When choosing a domain registrar, security, privacy, support, and fair policies are just as important as price. This guide outlines 7 essential factors to consider and shows why Trustname stands out as a reliable, affordable, and customer-focused choice for domain management.
Key Takeaways
- Security is a top priority – Trustname offers robust protection, including two-factor authentication (2FA), Domain Lock, and login attempt notifications, to prevent unauthorized access and domain hijacking.
- Enhanced privacy protection – Trustname provides a unique Two-Tier Domain Privacy system to ensure personal details are never linked to your domain in Whois records.
- Competitive and transparent pricing – Domains start at $12.99/year, with a $8.99 promo for first-time .com registrations, and include free SSL, Premium DNS, and privacy protection.
- Full-featured and easy to use – Trustname offers an intuitive interface, strong customer support, and complementary services like hosting, email, and SSL, making domain management seamless.
- Customer-first dispute handling – Unlike many registrars, Trustname investigates abuse reports thoroughly, protects grey-area businesses, and allows domain transfers before taking down a domain.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key Takeaways
- What Do Domain Registrars Do?
- How to Choose the Best Domain Registrar
- Trustname - The #1 Registrar For You
On the surface level, all domain registrars do the same thing facilitate domain name registrations but when it’s time to choose the right domain registrar for your needs, you’d need to consider more than just the basics.
New to the world of domain names? Or are you looking for a better registrar to delegate your domain management to? Security, domain privacy, pricing, and the quality of complementary services are among the key considerations you’ll need to consider.
In the rest of this piece, we’ll discuss the must-haves of a top-tier domain name registrar and why Trustname tops the list of the very best domain name registrars in 2024. Let’s dive in. But first…
What Do Domain Registrars Do?
Domain name registrars make it convenient for you to register a domain name. To register a domain name, you need to visit a registrar like Trustname, type in your desired domain name in the Search Bar, and check its availability.
In reality, a lot more goes on in the background when you register a domain name.
Domain name registries are organizations responsible for managing specific top-level domains or domain extensions (e.g., .com, .io, .ca, .net). The registry establishes policies and registration requirements for all domains using that particular TLD.
Registries then delegate the registration process to domain registrars. Whenever you register an available domain name, the registrar then updates the registry’s records to include your new domain and its details. Registrars also provide tools that allow domain name owners (registrants) to manage their domain information and settings.
Overseeing the domain name ecosystem is the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Any registrar that wants direct access to ICANN-designated top-level domains must first become accredited by ICANN. Trustname is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar.
How to Choose the Best Domain Registrar
Ready to choose the best domain registrar for your needs? These are some of the factors you should consider -
1. Security
Domain hijacking is becoming increasingly prevalent, and many domain owners lose control of their domain names to hackers who have managed to gain access to their accounts.
When choosing a domain registrar, you want one that has robust security features specifically designed to prevent unauthorized access and changes to your domain name.
Some of the crucial security features to look out for include -
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Domain Lock
- IP validation
Trustname offers all of these features and more -
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) – Our 2FA incorporates authentication apps, such as Google Authenticator, to add an extra layer of security to your account, even if your password is compromised. Upon sign-in, we will require your login credentials, as well as the Authentication code, before granting access to ensure that it’s you or that you have given permission.
- Domain Lock – Whenever you register a new domain name, we automatically enforce a Domain Lock to prevent any unauthorized changes or transfers. You can disable the Domain Lock at any time in your domain settings.
- Unauthorised access alerts – And finally, whenever we notice a login attempt from an unrecognized device or location, we will notify you so you can stay a step ahead.
2. Domain Privacy (Whois Privacy)
Domain Privacy, also known as Whois protection, is an essential feature offered by most domain registrars. As required by ICANN, contact information associated with any domain must be made public in the Whois database. This means that anybody (even a bad actor) can run a Whois lookup on your domain and see your details.
Domain Privacy shields your personal information by replacing it with proxy details in the Whois database. But that’s about it.
Trustname offers a one-of-a-kind Two Tier Domain Privacy protection that ensures your contact details are never linked with your domain name in the first place. On the first layer, we allow you to register your domain name in the name of our partner proxy company, Perfect Privacy LLC. While you retain full control of the domain name.
On the second layer, we offer you the generic Whois Privacy, which is typically provided by most other registrars, to shield your domain information (PP LLC or your own). What’s more? You can update the domain contact information to your own at any time.
