When Google announced it was closing its Domains service, the news sent a wave of uncertainty through the community. We immediately felt it too, as we manage dozens of domains for our own business and our clients.
That announcement kicked off a massive project for our team: finding the best new homes for over 100 domains. This hands-on migration process gave us a unique, real-world perspective on which registrars are truly the best alternatives.
In this guide, we’ll share our findings and compare the top Google Domains alternatives we’ve personally tested. We’ll help you pick the right one based on price, features, and support, so you can make the switch with confidence.
In a hurry? Here’s an overview of our top picks to help you choose the best Google Domains alternative quickly:
| Rank | Provider | Best For | Pricing |
| 🥇 | Network Solutions | Easy domain registration | Varies |
| 🥈 | Hostinger | Affordable hosting with free domain | Starts at $2.69/mo |
| 🥉 | GoDaddy | Wide domain selection | Starts at $0.99/yr |
| 4 | Bluehost | WordPress hosting with free domain | Starts at $1.99/mo |
| 5 | SiteGround | Fast and secure hosting with free domain | Starts at $2.99/mo |
| 6 | Namecheap | Free domain security (DNSSEC) | Starts at $6.49/yr |
| 7 | Hover | Domain registration with free WHOIS | Varies |
| 8 | DreamHost | Web hosting with free domain | Starts $2.59/mo |
| 9 | HostGator | Affordable hosting with free domain | Starts at $1.99/mo |
Why Do You Need a Google Domains Alternative?
Google launched a domain registration service in 2015 to help users find, buy, and manage a domain for their business.
However, Google Domains announced in June 2023 that it was closing down, and Squarespace will now take over the business and assets. Squarespace is a popular website builder that also provides hosting services.
With Google Domains ending, all the existing customers and their domains will be migrated to the Squarespace platform.
One of the drawbacks of transitioning to Squarespace will be domain renewal costs. Squarespace has said it will honor all existing Google Domains customers’ renewal prices for at least 12 months. However, you can expect higher renewal costs after that.
Besides that, many other domain registration services in the market offer free domain names with hosting plans. Plus, the hosting plans are often much cheaper than Squarespace’s domain services.
How We Test and Review Google Domains Alternatives
Picking the right place to register your domain name is a big deal when you’re starting a website. Since Google Domains is going away, it’s important to find a good replacement that’s easy to use and reliable.
We’ve used lots of domain services, so we know what makes a good one. When we test out Google Domains alternatives, we look at these main things:
- Domain Name Choices: We check if they offer a wide range of domain extensions, including popular ones like .com and also country-specific and niche extensions. A good alternative should have plenty of options to find the domain you need.
- Domain Management and Features: We look for essential domain management tools. This includes WHOIS privacy, DNS management, domain transfers, renewals, and security features like DNSSEC and SSL options. Easy access to these features is important.
- Pricing and Value: We compare the costs of domain registration, renewals, and transfers. We also pay close attention to web hosting providers that offer a free domain name, so you can get your domain and hosting together. We look for the best overall value and deals.
- Customer Support and Help: If you run into problems with your domain, getting good support is key. We check if they offer 24/7 support, how easy it is to get in touch, and if their support team is helpful and knowledgeable in resolving domain-related issues.
Why Trust WPBeginner?
Our team has 16+ years of experience building and managing WordPress websites, during which we’ve registered and managed thousands of domains across every major registrar.
When Google Domains announced its shutdown, we personally guided hundreds of clients through the migration process, giving us unique insights into what works (and what doesn’t) with different registrars.
We maintain test domains with multiple registrars to monitor their long-term performance and service quality.
Plus, as one of the largest WordPress resource sites, we regularly receive feedback from our community about their experiences with different domain registrars, giving us an even broader perspective on which services consistently deliver the best results.
For more details, please see our editorial process.
Before we dive in, it’s helpful to know there are two main types of services on our list. Some are dedicated domain registrars (their main job is to register domains), while others are web hosting providers that offer a domain as part of a package.
