Google, the company, probably needs no introduction. It operates a popular search engine that almost everyone uses. The company has been publicly launched Google Domains in 2014 to help users buy domain names. The service remained in beta until March 2022, which is quite a long time.
Google Domains offers domain registration, DNS hosting, domain forwarding, and email forwarding services. It has direct integration with many third-party web hosting platforms.
We’ve tested Google Domains to give you a comprehensive, unbiased review. We evaluated it based on specific criteria including features, pricing, customer support, ease of use, etc.
Subscriptions and Prices
As with all domain name registrars, Google Domains charges different fees depending on the domain name extension you choose. Generics like .com, .org, and .net start at $12 a year. Unusual ones such as .money, .market and .ventures cost between $30 and $60 annually.
Google offers more than 300 domain name extensions. Not too long ago, there were fewer than 100, but Google added many more extensions after it launched its domain service out of beta in March 2022.
Google offers a 5-day refund period for domain name purchases. You also cannot receive a refund for more than three domains in a consecutive 12-month period. This refund policy is not comparable to many competitors.
Functions
The main function of Google Domains is the purchase of a domain name. You can search for available domain names and buy them without jumping through many hoops. The platform supports over 300 domain name extensions, which is good, but not as good as some competing domain registrars.
Just go to the website and search for any domain. If it’s available, you can buy it right away. Google requires you to sign up to buy any domain, but this shouldn’t be a problem as most people who browse the web have a Google account.
Google also lets you transfer domain names registered elsewhere to its platform. The process is relatively simple, but has strict requirements, such as holding your domain name with the current registrar for a minimum of 60 days before transferring it.
Google Domains has many more features including;
Share domain
You can entrust domain name management to multiple people within an organization. Google Domains allows you to do this automatically by assigning administrative access to other Google accounts.
Multiple domain registration
You can register multiple domains at once on Google Domains. This feature is desirable for customers who own trademark names and want to protect them from domain name infringement. You can simply register your trademark name with multiple domain extensions.
DNS export
Domain Name System (DNS) is the Internet’s system for converting alphabetical names into numerical IP addresses. For example, when you enter a URL (www.domains.google), the DNS servers immediately return the IP address assigned to that domain name, and that’s how you access the website.
Every domain name owner must configure their DNS servers to work properly. If you move your domain to another registrar, it will be difficult to configure them from scratch. But do not worry. Google Domains allows you to download your DNS records to standard formats such as YAML or BIND and upload them to other DNS servers.
Free Cloud DNS
Google Domains offers free DNS support so that your website can meet traffic requirements for free.
Free Privacy Protection
Google Domains allows you to keep your contact information private in the WHOIS and RDAP databases. This feature helps prevent spammers from bothering you with purchase offers.
Automatic domain verification
If you integrate your website with other Google services such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Cloud Run, you don’t need to manually verify your domain with TXT records. Google would automatically recognize a domain name associated with your account.
Custom Email
You can automatically integrate your domain name with Google Workspace to create up to 100 professional email addresses. This feature is useful for companies with a significant number of employees.
Interface and in use
Google Domains is relatively easy to use. It has a neat and uncluttered interface with all the features divided into a few sections. The interface is concise and clear, similar to the Google search engine. Google has earned its reputation for developing tools that are easy to understand and navigate.
You can search for the availability of a domain name at any time. If it’s available, you can buy it right away. Google Domains accepts payments from most credit/debit card networks. You can change your billing region and currency at any time.
Customer service
Google has built up a reputation for having weak customer support over the years, but the company is improving in that area. Google now offers live chat and email support for its domain name service. However, support is limited to US business hours.
The competition
Google Domains’ main rivals are GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Buy Domains. Google’s main limitation compared to these platforms is that it doesn’t offer as many domain name extensions as they do. However, Google Domains is much easier to use.
final verdict
Google Domains is a reliable domain name registrar. You can use it without worrying about downtime or compromise. However, there are drawbacks, such as limited customer support. Also, many people are concerned about Google’s history of shutting down additional services.
