Google is the most well-known name on the internet. Google is a great choice for creating your website and registering domain names. Google Domains can be a good choice if you only have a few domain name registration requirements. Its pricing is slightly higher than other domain name registration services. Google Domains is not able to offer web hosting services simultaneously, which is disappointing.

Google Domains compared to the Best Domain Registrars

We did not include Google Domains in our list of the top domain registrars. Its pricing structure makes it difficult to include it in our list.

We spent much time searching for and testing the best domain registration services. The seven best domain registrar services were then identified and tested. We understand the importance of a domain name purchase that is simple, quick and delivers high-quality services at an affordable price. You will find the right domain registrar for you using the information provided in this list, we believe. 

Google Domains: The Good and the Bad

Google Domains was not on our list but it is still a popular choice as a domain registrar. It has strong features that could make it the right choice for you.

The Good

Transparent pricing: Google Domains gives you an easy way to see the exact price you’ll pay for the domain you choose. It charges you based on the domain name ending that you choose. Google Domains has no hidden fees that you won’t find out about at checkout. For example, the small fee that ICANN charges for domain registration tracking.

Google Domains allows you to make add-on service purchases, which can complicate the pricing structure. The pricing structure for domain registrations with Google Domains is simple, unlike other registrars.

Signing up is easy: Like many Google services, it’s very easy to sign up for your Google Domains domain name. In just a few clicks, you can choose your domain name and make a payment.

Two-factor authentication (2FA), included: Your Google Domains account automatically grants you 2FA protection.

Google DNS servers are included in the registration: If you choose Google Domains, you will have access to the exact DNS servers that Google uses to power its search engine. These DNS servers are reliable and fast. This is one advantage of Google Domains over other domain registrars. Other domain registrars may charge extra for access to a premium DNS server for your website.

Google Workspace access included: A Google Workspace account can be added to your domain registration. This allows you to access cloud storage, an email address that matches the domain name, and a few other features (which will be discussed later). This will give your website a more professional look than a Gmail account. You will need to pay an additional fee to link your Google Workspace account with your domain name.

No privacy restrictions: Your name and contact information are automatically included in Whois when you register domain names. This record-keeping system identifies each domain owner. This ICANN Search information is public and can be useful, but it can also lead to spam or unsolicited sales pitches.

You can choose privacy protection for your domain registration with Google Domains. Google Domains offers this service for free. It will submit your generic contact information to Whois. For an annual fee, some domain registrars provide privacy protection.

You can register up to 100 subdomains with Google Domains. Subdomains are a great way for website owners to organize their content and keep it all under one domain. Google Domains offers these subdomains for free, while other domain registrars charge additional for the ability to use subdomains.

The Bad

Google Domains doesn’t offer discounted pricing. You may be interested in registering a domain at a discounted price for the first year to test it out and see if you like it.

Many competitors offer a complimentary first-year domain when you buy their web hosting services. Google Domains doesn’t offer this option as it doesn’t offer web hosting.

Higher than average domain registration prices: Domain registrations with Google Domains will typically be more expensive than other domain registrar services. If you’re looking for a non-standard domain name end, the price difference between Google Domains registrars and others can be substantial. You may want to shop around to find the best price before you choose the domain registrar.

Google Domains offers web hosting separately. This is in contrast to some other domain registrars. If you wish, you can buy web hosting through a Google Domains partner. This can add complexity to your website-building process that you might not like.

Not available worldwide: Google Domains requires that you have a billing address that is located in one of the approximately two dozen countries it supports. Google Domains is not available to anyone who lives in a country outside the Google Domains Support Area. Some countries that are not supported by Google Domains include South Korea, Finland, Portugal, and South Korea.

Google Domains Prices and Options

You will typically pay more if you use the Google Domains registry than you would otherwise. As long as your requirements are simple, we appreciate the fact that Google Domains clearly outlines its pricing. Pricing can get complicated if you have many add-on requirements.

Google Domains pricing is determined by the domain name you choose. Google Domains offers over 300 domain ending options. Google Domains offers some of the most popular and well-known domain endings at an annual cost of:

• .com: $12
• .org: $12
• .net: $12
• .dev: $12
• .app: $14
• .info: $12
• .photography: $20
• .video: $20
• .club: $13
• .team: $40
• .salon: $50
• .store: $50
• .accountants: $120
• .farm: $30
• .bar: $80

Google Domains provides a complete list of domain endings that costs. Google Domains does not offer any discount on your first year of service.

