How Much Does a Domain Name Cost in 2025?

Want to launch a website but stuck on how much a domain name actually costs? It’s not as simple as $10 a year - not anymore. Prices vary wildly depending on the extension, the registrar, and even the time of year. A .com might cost you $12 one year and $25 the next. A .io could run you $60. And some domains? They’re priced like real estate. Let’s cut through the noise and show you exactly what you’ll pay - and how to avoid overpaying.

What You Actually Pay for a Domain Name

The price you see at checkout isn’t the full story. Most registrars advertise $0.99 or $1.99 for your first year. That’s a bait. It’s a loss leader. They know you’ll get hooked on the service and renew at full price. After the first year, .com domains typically cost between $12 and $18. Some registrars charge $15.99. Others push $19.99. There’s no fixed rate. ICANN, the group that oversees domains, doesn’t set prices - it just approves the registry operators who do.

Here’s what you’re really paying for:

• Registry fee: This goes to the organization that owns the domain extension. For .com, it’s Verisign. They charge around $9.15 per year to registrars.
• Registrar markup: GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains - they add their own fee on top. That’s where the difference comes from.
• ICANN fee: A mandatory $0.18 per domain, per year. It’s tiny, but it’s always there.
• Optional extras: Privacy protection, auto-renewal, email forwarding - these are often billed separately.

So if you see a $1.99 deal, you’re paying $1.99 for year one. Year two? You’ll likely pay $15-$18. And if you forget to renew? You could lose the domain - and pay hundreds to get it back.

Which Domain Extensions Cost the Most (and Least)

Not all domain endings are created equal. Here’s a snapshot of real 2025 prices for first-year registration (excluding privacy):

Notice anything? The cheapest domains - like .xyz - are often the least trusted. Businesses avoid them. If you’re building a brand, go for .com. If you’re a startup in tech, .io might make sense. If you’re in Ireland, .ie gives local credibility. Don’t pick a domain just because it’s cheap. Pick one that fits your audience.

Where to Buy a Domain Name (and Where to Avoid)

Not all registrars are equal. Some are trustworthy. Others are designed to upsell you into $100 packages you don’t need.

Best for beginners: Namecheap. They offer transparent pricing, free WHOIS privacy for life, and no hidden fees. Their .com domains start at $7.88/year after the first-year discount.

Best for simplicity: Cloudflare. They sell domains at cost - no markup. A .com is $9.15/year (plus $0.18 ICANN fee). No upsells. No upselling privacy. Just clean, straightforward pricing.

Best for bundles: GoDaddy. They’re the most aggressive. Their $1.99 .com deal is everywhere. But after year one? You’ll pay $18.99. And if you don’t cancel their privacy protection, they’ll charge you $10/year extra. They make money from confusion.

Avoid: Domains like Porkbun or Dynadot if you’re not tech-savvy. They’re cheap, but their interfaces are clunky. You’ll spend more time figuring out how to renew than you will saving money.

Hidden Costs You Didn’t Know About

Most people think domain cost = domain price. But there are traps.

• Privacy protection: Your contact info is public by default. Anyone can look it up. That’s why spammers and scammers target new domain owners. Most registrars charge $5-$15/year to hide it. Namecheap and Cloudflare give it to you free. GoDaddy doesn’t.
• Auto-renewal: If you forget to renew, your domain goes into redemption mode. After 30 days, it’s auctioned off. You could pay $200+ to get it back. Turn auto-renewal on - but only if you trust the registrar. Some charge extra for it.
• Transfer fees: If you want to move your domain from GoDaddy to Cloudflare, you’ll pay a transfer fee - usually one year’s renewal cost. So if you’re renewing soon, wait. Don’t pay twice.
• Domain parking: Some registrars lock your domain and show ads if you don’t use it. You can’t edit your site. You can’t set up email. It’s a scam. Avoid registrars that do this.

How to Save Money on Your Domain

You don’t need to overpay. Here’s how to cut costs without sacrificing quality:

1. Buy for 2-3 years upfront: Most registrars give you a 10-15% discount. You lock in the price and avoid renewal surprises.
2. Use promo codes: Check sites like RetailMeNot or Reddit’s r/Domains. Namecheap often has $2-$3 off codes. Cloudflare doesn’t need them - they’re already cheap.
3. Don’t buy multiple extensions: You don’t need yourname.com, yourname.net, yourname.org. Buy the one that fits your brand. Save $30 a year.
4. Use a .tech or .io if .com is taken: They’re affordable and still professional. Avoid .xyz unless you’re doing a meme site.
5. Check expired domains: Sites like GoDaddy Auctions or NameJet let you buy domains others let expire. You might find your perfect name for $50 instead of $200.

What Happens If You Don’t Renew?

It’s not just losing your website. You lose your email. Your customers can’t reach you. Your SEO rankings vanish. And if someone else snaps up your domain? They can hold it for ransom.

Here’s the timeline:

• Day 0: Domain expires.
• Day 1-30: Grace period. You can renew at normal price.
• Day 31-60: Redemption period. You can still get it back - but it costs $80-$150.
• Day 61-75: Pending delete. The domain is about to be released to the public.
• Day 76: It’s gone. Anyone can register it.

That’s why auto-renewal matters. But even then - if your payment fails? You’re still at risk. Always check your email for renewal notices. Set a calendar reminder. Don’t assume the registrar will handle it.

How Much Should You Really Spend?

Here’s the bottom line:

• If you’re a hobbyist or testing an idea: spend $3-$7 on a .xyz or .site. It’s disposable.
• If you’re launching a small business: spend $12-$18 on a .com. It’s worth it.
• If you’re building a brand: pay $15-$25 for a .com and $10 for privacy. That’s $25-$35 total. Less than a coffee a month.
• If you’re a startup in tech: consider .io. It’s pricier, but signals credibility in your space.

Don’t let the $1.99 deals fool you. The real cost is what you pay after year one - and how much you lose if you mess up renewal.

Domain names aren’t expensive. But bad choices and bad habits make them feel that way.

Frequently Asked Questions