Can I Register A Domain Name With Wix

Registering a domain name doesn't take very long, but that doesn't mean you should blitz through it. Domain names are difficult to change once you've launched. Doing so can negatively impact your search engine rankings and make it harder for users to discover your website.

Whether you're starting a blog, showcasing your portfolio online, or opening an online store, your domain acts as the primary reference point for users looking to find your website, making information technology inseparable from your brand.

That'south why it's crucial to consider your domain name carefully, pick one with long-term potential, and brand sure that yous've registered it correctly.

How to register a domain name

Choose a domain name
Check for domain availability
Choose a domain name registrar
Purchase and register your domain name

Choose a domain proper name
Check for domain availability
Choose a domain name registrar
Buy and register your domain name

Register with Shopify
Register with Google Domains
Register with GoDaddy
Annals with IONOS

Renew your domain proper name registration
How do I annals a domain name for complimentary?
How to annals a domain name FAQ

1. Choose a domain name

If y'all don't already have a proper noun for your make, it'due south a good idea to merge the domain selection process with the process of coming up with a brand name. Your domain name will be inseparable from your brand, significant they'll both exist more memorable if they're alike.

If your visitor already has a proper noun, your first-choice domain is likely YourBrand.com, but if that's taken, you take a couple options for making sure it's easy for users to acquaintance your brand with your domain proper noun:

Employ a suffix. Add a give-and-take to the end of your domain proper name to differentiate it. Y'all could add the proper noun of your primary product (yourbrand shoes .com), your location (yourbrand canada .com), or something extensive (yourbrand online .com, yourbrand store .com).

Utilise a prefix. Add an activity-oriented verb at the start of your domain that draws attention to your product ( get yourbrand.com, habiliment yourbrand.com, consume yourbrand.com).

Apply a different domain name extension. A domain name extension, also referred to as a elevation-level domain (TLD), is the suffix that appears at the stop of your domain. The most usually used domain extension is .com, but at that place are also region-specific domain extensions (such every bit .ca, .usa, or .european union) and a growing number of specialty domain extensions (such every bit .shop or .store). Go along in listen that specialty domain extensions tend to be more expensive.

2. Check for domain availability

When users enter a URL in their browser, the browser sends a request to a global network of servers that are able to locate your website using something called the domain proper noun system (DNS).

The DNS is a universally recognized, decentralized organization for naming websites. This is what allows computers, phones, and whatever other device that can access the cyberspace to observe the webpage a user is looking for.

Checking domain availability only takes a couple of seconds, and nearly every registrar and hosting service has a gratuitous domain proper noun search tool that allows you to practice this (via a tape system called WHOIS and RDAP). Hither are a few tools for quickly checking the availability of a domain:

Shopify
Google Domains
GoDaddy
IONOS
Bluehost
Domain.com
Namecheap
HostGator

Retrieve that domain names are universal, so if a domain name is unavailable from i provider, it'due south unavailable from all of them. What'due south swell about these tools is that they'll often suggest similar domains that are bachelor if yours isn't.

If your domain name is unavailable, you might get a bulletin back about brokering the domain. This means that the domain name is taken, just the registrar offers a service wherein they will negotiate with the domain owner on your behalf to effort and get them to sell their domain proper noun.

Although snagging your first-choice domain name might sound enticing, it's of import to understand the risks associated with attempting to broker a domain proper name.

Broker service fees are paid in addition to domain registration fees, fifty-fifty if the current domain possessor is unwilling to sell the domain. The process can be time-consuming and filibuster the launch of your shop. And even if the current owner does make an offer, information technology's likely to be far more expensive than just purchasing an available domain.

Larn more: Domain Name Services: Which Hosting Provider Should Yous Trust?

3. Choose a domain name registrar

A registrar is a visitor that reserves and registers domain names on your behalf. When y'all purchase a domain proper name, either straight from a registrar or through a web-hosting service, information technology'south registered to the DNS for you.

Though there are more a g accredited registrars, it's best to stick with more well-known providers. Using a common provider will make it easier to find info on managing your domain and to troubleshoot bug y'all might take with syncing your domain to other services.