If you just need to buy and manage a domain, a registrar is perfect. If you’re starting a new website from scratch, getting your domain and hosting together in a bundle can be easier and more affordable. We’ll point out which is which! 😉
That said, let’s look at some of the best Google Domains alternatives you can get your hands on today.
1. Network Solutions
Network Solutions is the best Google Domains alternative in the market and one of the most popular domain registrars, with over 7 million domains registered. You get top-level domain name extensions (TLDs) and lots of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).
It offers domain features such as domain transfer, forwarding, private registration, expiration protection, WHOIS search, WHOIS privacy protection, trademark protection, and more.
Network Solutions also easily integrates with Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite). You can use your Gmail for business emails and access other tools like Google Drive for storage. You also get file-sharing tools and can communicate with others using Google Meet.
Besides that, Network Solutions offers web hosting services, website builder and web design services, email marketing services, and more. There are different security features, including SSL certificates, daily malware scans, automatic malware removal, and more.
While these additional services are beneficial, Network Solutions is the perfect solution for registering a domain without hosting and using it as an alternative to Google Domains.
For WPBeginner readers, Network Solutions is offering a 67% off discount on domain products, so you can get started for only $9.79 per year. Simply use our Network Solutions coupon and the promo code: NAMEBOY during checkout to get your hands on the offer.
What We Like About Network Solutions
- Long-standing reputation in the domain industry
- Comprehensive selection of TLDs and ccTLDs at competitive prices
- Seamless integration with Google Workspace for business email
- Strong security features, including SSL certificates and malware scanning
What We Don’t Like About Network Solutions
- Dated user interface
- Some users may find the domain management system complex
- Limited customer support options
- Renewal prices are higher than initial registration
Why We Recommend Network Solutions: Choose Network Solutions if you want a reliable, long-standing domain registrar that lets you pick and choose the services you need. It’s a great option whether you just want to register a domain or bundle it with hosting, email, and security tools.
2. Hostinger
Hostinger is another popular WordPress hosting service that also offers free domain registration. You can choose from top-level domain name extensions (TLDs) and get free WHOIS privacy protection.
What makes Hostinger a great Google Domains alternative is that you get a variety of web hosting types to choose from. For instance, you can share hosting, cloud hosting, managed WordPress hosting, and VPS hosting.
Plus, it offers affordable hosting prices compared to Squarespace, which will be the domain hosting platform once Google Domains shuts down.
Besides that, Hostinger offers a free CDN, a 1-click WordPress install, automatic updates, enhanced security features, 24/7 live chat support, free email, free SSL, unlimited bandwidth, WordPress acceleration, and more.
You can check out our Hostinger coupon to get exclusive discounts, and also read our expert Hostinger review for complete details.
What We Like About Hostinger
- Free domain included with hosting plans
- Exceptionally competitive pricing
- Free WHOIS privacy protection included
- User-friendly domain management interface
What We Don’t Like About Hostinger
- Domain prices without hosting are less competitive
- Limited selection of TLDs compared to dedicated registrars
- Domain transfers can be complicated
- Standalone domain prices are less competitive than their bundled offers
Why We Recommend Hostinger: Choose Hostinger if you’re starting a new website and want the best value for your money. By bundling a free domain with their already affordable hosting, they offer an unbeatable deal for beginners, small businesses, and anyone on a budget.
3. GoDaddy
GoDaddy is the next Google Domains alternative on our list. It is one of the oldest and most popular domain registrars.
GoDaddy offers over 84 million domains to choose from, with over 500 domain extensions. It is a great place to search and register a domain.
It is an excellent alternative to Google Domains because it is a one-stop solution. You can buy a domain of your choice, choose a web hosting plan, and start to build a WordPress website. It also offers one of the cheapest domain registration services, with prices starting from $0.99 per year.
If you can’t find the domain you’re looking for, then GoDaddy also offers a WHOIS search feature and domain broker service. You can hire GoDaddy to find, negotiate, and purchase a domain through the broker service.
There is also an auction section on GoDaddy where you can see domains up for sale. Simply bid for a name you’re looking for before the auction ends.
