How to buy a domain name – a beginner’s guide

Your domain name is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your website.

It’s your address on the internet. It’s how people find you, how they remember you, and how you present yourself online. Unlike most website decisions – your theme, your plugins, your page layout – your domain name is genuinely difficult to change later without consequences. So it’s worth getting right.

This guide on how to buy a domain name covers everything you need to know. What a domain name actually is, how to choose a good one, where to buy it, and what to watch out for before you click purchase.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is the address people type into their browser to find your website. Something like howtostartyourwebsite.com or yourbrandname.co.uk.

It’s made up of two parts:

The name – the bit you choose. In howtostartyourwebsite.com, the name is howtostartyourwebsite.

The extension – the bit at the end. .com, .co.uk, .org, .net are all extensions, also called TLDs (top-level domains). More on these below.

Domain names are registered through companies called domain registrars, and you pay to use them on an annual basis. You don’t buy a domain name outright and own it forever – you register it and renew it each year to keep it.

One important distinction: your domain name is separate from your website and your hosting. Think of it as the address, your hosting as the land, and your website as the house. You can have an address without a house on it – and you can move your house to a different plot of land while keeping the same address.

How to choose a good domain name

This is where most people spend too long, paralysed by options. Here’s a framework that cuts through the paralysis.

Keep it short

Shorter domains are easier to type, easier to say out loud, easier to remember, and less likely to be mistyped. Aim for under 15 characters if possible. Under 10 is better.

Make it memorable

The best domain names are ones people can hear once and remember. If you have to spell it out every time someone asks for your website, it’s harder to grow word-of-mouth traffic.

Use a real word or phrase

Random strings of letters or invented words that don’t mean anything are harder to remember than real words. If your brand name is made-up, that’s fine – but make it pronounceable and easy to spell.

Avoid hyphens and numbers

Hyphens make domains harder to type and harder to say. Numbers create ambiguity – is it the number 4 or the word “four”? Both hyphens and numbers look slightly less professional than a clean, word-only domain.

Reflect what your site is about

Your domain name doesn’t need to be literal, but it helps if it indicates your site’s subject or brand. howtostartyourwebsite.com tells you exactly what the site is about before you’ve even visited it.

Check for trademark conflicts

Before registering, do a quick Google search of the name you’re considering. You’re looking for any established brands or businesses with the same or a very similar name. Registering a domain that conflicts with a trademark can create legal problems later.

Avoid accidental awkward phrases

Read your domain name without spaces or capitalisation and make sure it doesn’t accidentally spell something embarrassing. expertsexchange.com and penisland.net are the classic examples – both innocent businesses that didn’t think through how their domain read as a single string.

Which domain extension should you choose?

The extension is the bit at the end of your domain – .com, .co.uk, .org and so on. Here’s a practical guide to the main options.

.com

The global standard. If you can get your preferred name as a .com, that’s almost always the right choice. It’s the extension people default to typing when they can’t remember a URL, it’s recognised everywhere in the world, and it carries an implicit sense of credibility and permanence.

The downside is that good .com domains are increasingly hard to find. Common words and short phrases are almost always already registered.

.co.uk

The standard UK extension. If you’re building a site primarily for a UK audience and can’t get the .com domain, a .co.uk domain is a completely legitimate and professional alternative. Many UK businesses prefer .co.uk for the clear local signal it sends. (US-based readers will typically default to .com rather than a country-code extension.)

.org

Originally intended for non-profit organisations, .org is now used by a wide range of sites. It’s less common than .com or .co.uk and is not necessary for most commercial websites.

.net, .io, .co, and others

These are perfectly legitimate extensions, but they carry a slightly greater risk that people will type .com out of habit and land on a different site. Use them if the .com isn’t available and the name is strong enough to overcome the habit.

New extensions – .blog, .shop, .studio, .online, etc.

There are now hundreds of extensions available beyond the traditional ones. Some of these are useful – .shop for a shop, .blog for a blog – but most of them are less memorable and less trusted than .com or country-specific extensions. Use them with caution and only if they add genuine clarity.

Our recommendation: Aim for .com first. If it’s not available, consider .co.uk for a UK-focused site or a different name rather than an obscure extension.

Where to buy a domain name

You have two main options for buying a domain: through a dedicated domain registrar or directly through your hosting provider.

