As a beginner, you might have a limited budget, and investing in a .com domain can be quite expensive. But there are plenty of cheaper domain options available.
I’m here to share the cheapest domain extensions, the best places to buy budget domains, and the availability of free domains.
Let’s begin.
Cheapest domain extensions
I’ve been a victim of the marketing strategies of numerous domain registrars offering huge registration discounts. The renewal rates of such domains shot up by 20 times, because of which my overall website cost increased multifold.
So I use NameSilo and Namecheap to buy cheap domain extensions now. These include the non-generic domains from NameSilo.
Here’s the list that will help you pick the right domain within your budget. I only considered NameSilo and Namecheap while preparing the list since I use and trust these registrars.
Cheap domains for $1
Some of the new generic TLDs (Top-Level Domains) are available for $1 with these trustworthy registrars. Consider choosing a suitable one from the list below:
1 .top
This domain extension is easy to remember and can fit well in many different niches. It is best suited when you are planning to create list-form articles where you will be ranking different products, services, television shows, sportsmen, YouTubers, or any other professionals.
People often look for in-depth information online about anything and everything today. So create a .top website providing ratings to various things based on different aspects like popularity, quality, reliability, and customer service.
Buy a .top domain from NameSilo for just $1.28.
2 .buzz
When you want to share “What’s the buzz all about?”, create a website with a .buzz domain extension. Whether you plan to create content around entertainment, art, music, social media strategies, business marketing, entrepreneurship, or any other trend, go for this extension.
Get it on NameSilo for $1.19 only.
3 .monster
When you have a larger-than-life idea for your website, using a .monster domain will be perfect. Such an extension can relate to a website sharing the largest selection of something, an online game, or children’s stories.
You can also consider displaying some cute images or videos of animals to use this domain in a fun and entertaining way!
Get your .monster domain now from NameSilo for $1.19 and Namecheap for $1.80.
4 .quest
This domain extension is a great fit for experts in any field wanting to share their knowledge online. Whether you are a gamer, teacher, lifestyle coach, gym trainer, or religious leader, use a .quest domain to connect with your audience.
Additionally, consider using this extension for building an online community of like-minded people and offering support to each other.
Here are some other uses for this extension as described by NIC.Quest:
Begin your quest with NameSilo for $1.99 or at Namecheap for $1.79 only.
5 .sbs
Since SBS in this extension stands for Side by Side, use it for your collaborative ventures. Whether you are a charitable organization or an individual looking to leave a positive social impact online, create a .sbs domain to build your community.
You can also utilize this domain extension when you want to promote your coworking space or are planning to manage team projects.
Get your .sbs domain at NameSilo for $1.19 and Namecheap for $1.39.
6 .eu
If your website audience is majorly located in the European Union, investing in a .eu domain will be a great choice. This extension is available only to businesses in the EU region and opens up your online venture to an audience of 500 million.
Here’s some data showing the usage of the .eu domain:
Consider checking out the full statistics to understand the importance of using this domain extension here.
Get it from NameSilo for just $1.99.
Domains that are between $2 – $9
You will get affordable registration and renewal prices for domains under $10 with NameSilo. Here are the domains available between $2 and $10:
7 .xyz
This one can easily be called a multi-generational domain extension. Many businesses around the globe are grabbing it since it seems to target the X, Y, and Z Generations that grew up in the late 1960s.
Consider using it for your business, online magazine, or any other type of website since this extension is quite easy to remember.
Here’s a good example of a .xyz website put to the best use since it offers useful resources for the new generation of artists:
You can purchase a .xyz domain at NameSilo for $2.39 and at Namecheap for $2.
8 .eu
As discussed above, the .eu extension is open for registration only for businesses in the EU region. So if you are operating in the area, don’t miss the chance to grab a cheap domain extension while attracting the local audience.
A .eu domain extension is available at Namecheap for $4.98.
9 .download
This extension is a perfect fit for website owners offering downloadable content. Whether you are selling songs, images, apps, software, documents, movies, NFTs, or printables in any form; this domain extension will be memorable for your customers.