3. Pricing
How much does your domain registrar charge for registrations? If you are registering multiple domain names at once, the figures can add up quickly, so the domain registrar you choose must be affordable.
Many registrars also charge additional fees for essential domain features, such as SSL certificates, Whois Privacy, Premium DNS, and email.
At Trustname, our domain name registrations start at just $12.99 per year, the most competitive pricing in the market for three-year annual renewals. And for first time customers, we offer a $8.99 special promo for .com domains.
And the best part? On each domain registration, you get an SSL certificate, email account, PremiumDNS, and Trustname's exclusive Two Tier Whois privacy protection, all for free!
4. Support
Managing domain names is generally easy, but if you’re new to domain names, you may need some help when making more advanced configurations.
Must-haves: You want a domain registrar that has comprehensive support features and resources to help you troubleshoot domain name related issues quickly. Must haves include:
- A live chat portal
- Support ticket generators
- Knowledge base resources
Trustname offers a live chat option, support tickets, and a comprehensive knowledge base with answers to every possible question on managing your domain names on Trustname.
5. Ease of Use
Another important consideration when choosing a domain registrar is how easy their interface is to use. From searching for and registering a new domain name to making ultra precise domain tweaks, the process should be quick and intuitive.
It’s great if the registrar has a robust support system, but it's even more beneficial if it’s easy to figure out how to carry out basic tasks just by looking at the design.
Trustname’s user interface is incredibly intuitive, and we have placed all the relevant buttons and dropdowns where you expect them to be. From the homepage, you have direct access to the domain search engine, and on every other page, you can access your Domain settings, related products, Email, and hosting in just one click.
6. Complementary Services
Having a domain name secures an address that your customers can use to visit your website and engage with your brand online, but it’s not the only thing you’ll need.
You want a domain registrar that provides domain name registration, as well as other complementary services such as -
- Website hosting
- SSL certificates
- Web design tools
By using the same provider, such as Trustname, for your domain name registration, web hosting, and email, you can consolidate all your website needs and manage everything from a single account dashboard.
This also makes it easy to manage your domains as Trustname will automatically point your nameservers and configure your DNS zone files for you.
You also get to save costs with bundle purchases and can manage your renewals and billing in one place. On every web hosting plan you purchase on Trustname, you get a free domain name valued at $14.99 (in the case of a higher-priced domain, we will discount this amount from your bulk order), a free SSL, and a free email address that matches your domain name.
7. Dispute Resolution Process
And finally, maybe most importantly, is how the domain registrar handles disputes and abuse reports made on your domain name.
Do they side with you, the domain owner, and conduct due diligence to ensure that any reports are well founded? Or do they automatically de-list or suspend your domain name whenever someone makes a report?
This consideration is particularly important, especially for businesses operating in grey areas or sensitive niches. Many domain owners have lost their domains due to fake abuse reports orchestrated by malicious actors demanding ransom amounts or competitors attempting to shut down thriving businesses.
And the worst part? Many ‘big’ domain registrars never investigate these abuse reports and prefer to just take down any reported domains, as it saves them time and resources.
Trustname is the number one registrar in the world, catering to businesses that are prone to abuse and operate in grey areas. Trustname will never take action against domain names due to reported website content.
Except in extreme cases of illegal content like child abuse, opioid sales, or content that promotes hate speech, we will always side with our customers (you) first and carry out proper investigations to determine whether the abuse reports are authentic.
And if you use our Two Tier Whois Privacy, Perfect Privacy LLC, our partner proxy company, will be the first point of contact. However, we will notify you of any abuse reports made regarding your domain name and provide you with sufficient time to rectify any potential issues.
In the event of a severe violation of our Terms of Use, we will provide you with the option to transfer your domain name to another registrar and won’t hold your domain name.
Read more on Why Trustname Doesn’t Act on Website Content Issues.
Trustname - The #1 Registrar For You
In summary, domain name registrars help you reserve human-readable addresses for your website. While most domain registrars allow you to register a domain name on the basic level, other important domain management features that you should consider vary widely.
To choose a truly world-class domain registrar for your needs, you should consider the registrar’s security features, ease of use, domain privacy, pricing, support, complementary services, and commitment to you whenever your domain is involved in disputes.
Trustname is your best choice for a domain registrar that supercharges all the basics and particularly caters to grey-area businesses and brands in sensitive niches. Check out Trustname today!