Besides that, you get other features like beginner-friendly domain management facilities. This includes domain name changes, bulk domain renewals, and more. GoDaddy also offers WordPress hosting, a website builder, an email marketing service, and other tools.
What We Like About GoDaddy
- Largest selection of domain extensions available
- Frequent promotional pricing deals
- Powerful domain search and suggestion tools
- Comprehensive domain auction and brokerage services
What We Don’t Like About GoDaddy
- Aggressive upselling during checkout
- Higher renewal rates after the first year
- Premium prices for WHOIS privacy
- Complex control panel interface
Why We Recommend GoDaddy: Choose GoDaddy if you need the widest possible selection of domain extensions or are looking for advanced tools like domain auctions and brokerage services. Their powerful search tools are perfect for finding that unique domain name or acquiring a premium one for your brand.
4. Bluehost
Bluehost is the best web hosting service and the official WordPress hosting partner. They offer fast and affordable hosting services along with domain name registration services.
If you’re looking for a Google Domains alternative that also offers web hosting and free SSL, then Bluehost is one of the best solutions.
With Bluehost, you get a free domain name and a free SSL certificate with each hosting plan. This means you don’t have to pay extra to purchase a domain or get an SSL certificate.
Another benefit of choosing Bluehost is that WordPress comes pre-installed. It also has a beginner-friendly interface, and you can easily manage everything from a single dashboard. Plus, you can use Google Workspace to set up your business emails.
WPBeginner readers can enjoy a 70% off discount on Bluehost. This means you can start with a domain name and web hosting for only $2.99 per month.
What We Like About Bluehost
- Free domain with hosting packages
- WordPress-optimized features
- One-click WordPress installation
- Excellent uptime and reliability
What We Don’t Like About Bluehost
- Higher renewal rates after the first year
- Limited domain management features
- Must purchase hosting to get the best domain prices
- Domain privacy costs extra
Why We Recommend Bluehost: Choose Bluehost if you’re building a new WordPress website and want the easiest, most integrated startup experience. As an officially recommended WordPress host, everything is optimized for WordPress right out of the box, making it perfect for beginners.
5. SiteGround
SiteGround is a top-rated hosting provider known for its excellent performance and customer support. This makes it a great Google Domains alternative, especially for users who want a high-quality service.
Similar to Hostinger and Bluehost, SiteGround offers a great all-in-one solution that combines domain registration with high-quality hosting and email services. While you have to pay for your domain separately, you can conveniently manage it in the same dashboard as your website.
You can manage everything through SiteGround’s user-friendly custom control panel, Site Tools. It also includes managed WordPress features like one-click installation, automatic core and plugin updates, security, and SEO optimization.
Where SiteGround truly stands out is its speed, which is a key reason why we switched WPBeginner to their hosting. Their platform is built on Google Cloud’s premium infrastructure and includes a free CDN and powerful caching to ensure your website loads incredibly fast.
Plus, WPBeginner readers can get an 83% discount on SiteGround, allowing you to get hosting and a domain name for only $2.99 per month.
What We Like About SiteGround
- Powerful and user-friendly site management tools
- Industry-leading speed and performance
- Advanced security features are included for free
- Amazing 24/7 expert customer support
What We Don’t Like About SiteGround
- Higher renewal prices after the initial term
- Domain pricing is high when purchased without hosting
- Limited storage space compared to some competitors
- Doesn’t use the traditional cPanel interface you may be used to
Why We Recommend SiteGround: Choose SiteGround if your top priorities are website speed, security, and access to expert support. While you don’t get a free domain, you get a best-in-class managed WordPress hosting platform that’s ideal for growing businesses.
6. Namecheap
Namecheap is another attractive Google Domains alternative. It is a popular domain registrar that offers a powerful domain search tool. Plus, Namecheap provides suggestions for different domains if the preferred name or extension isn’t available.
Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) is free with every purchase of a domain name. This provides an extra layer of security by checking the DNS address and keeps your domain secure from cyber threats.
Namecheap also provides different types of hosting services. You can choose from shared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated servers, and reseller hosting.
