Ordering Domains - How Can Customers Save the Most?

Internet domains are now affordable for everyone. However, there are sometimes significant price differences, so interested customers should carefully review the terms of various providers before ordering domains.

The prices for domains can vary greatly between different domain providers and domain extensions. In some cases, the difference can even amount to several hundred percent. After conducting an initial domain check to verify the general availability of a domain, it is essential to compare the contract terms and associated costs before ordering a domain.

Domains are considered free-market goods and can be traded at the discretion of their owners. The same applies to domain providers, who are free to set their service prices.

How Does Domain Registration Work?

To register a domain, multiple entities are typically involved, coordinating with each other. Different organizations are responsible for different domain extensions (generic top-level domains such as .com, .net, or .org, and country-specific top-level domains such as .de, .at, or .ch). All of these organizations operate under the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, California. ICANN manages specific international addresses, such as .net, .org, and .com, while other addresses are managed under license by formally independent organizations. For German .de domains, this is the DENIC eG (German Network Information Center), a cooperative based in Frankfurt am Main.

Institutions like DENIC or ICANN are, in most cases, not directly responsible for private or commercial inquiries. Instead, a customer’s chosen provider contacts the appropriate registry on their behalf to order domains. This means that direct registration by customers is not possible. Providers also handle the configuration of nameservers (DNS) for IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, enabling a server to accept requests for the new domain. A .de domain, for instance, is entirely independent of hosting (e.g., web space, root servers, or VPS) and can be pointed to any server based on the owner’s preferences.

Steps to Order a Domain:

• The customer chooses an available domain name.
• The customer selects a domain provider.
• The customer orders the domain from the provider.
• The provider places the order with the appropriate registry on behalf of the customer.
• The registry registers the domain for the provider.
• The provider makes the domain accessible to the customer.
• The customer, as the new owner, can use the domain (e.g., assigning it to web hosting).

Ordering Domains – How to Reduce Costs When Registering a Domain

It is essential to differentiate between three entities. ICANN and its national counterparts are non-profit organizations managing domain administration. A domain service provider offers domain registration (e.g., .de domains or other desired domains) for a fee and often includes additional services like web hosting and configuration.

There are also providers that explicitly do not offer web hosting but only handle domain registration and domain checks. In such cases, external servers can be entered into custom or third-party DNS, with the customer only paying fees for the domain registration. However, this approach requires the owner to manage technical configurations, such as linking nameservers to web space, which can reduce ongoing costs but requires technical knowledge.

The costs for domain registration are only a portion of the total monthly expenses. It’s advisable to calculate all factors and choose the most cost-effective package. Manual configuration requires time and technical expertise. Those seeking simplicity and wanting to use a domain for personal web presence are typically better off with a comprehensive package that includes both domain and web hosting. However, those experienced with domains and their technical management, particularly if managing multiple domains and hosting services, can often save significantly by separating web hosting and domain registration.

What Should Customers Consider When Ordering Cost-Effective Domains?

With very few exceptions, the provider’s location is irrelevant when choosing a top-level domain (TLD). For instance, .de domains can be registered with international providers without issues. To order and operate domains cost-effectively, consider the following points:

Best Practices for Ordering Cost-Effective Domains:

• Compare prices from different national and international providers.
• Take advantage of promotions, special offers, and discounts.
• Order domains for different TLDs from various providers.
• Separate web hosting from domain registration.
• Choose TLDs based on their costs.
• Consider renewal costs.
• Plan for long-term, multi-year registration.