Updated: Oct 8
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A domain name registrar is an organization accredited to manage the reservation, registration and management of domain names.
It sits between you and the registries that keep the master list of every name in a given extension, which is why the registrar you choose shapes what you pay, how much control you get and who you call when something breaks.
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TL;DR: what is a domain name registrar?
A domain name registrar is the business ICANN authorizes to take your order for a name and record it with the registry that owns that ending. Day to day it is where you renew, point DNS, switch ownership and turn privacy on, so the one you pick decides how much of that you can do yourself and what it costs you in year two and beyond.
You’ll learn:
What a domain registrar does and does not do
How registrars work with ICANN and registries
Why your choice of registrar matters long-term
Pricing, hidden fees and renewal traps to watch for
How to evaluate registrar security and support
How to transfer your domain to a different registrar
How domain registrars work
Registrars allow you to search for available domains, purchase them and then maintain their registration. They make it possible to check and be sure that your chosen domain name is unique and not already in use.
They're also integral to the Domain Name System (DNS) , a hierarchical system that translates human-friendly domain names into IP addresses, so browsers can locate and access websites. Registrars manage the DNS records associated with each registered domain.
When it comes to your website and online business, a domain name is important to helping you to stand out and build a brand. Much like with your company or brand name, it will become something your customers trust and recognize. This makes it important to not only choose the right one but to make sure you choose and register it with a reputable domain name registrar, so you know it's yours for as long as you need it. Over 90% of startups that have reached a $100M+ valuation launched with a .com domain, and 46% of small businesses report that having a custom domain directly increases credibility with their customers, according to Wix's domain name statistics research.
You can't own a domain name permanently but a solid domain name registrar will make sure you can renew it easily every year, or according to other set renewal cycles, so that you have it for your business no matter what. That renewal cycle is now something most site owners plan for rather than discover: according to the Wix State of Websites report, custom domain adoption among published sites rose from 26% in 2022 to 66% in 2025.
What do domain name registrars do?
Domain registration: Registrars enable users to search for and register available domain names, ensuring each domain is unique and not already in use. Learn more about how to choose a domain name.
DNS management: They provide tools to manage Domain Name System (DNS) settings, allowing users to connect their domain to websites, email services and other online platforms.
WHOIS database maintenance: Registrars maintain records of domain ownership, including contact information, accessible through the WHOIS database.
Domain renewals and transfers: They handle the renewal of domain registrations and facilitate the transfer of domains between different registrars as needed.
Additional services: Many registrars offer supplementary services such as web hosting, email hosting, SSL certificates and privacy protection.
As Noah Lopata, the owner of Epidemic Marketing shares:
"Always buy your own domain directly from a registrar. I've seen too many businesses lose their entire online presence because someone else controlled their domain. One of my Denver clients lost a 10-year-old domain with solid SEO rankings because their previous agency owned it and refused to transfer it during a dispute."
Domain name registrars and ICANN
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to namespaces on the internet.
What does ICANN do in relation to domain registrars?
ICANN accredits registrars, checking and enforcing that they meet specific standards and guidelines. This accreditation is essential for a secure and reliable domain registration process that you can rely on. Not every company selling domains is a registrar. Resellers sell on behalf of an accredited registrar for a fee, which is legitimate but often means thinner support and less direct control when something goes wrong. Their sites rarely say so outright. ICANN publishes the full list of accredited registrars, so if you want to know which you're dealing with, that list settles it.
ICANN enforces compliance with policies designed to protect registrants' rights and ensure security across the internet. It plays a pivotal role in preventing fraudulent activities related to domain registrations.
Domain registrar vs registry vs registrant
When it comes to understanding what a domain name registrar is there is some terminology that's important to know, as each is a crucial part of the domain name system. These are:
Registrar: A company authorized by ICANN to sell domain names directly to consumers. They provide services such as DNS management and customer support.
Registry: An organization responsible for managing top-level domains (TLDs), such as .com or .org. They maintain a database of all registered domains within their TLDs.
Registrant: The individual or business that registers a domain name through a registrar. As a registrant, you hold the rights to use that specific domain name for your website or email services for the agreed upon time period with your registrar.
Did you know: the high-traffic .surf domains today are mostly unrelated to surfing, which means the good surf names are still sitting unregistered.
