Building a website is one of the quickest ways to establish a professional online presence or to spread the word about a business or brand. But, where do you go to register the domain name for your website, and why? Both GoDaddy and Namecheap are leading domain registrars that offer plenty of features that are appealing to both personal and commercial brands alike. 

GoDaddy and Namecheap: Who is the Leading Registrar?

If you're familiar with anything involving web development and web hosting, you have likely viewed at least one of GoDaddy's Superbowl commercials or commercials starring Nascar driver Dana Patrick. GoDaddy is currently the most popular domain registrar worldwide, with more than 65 million registered domains as of November 2021.

On the other hand, Namecheap is a rising star, with nearly 12 million registered domains. While it may appear at first glance that GoDaddy is the obvious top contender for the best domain registrar, there is more to a domain registrar than sheer numbers. Over the years, GoDaddy has amassed a global following with international reach via commercials and massive marketing strategies. Namecheap, however, has grown a bit more organically.

Both domain registrars have an overwhelming number of users and hosted domains with a trustworthy reputation. Choosing the domain registrar that is right for you will greatly depend on the features you are looking for with your domain registrar and whether or not you are seeking web hosting features as well.

Which Domains Can Be Registered Using GoDaddy and Namecheap?

If you've never registered a domain in the past, it is important to become familiar with the domain registration process. When registering a domain, you will need to choose an extension, or a TLD (top-level domain), such as ".com", ".org", or ".net". Other common TLDs include ".info", ".biz", ".mobi", and ".co". All of these TLDs can currently be purchased and registered using both GoDaddy and Namecheap.

With the ever-expanding internet, more extensions are available than ever. However, not all domain registrars allow clients the ability to register specific extensions. For example, while it is possible to register a .IT domain on GoDaddy, it is not currently possible when using Namecheap for your domain manager.

You can review the entire list of GoDaddy domain extensions as well as Namecheap's current domain TLDs by searching for domains directly on the official registrar's website.

Pricing: Namecheap vs GoDaddy

When you are in the market for a domain registrar or even web hosting providers, it is important to review hosting solutions to compare plans and pricing before making a decision. If you are using Namecheap and GoDaddy strictly for your domain registration service, you will only need to compare the prices of annual domains.

However, it is important to keep in mind that domain name prices frequently fluctuate, and may drop significantly with ongoing sales and promotions that are extremely common in the hosting and domain name registration industries today.

The table below features the current estimated price for popular TLD domain extensions from both GoDaddy as well as Namecheap.

GoDaddy Domain TLD Prices

• .com: $11.99 USD
• .net: $11.99
• .biz: $7.99
• .org: $7.99
• .mobi: $4.99
• .info: $2.99
• .co: $11.99

Namecheap Domain TLD Prices

• .com: $10.69
• .net: $12.88
• .biz: $12.88
• .org: $12.48
• .mobi: $10.88
• .info: $0.88
• .co: $6.88

With the most popular TLDs and extensions, both Namecheap and GoDaddy are extremely competitive.

Diving a bit deeper into more obscure and unique TLDs, you begin to see a much bigger gap in pricing, which is why it is important to compare all of your options before selecting a registrar that is right for you.

GoDaddy Unique TLD Domain Prices

The unique TLD domain prices when registering a domain via GoDaddy are currently listed as:

• .xyz: $0.99
• .pl: $9.99
• .it: $12.99
• .uk: $6.99
• .jp: $34.99
• .ru: $14.99
• .de: $7.99
• .win: $27.99
• .club: $9.99
• .site: $2.99
• .vip: $19.99
• .design: $29.99

Namecheap Unique TLD Domain Prices

Before choosing a unique TLD domain host or registrar, compare the unique TLD domain prices from Namecheap:

• .xyz: - Currently unavailable via Namecheap
• .pl: - Currently unavailable via Namecheap
• .it: - Currently unavailable via Namecheap
• .uk: $7.58
• .jp: - Currently unavailable via Namecheap
• .ru: - Currently unavailable via Namecheap
• .de: $9.85
• .win: $0.88
• .club: $0.88
• .site: $2.88
• .vip: $12.88
• .design: $6.88

As you can see from the charts above, while GoDaddy currently offers popular extensions and TLD domains at a slightly lower price, they do offer a much broader range of unique TLD extensions as well as foreign and international domain extensions. However, Namecheap pulls ahead for those who are seeking a unique TLD domain at the cheapest rate possible.

