How to choose a Domain Provider for Your Website
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My Own Website - Domain Provider Comparison
1.01 World Net has recently created a Web Presence and as such, we have first-hand experience of Purchasing and Implementing Domains and Services offered by various Providers.
So far, we have used three Providers for both Domain names and Hosting:
- GoDaddy
- Google Domains
- HostPapa
This Article is a comparison of the Services provided and Costs involed when registering and implementing Your Own Domain.
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The Ground Rules:
- We have no affiliation with any of the Services, Companies or Websites that are cited, alluded to, or Compared in this Article
- All Comparisons are just our opinions and our experience when using the Services that are compared
- Any monetary amounts documented, are in AUD (Australian Dollars), unless marked otherwise, and were the Costs incurred on purchase, or the ongoing Costs that are being paid
Currently, $1.00 AUD is approximately $0.75 USD, OR, $1.00 USD is about $1.33 AUD.
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GoDaddy domains
Around September 2020, we purchased multiple Domain Names from GoDaddy.
Purchase Experience:
- The Domain Name Search functioned well and we were able to find Domain Names that suited us
- Purchasing the Domain was straight-forward although there were some surprises at Check-out - more of that later
- Overall their Website is attractive and functional and we were able to Purchase and Configure the Domains with relatively minimal trouble
Site Configuration:
- Configuring the Domains was relatively straight-forward although we did Google for instructions and others user-experience to help us the first time
- It is not difficult once you have experience with their DNS Management page
- We really liked the fact that all the DNS Records are displayed and managed on a single page
Services Provided:
- Email Addresses are NOT included - more of that later
- Each Domain comes with a Free Trial of Website Builder that allows Creation and Hosting of one Website for 30 days
- However after the free-trial the Monthly-cost ranges from: $12.95 for Basic to $29.95 for eCommerce!
Email Address:
- Email Addresses are NOT provided with the Domain - NOT EVEN Aliases
- As mentioned above Email Aliases are NOT provided
- Apart from Hosting an Email Server ourselves, the ONLY options we could find were PAID
- Our only simple option was to purchase an Email Address for $4.95 per month PLUS TAX ($65.34 per Year)
- But this provides us with ONE Email Address - adding a second will DOUBLE THE COST
- The Email Service however does allow us up to 400 Aliases but with ONLY ONE INBOX
Hidden Costs:
- The Original Cost quoted after the Domain Search was $18.95 per year - sounds reasonable
- What they DON'T tell you is that Privacy Protection (to hide your Registered Address from the World) is $11.95 per year
- AND there is also an ICANN Registration Fee of $0.30
- AND Local TAX has not been included
- Total Yearly Cost: $18.95 + $11.95 + $0.30 + $3.12 = $34.32 AUD !!
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GoDaddy Conclusion
- The Domain functions correctly and was relatively easy to Configure
- The lack of ANY Free Email options is DISAPPOINTING!
- The Paid Email Service with ONLY ONE INBOX is DEFINITELY OVERPRICED!
- Hidden Costs only revealed at the LAST MINUTE when Purchasing is EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING!!
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Google Domains
From October to December 2020, we purchased three Domains from Google Domains.
Purchase Experience:
- The Domain Name Search functioned well and we were able to find Domain Names that suited us
- Purchasing the Domain was straight-forward and NO real surprises at Check-out - more of that later
- Overall their Website is attractive, functional and Extremely Integrated with other Google Services
- We were able to Purchase and Configure the Domains with NO trouble
Site Configuration:
- Configuring the Domains was straight-forward and allowed Integration with other Google Services
- We didn't require any additional help or instructions
- Integrating our new Domains with both our new and existing Websites was simple
- Linking the new Domain to Google Analytics and Google Search Console was again, simple
- Using multiple Services from a single Provider and a single Account is Extremely Reassuring
Services Provided:
- Email Aliases are included - more of that later
- Google provides a host of FREE Services from Web Hosting to Search Engine Optimisation
- Paid Services are also available if required
Email Address:
- Up to 100 Email Aliases are provided with the Domain
- With Google Mail forwarding to multiple INBOX's that gives us a FREE Email Solution
Hidden Costs:
- The Original Cost quoted after the Domain Search was $18.00 per year
- Privacy Protection (to hide your Registered Address from the World) IS PROVIDED free
- ICANN Registration Fee of $0.30 IS PROVIDED free
- The ONLY hidden cost is Local TAX
- Total Yearly Cost: $18.00 + $1.80 = $19.80 AUD
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Google Domains Conclusion
Easy:
The Domain functions correctly and was easy to Configure.
Pleasing:
The inclusion of FREE Email Aliases is PLEASING.
Paid Email NOT required:
With Google Mail forwarding of your FREE Email Aliases, a Paid Email Service is NOT REQUIRED.
Cheaper:
The Yearly Cost of our Website Domain and Email Solution is SIGNIFICANTLY LESS ($79.86 AUD)!
GoDadday:
$34.32 + $65.34 = $99.66 per Year
Google Domains:
$19.80 + $0.00 = $19.80 per Year
Confidence:
Not being Mislead is really Pleasing and instills Confidence in your Provider.
And, Googles ability to integrate a host of Services into a single Account is very re-assuring
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HostPapa
HostPapa is our Hosting Provider and hosts our 101world.net Websites.
As we have not purchased Domains from them, we will not include HostPapa in this comparison.
However, we can say that so far, we are very impressed with both their Hosting Service and the quality of their Support.
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GoDaddy domains Vs Google Domains Conclusion
SO WHO IS THE WINNER?
Well ... we'll let you be the judge, but we suggest you do your research and make a decision based on knowledge and first-hand experience from trusted sources.
With one Solution being 5 times the other, it pays to do your homework!
We will be Investigating other Providers BUT for now, we are very impressed with ONE of the two Domain Providers compared.
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My Own Website - Series
Other Articles in the Series:
My Own Website - Chapter One My Own Website - Chapter TwoMy Own Website - Logo
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Fiction
Thought-provoking fiction:
Larger than life
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Originally Published on Vocal Media
This Article was originally published by Tim Stix on vocal.media.
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| Tim StiX - Dec 2020 | | | | Tim StiX is a Software Engineer with over 20 years experience in Net Technology. | | | | See timstix.com for more information. | | © 2023 www.101world.net | | ℗ 2023 www.101world.net |
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