How to choose the right domain name registrar
Selecting the right domain registrar is a critical decision for your business, as it impacts your website and branding online. With over 176 million .com and .net domains registered at the end of the first quarter of 2026, you’re entering a highly competitive space. Some criteria to look at include:
Customer service
Reliable customer service is essential, so look for registrars, like Wix, that offer 24/7 support and multiple contact options, such as phone, email and live chat. This should mean you can resolve any issues quickly and without any stress.
Pricing
Compare pricing structures among registrars and not just the initial registration cost but also renewal fees and any additional charges. Transparent pricing helps avoid unexpected expenses. With Wix, eligible annual plans include a voucher for one free year of a new domain, with standard renewal pricing after that.
The pattern to watch for is a low first-year price attached to a much higher renewal. A domain advertised at a few dollars can renew at four or five times that, and because domains renew for as long as you hold them, the renewal price is the one that actually determines what the name costs you. Check it before you buy, not at renewal.
Two other line items are worth reading closely. Some registrars charge separately for WHOIS privacy, premium DNS or transfers out, and some set auto-renew off by default, which is how people lose domains they meant to keep. According to Business Research Insights, the global domain name market was valued at $9.98 billion in 2025 and is expected to nearly double to $16.57 billion by 2035, so there is real commercial pressure behind these pricing structures.
Expert insight from Kacper Rafalski, Demand Generation Team Leader at Netguru:
Being an established company, with a big reputation in Europe, the pricing on our domain has seen an increase over the last few years. We've missed the chance to expand the plan for more years and had to renew it from scratch, and all of a sudden the pricing went to around $110 per year.
— Kacper Rafalski, Demand Generation Team Leader at Netguru
Reputation
Research the reputation of potential registrars by reading reviews and recommendations from other businesses. A reputable registrar will have a track record of reliability and customer satisfaction.
What are some popular domain registrars?
If you need a free web hosting platform in addition to a domain name, then choosing Wix is a good idea. On top of a long list of website templates and Wix features for building a professional online presence, you’ll get access to powerful domain management tools, such as a domain registrar lookup, easy transfer, subdomains and a business email address. Furthermore, Wix will also provide you with 24/7 security monitoring, HTTPS and SSL protection, which are essential when you're learning how to make a website. Note that Wix automatically masks your contact details in the public record at no cost, while full private registration is a paid add-on that can be selected when you buy the domain or when you extend your subscription.
Better baseline than most people check: Every Wix site gets SSL, global CDN delivery, 99.99% uptime, automatic security updates and DDoS protection included in all paid plans regardless of tier. There's no separate hosting bill, no server maintenance and no security plugin to manage.
Other popular options include name.com, domain.com, Namecheap and Bluehost.
Learn more: Best domain registrars
What are some other services domain registrars might offer?
Domain registrars often provide a range of additional services that can enhance your online capabilities and website. These services go beyond basic domain registration, offering business tools and features.
Google workspace integration
Some registrars offer seamless integration with Google Workspace, enabling you to set up professional email addresses and access Google's suite of productivity tools. This integration can enhance collaboration and communication within your business.
For example, in some regions you can purchase Google Workspace email for your business email domain directly from Wix (e.g. yourname@mybusiness.org).
Domain name generator
A domain name generator can not only help you come up a domain name you love, it can also help you check that your domain name is available.
What are the benefits of choosing an all-in-one domain registrar?
Opting for a registrar that provides a wide array of services can be advantageous in a few ways. One of these is convenience. Managing multiple aspects of your website through a single provider simplifies administration and reduces the complexity of dealing with multiple vendors.
Bundling services such as hosting, email and security features with domain registration can also lead to cost savings compared to purchasing each service separately. It also makes them easier to manage from one provider.
Protecting your domain with security features
Registrars hold the keys to your domain, which makes their security your security. Domain hijacking, where someone transfers or repoints a domain without the owner's permission, is the risk that matters most, because it can redirect your traffic to a site impersonating yours.
ICANN asks accredited registrars to protect against this in four specific ways, and they're worth checking for by name when you compare providers: careful handling of AuthInfo codes (the randomly generated codes that authorize a transfer), registrar locks that block transfers until you deliberately unlock them, identity verification at registration, and a full audit record of every change made to your domain.