Option 1 – Buy through your hosting provider

If you’re setting up a WordPress site, many hosting providers include a free domain name for the first year as part of their hosting packages.

Bluehost – includes a free domain for the first year with new hosting plans. Get started with Bluehost →

SiteGround – does not include a free domain; you’ll need to buy one separately.

Hostinger – includes a free domain for the first year on most plans.

Buying through your hosting provider is convenient – your domain and hosting are managed in one place, and the initial setup is slightly simpler. The trade-off is that moving your domain away from your host can be slightly more involved if you switch providers later.

Option 2 – Buy through a domain registrar

A domain registrar is a company that specialises in domain registration. The main ones are:

Namecheap – our preferred recommendation for most people. Competitive pricing, clear interface, free domain privacy protection included, and no pressure to buy unnecessary extras during checkout.

GoDaddy – the world’s largest domain registrar. Works fine, but the checkout process is notorious for upselling additional services aggressively – read each screen carefully before clicking through.

Google Domains – recently acquired by Squarespace and rebranded as Squarespace Domains. Clean, simple interface, transparent pricing.

Hover – excellent interface, strong privacy features, good customer service. Slightly more expensive than Namecheap, but worth it for the experience.

Buying from a registrar gives you more independence – your domain is separate from your hosting, which makes it easier to switch hosts later without any domain complications.

Which should you choose? If you’re using Bluehost and the free domain is available for your name, take it – it saves you $12–$15 (USA) or £10–£15 (UK) in year one. If you’re on SiteGround or another host without a free domain, Namecheap is the cleanest, most straightforward registrar to buy from.

How to buy a domain name – step by step

Once you’ve decided on your name and where to buy it, the process is straightforward.

Step 1 – Check availability

Go to your chosen registrar and type your desired domain name into the search bar. The registrar will tell you immediately whether it’s available and show you the price.

If your first choice is taken, the registrar will typically suggest alternatives – either with different extensions (.net, .co.uk) or with slight variations on the name. Consider these carefully rather than automatically taking whatever is available.

Step 2 – Check the renewal price

This is the step most people skip – and then regret.

Registrars often offer very competitive first-year prices and charge significantly more at renewal. Always look up the renewal price before you buy. On Namecheap, the renewal price is clearly shown alongside the first-year price. On GoDaddy, you sometimes have to look more carefully.

A domain that costs $2.49/£1.99 in year one but $25/£19.99 to renew is not a $2.49/£1.99 domain – it’s a $25/£19.99-a-year domain with a first-year discount.

Step 3 – Add domain privacy protection

When you register a domain, your name, email address, and phone number are entered into a public database called the WHOIS register. Anyone can look this up.

Domain privacy protection (also called WHOIS privacy or domain guard) replaces your personal details in the WHOIS database with the registrar’s details, keeping your information private.

Namecheap includes this free on all domains. GoDaddy charges extra for it. Bluehost and Hostinger include it for free on some plans.

It’s worth having. Make sure it’s turned on before you complete your purchase.

Step 4 – Choose your registration period

Most registrars let you register for 1–10 years at a time. Registering for longer locks at the current price means you don’t have to think about renewal for a while.

For most people, 1–2 years is the right choice. If you’re confident about the name and the site you’re building, 2–3 years is worth considering.

Step 5 – Complete the purchase

Fill in your billing details and complete the checkout. You’ll receive a confirmation email and your domain will be active within minutes.

If you bought through a registrar separately from your hosting, you’ll now need to point the domain at your hosting provider – more on that in the next section.

Connecting your domain to your website

Once you’ve bought your domain, you need to connect it to the hosting service where your website is hosted. The way this works depends on your setup.

If you bought your domain through your hosting provider

This is usually handled automatically. Your domain and hosting are already connected – you don’t need to do anything extra.

If you bought your domain from a registrar separately

You’ll need to update what are called nameservers. Nameservers are the system that tells the internet which server your website lives on.

Your hosting provider will give you two nameserver addresses – they look something like ns1.bluehost.com and ns2.bluehost.com. You enter these in your domain registrar’s dashboard under the domain settings.

The process takes about five minutes, and the change usually propagates across the internet within a few hours, though it can occasionally take up to 48 hours.

Most hosting providers have step-by-step instructions for connecting your specific domain registrar to their hosting – if you get stuck, their support team will walk you through it.