Here’s a Turkish website offering downloadable content and using this extension:
NameSilo sells a .download domain for $3.99 while Namecheap offers it for $4.98.
10 .party
Consider using this extension for celebrating your friend’s birthday, online gatherings, or arranging an annual holiday event. People involved in event planning, catering, and party supplies can also utilize it.
Additionally, if you have a music band or wish to share some useful tips on hosting parties, go for this domain extension. Lastly, utilize the power of the dot party to raise funds from your party supporters when involved in politics.
For instance, the California National Party use this extension to gain support from locals:
A .party domain is available at NameSilo for $3.99 and Namecheap for $4.98.
11 .stream
People stream content in every part of the world more than ever now. This domain extension is perfect for you when you are planning to build a website that offers content in the form of interactive media, audio, or video format.
Get a .stream domain with NameSilo for $3.99 and Namecheap for $4.98.
12 .trade
Such an extension can be a great option for Bitcoin trading or Forex websites. Additionally, you can utilize it when you are into any type of online trading whether it is related to goods, services, information, or currencies.
For instance, Amana Capital uses .trade since the company serves as a broker for trading activities:
Buy a suitable .trade domain from NameSilo for $3.99 and Namecheap for $4.98.
13 .co.uk
According to research, 60% of people tend to click on a .co.uk domain first after performing an online search. This is why there are more than 8.5 million .co.uk domains now.
Since this extension relates to Britain, consider buying it to tap a new marketplace. You can use it for any type of website and from anywhere in the world.
It is available at Namecheap for $6.98 only.
14 .in
This extension is generally used by Indian businesses but it is open for registration throughout the globe. Many global businesses like Amazon also utilize it to tap the fast-growing market with over half a billion active internet users.
Another appropriate way to use a .in domain is to show the recent trends in fashion, movies, music, or any other field. So when you want to sell or share “What’s in” throughout your website, consider using this extension.
A .in domain is available with NameSilo for $7.25 and Namecheap for $7.98.
15 .uk
With more than 10 million registrations, .uk is the 5th most popular TLD in the world. Internet users across the globe trust the websites using this extension.
Consider using it when your audience or customers are located in the UK. It will help you create brand awareness and bring in new customers.
Here are some facts stated by the official registry Nominet:
You can get a .uk domain from NameSilo for $6.49 and Namecheap for $6.98.
16 .review
Consider using this domain extension for review or comparison websites. You can provide useful details to smart shoppers through your website and help them make informed decisions.
If you plan to create review content throughout your website, consider buying this cheap domain extension to save costs.
A .review domain is available with NameSilo for $6.35 and Namecheap for $6.98.
17 .science
This domain extension is appropriate for you when you are a science enthusiast. Whether you want to share your discoveries or publish your findings, it can be a great extension to match your needs.
You can consider rating the best science colleges, answer science-related questions raised by students to create a FAQ website, or share regular lesson plans.
For instance, the International Science Council uses this extension to share its publications online:
Get a .science domain at NameSilo for $6.35 and Namecheap for $6.98.
18 .top
As mentioned earlier, a .top website is suitable for almost all website owners, including eCommerce stores. However, it is a perfect match when you want to create ranking articles or listicles.
Get a .top domain on Namecheap for $2.98.
19 .buzz
As previously explained, a .buzz domain is highly appropriate for trend-watchers. Use this extension to build your audience by sharing about emerging trends before the buzz dies down!
Get it from Namecheap for just $3.98.
Be aware that these renewal prices can go as high as $20, so ensure to check out the details before purchasing from other domain providers.
I’m sharing this from my experience since I’ve had a hard time managing my website budget because of the sudden shoot-up of domain renewal costs.
What is the free domain extension?
A free domain extension is available completely free of cost. Some hosting providers offer a free domain when you purchase hosting from them for the long term.
But such a domain is free only for the first year and you will have to pay high renewal prices.
