Life After Google Domains: Top 11 Alternatives

Change is inevitable. That can be especially true when relying on tech companies that are notorious for spinning up and shutting down projects quicker than you can snap your fingers. 

The most recent reminder of this was the unexpected announcement on June 15, 2023 that Squarespace would be acquiring the Google Domains assets — which include ~10 million domains purchased by millions of customers.  

Originally launched in beta in 2015, Google Domains quickly became a preferred domain name registrar of many. 

Many users loved the simplicity of the design and UX, not being upsold cheap web hosting or other add-ons along the way. Many also thought their domains would be safe under the Google umbrella. 

That is until Squarespace (ironically, a website building and hosting company) swooped in to become one of the largest domain registrars in the world.

While some users will simply move their domains over to Squarespace along with the transition, that is not your only option. 

Below we will outline the top 10 alternatives to Google Domains for which you could move your domain to.

Note: We do not have any affiliation with any of these registrars. These alternative recommendations are simply our personal opinions after researching the marketing and choices as a whole.

Top 11 Alternatives to Google Domains

One of the perks of owning a domain name is that it is yours to freely transfer to a new domain registrar whenever you see fit. You may transfer a domain for many reasons such as pricing, company fit, ease of use, or any other number of reasons.

1. Namecheap

Namecheap is a popular alternative that has been around since 2000. They have affordable prices and offer free WHOIS privacy protection for transferred domains.

2. Cloudflare

Cloudflare will typically have the lowest prices as they sell domains “at cost”. They also have a developer-friendly API at your disposal. 

If you enjoyed Google Domains simple UX, Cloudflare will feel more similar than some of the other alternatives on this list. 

3. Porkbun

Porkbun is the alternative with the most fun name and branding. With over 1,000,000 domains registered they are a solid choice for those who simply want to manage their domains without any headaches or obstacles. 

4. Vercel

Vercel is a frontend cloud platform that gives developers the framework and infrastructure to build and deploy more efficiently. If you’re already familiar with the service, you may wish to register your domain in an effort to keep everything under one roof. 

5. GoDaddy

You’ve likely seen a GoDaddy commercial at some point in your life. They are one of the most brand-recognizable alternatives on this list and are a great choice for those who wish to have stability following the Google Domains sale.

6. Gandi

A very popular registrar in Europe. They provide a wide range of top-level domains (both generic and country specific). 

7. NameSilo

NameSilo offers both domain registration as well as cheap web hosting. They also offer free email forwarding with each domain name purchase.

8. iwantmyname

Perhaps the least “cluttered” experience to buying a new domain name on this list of alternatives. They also offer 100+ automatic DNS plugins for your favorite services like Shopify and Bitly.

9. DNSimple

As their name suggests, DNSimple makes domain management simple. They have a robust API that makes DNS automation quick and painless.

10. Hover

Hover offers affordable domain name registration while also making it easy to add-on custom email addresses that match your brand.

11. Squarespace

While there are many great alternatives to Google Domains, you may simply wish to stick with the acquiring company Squarespace. 

While still technically a Google Domains alternative, you likely found this guide because you're hoping to find a new home outside of this acquisition.

It’s important to remember that you are able to transfer your domains at any time (there might be a short window in between transfers but nothing crazy) so whichever Google Domains alternative you wish to go with doesn’t need to be permanent.

While we will all surely miss the simplistic UX of Google Domains, the above list of alternatives provide great landing spots for those wishing to find a new home for their domains. For the majority of the alternatives above, domain name registration and management is their bread and butter so you can transfer your domains with a peace of mind that they won’t shutter their service while chasing other tech trends or money.