Common domain name mistakes to avoid

Registering a domain that’s too similar to a well-known brand. Even if it’s not an exact match, a domain that clearly mimics an established brand can create legal complications.

Forgetting to renew. Domain names expire if you don’t renew them – and expired domains can be snapped up by others immediately. Turn on auto-renewal with your registrar so this never catches you out.

Choosing a domain just because it’s cheap. A $2.49/£0.99 first-year domain that renews at $30/£25 a year is not a good deal. And a domain that doesn’t suit your brand costs you more in confusion than you save on registration.

Registering your domain through your website platform. Some platforms, such as Wix and Squarespace, sell domain names directly. These are often more expensive than buying through a dedicated registrar, and moving the domain away from the platform if you change later can be complicated.

Not registering the .com if you’ve taken a different extension. If your site grows and the .com is available, consider buying it to prevent confusion or competitors trading on your brand name.

What if the domain you want is already taken?

This happens to almost everyone. Here’s what to do.

Try a slight variation. Adding a word like “the”, “get”, “use”, or your country can free up a domain that’s taken in its simplest form. getbrandname.com or usebrandname.com are common patterns.

Try a different extension. If yourbrand.com is taken, but you’re UK-focused, yourbrand.co.uk it might be available and appropriate.

Try a completely different name. Sometimes the taken domain is a sign that it’s time to reconsider the name itself. A different name that’s available as a .com is often better than a variation of your first choice on an obscure extension.

Check if it’s for sale. Some registered domains are parked by owners who are willing to sell them. The WHOIS record will show contact details. Domain marketplaces like Sedo and Afternic also list domains for sale. Prices for previously registered domains vary wildly – from tens of pounds or dollars to tens of thousands – so this is only worth exploring for names you’re strongly committed to.

How much should you pay?

Standard domain registration through a reputable registrar:

Extension	USA		UK
	First year	Renewal	First year	Renewal
.com	$10–$14	$12–$16/year	£8–£12	£10–£14/year
.co.uk	—	—	£5–£8	£8–£12/year
.org	$10–$14	$12–$16/year	£8–£12	£10–£14/year
.net	$10–$14	$12–$16/year	£8–£12	£10–£14/year

Anything significantly below these prices is probably an introductory offer with a steep renewal. Anything significantly above is probably not worth it unless you have a specific reason.

Your next steps

Once your domain is registered and connected to your hosting, you’re ready to build.

If you haven’t chosen your hosting yet, our quiz will match you to the right provider based on your budget, site type, and goals.

Take the WordPress hosting quiz →

If you’re still deciding which platform to build on, our main quiz gives you a personalised recommendation in about two minutes.

Take the quiz – find your perfect platform →

Frequently asked questions

How do I buy a domain name? Search your desired name at a registrar like Namecheap (or through your hosting provider if it offers a free domain), check the renewal price before you commit, add domain privacy protection, choose a registration period, and complete checkout. The domain is active within minutes; connecting it to your hosting can take a few hours.

How much does a domain name cost? A .com domain typically costs $10–$14 (USA) or £8–£12 (UK) for the first year and $12–$16 (USA) or £10–£14 (UK) to renew annually. Some registrars offer lower first-year prices with higher renewal rates – always check the renewal price before buying.

Do I need a domain name to build a website? You can build a website without a custom domain – free plans on Wix and WordPress.com give you a subdomain like yoursite.wixsite.com. For a professional website, a custom domain is worth the $12–$15 (USA) or £10–£15 (UK) a year it costs.

Can I change my domain name later? You can register a new domain and redirect your old one to it – but it disrupts your SEO, means updating every link you’ve ever shared, and creates confusion for returning visitors. Getting the right domain name from the start is worth the extra thought upfront.

What’s the difference between a domain name and hosting? Your domain name is your address. Hosting is where your website lives. You need both – but they’re separate services, often bought from different providers.

How long does it take for a domain to go live? Registration itself is immediate. Connecting a newly registered domain to hosting typically takes a few hours for the changes to propagate across the internet, though it can occasionally take up to 48 hours.

Should I buy multiple domain extensions? For most individuals and small businesses, no, it’s an unnecessary expense. If you’re building a brand you intend to grow significantly, buying the .com and .co.uk versions protects against confusion.