Alternatives to
9 Best Google Domains Alternatives in 2026
The best Google Domains alternatives depend on whether you prioritize cost, control, or a different workflow.
- Reviewed
- Sep 2026
- Open source
- 0
- Self-hosted
- 0
What you are leaving
Google Domains at a glance
- Status
- Sold to Squarespace; existing domains migrated to Squarespace Domains
- Pricing model
- Was flat-rate annual registration with free WHOIS privacy; no longer available
- Deployment
- Web
- Open source
- No - proprietary Google product
- Self-host
- No
- Free tier
- No - domains are paid annually
- Category
- Domains
- WHOIS privacy
- Was free
- DNS
- Was managed through Google Cloud DNS
- Migration
- Domains moved to Squarespace Domains automatically
Compare at a glance
Google Domains alternatives compared
Short facts side by side. Filter by what matters to your team, then open any row for the full decision brief.
| # | Product | Overlap | Substitutability | Free? | Starting price | Self-host | Open source | Migration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Porkbun | Domain registration and DNS management | Full replacement | No | $11.08/year | No | No | Moderate | |
| 02 | Namecheap | Domain registration and DNS management | Full replacement | No | — | No | No | Moderate | |
| 03 | Cloudflare Registrar | Domain registration and DNS management | Full replacement | No | — | No | No | Moderate | |
| 04 | Squarespace Domains | Domain registration and DNS management | Mostly replaces | No | — | No | No | Easy | |
| 05 | Gandi | Domain registration and DNS management | Mostly replaces | No | — | No | No | Moderate | |
| 06 | Dynadot | Domain registration and DNS management | Mostly replaces | No | — | No | No | Moderate | |
| 07 | Google Cloud DNS | DNS hosting | Narrow overlap | Yes | — | No | No | Moderate | |
| 08 | Hover | Domain registration and DNS management | Mostly replaces | No | — | No | No | Moderate | |
| 09 | Njalla | Domain registration with privacy | Narrow overlap | No | — | No | No | Hard |
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Frequently asked
Google Domains alternatives FAQ
- Is Google Domains shutting down?
- Yes. Google Domains was sold to Squarespace and stopped accepting new registrations. Existing domains were migrated to Squarespace Domains, which now manages them. If you had domains registered through Google Domains, they are now under Squarespace's registrar. You can keep them there or transfer them to another registrar, though transfers usually require waiting 60 days after registration or a previous transfer.
- What is the best Google Domains alternative?
- Porkbun and Namecheap are the two most popular alternatives, with competitive pricing, free WHOIS privacy and straightforward interfaces. Cloudflare Registrar is the best choice if you already use Cloudflare, because it sells domains at wholesale cost with no markup. Squarespace Domains is the direct successor to Google Domains if you want the simplest migration path, since your domains are already there.
- How much does a domain cost after Google Domains?
- Porkbun lists .com domains from $11.08 per year and .net from $12.52 per year, with free WHOIS privacy, SSL certificates and email forwarding. Cloudflare Registrar sells domains at wholesale cost with no markup, so prices vary by TLD. Namecheap and Dynadot have similar pricing with frequent first-year promotions. Squarespace Domains pricing is generally higher than specialist registrars.
- Should I transfer my domain away from Squarespace?
- It depends on price and features. Squarespace Domains is a competent registrar and your domains are already there, so staying is the path of least resistance. If you want lower renewal prices, free WHOIS privacy or wholesale pricing, transferring to Porkbun, Cloudflare Registrar or Namecheap usually saves money. Transfers typically take 5 to 7 days and require an authorisation code from your current registrar.
- What should I check before transferring a domain?
- Check the 60-day transfer lock, since domains cannot be transferred within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer. Make sure your contact email is up to date, because the authorisation code is sent there. Confirm the domain is not expired and that auto-renew is either on or the domain has enough time left. Finally, check whether the new registrar includes free WHOIS privacy and email forwarding, since those are paid add-ons at some registrars.
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