Besides that, you get 24/7 customer support, a free 2-month email address trial, privacy protection, domain transfer, SSL certificates, and more.
What We Like About Namecheap
- Free WHOIS privacy protection
- Consistently competitive pricing
- User-friendly interface
- Free DNSSEC on all domains
What We Don’t Like About Namecheap
- Limited phone support options
- Some TLDs are priced higher than competitors
- DNS propagation can be slower
- Basic domain management tools
Why We Recommend Namecheap: Choose Namecheap if you want affordable, straightforward domain registration with free privacy protection included for life. They are a great choice for anyone on a budget who wants to avoid hidden fees and upsells.
7. Hover
Hover is a beginner-friendly domain name registrar service and a great alternative to Google Domains.
It makes it very easy to find a domain name of your choice and purchase it. You can also choose from popular domain extensions and other niche TLDs. You can also transfer domains and renew them.
The best part of using Hover is getting WHOIS and 2-factor authentication for free with every purchase. This is something that makes it different from Google Domains and worth checking out as a replacement for the service.
Hover also offers tools like custom emails and Realnames emails to create a personal touch for your readers. The Realnames email lets you turn your name into an email address in the format of firstname@lastname.
What We Like About Hover
- Clean, no-upsell checkout process
- Free WHOIS privacy included
- Intuitive domain management
- Excellent email forwarding features
What We Don’t Like About Hover
- Higher prices than most competitors
- No hosting services available
- Limited TLD selection
- Fewer advanced features
Why We Recommend Hover: Choose Hover if you just want to buy a domain name with zero hassle or upsells. Their entire experience is built around simplicity, making them perfect for users who value a clean, straightforward interface for managing their domains.
8. DreamHost
DreamHost is another great Google Domains alternative. Like many other options on the list, it also helps you register a domain and get web hosting for your website.
With their annual hosting plans, you get a free domain name, SSL certificate, and domain privacy for the first year.
There are over 400 domain extensions to choose from. Besides that, DreamHost provides a variety of hosting options.
For instance, you can select shared hosting, managed WordPress hosting called DreamPress, dedicated server hosting, cloud hosting, VPS hosting, and more. You can see our details DreamHost review to learn more.
It also easily integrates with Google Workspace. Plus, DreamHost offers email hosting, a website builder option, custom web design, SEO marketing, social media marketing, and other website management services.
You can find our exclusive DreamHost coupon code here that helps you save 72%.
What We Like About DreamHost
- Free domain with hosting plans
- Free privacy protection
- Strong uptime record
- Excellent WordPress integration
What We Don’t Like About DreamHost
- Limited domain extensions are available
- Domain-only purchases are expensive
- Basic domain management interface
- Limited support hours
Why We Recommend DreamHost: Choose DreamHost if you’re looking for quality WordPress hosting that includes a domain and privacy protection for free with its annual plans. Their commitment to privacy and a strong uptime record makes them an excellent choice for business websites.
9. HostGator
HostGator is the last Google Domains alternative on our list. It is another popular hosting provider for WordPress that offers a free domain name.
What makes it an attractive option compared to Google Domains is the pricing plans. With their annual plans, you get affordable hosting that includes free one-year domain registration, an SSL certificate, an easy WordPress install, and more.
HostGator also offers a domain transfer feature. You can migrate a domain from another platform, such as Google Domains, to HostGator.
Aside from that, the hosting service provides other features like website builder, shared and dedicated hosting, Google Workspace integration, web design facility, SEO and pay-per-click (PPC) consultation, and more.
What We Like About HostGator
- Free domain with hosting packages
- Affordable introductory pricing
- Easy domain transfer process
- 24/7 customer support
What We Don’t Like About HostGator
- High renewal rates
- Aggressive upselling
- Limited domain management features
- Privacy protection costs extra
Why We Recommend HostGator: Choose HostGator if you’re a beginner looking for a reliable, all-in-one hosting and domain package. Their easy setup process and 24/7 support make them a great starting point for launching your first website.
Which Google Domains Alternative Is the Best?
After reviewing multiple services, our top picks are Network Solutions, Hostinger, and GoDaddy.
