Best Domain Registrars for Google Sites & Workspace

Last Updated: September 30, 2025

Google Sites is a simple no-code website builder that allows you to build neat websites for free (this page you’re viewing is built and hosted with Google Sites).

Google Workspace is the most reliable email service (plus other tools) for small business.

Both of these work with a custom domain name, but first you need to get a domain from a third-party registrar.

You used to be able to buy a domain from Google Domains, but they shut it down a couple of years ago. Many developers who loved Google Domains were rightfully disappointed, but we all moved on now.

I’ve used several domain registrars, and these are the ones I like the most:

Spaceship is the most recent domain registrar I’ve tried, and as of 2025, it’s my #1 favorite registrar. It’s very affordable, the UI is modern and cool, and support service is quick (some agents aren’t so helpful, but overall I’m satisfied with the service).

I also use Spaceship’s cPanel hosting and email. Both are very cheap. I’d recommend their hosting for low-traffic WordPress sites, but for high-traffic or e-commerce, go with a premium host like Pressable (one of my fav managed WordPress hosts).

Pros:

• Low registration and renewal prices

• Free domain privacy protection

• Modern UI (I like the dark mode)

• Cheap shared and VPS hosting

Cons:

• Website glitches happen sometimes

I started with Namecheap many years ago and I’m still a loyal customer. However, as their renewal prices became higher recently, I’ve been leaning more towards Spaceship.

If you just need a domain or two, Namecheap is great. They offer discounted registration prices and you won’t feel the impact of a few extra bucks at renewal.

Pros:

• First-year discount for many TLDs

• Free WHOIS privacy

• Established and trusted registrar

• Affordable extras like hosting and SSL

Cons:

• Renewal price hikes (more reasonable than others)

• Dashboard UI is screaming for an upgrade

Dynadot is another affordable domain registrar that works well with Google Sites and Workspace. They have their own website builder as well, but it’s not that impressive.

Dynadot’s prices have remained low for years while many other registrars have had major price hikes. They are transparent about renewal prices and they don’t offer sneaky add-ons just to squeeze more money out of your pocket.

Pros:

• Low prices with rare increases

• Clean and easy-to-use dashboard

• Free privacy protection

• No marketing gotchas

Cons:

• Doesn’t offer much besides domain registration

Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the common domain-related questions often asked by newbies:

Can you buy a domain name without hosting?

Yes, you can buy a domain on its own without web hosting or any other associated service. Even if you don’t use the domain, it’s yours as long as you keep paying the renewal fee in time. It’ll usually just display a default parked page until you decide to do something with it.

Can you buy your domain and hosting from separate providers?

Yes, that’s possible. Many experienced users actually recommend separating your domains from your hosting service. Most of the domains I have registered at Spaceship and other registrars are hosted at other places.

For example, you can buy a domain from Namecheap or Spaceship then connect it to a website built with Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, etc. All you need to do is change the domain’s nameservers to the values provided by your website host.

This is usually done for easier domain management, better DNS tools, lower renewal fees, and less hassle when migrating the website to a different provider (just change the nameservers without transferring the domain).

Can you buy a domain name forever?

No, it’s not possible to buy a domain name outright. You can only own it temporarily but not permanently - it’s more like a leased service.

Domains are registered (i.e. leased) on a yearly basis with a maximum registration period of ten years. You can renew your registration and add more years anytime, but it can’t exceed ten years.

Can you transfer a domain to another registrar or host?

Yes, you can transfer your domain name to another company, but keep in mind that newly-registered domains have a 60-day transfer lock period. So, if you have just bought the domain, you won’t be able to transfer it to another company for 60 days. This is an ICANN rule that applies to all providers.

How to buy an expired domain name?

When a domain name expires, it goes through different phases before it is finally deleted and released to the public pool. However, most expired domains that have value get acquired before they become publicly available.

Many registrars auction off their customers’ expired domains before they get deleted, so the first place to check is the registrar’s auctions/marketplace. See if the domain is listed for auction there, and keep checking from time to time.

The next best bet to secure an expired domain is to place a backorder with a drop-catching service like DropCatch.com, SnapNames, or Sav. These have automated systems that will try to register (catch) the expired domain within milliseconds after it drops and becomes available for registration. If someone else has a backorder on the domain with any drop-catching service, there is 0 chance you’ll be able to beat them to it by trying to manually register the domain when it drops.