, non-crappy administration area. They even provide their own name servers for free. I've been using them for years and have no complaints.
Dynadot <a href="http://dynadot.com" rel="nofollow">http://dynadot.com</a> has excellent service, lightning fast website. Working great for my domain names.
Personally I prefer Godaddy. The interface needs some work but I have found that by using them I get really low propagation delays. Their service is pretty flexible facilitating stuff like privacy and configuring your domains to host their own nameservers.
<a href="http://hover.com/" rel="nofollow">http://hover.com/</a> is positioned as the anti-GoDaddy: simple price structure, clean UI.<p>GoDaddy made it clear they have no respect for the customer with their horrendous UIs and upselling. Felt compelled to leave them recently.
Here is a list of every accredited registrar: <a href="http://www.internic.net/alpha.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.internic.net/alpha.html</a><p>Lots of issues to consider beyond price. Go with a US based registrar if you are in the US as you will be governed by their laws with regard to disputes or jurisdiction issues. Some will hit you with hefty RGP (redemption grace period) fees if you miss the renewal date. Domain theft is a becoming a huge issue, so finding a good registrar can be very important for your business.<p>Moniker.com and NameCheap.com are the best in my opinion with Demand Media's eNom right behind them.
I have long preferred <a href="http://namecheap.com" rel="nofollow">http://namecheap.com</a> for the usual TLDs and (somewhat more recently) <a href="http://domainsite.com" rel="nofollow">http://domainsite.com</a> for many ccTLDs. I very recently transferred an important domain from <a href="http://joker.com" rel="nofollow">http://joker.com</a> after inadvertently discovering that an account could be accessed from a machine that I had not previously used to log in. (I copied the session ID and I was on the same network but it was enough to convince me to make the switch.)
Godaddy burned me badly a short while ago, so I am switching all my domains to Netfirms.com. I used to have my personal domain hosted there for free, and I have never had any problems at all with them.
I've got one domain on Dreamhost and one on 1&1 ... both work fine, but Dreamhost's interface is MUCH better than 1&1.<p>All in all, would you guys recommend keeping your domains registered at a different company than your hosting company? I've considered moving my domains in the future when they expire to a separate domain register, but not sure if it's worth the hassle...
Any suggestions for registrars of domains that aren't .com/.co.uk/.net/etc.?<p>I notice that a couple of those mentioned (Namecheap.com, Name.com and Gandi.net) offer this service, but is there a specialist registrar anywhere, or are these good enough?<p><i>(I'm looking to register a number of .nl domains and have no idea where to look in terms of quality registrars.)</i>
I have always used godaddy (inexpensive) but have recently started using hover.com. Low prices, much cleaner interface. As a +1 to godaddy though, I've noticed in the last couple of days a much better registration interface that still is allowing them to offer their up-sells but is much nicer to get through.
I use inexpensivedomains.com for my personal stuff, and have been very happy with them.<p>One thing I'll point out though, sometime the lowest prices aren't the most important thing. The domain name people at work have recently chosen to shift all of our domains to a <a href="http://www.austdomains.com.au/" rel="nofollow">http://www.austdomains.com.au/</a> account, which is not the cheapest around, but apparently has a _much_ better multiple domain management system than any of our previous registrars. A buck or less extra per domain per year, but it saves a _lot_ of time/money when the management system "just works".<p>(Note, this is from over-the-cubicle conversations and overheard rants rather than firsthand experience, so don't read it as a personal recommendation of austdomains, rather as a warning that managing hundreds or many hundreds of domains is a different scale of problem from a few or a few dozen, and make sure if you're likely to run into that problem that you consider the suitability of your proposed registrars. I've been happy enough with Intaserve for my .au domains, but my work colleagues _hate_ them with a passion!)
Hm I have a question: What would it take to register the domain myself, without going through goDaddy and others?<p>Can't one set up a DNS-Server and start propagating records, while perhaps informing the authority that you are using a (previously available) domain now?
I am using GoDaddy for m throw-away domains and regfish.com for more specialized TLDs. Regfish has a great, personal service, is based in Germany (how about that for a change ;-) and has decent prices. Great UI, lot less slack than GoDaddy.
Name.com FTW.<p>I am currently in the process of switching all of my domains from Godaddy to Name.com. The simplicity of the UI, Google Apps integration and reliability of their network made this a no-brainer.
I used DynDNS as a reg for years, but when I wanted to customize the MX record, they wanted another chunk of money - buh-bye!... Probably going to Hover next.
I'm pretty content with hostway. They have one of the lowest prices for domain names, and have a decent interface. They also don't try to upsell any of their other services when you are going through checkout.<p>I would stay away from 1and1. They have some pretty sketchy billing practices.
Shameless plug: try out <a href="http://core.hostroute.com" rel="nofollow">http://core.hostroute.com</a>. I personally think our domain lookup tool is the best I've used. I've probably used them all ;-)