Network Solutions makes it super easy to find a domain name with multiple domain extensions. It also offers some of the best domain management and security features.
On the other hand, if you want a domain name with web hosting, we highly recommend Hostinger. With each hosting plan, you get a free domain name and SSL certificate for one year.
If you’re in the market to just register a domain name, then GoDaddy is an excellent alternative to Google Domains because it offers powerful domain search tools.
FAQs about Google Domains Alternatives
Here are some frequently asked questions about choosing a Google Domains alternative.
1. Is Google good for buying domains?
Google launched Google Domains in 2015 to help users buy a domain name for their websites and offer competitive prices compared to other domain registration services.
However, Squarespace acquired Google Domains in 2023. Once the migration is complete, you can purchase domains on Squarespace, and Google Domains will no longer be available.
2. Why is Google Domains better than GoDaddy?
One of the reasons why people liked Google Domains is because it offered cheaper domains compared to GoDaddy.
However, with Google Domains transitioning to Squarespace, GoDaddy is a more attractive option than Squarespace. You get more features, web hosting, a website builder, and more in GoDaddy.
3. What is the lowest cost of a domain?
The cost usually depends on the domain name and extension you’re looking for. Network Solutions offers domain names starting from $11.99.
On the other hand, Hostinger offers a domain for free with its WordPress starter and higher plans. GoDaddy lets you register a domain for as low as $0.99.
4. Can I sell my Google domain?
Yes, you can sell your Google domain. There are many domain registrars and marketplaces where you can sell your domain.
For example, GoDaddy lets you select domains from your portfolio and list them for sale. Besides that, you can also use marketplaces like Flippa and Efty to sell your domain or website.
Additional Resources & Related Guides
We hope this article helped you pick the best Google Domains alternative for your needs. You may also find these other guides useful as you manage your website:
- How to Choose the Best Domain Name: Our guide offers tips and tools to help you pick a memorable and effective domain for your brand.
- Domain Name vs. Web Hosting: Learn the key differences between a domain and hosting and see why you need both to build a website.
- How to Get a Free Domain Name: Discover legitimate ways to register a domain name for free, often by bundling it with a web hosting plan.
- How to Transfer a Domain Without Losing SEO: Moving an existing site? Follow our step-by-step guide for a smooth transition that won’t hurt your rankings.
- How to Set Up a Professional Business Email: Once you have your domain, learn how to create a custom email address to build credibility.
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Jiří Vaněk
I am interested in Hostinger as a new registrar. However, I want to ask if I register domains with this company and am not satisfied, is it possible to transfer the domains to another registrar, or do I have to stay with this company? Do you have any experience with this, or is it more a question for their support?
WPBeginner Support
If you do not like your domain registrar, you will have the option to change registrars.
Admin
Jiří Vaněk
Thanks for the reassurance and peace of mind. Now, there’s nothing left but to give this company a try, knowing that I can always transfer the domain elsewhere if needed. Thank you for your response and the reassurance. I feel much more at ease now as I go ahead and place the order.
Moinuddin Waheed
Good list of Google domain alternatives, I have used many of these for domain name like hostinger, bluehost, GoDaddy and namecheap.
I think for domain name registration, namecheap is the best solution.
or if someone buys hosting as well then hostinger and others come with one year free domain registration which eradicates the need to point to server names.
Thanks for the alternatives.
Ralph
Great list of alternatives and everybody should check them out because every offer can change at any given moment.
Doug Simms
Your reviews seem a bit shallow since they left off the high cost of domain names on Network Solutions – over $35/yr for .com domain names. That’s the reason I switched from Network Solutions to Google Domains in the first place. I will check out the first two you recommended, but you should have included and discussed Network Solution’s price in your reviews.
WPBeginner Support
Unless you had a domain specific price, there shouldn’t be a large discrepancy in the pricing. You may wan t to ensure you did not add more to your cart during the checkout process for a likely reason why the prices differ.
Admin
Gwenn
As always, thank you for your generous time and valuable advice.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad to hear you’ve found our content helpful!
Admin