Apart from the above option, you can also get a domain free for life. Freenom offers such free domains with .tk extensions. You will also find some other such unique extensions with Freenom:
Though these domains might look promising to save your overall website costs, I do not recommend working on them because of the following reasons:
- Many Freenom customers complain of their domains getting ripped off when they become popular. So it is not at all a good idea to use a free domain when you are looking to build a brand
- Furthermore, online phishers and spammers widely use these free .tk domains to carry out unscrupulous activities. So the reputation of these freely-available domain extensions is extremely low. It is, therefore, very difficult to establish trust in your brand when you utilize any free domain extension.
When to use a free domain .tld?
Though I do not recommend using a free domain for your business, you can still utilize such a domain in special circumstances:
- Consider using free domain names for testing purposes. Create a staging environment with them where you can test changes before applying them to your main website.
- Free domain extensions can also be great for little hobby blogs or small websites. But when you are looking to build a brand name, it is advised to grab a premium domain from a reputed registrar.
What are the cheapest places to buy domains?
In this section, I’m covering the domain providers who are well-established in the business and offer cheaper domain extensions than their competitors. Also, they include many additional features like privacy, security, and domain forwarding with their domains.
Other registrars like GoDaddy, Network Solutions, eNom, Register, Name, etc. charge extra for these services.
NameSilo
Established in 2010, NameSilo is a US-based domain provider with over 4 million active domains.
The host offers the most popular .com domain for $10.95 which is way below what others charge for it. You will also receive free WHOIS privacy, DNS management, email forwarding, domain defender protection, and custom WHOIS records.
Here’s a comparison of offerings from NameSilo and some other registrars:
Namecheap
Founded in 2000, Namecheap is also a US-based domain registrar with 10 million domain registrations under its belt. You can grab a .com domain for only $6.98.
Like NameSilo, Namecheap also provides free domain privacy with every domain you purchase from the host.
Expert tips for choosing the cheapest domain extensions
Here are some important considerations to choose the most suitable domain extension for your website on a budget:
- Always do a cost-benefit analysis on the domain name you are planning to purchase. Find out how important it is for your business before investing.
- Talking about a low-cost domain, always consider renewal prices. Because if they eventually turn out to be high, you’ll end up losing more than you save.
- When you own multiple domains, it is best to utilize the services of a very limited number of registrars. If you try to find the cheapest TLD for each extension and buy it, you will have to sign up with a lot of registrars.
This, in turn, will lead to managing domains on a bunch of platforms, costing you much more time in a world where time is equal to money! So be thoughtful and compare the time, effort, pricing, and final profit you will be making.
Conclusion
I sincerely believe the above list and tips will help you choose your desired domain extension at an affordable price.
I recommend using NameSilo for choosing the cheapest domain extension since the registrar currently has 21 TLDs available for $1. The company seems to stick with its prices for many years, unlike others who regularly hike their domain charges.
Did you enjoy learning about the cheapest domain extensions above? If yes, share your opinions and thoughts in the comment section below. If you liked the article, please share it with your family, friends, and social media audience.
FAQ (frequently asked questions)
What is the free domain extension?
A free domain extension is available at no cost to you. It can be free only for the first year, as provided with long-term hosting plans by several hosting providers. Or, you can get a free domain from Freenom with a .tk extension that remains free for a lifetime.
Which is the cheapest domain registrar?
NameSilo is the cheapest domain registrar since it offers dozens of domain extensions for $1. It also provides multiple freebies with its domains, like free WHOIS privacy, domain defender protection, DNS management, email forwarding, and custom WHOIS records.
If you are planning to build a website portfolio, you can also expect to get bulk domain discounts from the registrar.
If I purchase a domain for a low price, will the renewal rate be the same?
In most cases, no. Generally, the registrars offer domains for a low price initially and charge higher renewal rates later. It is a popular marketing strategy to attract new customers.
So, it is advised to check the renewal rates in advance before purchasing your domain with any registrar.
Should I get my domain from GoDaddy?
No, GoDaddy has lost its reputation in the few previous years because of its unethical business practices. Also, it provides a poor management interface to handle your domains.
So it is advised to stay away from GoDaddy for your domain needs.