If you are looking to start your own website, there are several items you’ll have to consider. However, the first is often the most important, and that is domain name registration! This is the name of your webpage, and it is the first impression for all of your visitors. It is important that it be as relevant as possible, to give your site a cohesive feel. After all, if your page is dedicated to caring for canines, yet your name is something like “goodtipsforyou.com”, your visitors will be confused! You may have heard of available free domain name registration as well, and wonder if this is possible. The answer is yes, in some cases, yet they usually have strings attached. To help you determine if this would be a good solution for your situation, and some alternative options, let’s examine this topic in more detail below.

Is Free Domain Name Registration Worth It?

Not paying to procure a domain name is an attractive prospect, but is it really that easy? Unfortunately, no, as most are special offers which require you to sign up for other services. For example, while you may receive a free name registration, you may have to sign up for a hosting package for at least one year. As you will need web hosting anyway to get your site up and running, you may believe this is an acceptable compromise. However, this approach often costs you more in the end. How so? While you’ll get your site name free of charge, the hosting portion is often overpriced, so the company actually charges you more overall! Also, you may be required to purchase other additional upgrades, which can further add to the expense for so-called free domain name registration.

Further, free domains are often very simple, and have none of the features which standard options include. If you want email accounts, storage space, the ability to upload easily and powerful administrative tools, you’ll be out of luck! Also, if you are new to website design, you’ll probably need a good site building program as well. Free options may not provide this valuable tool, while paid versions should have it included. This will help you get started quickly, and your webpage will also be more visually appealing as well.

A Better Solution!

Clearly, for all of the reasons mentioned above, free registration offers aren’t a good solution! Yet, if you are just starting out, you may wonder which registrar will provide you with quality service for an affordable price? This is an excellent question, and three names stand out from the crowd. Dynadot, godaddy and 1and1.com are all reputable companies, and they offer products and prices which are second to none! To help you determine which one is best for your needs, let’s examine each one in turn below.

Dynadot

Dynadot is a well-known name in this industry, and they will provide you with a superior experience. Rather than simply reselling domains, they are an ICANN accredited registrar, meaning they have more options to select from. Also, they can offer you lower prices, due to their high level of automation and reduced overhead.

How much does it cost to register a domain with Dynadot? The current price is just under $10 for .com names, though some other options are even less. For example, a .info name will only cost you $5.75 at the moment. These prices include the entire first year, and many extra features as well. You’ll receive free domain parking with each name you procure, plus ten separate email aliases as well. You can choose to forward your domain if you wish, and you’ll have full DNS capabilities included. Dynadot offers twenty subdomains, and the ability to create text reports for your records. You can also set the name servers if you prefer, and they’ll even host a one page webpage for you free of charge!

Godaddy

Second on the list of quality domain name registrars, is godaddy.com. If you are looking for the most affordable option you can find, this company is an excellent choice! They currently have an amazing special offer, which allows you to register a .info name of your choosing for only $1.99 for the first year. This is an incredible savings, and if you are in need of a webpage, they should be your first stop!

If you prefer to have a .com domain instead, they offer excellent prices for this option as well. If you purchase one of three different monthly upgrades, you will be charged only $1.99 for the first year. If you select either personalized email, their easy site builder tool with hosting included, or just hosting on its own, you’ll then receive this special price. You may prefer to buy just the domain instead, in which case you’ll only be charged $9.99.

Again, they offer many additional features, which are included in this low price. If you love to share your photos with friends and family, you are sure to enjoy godaddy’s built in online photo album program! Also, if you are new to webpage registration and building, they provide an easy guide to get you started. This will show you how to get your site going in a matter of hours, with step by step instructions anyone can follow.

You can forward or mask your domain too, and they will allow you to lock it for additional protection as well. Each domain comes with a full DNS panel to meet all of your administrative needs, so you can control your email preferences, FTP uploads and sub-domains in one convenient location. Finally, if anything important on your site changes, you can receive free alerts instantly.

1and1

Your third and final alternative is 1and1 registration, and they are one of the most respected names in the business. If you want to get started with quality technical support and robust servers, they are the correct solution! Also, their domain registration is truly affordable as well, with .info names available for only $0.99 at the moment. If you prefer a more standard .com domain instead, you’ll only be charged $8.99 for the first year. With the ICANN fee and private registration included, this is a great deal!

All their domains come with valuable free upgrades, such as their five page starter website builder. You’ll also have access to an email account with 2 GB of storage space and 24/7 customer service. They provide full DNS control as well, and they even have a green initiative which will help to save 30,000 tons of CO2 emissions this year!

Conclusion

So, as you can see from the above discussion, free domain name registration is a poor selection. After you fulfill all of the requirements, it is often more expensive than other options, and you may receive less added features. So, if you are in need of a new domain name, it is better to pick dyndadot, godaddy or 1and1 for your registration instead. You’ll receive superior service at an affordable price, and your experience will be much better overall!