8 reasons it’s time for you to transfer your domain

Transferring a domain name for a business can be a daunting task. And managing domains is no joke — approximately 48,000 internet domain names belonging to UK citizens and organizations were taken offline in January 2022 due to name registration restrictions. This means it’s essential to stay up-to-date on your registration requirements. Transferring a domain starts with a registrar, but there may be other technical considerations to avoid downtime.

Before starting the transfer process, it’s key to understand whether it’s a good idea to transfer your domain or not. In this article, we’ll share eight reasons why it’s time to transfer your domain to a new registrar — and why Namecheap is a great option.

How does domain registration work?

Domain name registrars are the businesses that register the names of websites, also known as web domains. This ensures that the domain is unique to the registrant and can’t be owned by someone else. In order to register domains, a registrar must be accredited by ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. This ensures the registrar is reputable and can sell and register domain names.

8 Reasons it’s time for you to transfer your domain

Are you considering moving your domain to a new registrar? Here are eight reasons it might be time to take action.

1. You sold the domain

One of the main reasons you might need to transfer a domain is that you have sold the domain. When you sell a domain to someone else, it isn’t always automatically transferred. Once someone has purchased the domain, you’ll need to initiate a domain name transfer. When transferring domains (especially if you are selling your domain or website), you won’t want the domain to experience any downtime.

2. Lower prices are available

Many top-level domains can be relatively expensive. Specialty domains can cost even more. Namecheap offers .com domain transfers for $9.78, with renewals for $14.58 (other top-level domains will vary in price). Other websites can charge upwards of $19.99 a year to renew a similar domain! If you own a UK family top-level domain (.uk, .co.uk, .org.uk, and .me.uk) you can even transfer your domain for free. When considering whether to transfer your domain, be sure to consider the cost of the transfer (which includes the cost of the renewal for one year).

3. A different registrar has better services

It might be time to switch if you’re looking for a new domain registrar that can provide better services. Not every domain registrar has a simple account panel to manage your domains. If you believe your domain registrar is running a barebones operation, consider switching to a better registrar. Domain name transfers can take as little as six days to complete.

When looking for a better registrar, consider the following: 24/7 live customer support; SSL certificate services; domain-based emails; multi-factor authentication; and privacy controls. Namecheap offers all of these services, so if your domain registrar does not have all of these, then you know it’s time to switch!

4. You want to use the same web host and registrar

Domain registrars and web hosts don’t always have to be the same. However, switching web hosts to the same as your registrar can be a great way to bundle services and save additional money. Namecheap offers both web hosting and domain registration. When you move a domain to Namecheap, you can host all of your websites here as well. Namecheap offers shared hosting, reseller hosting, WordPress hosting, email hosting, and more. By combining your web hosting services and domain registration services, you can easily keep all of your information in one place.

And contrary to what you may have heard, it’s not a bad idea to have your domains and your hosting provider come from the same company. 

5. You need to consolidate domain name registrars

Another common reason to transfer domains is if you have your domains spread across multiple registrars. By consolidating all your domains, they will be easier to manage. You only have to pay one company, and all of your services are available in one spot too. Instead of wasting time and effort with multiple domain name registrars, using a single registrar can put all your top-level domains in one place. Even better, some registrars offer competitive deals when you transfer your domain. 

6. You appreciate excellent customer service

Not all domain name registrars offer excellent levels of customer service. Unsurprisingly, many domain name registrars are operated only to maximize profit without regard for the customer service needs of website owners. This can lead to delays when purchasing new domain name registrations, transferring domains, or other services. If you feel short-changed when it comes to the customer service of your current provider, then it might be time to switch to a new one.

Namecheap offers 24/7 customer support. Namecheap’s staff can walk you through the process of transferring your domain, as well as any other questions you have about our services.

7. You value privacy and security

Your Internet presence and privacy are only as secure as your domain name registrar. When you register a domain name, you must provide public registration information for ICANN, the international body responsible for administering domains. This registration helps ensure domain ownership by proper parties. Fortunately, some domain registrars, like Namecheap, value privacy and offer lifetime domain privacy protection for certain TLDs. This type of privacy protection can be tremendously important in places with oppressive regimes or if your web domain contains controversial material. No matter what, your identity remains protected.

8. Your domain deserves a trusted registrar

Unfortunately, not every domain registrar is trustworthy or reputable. Some domain registrars buy up other smaller companies and gut them–leaving users without support or services. Some domain registrars may offer registration and run off with your money.

On the other hand, trusted registrars like Namecheap have decades of experience in web hosting. Since 2000, Namecheap has serviced over 17 million registered domains. With 1,700 employees across 18 countries, Namecheap values customer service and is trusted by companies like Figma and Imgur. If you’re tired of your domain being treated like a second-rate domain, it could be time to switch to a more trusted registrar.

The bottom line

Switching domain registrars can seem intimidating, but there are plenty of tell-tale signs you should switch. Namecheap makes it easy to transfer domains and saves you money. With exceptional customer service and an easy-to-use interface, Namecheap is an excellent choice for anyone looking to switch.