How Much Does it Cost to Register a Domain Name

Domain pricing looks simple at checkout, but the real cost shows up over time, and it can be multiple folds more than what you actually thought a domain name was costing you. 

Registration gets you the name for year one. Renewal keeps it. Transfers can help you optimize what you pay across multi-year ownership. This guide compares the domain name cost across the most prominent domain name registrars Freename, GoDaddy, and Unstoppable Domains, and gives you a fair, 3-year way to decide.

How Domain Pricing Really Works

• Domain Registration is your first year.
• Renewal is what you pay to keep the domain in year two and beyond. Renewal matters more than any promo. Many providers discount the first year but raise the renewal.
• Domain Transfer often includes one extra year, which can reduce your average cost if you time it well.
• Promotions cut the first year but typically do not apply at renewal.
• What you get differs across providers: classic DNS hosting and email support vs Web3 features like wallet routing and decentralized sites.

Quick rule: compare the 3-year total. Most businesses keep a domain for multiple years, so this is the most honest view.

What Drives the Price of a Domain

TLD Choice

Extensions like .com, .ai, .io, .xyz, and .org have different wholesale costs, which flow through to retail pricing.  Trending or premium TLDs usually carry higher renewals.

Provider Model

Some providers use classic annual renewals, while certain Web3 products offer lifetime pricing. Annual models look cheaper up front during promos but add up over multiple years. Lifetime models remove renewals but require a larger one-time fee and may differ in how resolution and integrations work.

Bundles and add-ons

Privacy, DNSSEC, email forwarding, SSL, marketplace access, Web3 records, and site tools can be included or billed separately. A low base price can end up higher once essential add-ons are added.

Promotions

First-year coupons reduce the initial bill but usually do not repeat at renewal. Discounts can mask a higher year-two price.

Freename vs GoDaddy vs Unstoppable Domains: Feature Comparison

Domain Registration Price comparison (popular TLDs)

Prices below from Freename vs GoDaddy vs Unstoppable Domains are representative public rates. The 3-year total is Registration + Renewal × 2. Taxes may apply.

For long-term ownership, the renewal column does the heavy lifting. The 3-year total neutralizes first-year promos and shows the true cost of keeping the name.

How to Choose the Best TLD

Pick a TLD that fits your audience, industry norms, and 3-year budget. Whether you’re choosing classic DNS extensions or exploring Web3 TLDs / Web3 domains for on-chain identity and dApp integrations.

• .com

Universal recognition for businesses of any size. A close race in year one across providers, but renewal separates them. If you expect long-term use, prioritize the renewal rate and ensure privacy/DNS tools are included. You can pair a .com with a Web3 domain for wallet routing without changing the main site.

• .ai

Signals tech and AI focus. Premium wholesale leads to higher renewals, so small year-one differences matter less than the 3-year total. Consider adding a matching Web3 TLD for your developer documentation or on-chain identity if your product is AI + crypto adjacent.

• .io

Popular with developer tools, APIs, and SaaS. Look for balanced pricing rather than a very low first year that jumps later. If you ship dApps or token-gated features, secure a complementary Web3 domain for wallet records while keeping .io for public-facing DNS.

• .xyz

Flexible and creative, with frequent year-one deals. Great for experiments, personal brands, and crypto-native projects. If your audience lives on-chain, a Web3 TLD mirror (for ENS-style records, profiles, or decentralized sites) can reinforce your identity.

• .org

Trusted by nonprofits, communities, and open-source projects. Pricing is stable and credibility is high. Compare renewals and confirm whether privacy is included. Communities that accept crypto or run DAOs can benefit from a matching Web3 domain for treasury routing and verifiable identities.

Choose in Under Two Minutes

1. Pick your TLD for the audience you serve.
2. Write down registration and renewal for your short list.
3. Compute the 3-year total.
4. Check transfer rules to keep your options open.
5. Match features to your stack: DNS, security, marketplace, or Web3 identity.

Conclusion

Ignore the sticker price and compare the full journey. Domain registration only gets you started. Renewal determines your real cost. If you want DNS stability with room to add Web3 capabilities, Freename keeps the multi-year total competitive while staying straightforward on transfers and renewals. If you need a specific marketplace or wallet-first stack, compare the 3-year total against the features you will actually use this year.