Domains can be purchased from a number of different types of businesses. You might cull to purchase one from a website-edifice platform (like Shopify, Squarespace, or WordPress), a web-hosting service (like HostGator or BlueHost), or directly from a domain registrar (like GoDaddy, NameCheap, or Google Domains).

How much does a domain name price?

Domain names aren't sold for a flat-charge per unit. Instead, they're paid for on a recurring basis (unremarkably annually). When considering the costs of your domain, be mindful of the divergence between the starting toll and the renewal price.

Domain providers often offer discounted rates on domains for the first year or two, especially if the domain is purchased in improver to other services. The starting price is usually lower than the renewal cost, and so when budgeting for the long term, make sure y'all factor in the price of renewing your domain down the road.

On top of this, your domain extension can alter the cost of the domain. Specialty domain extensions similar .store are usually more expensive than available .com domains.

While the price of domains is important, there are a lot of other factors to consider as well. If you're looking for the domain provider that's right for you, hither's a couple of questions to ask yourself:

How like shooting fish in a barrel volition information technology be to point my domain to my website? The advantage of purchasing a domain from a web-building platform is that set-up tends to be fast and piece of cake, since you're merely dealing with i company straight. Using services from different companies adds boosted steps and tends to be more than technical or confusing.

Will I need domain privacy protection? When you annals a domain, your contact info becomes publicly bachelor in the global ICANN registry. Privacy protection is a feature that hides this information. Some providers (like Shopify), provide domain privacy protection for gratis on all domains, just some providers offering this feature at an additional cost.

Which domain extension(due south) do I want to use? A domain extension is the part of the domain that comes at the terminate. All domain providers offering .com domains, but if yous're looking for a region-specific domain extension (such as .ca, .eu, or .au), or a speciality domain (.shop, .shop, etc.), you'll desire to make certain you choose a provider that provides them.

Practise I need whatever other services? Domain registrars normally offering additional services, like ecommerce hosting, website building features, and e-mail hosting. Occasionally, domains are offered at what seems like a low rate, but only in addition to the purchase of other services.

To make it easier to decide, hither's a quick breakup of major domain providers, their starting price points, and cost of WHOIS privacy protection:

Shopify

First-twelvemonth price: Starting at $xiv

Renewal price: $14/yr

WHOIS privacy protection: Free

Google Domains

First-year price: Starting at $10

Renewal toll: $10/yr

WHOIS privacy protection: Gratuitous

GoDaddy

First-year toll: Starting at $0.99

Renewal price: $xviii.99/yr

WHOIS privacy protection: $9.99/year

IONOS

First-year price: Starting at $ane

Renewal toll: $xv/year

WHOIS privacy protection: Costless

Bluehost

Outset-year cost: Starting at $12.99

Renewal cost: $12.99/yr

WHOIS privacy protection: $11.88/year

Domain.com

Kickoff-year price: Starting at $9.99

Renewal price: $9.99/year

WHOIS privacy protection: $8.99/year

Namecheap

Commencement-year price: Starting at $8.98

Renewal price: $xiii.98/year

WHOIS privacy protection: Free

HostGator

First-twelvemonth price: Starting at $12.95

Renewal price: $17.99/yr

WHOIS privacy protection: $14.95/year

4. Purchase and register your domain name

Once y'all've decided on a registrar and a good domain name, yous're ready to continue with purchasing your domain proper name. Once yous've purchased your domain, your provider volition reserve and register it on your behalf.

Registering a domain name with Shopify

If you're edifice an online store, the quickest and easiest way to add together and register a domain is past purchasing information technology directly through Shopify. Setup is automatic, and having a Shopify domain allows you to edit your domain settings, set up subdomains, and create forwarding email addresses all in the same place you manage your ecommerce store.