It is also important to keep in mind that not all domains are available at standard registration prices. If a domain is already parked or reserved, it may not be available for purchase. If a domain was previously registered and received high traffic or is a well known domain, it may also be listed at a premium price, even if it is available and listed for sale to the general public. If you are trying to purchase an existing domain name or a domain extension that is trending, you may be required to pay an additional fee or you may need to contact the current owner directly.

Additional Features From Namecheap and GoDaddy

While both Godaddy, as well as Namecheap, are known for their domain registration services, they are also known as a service provider for all your domains and for those who are interested in a reliable and trustworthy hosting company.

Whether you are solely interested in new domain name registrations or if you are searching for a website builder, email accounts, domain privacy, and even SSL certificates for added security, GoDaddy and Namecheap both deliver.

Compare the various add-on services and features that are available from Namecheap and GoDaddy below:

• WHOIS Privacy: If you are interested in adding a layer of protection and privacy to your domain registration and to your shared hosting package, you can do so with WHOIS. GoDaddy currently charges $7.99 per year for WHOIS, which protects the individual's identity from being released publicly after registering a domain. Namecheap, however, provides WHOis services free of charge for all customers who have registered a domain using Namecheap's core business.
• SSL Certificate: Encrypting data is extremely important in a world that is rife with hacking and data breaches. With Godaddy, it is possible to acquire and use a certificate for $55.99 a year. Namecheap offers a much cheaper alternative with PositiveSSL, which will run you approximately $1.99 per year.
• Email Accounts: If you are in need of email or email hosting, both registrars deliver. Namecheap offers one free email account per domain that is registered on the site. Email hosting is included and each additional email address registered will cost $0.25 per month. With GoDaddy, accounts are available for customers starting at $4.49 a month.
• Website Builder: If you are seeking a domain provider that not only offers new domain registrations but also the ability to create your own website with a website builder, GoDaddy has a solution for you. GoDaddy's GoCentral builder is available for free for the first month after registering a domain. It is then available for a fee of $14.99 for continued use. While NameCheap does not have its very own built-in website creator, it does provide access to Softaculous, which includes various web builders, editors, and CMS, or content management systems.
• Online Store Features: If you want to begin building your very own online store, you can do so with GoDaddy's GoCentral online store solution, which is also available for the first month for all GoDaddy customers who have an active GoDaddy account. GoDaddy's GoCentral store provides users the ability to upload and sell products with extensive programming, coding, or marketing knowledge. After the first month of service, customers are required to then pay a fee of $29 a month for continued ongoing service.
• Domain Transfers: If you are in need of a domain transfer, both GoDaddy and Namecheap can help in every step of the domain transfer process as well as with registering domain names or purchasing multiple domain names at once.
• Web Hosting: If you already own an existing domain or if you have multiple domains, you may be searching for a hosting service that offers both shared hosting and VPS hosting. For WordPress hosting, reseller hosting, shared hosting, and even unlimited storage, you can turn to both Namecheap and GoDaddy. Managed hosting with GoDaddy begins at $6.99 depending on your needs as well as whether or not you are interested in unlimited bandwidth. Managed hosting solutions with Namecheap start at $9.88 per month.

Is it Possible to Get a Free Domain?

Oftentimes, top domain registration providers will offer free domains or free hosting in exchange for the purchase of another service. When you are comparing hosting companies and hosting plans to find a reliable domain registrar, research promotional codes and discount codes before settling on the hosting plans and hosting companies that are suitable for you.

Customer Support

Finding the best domain name registration service should also include ensuring live chat support, phone support, or quick email responses. Compare the levels of customer support provided by both GoDaddy and Namecheap to determine which solution works best for you:

Namecheap Customer Support Services

• Support tickets are available
• FAQ/Knowledge base available to existing/non-existing customers
• API docs are readily available to all customers
• Live chat support for all customers
• Status update blog for ongoing updates/changes and maintenance orders

GoDaddy Customer Support Services

• 24/7 Phone support available to all customers
• Knowledge base available
• Library of tutorial videos
• Live chat support is available
• Community forum

Benefits of Phone Support

If you are interested in telephone support with your WordPress hosting provider or your domain name registrars, choose GoDaddy. GoDaddy allows clients the ability to call in regarding questions, hosting support, and even registration tips 24/7.

