Now that you have decided to start a website, the very first thing you need is to buy a domain name. There are many domain service providers out there in the market but the Namecheap domain is one of the most ranked and leading names, well for reason number one, it’s cheap.
In this post, I have come up with an honest review as well as with every tip and trick you should know about Namecheap domains before you buy and also with step to step guide how to register a domain with Namecheap.
Black Friday: save up to 97% with Namecheap! (expires on Dec 4, 2022)
Buying a domain isn’t tough at all. What a buyer expects is its aftersale experience and if the service provider is reliable and trustworthy (due to security purposes). This is where Namecheap domains are trusted by most of the users. If you are wondering why you should go with the Namecheap domain, stay with me for a minute.
Domain Name vs Web Hosting
I have seen most non-techie people get confused between domain and hosting. Let me tell you more simply. The Domain name is a unique name by which your website is known and people get access to it. (For example – VivaciousVipin.com is my domain name). There are many domain service providers including Namecheap that provide you with a domain name.
On the other hand, web hosting is a service that provides space for your website files to be hosted for 24×7 availability on the internet. It provides a space for your site on the server.
A good analogy will be the address of your house as a domain name and the place where your house is situated as web hosting. Like you guessed, houses can be rented or completely your own too.
Example: Namecheap is a domain name provider while Bluehost specializes in web hosting. You can buy hosting and domain from the same provider as well.
Now, let’s get back to Namecheap. It is ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) accredited which makes it more reliable and trustable. It is one of the most loved and leading domain service providers.
Features and benefits of Namecheap domain
When it comes to features and benefits Namecheap offers a lot of features that make it a good choice among other domain name providers. They are ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) accredited which makes it more reliable and trustable. Their “WhoisGuard” is one of the premium features when it comes to privacy protection.
Let’s dive into the deep waters of Namecheap.
Easy Setup and Ease of Use
The landing page and the check-out process are quite simple and hassle-free. Unlike many other domain service providers, they don’t try to upsell much (which I hate as if I couldn’t figure out on my own what I need). The first step is to choose a domain name followed by a payment option. Usually, it takes just 2-3 minutes. Isn’t it simple and sober?
Once you are done with these formalities, it will redirect you to the console panel where you can set up other essential things that matter. Overall the Domain management system of Namecheap is quite easy and simple.
Free WhoisGuard Privacy Protection
This is one of the helpful features that Namecheap offers. Most of us are very much concerned about our private information whether it is safe and secure in the Internet world or not. Once you register a domain with Namecheap, you become eligible for WhoisGuard privacy protection for a lifetime. While registering a domain, certain pieces of information like name, address, e-mail, and phone number are mandatory and these details are saved in the database and anyone can view it easily.
WhoisGuard protection restricts all such information from spammers and unwanted fraudsters. Namecheap domains have WhoisGuard for free which helps you avoid fraud, prevent domain hijacking, spam, and shields your contact information in the public world.
Free SSL Certificate
What if you also get a free SSL certificate with your Namecheap domain? Lo and behold, because you’re getting it when you buy the domain. For those who don’t know what SSL certification is, it is a third party certificate that certifies your website is secure.
Remember that lock sign in the address bar of your Chrome browser? There you go! What happens when a domain uses a valid SSL certificate. It certifies that connection with this domain is secure and data sent to it is private.
Customer Support
To be honest, I didn’t use their customer service a single time in my 1+ years of usage. I just never had an issue so intense like that. Most of the articles at their help center are sufficient to tackle general queries.
But what I have learned from my research and other people’s reviews about Namecheap that their chat service is not quite reliable and people seem to give mixed reviews about it. I’d recommend you to submit a ticket instead.
However, they claim to have 24/7 live chat support where you can chat with humans (not bots), that are always ready to listen to your queries and problems. There are many short videos regarding the general issue a user may face. Their FAQ database is good too.
Other Noticeable Features of a Namecheap Domain
- Free email address (for the first two months).
- Free DNSSEC security.
- Paid Logo maker and business card maker.
- Free DNS.
