Canada’s Best Domain Registrars – Costs + How to Choose

Are you looking to take your business online? Or perhaps you're working on a personal project? Then, you're likely already facing the first challenge: choosing the best domain registrar.

Most of the ones available offer attractive introductory rates. That's until you encounter the steep renewals and lengthy contract terms.

We took matters into our own hands and put together a list of the best domain registrars to simplify your decision and make sure there are no surprises down the line.

What Is A Domain Registrar?

A domain registrar is a service that handles the sales and management of domain names. Essentially, it ensures the domain you choose is reserved just for you, and no one else can claim it by linking you as the owner and plugging it into the worldwide DNS system.

Most providers also throw in a few add-on services, like the option to renew your domain, add to your privacy settings, or even bundle it with web hosting—all in one spot.

🇨🇦 Best Domain Registrar Services 🇨🇦

Below, we’ve included our picks for the best domain registrars. Additionally, many of these companies offer other services and types of support. Prices vary, as does what’s included in each of the companies’ various plans.

Some of the best domain registrars out there today include:

Bluehost is known to offer one of the cheapest beginner rates. It’s highly reliable thanks to its round-the-clock online support and has been recommended by the WordPress core since 2006.

NameCheap delivers some of the lowest registration prices for top-level domain names (TLD). Plus, each one gets free WHOIS privacy as long as you stick with the provider. Web hosting, VPNs, and email are also available.

GoDaddy offers domains but is also used for web hosting, email and marketing tools, and even a website builder. Therefore, we recommend going for it if you're after a one-stop shop.

When starting out, you’ll get a substantial discount. However, to maximize it, you might be better off signing up for a long-term commitment.

Domain.com has been a world leader in domain registration and web hosting since 2000. Their mission is to offer high-quality and reliable domain names, web hosting, Email, SSL certificates, web design, and online marketing services.

Names.com was founded in 2003 by Bill Mushkin in Denver, and it offers both domain names and hosting packages. Within that is a range of plans that are beginner-friendly, such as shared and email hosting, SSL certificates, and domain names.

HostGator hosts more than 8 million domains, and although it's mainly known for its excellent web hosting service, it’s also a prominent domain registrar. The best thing about it is that if you buy at least one year's worth of 1cloud, shared, or WordPress hosting, then the domain name is completely free of charge.

IONOS delivers scalable shared, cloud, VPS, and WordPress hosting with solid customer support for newcomers and tech-savvy users alike. It's most commonly known for its affordable pricing and employs avant-garde technology to manage over 12 million domains.

Register.com by Newfold Digital offers everything from web design, hosting, and domain names to marketing to all kinds of business sizes, including small businesses.

InMotion Hosting specializes in high-tier shared plans with unlimited site creation and NVMe storage, which allows multiple websites to be created under one account without extra log-ins or purchases. They also simplify the setup process, including the acquisition of domains and SSLs.

Google Domains is a very different kind of domain (and email) registrar, with fair and transparent pricing, complementary domain privacy, and domain choice insights, especially convenient if you've already chosen your web host.

Choosing the Best Domain Registrar 🗄️

Finding the best domain registrar and web hosting services in Canada for your site can be tricky, but understanding a few important things can make the process easier.

First, you need to have goals for your site, set a budget, and know what you need to operate your site. When you have decided the criteria that you won't go without come back and choose one of the domain registrars from our top 10 domain registrars review.

Evaluating these factors will help you whittle down the list of potential domain registrars and make the best decision based on your circumstances.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular domain name registrars in existence today. They offer everything from basic registration to comprehensive packages that allow you to fully operate your personal, business, or e-commerce website.

Prices vary a great deal for TLDs, so it’s important to have a budget in mind before you make a decision.

At first glance, registering a domain might seem a little too cheap (some as low as $.99 per year) but when you consider the various features, you’ll need to accomplish your goals, the cheapest option might not remain that way in the long run.

It’s also important to consider customer service. All of the options on our list offer some type of customer service, but some feature more comprehensive plans than others. If you are operating a traditional or e-commerce business it’s essential you have access to the best possible support.

Fixing problems with your site as quickly as possible prevents you from losing income and without easily accessed customer service this can be impossible.

You’ll also want to think about the overall ability of the domain registrar to provide adequate hosting and keep your website up and running and visitor-friendly.

Stability and Security 🔒

This means you want to work with a company that offers fast load times and as little downtime as possible. All of the companies on our list offer at least adequate load times and uptime, but this varies from company to company, so do your research before finalizing your choice.

In some cases, security is also a concern. Though not everyone will want to protect their identity and contact information, if you do, you’ll want to make sure your domain registrar and hosting company offers privacy protection. For more on protection see our list of the best VPN services in Canada.

All of the choices on our list below do offer access to privacy protection when available, though some charge a fee while others do not. Weigh the cost of paying for privacy against the other features available in order to determine if it’s worth paying for privacy protection.

Finally, you’ll want to work with a company that is established, so we’ve included information about how long each of these domain registrars has been in business.

The oldest company might not be the best option for you, but you be skeptical of companies that appear to be “fly by night” or that have just recently launched. You need a track record by which to judge them.

How to Choose the Best Domain Name Registrar for You

Before making the decision on which domain registrar fits you best, we recommend weighing the following points:

• Pricing - Look out for the add-ons, hidden charges, renewal costs, and any discounts available.
• Unique Extensions - While some domain extensions like .com are widely available, others can be harder to find.
• Convenience - It'd be great to have a simple connection process to follow when linking your domain to your web hosting or email hosting service.
• Support - Look for quality customer support in terms of availability hours and also support methods.