Most people who wish to start a business online will need to purchase a domain name sooner or later. Even if you’re selling in marketplaces like Etsy or eBay, it won’t hurt to have your own website where you can sell your products without paying anyone a fee.
Domains are extremely affordable these days and with a wide variety of top level domains (TLDs), you’ll be spoiled for choice. Of course, .com domains are still preferred by most marketers – but in terms of search engine rankings, even the other TLDs stand just as good a chance of ranking, if your SEO skills are good.
It’s important to note that different domain registrars charge different prices. If you were to purchase your domain from a hosting company, you could expect to pay more than what you’d need to.
In fact, it’s better to keep your domain registrar and web hosting provider separate. This will prevent your domain from being ‘held hostage’ by the hosting company should you wish to switch to another hosting provider.
Furthermore, buying all your domains from one place will make it much more convenient and less confusing when it comes to managing them.
One of the best domain registrars that we’ve found is Namecheap. With over 11 million registered users and 10 million domains registered, it’s safe to say that they’re one of the biggest players in the scene.
Now in this Namecheap review I will examine the pros and cons of this domain registrar and see if you should register your domain with them.
The Pros
* Very affordable
Just like its name suggests, the pricing on Namecheap is ridiculously affordable. Registering a domain with them will cost you less than $10 for a top level domain.
Beginner marketers who are on a tight budget will definitely be able to fork out this small sum and buy their own domain name.
* Reputable & trustworthy
Namecheap was founded in 2000… and 20 years later, it’s still going strong. This is proof that the company is reputable and trustworthy. It has stood the test of time. This is not a domain registrar that’s here today and gone tomorrow.
* Easy-to-use
The interface is easy to use and you can manage all your domains from one dashboard. Even beginners will find it intuitive.
* Wide variety of TLDs
You have a wide range of top level domains to choose from (e.g. com, .io, .art, .LLC, .eu, etc.)… and you can get them all from one place. Extremely convenient.
* Domain security & free privacy protection
Not only is your domain secure, but you’ll get WHOIS protection for life. So your registration details will be protected and not available for the world to see.
Unlike some domain registrars which charge you extra for privacy, with Namecheap, it’s absolutely free! This alone makes Namecheap a winner in our eyes.
* Domain transfer
If you’ve registered a domain or two with another registrar and you’d like to move them all to Namecheap, you can contact their support and they’ll do it for you. There may be a fee involved… but no matter what, it’s convenient and easy for you.
* Full DNS access
You’ll be able to point your domains to your hosting’s nameservers on your own. You have DNS access and a lot of flexibility when it comes to managing your domain.
* Awesome support
Namecheap offers 24/7 live chat support. If you have any issues with your domain/s, you can get immediate assistance. They really go the distance here.
* Tutorials provided
If you’re unsure about how to navigate the interfaces and use the options in Namecheap, worry not. There are tutorial videos to guide you.
* Extras
Besides just registering domains, you can get hosting with Namecheap too. They also have managed WordPress hosting.
But as we mentioned earlier, it’s better to get hosting from another company that’s separate from your domain registrar. There’s nothing wrong with Namecheap’s hosting – but it’s never wise to put all your eggs in one basket.
If you don’t wish to register a domain, but you’d still like a professional business email for your business, Namecheap offers this service too for a very low price. This may be suitable for freelancers, people who sell in other marketplaces and so on.
The Cons
Nothing in life is perfect, and Namecheap is no different. There are very few cons to this service, but they must be mentioned.
As affordable as Namecheap’s pricing is, the pricing for some domains are significantly higher when it’s time for renewal.
For example, if you were to purchase the domain Bestdog.toys (yes, this TLD is available in Namecheap), it would cost you $11.98 in the first year. If you wish to renew this TLD the following year, the price jumps to $43.98. That’s a significant difference.
So you’ll want to be aware of this when purchasing a domain.
Other than this, the only other con we could find was that Namecheap has no phone support.
Should You Use Namecheap?
A definite yes!
They’re a proven entity in this scene and with over 11 million satisfied users, you can’t go wrong with them.
Great service, easy to use, and excellent pricing. What more could you ask for?
Namecheap is an awesome service that will benefit most online marketers.
>>> Click Here To Choose Your Best Domain Names On Namecheap