Pricing and Refund Policy
How would you react if I say you can get the Namecheap domain in less than $1? Sounds crazy! Right? But hey, it’s true and legit. At some specific times like black Friday and when some new TLD launches, Namecheap provides a fantastic chance to grab them at cheaper prices. During this limited time offer, you can get their domain at $1.
TLD means top-level domain. According to Wikipedia, “It is one of the domains at the highest level in the hierarchical Domain Name System of the Internet. The top-level domain names are installed in the root zone of the namespace.”
In layman’s terms, a TLD is the last part of a domain name. For example, my domain name is vivaciousvipin.com and my TLD is .com.
Let’s see how many types of domain Namecheap offers and how much it is going to cost.
TLD (pricing)
| Domain Name | Registration Price* |
|---|---|
| .net | $11.98/year |
| .com | $8.88/year |
| .org | $12.98/year |
| .io | $28.88/year |
| .co | $7.48/year |
| .ai | $58.88/year |
| .co.uk | $6.88/year |
* Registration prices are dynamic and are subject to change. These prices are as of the date this post was published.
Find more domain names at official website of Namecheap.
Notes
- These prices may vary with time. So, for exact pricing please visit Namecheap.
- ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) charges $0.18 for each new registration, renewal, or transfer. It can be neglected but I have to make things clear to you.
Refund Policy
Refunds on Namecheap domains are possible only in some cases. It will be in the sole discretion of Namecheap to refund your money if you are canceling your domain within 3 days of buying for a valid reason. Read their terms here.
Pros and Cons of Namecheap Domain
Now, let’s dig into the pros and cons of the Namecheap domain.
Pros
- The very first is that it provides the cheapest and affordable domain with lots of domain extensions.
- It is very easy to use and I had a great experience so far. You can register your domain in just a few clicks. They don’t upsell much like other service providers.
- And when it comes to security, a Namecheap domain comes up with WhoisGuard privacy protection which is a premium feature and you get it for free for a lifetime.
- Live chat is not very reliable however they have a good knowledge base and their ticket support is fine too.
Cons
Every coin has two faces. That means there is always something which people don’t like about some products. Here are the cons in the case of the Namecheap domain.
- Namecheap lacks phone support. They can solve queries on live chat but you can’t call them. This is a major drawback. People usually prefer to call instead of chatting.
- The setting up of the DNS within the Namecheap is a little complicated for the beginners.
Namecheap Alternatives
There are many other domain name providers like Hostgator, Bluehost, and GoDaddy. All have their pros and cons but when it comes to comparing them with Namecheap, they look far behind. Domain.com provides cheaper domain but not reliable and security standards are not up to the mark. Others also just lie on the same platform. Namecheap is the only one that fits in every aspect from pricing to security protection. So, it’s better to go with such a domain provider who is offering almost all the things with the domain at an affordable price.
Some Commonly Asked Questions
If I buy a domain from namecheap.com and I want to make a website from another hosting, is it possible to do it?
Yes, it is possible and many users do it. I am doing the same thing. I consider Namecheap domain and Bluehost hosting as the best combination.
Where are Namecheap servers located?
The Namecheap data centers are located in the USA and the United Kingdom. Their shared hosting servers, VPS carriers, and dedicated servers are located in the PhoenixNAP data center, Arizona, USA.
How can I buy Namecheap domains?
Just sign in to your Namecheap account (if not, create), scroll through the Domain section, choose the search the domain name you want to buy, and then checkout, confirming your order. You’ll get a confirmation email after you are done.
Does the Namecheap domain come with an email?
It comes with an email (first two months free) then you have to pay a certain amount to continue the email service. Find out more here.
Conclusion
As I have registered my domain with Namecheap, I can tell you better than whether you should go with it or not. The short story is that if you’re registering a new domain, as of now, there’s no better option than Namecheap available in the market. But for hosting, Namecheap isn’t recommended, instead Bluehost tops the list.
Namecheap is one of the best domain service providers in the market with millions of satisfied customers. And I can recommend them for domains.
Namecheap is one of the best domain service providers in the market with millions of satisfied customers. And I can recommend them for domains.
So, when are you going to register your domain with Namecheap?
Next Recommended Read: Bluehost Review: Honest & Unbiased Advice After 2.5+ Years of Usage