To register a domain with Shopify, start by logging into your Shopify store and proceeding with these steps:

From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Domains.
Click Buy new domain and enter the domain proper name yous wish to buy. As yous enter your domain, you lot'll run into an motorcar-generated list of available extensions. Click the Buy button next to the domain you'd like to register.
If you haven't added a payment method to your shop, you'll be asked to practice so now. In one case y'all've added your payment method, you'll be brought to the summary page, where you tin edit your personal information, betoken whether you want the domain auto-renewed each year, and review the ICANN policy and the Domain Registration Agreement.
One time y'all stop reviewing the information, click Buy domain.
Afterward you complete the buy, a verification electronic mail volition be sent to the email address associated with your Shopify shop. Click the link in the e-mail to verify your information and complete your domain registration.

After you lot verify your domain, registration is complete. Note that it can accept up to 48 hours earlier the domain is working properly. Once you've completed setting up your domain, you'll be able to edit your domain settings, set upward subdomains, and create forwarding email addresses in the Settings > Domains section of your Shopify admin.

Registering a domain name with Google Domains

Google Domains is one of the most popular domain registrars. Google Domains is owned and operated by Google, and as such, has the benefit of beingness able to easily sync with other Google services.

For case, if you wanted to create custom email addresses with your domain name (info@YourDomain.com, for example), Google Domains has built-in integrations with Gmail and Google Workspace that make setup more seamless.

To register your domain with Google, commencement by going to the Google Domains registration page.

Click the Notice the Perfect 1 button and enter your domain to cheque its availability.
Click the Add to Cart icon side by side to the domain you wish to purchase and annals. If you'd like to purchase additional domains, you can select the Add to Cart icon next to them equally well.
Once you lot have added all your selected domains, click the Get to cart choice that pops up at the bottom of your screen, or select the cart icon in the acme right corner.
On the side by side screen, betoken if you'd like Privacy Protection and whether you'd like the domain to renew automatically after the first year. Click Checkout at the bottom of your cart when you're finished.
One the side by side screen, enter the contact information you'd similar associated with your domain and click Relieve and Continue.
On the next screen, edit your payment information and select Buy.

After you've received confirmation that your purchase was successful, your domain has been reserved and registered with Google Domains.

Registering a domain proper noun with GoDaddy

GoDaddy is one of the oldest and best known domain providers, and then it's very piece of cake to notice data on integrating your domain with all kinds of tertiary-party services. If you're looking to register your domain with GoDaddy, here are the steps you lot'll need to take:

Offset by going to GoDaddy.com and entering your domain into the field and clicking Search Domain.
If your domain is available, click the Go it push button at the meridian of the folio. You can also add more domains from the suggestions beneath by clicking the add together to cart icon next to them.
Once you've selected the domains you want to annals, click Continue to Cart.
One the next page, you'll be offered a number of services GoDaddy provides in improver to its domains. These services include email hosting and website edifice. If you're already using a website-building service, similar Shopify or Squarespace, you'll want to opt out of this service.
One time you've selected the services yous'd like to add to your buy, click Continue to Cart.
On the side by side page, you'll run into a break downwards of your selected services and their charges. You can remove items past selecting the garbage tin can icon. You lot'll likewise exist able to select the payment term. Typically, domains are paid yearly, only GoDaddy allows you to select a term of upwardly to 10 years for .com domains. If everything looks correct, select the I'thousand Gear up to Pay button.
Next, you'll exist prompted to create a GoDaddy account or log in to an existing ane. When yous exercise this, you'll exist asked to provide billing and payment information. Enter your data and proceed to the Complete Purchase page.
Review your information and click Complete Buy if everything is correct.

Once you've completed your purchase, your domain volition exist successfully registered with GoDaddy.

Registering a domain proper noun with IONOS

Headquartered in Frg, Ionos is one of the oldest players in the information technology industry, having been around since 1988. Ionos offers domain registration along with website hosting plans.

To register your domain with IONOS, go to the IONOS homepage:

Enter your domain proper name in the field at the top and select Bank check.
If the domain is available, click Add to Cart next to the domain. Y'all tin as well add additional suggested domains by clicking Add to Cart side by side to them.
I the next folio, IONOS offers a number of services in addition to its domains, such every bit email hosting and website edifice. If you just desire to purchase the domain without any additional services, select Proceed with Domain Just.
On the cart page, review your details and select Proceed.
On the next page, you'll be prompted to create an account with IONOS or log in to an existing account. After doing this, select Continue to proceed to the payment page.
Add your billing and payment information and click Go along.
Review the details of your social club and select Consummate.

