If you've gotten this far, you've probably seen the word "domain" thrown around a lot. Here's what it actually means, and where to search for and buy one.
A domain is your website's address — the part people type into a browser, like yourbusiness.com. It's what makes your site easy to find and remember, instead of a long string of numbers computers actually use to locate it.
Think of it like this: if your website were a house, hosting would be the land it's built on, and the domain would be the street address that tells people how to find it. You generally need both — a place for your site to live, and an address people can actually type in.
Some website builders (like Shopify or Squarespace) let you buy a domain directly through them as part of signing up, so it's all in one place. If you're using separate hosting instead, you'll usually buy your domain from a registrar and then "point" it at your host — a simple setup step most hosts walk you through. Either way works fine; it mostly comes down to convenience versus a little more control.
If you have to spell it out loud on the phone, it's probably too complicated.
Ideally the same as your business or personal name, so people can guess it without searching.
They're easy to mistype and harder to say out loud — worth avoiding if you can.
These are some of the most common places people search for and register a domain name. All of them let you type in what you want and instantly see what's available.
Straightforward pricing and a simple search tool — a popular starting point.
One of the most well-known registrars, with frequent first-year discounts.
Most hosts (like Hostinger) let you register a domain directly when you sign up — sometimes free for the first year.
Shopify, Squarespace, and Webflow all let you buy a domain during setup, keeping everything in one place.
This page may include affiliate links for domain registrars — if you sign up through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
A typical .com domain costs somewhere around $10–$20 for the first year, and often renews at a similar or slightly higher price after that. Other endings (like .co, .io, or .shop) can cost more, especially ones that sound trendy or short. As with hosting, it's worth checking the renewal price before you buy — first-year discounts are common.
No. You can buy them from two different companies and connect them — most hosts have simple instructions for this.
Some hosts and builders include a free domain for the first year with an annual plan, but it typically renews at the normal price afterward.
.com is the most familiar to people and generally a safe default. Other endings can work well too, especially if they fit your brand, but .com is usually easiest for people to remember and trust.
Yes, but it means updating links, email addresses, and anything pointing to your old domain — easier to spend a little extra time picking the right one upfront.