Google Domains Checkout

You have the option to register your domain name and make a reservation for up to 10 years at checkout. However, you will not receive a discount if you pay in advance for multiple years. Select a minimum of one year.

You can also choose to participate in Google Domains’ auto-renewal service at checkout. Google Domains will charge your payment method automatically on the day the domain name expires if you select auto-renewal. To maintain control, you must pay the domain name in full before it expires.

Google Workspace Subscription

A Google Workspace subscription can be added to your Google Domains registration fee during checkout. You can choose from the following payment tiers in Google Workspace: 

• Business Starter: $6 per month for a custom email address, 30 GB cloud storage per user, access to Google Docs and Google Slides, as well as video meetings with up to 100 people.

• Business Standard: $12 per user per month, you will receive all of Business Starter as well as 2TB of cloud storage per person, video meetings with up to 150 participants, and recording capabilities.

• Business Plus: $18 per month per user. You’ll get everything in Business Standard as well as 5TB of cloud storage per person, enhanced security controls, enhanced administration controls, video meetings with up to 250 participants, and video recording and attendance tracking capabilities.

Third-Party Web Design

Google Domains provides free tools to help you build your website. Google Domains offers access to professional website builders that are partnered with it. These professionals can also build your site for you at a nominal fee. Prices for hiring a website developer vary depending on what services you require and which builder you choose.

Buy Existing Domain Names

Google Domains will help you locate a domain that is being offered for resale by the owner if you prefer to buy an existing domain rather than start your own. You will often pay a higher initial price for existing domains than for starting your own. You will need to renew your domain every year through Google Domains. However, the renewal price is based on the date of your domain’s expiration.

Google Domains Insights

Google Domains will verify that the domain name you have selected is available after you make your selection. Then, it will provide you with information about the name that you have selected.

You will find the Insights section in this information window. This section contains a list of potential advantages and disadvantages of selecting this name. These are some of the things Google Domains will consider in delivering recommendations.

• Google Domains will tell you if your domain name is too long to be remembered easily.

• Memorability: You will receive suggestions on whether the domain name is memorable or difficult to remember by users.

• Complexity: Does your domain name have complex spellings or non-alphabetic characters like hyphens that make it difficult to type? Google Domains will provide recommendations.

Google Domains can even tell you if the domain name may have offensive meanings for some visitors.

Google Domains Suggested names

Google Domains will show you other domain names that might work better than the one you requested. You can choose one of these names instead of the requested name, and you can add it to your shopping cart.

You can sort domain names by clicking the drop-down menu at the right when Google Domains presents a large selection of suggested domain names.

• Relevance
• Price
• Name in ascending alphabetical order
• Name in alphabetical order.

Google Domains Business Protection Features

Google Domains is a tool that allows you to easily scale your website traffic and protect it from possible attacks.

• DNSSEC protection: Google Domains supports DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions), which reduces the risk of your website being attacked. DNSSEC authenticates your website’s origin and protects users against receiving fake DNS data.

• Google DNS servers: When you register your domain with Google Domains, you have access to Google’s top-quality DNS servers. This makes it easier to scale your website’s traffic as your business grows.

• Privacy protection: Google Domains will protect your name and contact information on Whois. This will reduce the likelihood of you getting spam or other unsolicited messages.

Google Domains Reports

You will be able to access a report on the performance of your website when you register it through Google Domains. If you wish to examine the performance of your website over a specific period, you can choose a date range. The report will include the following information:

• The total number of times someone has seen your website as a result of a search (also known as impressions)

• Total number of clicks to your site

• Your website was found through the highest-ranked searches

• Different types of devices that can access your website (mobile or tablet)

• Country of origin for people who access your website

• Impressions: Most visited pages of your website

• Clicks to the most popular pages of your website

Google Domains Rankings 

Google Domains was not included in our top domain registrars list. Although it has many strong features, its cost structure is typically more expensive than the services on our list. These services have some of the best features, which you can see in our list of 7 of the top domain registrars.

1. Hostinger – Best domain registrar for most
2. Domain.com is Best for affordable renewals
3. Porkbun – Best registrar for .com alternatives
4. Network Solutions The best way to register your domain name for a century
5. Namecheap- The best value with complete identity protection
6. NameSilo is the best domain registrar to lock down your brand
7. Gandi is the most crystal-clear guideline for domain transfer

Summary

Google Domains offers what you need in a domain registrar: the ability to register your domain name. It does this in an easy-to-use format and with transparent pricing. Google Domains is the best choice if you only need the basics. Google Domains is the best domain registrar if you need some additional features, such as the ability to integrate website building or the lowest domain registration prices.