Best places to buy domains in 2026
I’m guessing you’re here because you want to optimize your online presence and get the perfect domain name for your business. Digital (and SEO) optimization begins with a great domain!
I have bought many domains in my time. As in, you could say I hoard them.
As a lifelong entrepreneur, I go on domain binges. I probably own 20 right now, but am only using four. Whether you’re looking to expand your offerings, or start a new business, here are my top choices for places to buy domains as a Canadian.
Namecheap.com
This is the best place to buy unusual domain names or .com domains. Their prices are amazing…they always give you the best price. And when you need help setting up your domain on a host, they are available to help you. Like real actual live help, not a bot. And even though they have help pages they were more than happy to literally walk me through how to link my domain. Full marks for Namecheap! More than just cheap domains.
They also have a super cool way to look for different domain extensions (what comes after the dot). You’d be amazed by the options. Something to be mindful of is if you have an odd extension, it may seem less professional, but I suspect this sentiment will lessen over time.
Things to consider. When you’re buying a domain, there will usually be an up front cost and an annual renewal cost, and the two are not the same. In some cases for more desirable domains (watch out for GoDaddy exercising surge pricing). Do not search on GoDaddy in a regular browser. When you look up a domain, something gets triggered in their system and they see the site as more valueable and they will raise the price. Airlines and online retailers do this too. Don’t get me started on that, just use a private browser.
It is also best to choose one or two domain hubs so you don’t have domain companies scattered all over the place. I like just having two to log into.
The last thing to mention is that if you don’t already have a website, sometimes your web host will give you one free year of domain purchase with your hosting package. Squarespace does this, for example, but others as well. Before you buy a domain, check to see if your host is giving these away. And check the renewal price.
Anyway, here are my top choices for purchasing domains in Canada.
Canspace.ca
These guys are my longest domain relationship. When I compared prices with Namecheap, they came out ahead for any domain with a .ca extension. As a Canadian I own many domains with a .ca extension, and all of them came from Canspace. Here are the domains I own that came from Canspace. You will notice a couple of .com websites, and this would only be because during a price comparison, these ones would have had lower ongoing prices than Namecheap, just another reminder to check the renewal price, not just the upfront price. If you’re a domain squatter like me, you want lower annual fees.
Your Host!
When you’re setting up a new website, sometimes it’s best to NOT buy a domain ahead of time and wait to see if they offer you a free year. Squarespace, for example, offers you a free years of domain when you purchase hosting with them. This is common with hosts. So before you run out and buy your domain, decide who you’re going to host with and get a free year then.
By the way I’m a Squarespace Circle member which means that if you hire me to build you a website, you’ll get discounted hosting for your first year, and a six month period before having to pay (non members get 30 days).
