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Cheap domain names: how to avoid the renewal trap
A cheap domain name is one that stays cheap when it renews, not one that costs almost nothing for the first year. Compare the renewal price, make sure WHOIS privacy is free, and skip add-ons you don’t need. The table below shows first-year and renewal prices side by side across registrars.
The first-year price is the bait
Registrars compete on the number you see in search results, so the first year is often sold at or below cost. The money is made on renewals, which can be two or three times higher. Since you will keep a good domain for years, the renewal price is the real price.
A simple test: multiply the renewal price by four and add the first year. That five-year total is the honest way to compare registrars, and it often reverses the ranking you get from the headline price. Some registrars sell close to the wholesale cost every year, which usually wins over time even if their first year looks less exciting.
Free WHOIS privacy should be standard
When you register a domain, your contact details go into the registry’s records. For many endings, GDPR rules already hide personal data, but privacy protection is still what keeps your name, email and address out of public lookups and away from spam.
Most good registrars include privacy for free. If a cheap offer charges a yearly fee for it, add that to the price before comparing, because it quietly turns a bargain into an average deal.
Registrar prices
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| Provider | .com 1st year / Renewal | .ai 1st year / Renewal | .io 1st year / Renewal | .net 1st year / Renewal | .dev 1st year / Renewal | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spaceship | $8.88Renewal: $9.98 | $79.98Renewal: $79.98 | $31.98Renewal: $51.75 | $11.20Renewal: $11.20 | $8.28Renewal: $12.42 | See plan → |
| Dynadot | $10.88Renewal: $10.88 | $85.60Renewal: $85.60 | $28.89Renewal: $53.50 | $12.52Renewal: $12.52 | $8.00Renewal: $12.50 | See plan → |
| Porkbun | $11.08Renewal: $11.08 | $82.70Renewal: $82.70 | $28.12Renewal: $51.80 | $12.52Renewal: $12.52 | $8.75Renewal: $12.87 | See plan → |
| OVHcloud Domains | $9.20Renewal: $14.69 | - | $35.82Renewal: $62.69 | - | $9.91Renewal: $17.19 | See plan → |
| Name.com | $12.99Renewal: $17.99 | - | $53.99Renewal: $79.99 | $16.49Renewal: $19.99 | - | See plan → |
| Namecheap | $11.28Renewal: $18.48 | $89.98Renewal: $115 | $34.98Renewal: $75.98 | $12.48Renewal: $18.58 | $10.98Renewal: $20.98 | See plan → |
| Hostinger Domains | -Renewal: $19.99 | $89.99Renewal: - | $31.99Renewal: $74.99 | - | $9.99Renewal: - | See plan → |
| IONOS Domains | $1.00Renewal: $20.00 | $80.00Renewal: $120 | $40.99Renewal: $90.00 | $1.00Renewal: $20.00 | - | See plan → |
1st year / Renewal · yr · USD
Add-ons you probably don’t need
Checkout pages are designed to sell bundles. Some extras are useful for some people, but none are required to own and use a domain.
- Email hosting: fine if you need a mailbox on the domain, but many hosts and workspace suites include it
- Website builders and hosting bundles: buy hosting where it suits you, not where the domain happens to be
- SSL certificates: free certificates from Let’s Encrypt are standard on almost every modern host
- Protection packages and “premium DNS”: rarely needed for a personal or small business site
- Multi-year prepayment at the promo price: only worth it if the discount applies to every year, so read the small print
Cheap endings can have expensive renewals
Newer endings such as .xyz, .online, .site or .store are often advertised for very little in the first year. Their renewals can be much higher than a .com. They are fine for a side project if you accept that, but check the renewal line in the table before you build a brand on one.
For a business, .com remains the ending people type by default. A local country ending (.co.uk, .de, .pl, .nl, .com.br and so on) builds trust with local visitors, and some local registries set their own rules and prices, so compare a couple of local registrars as well.
How to buy a cheap domain the smart way
Check availability first with our domain search, which asks the official registries directly. Then compare the five-year cost in the table, confirm that WHOIS privacy is included, and untick every add-on at checkout.
Keeping domains at a registrar separate from your hosting also makes it easier to move hosting later. And remember that after registration, a domain usually can’t be transferred to another registrar for 60 days, so choose the registrar you want to stay with.
Check .com, .ai, .io and more in one goTry the tool →
Questions people ask
Where can I buy cheap domain names?
At registrars whose renewal price is close to their first-year price. The table on this page lists first-year and renewal prices side by side so you can compare the real long-term cost.
Why is my domain renewal so much more expensive?
The first year was a promotion. Registrars often sell year one at a loss and earn it back on renewals. You can transfer the domain to a cheaper registrar once the 60-day lock after registration has passed.
Are almost-free first-year domains a scam?
Usually not, but they are a first-year promo. Check the renewal price and whether WHOIS privacy is free before you buy.
Is a cheap .xyz or .online domain a good idea?
For a hobby project it can be. For a business, the higher renewals and lower trust often make a .com or your local ending the better long-term choice.