Domain Registrars

[opel80uk]

Hi All,

I was wondering whether anyone had any experience with regards to Domain Registrars, specifically which ones have people used and whether anyone had any recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

[virtuo]

I tend to use 123-reg. About the best price and the service is alright - just be careful if you want to transfer a domain away from them as there are some horror stories and price gouging.

In fact, because of those stories I started using Heart internet for a little while, but they are a bit more of an amateur outfit (I believe some former 123-reg employees set it up).

Now, since most of my domain portfolio is with 123, I just stick with them, if I ever have to change for some odd reason, then I'll just absorb the cost.


Margins are so low on domains these days, you won't really get any decent prices elsewhere unless they are introductory deals, so going with a fairly large company makes sense. Just don't buy their hosting.

[peterb]

Ive used netscanuk, 123 and ukwebsolutions direct.

If its just domains, and you are going to self host or se another host service, then 123 are fine, although I note the caveats by virtue.

Netscan are OK, they used to be excellent when they were a start up, but they were taken over a few years ago and tend to focus on the big corporations now. I have recently used ukwebsolutions direct for both registration and hosting. Their range of domain names is more limited (I wanted a .coffee domain which they couldn't do - so I resisted that with 123, but use ukwebsolutions for the hosting package)

How do you intend to use the name?

[WULLAIL]

Avoid Freeparking like the plague, they used to be good, but the company was sold off without any notice and the new owners slapped lots of charges onto services which used to be free.

I use fasthosts

http://fasthosts.co.uk/

Reasonable rates, never had issues with them and free email redirection for any number of addresses.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[Jonj1611]

I use vidahost, good prices, excellent and quick support.

[kopite]

I used to use 123reg but have been moving all my domains to namecheap.com

I lost a lot of faith in 123reg a few years ago when they started charging to move domains away from them.

Namecheap's control panel is really easy to use and their live chat are awesome.

[Dashers]

I've used 1and1 for a long time, but recently switched to godaddy as they are the only one I've found so far that supports DNSSEC signing for zones.

[opel80uk]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

Ok, so what I need it for it me and someone are starting a company, and initially we need a domain with accompanying email address, with the email being the most pressing pressing thing at the minute. Our business doesn't need a super website, just one or two pages that people can get our contact details from, so would a domain, web page and email package from GoDaddy or 1&1 suffice? I know Virtuo mentioned getting a separate web host, but i'm not sure we need anything fancy for the page - unless there is another reason for getting a separate web host?

[Jonj1611]

For what you require, either of them would do.

[Dashers]

Most hosting companies do a variety of packages, have a look at the feature list and select one that meet your needs. They will be very happy to let you upgrade your account in the future if there is new functionality you require.

The big hosting companies come with web-site builders, so if you're a small startup without the resource to have a web-page built, this might be useful.

Bread and butter hosting, with email and domains was cracked in the nineties, they all do that. It's only if you're after more exotic things that you need to look around.

[virtuo]

I'm not against domain/hosting/mail packages as a concept, particularly for your usage. Just that 123-reg in particular have had some mammoth screw-ups.

https://www.google.co.uk/#q=123-reg&safe=off&tbm=nws&*

[opel80uk]

Thanks for all the replies everyone...... I went with 1and1 in the end and, so far at least, am happy with it.

Thanks again!

[Saracen]

Thanks for all the replies everyone...... I went with 1and1 in the end and, so far at least, am happy with it.

Thanks again!

Just be sure that YOU own the domain name, not them, and can transfer it should you wish. Some integrated packages amount to you having the name only while you use their package.

Should your business be (hopefully) successful, you don't want to get caught later on, once you web presence is known, having to change name. You want to be able to move website, move email service, set up your own server, etc, should the need arise.

What 1&1 do, I don't know, having never used them, but I'm sure loadsa users here can tell you..

[D-T]

Know you're sorted now, but for anyone else who's looking, I really can't recommend Namecheap highly enough.

Great service, good prices, well-designed website and good hosting (although not the cheapest) if you need it. Absolutely fantastic support too, available at the drop of a hat at no extra cost.

[Allen]

I know you have been sorted, but I would recommend QiQ. They had a good following on Hexus a few years back (for good reasons) and I used their services for many years when I needed them. You can't really go wrong for 123-reg purely for domain registration though, although I would steer clear of them for hosting/email services (anecdotal reasons only).

Would also recommend Office 365 for email. I have used them for quite a few SME's in the past few years and never had any major issues and always found their services really easy to setup and use and their support very helpful, if it's ever required.