How to Register a Domain Name: Step-by-Step Guide
Five clear steps to go from idea to registered domain — brainstorm names, check availability, compare prices, and complete your purchase with confidence.
Start Your Domain SearchIntroduction
Registering a domain name is one of the first and most exciting steps in bringing a website, business, or project to life. Whether you are launching a startup, building a portfolio, or starting a blog, your domain name is how the world will find you online. The good news is that the entire process is simpler than most people expect.
For first-time buyers, though, the process can feel uncertain. Which registrar should you use? How much should you pay? Are there hidden fees? What happens after you purchase? These questions stop many people from taking that first step. This guide walks you through the entire domain registration process in five clear steps — from brainstorming your name to completing the purchase and setting things up afterward. If you are not yet sure what a domain name is, start with our beginner's guide first.
Step 1: Choose a Domain Name
Every great domain starts with a keyword that represents your brand, project, or topic. Open the Domainwise domain name generator and enter your keyword to get started. Domainwise expands that single keyword into hundreds of creative name ideas using five distinct pattern modes.
For example, entering the keyword "cloud" with Prefix mode generates names like gocloud.com, while Suffix mode produces cloudhub.dev, and Both mode creates combinations like gocloudpro.io. You can also add supplementary words from six curated categories — Action, Tech, Brand, Modifier, Size, and Quality — for even more creative combinations.
Select multiple TLD categories to search across: Popular (.com, .net, .org), Tech and Dev (.dev, .io, .app), Business (.biz, .co), Creative (.design, .studio), Short (.me, .tv), and Country-code extensions. When choosing your name, aim for something short, memorable, and easy to spell. Avoid hyphens and numbers unless you have a strong reason to include them. For a full breakdown of extension options, check out our guide to TLDs.
Step 2: Check Domain Availability
Domainwise checks availability in real time as part of your search results. Each name displays a clear status: Available, Taken, or Unknown. You can filter results to show only available domains, making it easy to zero in on names you can actually register.
Use the group by base name feature to compare TLD availability at a glance — see whether myproject.com, myproject.dev, and myproject.io are all available, or just some of them. If your first choice is taken, try a different TLD, add a supplementary word, or switch to a different pattern mode.
Need to check specific domains you already have in mind? Use the bulk domain checker to verify up to 10 domains at once by pasting them in or uploading a file. As you find promising candidates, save them to your My Domains watchlist so you do not lose track while comparing options. Your saved domains are stored locally in your browser and never uploaded to any server.
Step 3: Compare Registrar Prices
Domain prices vary significantly between registrars — sometimes by 50% or more for the exact same domain. Before you buy, it pays to compare. Domainwise fetches real-time pricing from six global registrars: Namecheap, GoDaddy, Porkbun, Cloudflare, Dynadot, and Name.com. Click the price comparison button on any search result to see a side-by-side breakdown.
For regional TLDs, Domainwise also checks pricing from country-specific registrars covering Germany (United Domains, IONOS), France (Gandi, OVHcloud), Japan (Onamae), and more. No matter where you are, you can find competitive pricing for both local and international extensions.
When comparing prices, pay attention to the renewal price, not just the first-year cost. Some registrars offer deep introductory discounts but charge significantly more when it is time to renew. Also consider what is included: Does the registrar offer free DNS management? Free email forwarding? These extras add up over time. All Domainwise price comparisons are completely free with no sign-up required.
Step 4: Choose a Registrar
After comparing prices, it is time to pick the registrar that best fits your needs. Consider these factors beyond price alone:
- WHOIS privacy — Some registrars include free WHOIS privacy protection with every domain. Others charge extra. This keeps your personal contact information out of public records.
- DNS management — Does the registrar provide a robust DNS interface for managing records?
- Transfer policies — How easy is it to transfer your domain to a different registrar later? Long-term flexibility matters.
- Customer support — What channels are available: live chat, email, phone?
- Reputation and uptime — Established registrars with proven track records are safer choices.
Here is a quick overview of the six global registrars Domainwise compares:
| Registrar | Free WHOIS Privacy | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Namecheap | Yes | Affordable pricing, individual users and small businesses |
| GoDaddy | No (paid add-on) | Largest registrar globally, extensive support options |
| Porkbun | Yes | Developer-friendly, clean interface, competitive pricing |
| Cloudflare | Yes | At-cost pricing with no markup, excellent DNS and CDN integration |
| Dynadot | Yes | Simple interface, competitive pricing, good for domain investors |
| Name.com | Yes | Straightforward pricing, solid bundled services |
Step 5: Complete the Registration
The actual purchase at your chosen registrar typically takes 5 to 10 minutes. Here is what to expect:
- Create an account (or sign in) at your chosen registrar. Click through directly from Domainwise's search results to go to the registrar's purchase page for your selected domain.
- Choose your registration period. Most domains can be registered for 1 to 10 years. Start with 1 year unless you are fully committed to the name — you can always renew later.
- Enable WHOIS privacy protection if it is not already included for free. This hides your personal contact details from public WHOIS lookups.
- Enable auto-renewal to prevent accidentally losing your domain when it expires. Domains that lapse can be snatched up by others within days.
- Complete payment with a credit card, PayPal, or cryptocurrency (accepted at some registrars). You will receive a confirmation email — keep it for your records.
- Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on your registrar account for security. Your domain is a valuable asset; protect the account that controls it.
After Registration: What to Do Next
Congratulations — you own a domain name! But the journey does not end at purchase. Important: ICANN requires email verification for all new domain registrations. You must verify within 15 days or your domain may be suspended — check your inbox and spam folder right after registration. Once that is done, here are the essential next steps:
- Configure DNS — Point your domain to your web hosting provider by updating nameservers or adding A and CNAME records. Your hosting provider will give you the details.
- Set up email — Configure email forwarding or a professional email address using your new domain (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com).
- Install an SSL certificate — Most hosting providers offer free SSL via Let's Encrypt. If you registered a .dev or .app domain, HTTPS is already required by the browser.
- Verify your WHOIS information — Use the Domainwise WHOIS lookup to confirm your domain's registration details are recorded correctly.
- Set a renewal reminder — Even with auto-renewal enabled, set a calendar reminder one month before expiration as a safety net.
- Register brand variations — Consider registering common misspellings or alternate TLDs to protect your brand. Use the bulk checker to verify multiple variations at once.
Not ready to buy just yet? Domainwise's My Domains watchlist lets you save domains you are considering. Your list is stored locally in your browser and never uploaded to any server. Export it to JSON, CSV, or TXT at any time.