What role does a domain registrar play in domain registration?
Domain registrars are companies that facilitate the registration and leasing of domain names on a large scale. They act as intermediaries between domain registries — which manage top-level domains such as .com, or .net — and individuals who wish to reserve and lease a domain.
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What is the difference between a domain registrar and a domain registry?
| Domain registrar | Domain registry |
|---|---|
| Accredited organization responsible for the commercial marketing of domain names to end-users on behalf of domain registries | Central authority for registering and managing TLD domains in the DNS |
| Acts as a commercial intermediary | Delegates commercial allocation and usage rights for TLD domains to registrars (no direct contact with end-users) |
| Handles billing for sold domains and can offer additional support services for end-users | May operate a registrar as a subsidiary but is not responsible for the commercial, competitive allocation of domains |
| Acts as a contractual partner for end-users and can be a subsidiary of a registry | Responsible for accounting, organizing, and assigning allocated or available domains as well as WHOIS server |
Registration, organization, and coordination of domains occur on multiple levels. At the top is ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). Through its sub-organization IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), it oversees and manages Top-Level Domains (TLDs) such as .com, and .net.
ICANN does not allocate domains to end-users, but instead grants the usage rights for TLDs to domain registries or Network Information Centers (NICs). The registries, in turn, manage the commercial domain allocation to domain registrars. Additionally, they keep records of which domains belong to which end-users and organizations. The registrar informs the relevant domain registry when a domain registration has been requested.
An example:
- The domain registration for an address with the .com extension is carried out through the registry Verisign.
- The registrar from which you purchase your domain notifies Verisign of the registration and pays a fee to the registry for providing the domain.
- This fee is included by the registrar in the overall domain charge.
Even though people often talk about buying a domain, it actually involves domain leasing or renting. When you register a domain, the registry grants you ownership rights as long as you pay a monthly or yearly fee for maintenance, management, and additional services.
How to become a domain registrar
If you want to operate as a domain registrar, you must first apply for accreditation with ICANN. This process consists of the following steps:
- Complete and submit the ICANN accreditation application form
- ICANN reviews your information (including financials, IT infrastructure, scalability, and DNS configuration)
- Sign and submit the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA)
- Sign and submit the Registrar Data Escrow (RDE) Agreement (via an ICANN-approved Registrar Data Escrow Agent)
- Pay the accreditation fee
- Receive confirmation of accreditation
Once the accreditation process is complete, ICANN officially recognizes you as an accredited domain registrar. You can now sell registrar domain names to registrants through the appropriate domain registries. For instance, the responsible registry partner for domains ending in .com is Verisign.
What aspects make a good domain registrar?
Pay attention to the following points to ensure the reliability of your domain registrar:
- Price: The cost of creating a website should not be underestimated. In addition to hosting and design, domain fees also apply. Many reputable registrars therefore offer tiered pricing models with affordable starter plans. Average prices for domain registration are typically in the low double-digit range.
- Free WHOIS protection: Domain users (registrants) must, according to ICANN, enter their contact details in the WHOIS database. This includes name, address, phone number, and email. To protect domain privacy, reliable registrars should offer free WHOIS protection.
- Flexible registration period: The duration for which a domain is needed can vary greatly—from just a few weeks to many years. Registrars should therefore provide flexible registration options ranging from a few months to one or more years.
- Automatic renewals and reminders: For domains owned by registrants for two years or more, registrars should enable automatic renewal of the registration period. Additional reminders help notify users about renewals and allow them to cancel if desired.
- Wide range of TLDs: Standard top-level domain extensions include .org, and .com. However, since many others exist—such as .info or .net—registrars should offer a broad selection of available TLDs.
- Restricted domains: Some domains, like .biz (short for “business”), are restricted and only available under certain conditions (in this case, commercial use). Registrars should ideally include these TLDs in their portfolio.
- Additional products and services: Having all services from one provider is the most convenient option for users. For this reason, registrars should offer all-in-one solutions or package deals that include domain registration, hosting, TLS encryption, website creation, or multiple domain registrations.
Beware of domain registration services with any of the following characteristics:
To identify unreliable domain registrars at first glance, look out for the following signs that may indicate poor service quality:
- Non-transparent pricing: Costs that are presented unclearly or inconsistently on the provider’s website are a red flag. Check the fine print for possible hidden conditions or disadvantages when booking services.
- Poor customer support: Reliable registrars should always offer accessible customer service. If no support information is provided on the website or if the assistance is inadequate, it’s best to choose another provider.
- Confusing user interface: A complicated or cluttered interface can signal low quality and lack of professionalism. Look for platforms that are intuitive, well-structured, and easy to navigate.
- Unwanted add-ons: Be cautious of registrars that automatically add extra services such as hosting during checkout, increasing the total cost. Always review the contract details to ensure that all included services are clearly listed before finalizing your purchase.
The best domain registrar options
There are now many domain registrars to choose from. Here’s a helpful overview to help you select one of the best providers:
- IONOS: Offering more than 600 top-level domains, flexible contract terms between 12 and 24 months, affordable starter prices, and an easy registration process, IONOS also includes many extras such as SSL certificates, hosting, SEO tools, email inboxes, strong data protection, and website builders.
- GoDaddy: One of the largest domain registrars in the world, GoDaddy provides millions of domains, 24/7 customer support, web hosting, email solutions, and an intuitive website builder — ideal for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Namecheap: Known for competitive pricing and transparency, Namecheap offers a wide range of top-level domains, free WHOIS privacy protection, SSL certificates, and reliable hosting plans.
- InternetX: Starting with a 12-month contract, InternetX allows customers to choose from more than 1,000 top-level domains and benefit from additional services such as 24/7 emergency support, reseller programs, and tailored hosting environments.