Pros and Cons of Godaddy and Namecheap

While GoDaddy is currently the leading domain registrar and arguably the largest domain registrar, its competitor, Namecheap, surely holds its own in the highly competitive domain and hosting industries. Comparing both Namecheap and GoDaddy by reviewing pros and cons can help you to determine which web hosting services and registrar is right for you.

GoDaddy

Pros of GoDaddy's registration and web hosting services:

• The largest domain registrar in the US and around the globe.
• Intuitive and user-friendly, optimal for those who are new to web hosting and registering domains of their own. Ideal for newcomers to the web who are also interested in step-by-step guides and tutorials to help them become more familiar with the process.
• It includes a built-in website builder for those who are interested in building their own websites without programming or coding knowledge. Also, it provides access to an array of tools and CMS solutions, such as WordPress.
• User-friendly panels and dashboard, making it simple for those who are interested in installing new programs or plugins to do so in a flash.
• Numerous TLD country codes are available, allowing for more options when it comes to searching for and registering a new domain address. GoDaddy is known for its extensive library of domain extensions and TLD options over other domain registrars, including Namecheap.

Cons of GoDaddy's services:

• Often higher prices for unique or lesser known domain extensions and TLDs
• Much higher renewal prices. Some renewal prices are higher than others. Before registering a domain via GoDaddy, be sure to research the cost of renewals, especially if you have auto-renewals activated.
• Add-ons such as email addresses, hosting, and website builders can quickly add up in cost, making GoDaddy one of the more expensive solutions.

Namecheap

Pros of Namecheap's registration and web hosting services:

• One of the largest hosting providers available today, even if it does not hold the same domain registry market share as GoDaddy.
• Free WHOIS privacy solutions for all customers who register a domain using Namecheap
• Affordable SSL certificate solutions with PositiveSSL start at just $1.99 per month, compared to GoDaddy's charges and fees for certificates, which can run upwards of hundreds of dollars each year.
• Free email address with each domain registered with a low fee of $0.25 per email address per month for every additional registered address.
• Namecheap offers some of the cheapest domain Namecheap solutions available on the web. Some domain names can be purchased for as little as $0.88 per year.
• Extremely affordable web hosting that begins at less than $10 USD ($9.88) for an entire first year after registering a domain name via Namecheap.

Cons of Namecheap's services:

• Unfortunately, Namecheap does not offer as many unique TLD domain names and extensions. Additionally, some of the pricing on standard domains is a bit higher with Namecheap than it is with GoDaddy.
• International users of Namecheap may struggle to register an account or search for domains, as Namecheap is notorious for running IP checks frequently on its users, which may cause connection issues or disruptions.

If you are looking for a reliable and trustworthy domain registrar and host, you can honestly choose both Namecheap and GoDaddy, as both are reputable and worth their costs. However, there are other factors that may help you on your journey to finding the solution that is right for you.

If you're new to building websites and are looking for direction and guidance as you become familiar with the process, GoDaddy may be right for you. The use of GoDaddy's website builder, built-in tutorial librayr, and 24/7 phone support are all optimal features for those who are new to web building and have no intention of learning anything more.

If you are interested in more control and management over your websites and want to save as much money as possible, opt for Namecheap. Namecheap is a great alternative to GoDaddy that is even more affordable with plenty of the same features that GoDaddy has to offer and then some. If you want to get a bang for your buck, don't miss out on Namecheap.

Ultimately, both domain registrars and hosts listed here are excellent, and can be useful in various situations and for different types of clients. Our favorite registry and hosting service overall has to be Namecheap. Its extremely cheap prices, freebies, and professional reputation when it comes to support and uptime go a long way. For anyone who is interested in building an online presence but does not want to break the bank, Namecheap delivers everything you need to get started and more.

Choosing the right domain registry and provider is not always easy, but it is possible once you understand your own needs in terms of finding a registrar and hosting company that is right for you. Whether you are searching for a great domain manager, VPS hosting, a free SSL certificate, or if you want the best hosting plans there are available, both Namecheap and GoDaddy have plenty to offer to just about anyone interested in building and launching a website today.