Two settings are yours to control rather than the registrar's. Turn on the registrar lock and leave it on except when you're actively transferring, and enable two-factor authentication on the account itself, since an attacker who reaches your registrar login does not need to defeat any of the protections above.
Expert insight from Rob Gold, VP of Marketing Communications at Intermedia:
Investing in a premium domain reduces the risk of phishing, cybersquatting and brand confusion, which can damage customer trust and impact revenue. This was a top priority for us, considering the line of work we do.
— Rob Gold, VP of Marketing Communications at Intermedia
How to transfer a domain to another registrar
Registrars are not a life sentence. If pricing, support or features stop working for you, ICANN's transfer policy guarantees you the right to move, and the mechanics are the same almost everywhere: unlock the domain at your current registrar, request the AuthInfo or EPP code, then submit that code to the new registrar and approve the confirmation email.
Two timing rules catch people out. A domain generally can't be transferred within 60 days of being registered or of a previous transfer, and changing the registrant's contact details can also start a 60-day clock. Transfers usually complete in five to seven days, and your remaining registration time comes with you, so transferring shortly before expiry does not cost you the year you already paid for.
Choosing the best domain registrar for multiple domains
For businesses with multiple domains, effective management of your domain portfolio is important. A well-organized portfolio ensures that all your domains are used efficiently and remain secure.
Choose a registrar that offers tools for managing multiple domains from a single dashboard. This centralization simplifies tasks such as renewals, DNS updates and contact information changes.
Enable automated renewal options to prevent accidental expiration of critical domains. This feature ensures continuous ownership and avoids disruptions to your online presence. As Lawrence Irby, the president of Bay Area House Buyer explains:
"I remember wondering if buying alternate domain names was really necessary or just a marketing gimmick. But then a competitor scooped up a variation of ours and ran ads against it, which created a lot of confusion for sellers reaching out. We ended up buying the additional extensions and misspellings to prevent that from happening again. If your business is growing fast, it's worth locking up the main variations too."
It's common to ask can I buy a domain name permanently? We explain why that isn't an option and how to use a domain long term.
Ready to buy a website domain name? Get started with Wix today.
Domain registration with Wix
Wix offers more than 400 domain extensions, giving you flexibility to find a web address that fits your business, brand or target audience. As an ICANN-accredited domain registrar, Wix lets you search, register and manage domains ranging from classic options like .com and .net to newer industry-focused extensions, all in one place. Those newer extensions are where the growth is: new generic TLDs like .ai, .app and .shop reached 37.8 million registrations in Q1 2025, the fastest growth rate of any domain category, with demand for .ai domains alone growing more than 400% in three years (Domain Name Industry Brief, Q1 2025).
Beyond registration, Wix includes built-in tools for DNS management and domain security. Wix includes a free SSL certificate with every domain registration, and offers WHOIS privacy protection and DNSSEC as additional security options. You can also create a custom business email, get a free one-year domain voucher with eligible annual plans and access 24/7 support whenever you need help managing your domain.
Ready to secure your domain? Search for your perfect name and register it in just a few clicks with Wix.
What is a domain name registrar? FAQ
How do I find out the registrar of a domain?
You can find out who a domain’s registrar is by doing a WHOIS or RDAP lookup. This shows information about the domain’s registration, including the registrar, registration and expiration dates, and sometimes the owner’s contact info (unless privacy protection is enabled). Many websites offer free lookup tools. Note that ICANN sunset its own WHOIS service in January 2025 and replaced it with RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol), so ICANN’s official lookup is now at lookup.icann.org. Some country-code domains still use WHOIS, so you may encounter both.
What's the difference between a web host and a domain registrar?
A domain registrar manages the reservation, registration and ownership of your domain name. A web host provides the servers and technology that make your website accessible on the internet. While some companies offer both services, like Wix, which lets you register a domain and host your website in one platform, they serve different purposes: the registrar handles the domain, the host handles your website’s files and performance.
What is the difference between a registrar, a registry and a registrant?
The registry runs a top-level domain like .com (Verisign in that case). The registrar is the company you buy from, accredited by ICANN to sell domains within those TLDs. The registrant is you, the person or business who owns the domain. All three play a role in keeping your domain registered and resolving.