After completing your order, your domain registration is complete.

Renew your domain name registration at the end of your term

When you purchase a domain, you're purchasing it for a stock-still length of time, commonly one year. While some domain providers offering longer terms (GoDaddy, for instance, offers up to ten-yr terms for .com domains), domain registration is never permanent.

In guild to hold on to your registered domain, you lot'll want to make sure you renew registration when your term is complete. Nearly all domain providers offer an automated renewal, so it's mostly a skillful thought to take this option selected when you purchase.

Keep in mind that if your payment information changes, y'all'll demand to update your settings with your domain provider so they're able to charge for automatic renewal.

Nigh domain providers will notify yous when it's fourth dimension to renew, whether you take automatic renewal enabled or not, but it's of import to renew your domain. If you don't renew your domain, information technology volition no longer point to your website and may exist purchased by someone else. If you lot don't desire to lose your domain, brand certain you lot renew it.

How do I register a domain name for gratis?

Domain name registration usually comes with a charge, simply in that location are some companies that offer free domain names with the buy of other services. These domains typically come with a lot of customization restrictions and limited features.

Free domains from website builders

Website builders typically offer a gratuitous domain proper noun when y'all sign upwardly to their services, notwithstanding the website domain usually includes their make proper name in the URL and, dissimilar paid domains, they are not transferable to other service providers.

For instance, when you start a Shopify store, y'all'll be provided a gratuitous .myshopify.com domain that can be used as your store's primary domain. WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly offering free domains that contain their own business proper noun besides.

These default domains provide the same basic function every bit a custom domain, merely come with a lot of downsides; they're harder for users to retrieve, they look less professional person, and they don't come up with features like email forwarding or the selection to create subdomains.

Y'all also won't exist able to employ these domains outside the platform they're affiliated with. That means that even if you wanted to use a third-party service provider to add features similar electronic mail hosting, you lot wouldn't be able to.

Generally speaking, it's a skilful idea to purchase a custom domain. Domain registration isn't too expensive, and the charge is worth it for the advantage of being able to customize, transfer, and manage your own domain.

Free domains from hosting services

Hosting providers like BlueHost and GoDaddy offer a year of costless domain registration with the purchase of their other hosting services. If you're looking to use one of these hosting services to build your website, then it's definitely a adept idea to take reward of this selection.

That being said, if you're planning on using a website builder like Shopify, the cost of unneeded hosting services volition be more expensive than purchasing a custom domain. On pinnacle of this, domain registration is only gratis for the first year. Renewing the domain in the years following will still come with the same costs.

Register your domain proper name to give your website the uniqueness it deserves

While registering your domain proper name may be a brusk-term task, it'due south a long-term commitment. Whatever you lot're edifice a website for, your domain will human activity as the anchor of your online presence and stick with you for years to come.

Information technology tin aid your SEO, act equally a pathway for users to acquire more almost your brand, and make it easier for customers to spread the word virtually your products.

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How to register a domain proper name FAQ

How exercise I register my own domain name?

To register your own domain proper name, you'll want to select a domain provider and proceed with purchasing your domain from that provider. Check out the steps above for information on how to register with the most common providers.

Remember that domain registration is temporary; if yous want to keep your domain registered, you'll need to renew it at the end of your registration term.

Are domains free?

Some companies offer a complimentary domain in improver to the purchase of other services. These domains typically come with a lot of customization restrictions and limited features, and commonly include the company'southward brand name in the URL.

Other companies may offer a gratis year of domain registration with the purchase of hosting services, but these domains will still demand to be paid for when renewing the domain registration.

Practise domains demand to be registered?

Domains need to exist registered, but this is done by your domain provider when you buy your domain. You lot will not need to personally annals the domain, as long as yous've paid and provided a registrar with all of your registration information.

How much does information technology price to register a domain proper name per year?

Yearly charges tin can differ depending on the provider and the domain extension. Regional and specialty domains tend to be more than expensive than .com domains. For a full breakdown of costs with major providers, cheque out the Choose a domain registrar section to a higher place.