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  • 9 Best Google Domains Alternatives for 2023 (Compared)

    Are you looking for a Google Domains alternative?

    Google Domains helps you register a domain name for your website. However, the service is shutting down and migrating to Squarespace. That has sent many customers looking for a new place to register or transfer their old and new domain names.

    In this article, we will show you the best Google Domains alternatives.

    Best Google Domain Alternatives

    Why Do You Need a Google Domains Alternative?

    Google launched a domain registration service in 2015 to help users find, buy, and manage a domain for their business.

    However, the Google Domains service will close down, and Squarespace will take over the business and assets. Squarespace is a popular website builder that also provides hosting services.

    With Google Domains ending, all the existing customers and their domains will be migrated to the Squarespace platform.

    One of the drawbacks of transitioning to Squarespace will be domain renewal costs. Squarespace has said it will honor all existing Google Domains customers’ renewal prices for at least 12 months. However, you can expect higher renewal costs after that.

    Besides that, many other domain registration services in the market offer free domain names with hosting plans. Plus, the hosting plans are often much cheaper than Squarespace.

    That said, let’s look at some of the best Google Domains alternatives you can get your hands on today.

    1. Domain.com

    The Domain.com domain registrar

    Domain.com is the best Google Domains alternative in the market and one of the most popular domain registrars. You get top-level domain name extensions (TLDs) and lots of country code top-level domains (ccTLDs).

    It makes it very easy to search for and manage a domain name. For instance, you can access tools like WHOIS privacy protection, bulk registration, private registration, DNS management, renewals, and more.

    Domain.com also easily integrates with Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite). You can use your Gmail for business emails and access other tools like Google Drive for storage. You also get file-sharing tools and can communicate with others using Google Meet.

    Besides that, Domain.com offers web hosting services, website builder and web design services, email marketing services, and more. There are different security features, including SSL certificates, daily malware scans, DDoS protection, blacklist monitoring, and more.

    While these additional services are beneficial, Domain.com is the perfect solution for registering a domain without hosting and using it as an alternative to Google Domains.

    For WPBeginner readers, Domain.com is offering a 25% off discount on domain products. Simply use our Domain.com coupon code to get your hands on the offer.

    2. Hostinger

    Hostinger start now

    Hostinger is another popular WordPress hosting service that also offers free domain registration. You can choose from top-level domain name extensions (TLDs) and get free WHOIS privacy protection.

    What makes Hostinger a great Google Domains alternative is that you get a variety of web hosting types to choose from. For instance, you can share hosting, cloud hosting, managed WordPress hosting, and VPS hosting.

    Plus, it offers affordable hosting prices compared to Squarespace, which will be the domain hosting platform once Google Domains shuts down.

    Besides that, Hostinger offers free CDN, a 1-click WordPress install, automatic updates, enhanced security features, 24/7 live chat support, free email, free SSL, unlimited bandwidth, WordPress acceleration, and more.

    You can check out our Hostinger coupon to get exclusive discounts and also read our expert Hostinger review for complete details.

    3. GoDaddy

    The GoDaddy website builder

    GoDaddy is the next Google Domains alternative on our list. It is one of the oldest and most popular domain registrars.

    GoDaddy offers over 84 million domains to choose from, with over 500 domain extensions. It is a great place to search and register a domain.

    It is an excellent alternative to Google Domains because it is a one-stop solution. You can buy a domain of your choice, choose a web hosting plan, and start to build a WordPress website. It also offers one of the cheapest domain registration services, with prices starting from $0.99 per year.

    If you can’t find the domain you’re looking for, then GoDaddy also offers a WHOIS search feature and domain broker service. You can hire GoDaddy to find, negotiate, and purchase a domain in the broker service.

    There is also an auction section on GoDaddy where you can see domains up for sale. Simply bid for a name you’re looking for before the auction ends.

    Besides that, you get other features like beginner-friendly domain management facilities. This includes domain name changes, bulk domain renewals, and more. GoDaddy also offers WordPress hosting, website builder, email marketing service, and other tools.

    4. Network Solutions

    Network Solution

    Network Solutions is another Google Domains alternative and one of the largest domain registrars in the market, with over 7 million domains registered.

    It offers domain features such as domain transfer, forwarding, private registration, expiration protection, WHOIS search, trademark protection, and more.

    With Network Solutions, you can register a wide variety of domain extensions, like .com, .org, .net, .biz, .info, and other niche TLDs. This makes it a create Google Domains alternative as you can choose from different domain extensions.

    Aside from that, it also offers web hosting, website builder, SSL certificate, cybersecurity solution, email marketing tools, SEO tools, and more.

    5. Bluehost

    Bluehost offer for WPBeginner readers

    Bluehost is the best web hosting service and the official WordPress hosting partner. They offer fast and affordable hosting services along with domain name registration services.

    If you’re looking for a Google Domains alternative that also offers web hosting and free SSL, then Bluehost is one of the best solutions.

    With Bluehost, you get a free domain name and a free SSL certificate with each hosting plan. This means you don’t have to pay extra to purchase a domain or get an SSL certificate.

    Another benefit of choosing Bluehost is that WordPress comes pre-installed. It also has a beginner-friendly interface, and you can easily manage everything from a single dashboard. Plus, you can use Google Workspace to set up your business emails.

    WPBeginner readers can enjoy a 60% off discount on Bluehost. This means you can start with a domain name and web hosting for only $2.75 per month.

    6. Namecheap

    Namecheap

    Namecheap is another attractive Google Domains alternative. It is a popular domain registrar that offers a powerful domain search tool. Plus, Namecheap provides suggestions for different domains if the preferred name or extension isn’t available.

    Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) is free with every purchase of a domain name. This provides an extra layer of security by checking the DNS address and keeps your domain secure from cyber threats.

    Namecheap also provides different types of hosting services. You can choose from shared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated servers, and reseller hosting.

    Besides that, you get 24/7 customer support, a free 2-month email address trial, privacy protection, domain transfer, SSL certificates, and more.

    7. Hover

    Hover

    Hover is a beginner-friendly domain name registrar service and a great alternative to Google Domains.

    It makes it very easy to find a domain name of your choice and purchase it. You can also choose from popular domain extensions and other niche TLDs. You can also transfer domains, and renew them.

    The best part of using Hover is getting WHOIS and 2-factor authentication for free with every purchase. This is something that makes it different from Google Domains and worth checking out as a replacement for the service.

    Hover also offers tools like custom emails and Realnames emails to create a personal touch for your readers. The Realnames email lets you turn your name into an email address in the format of firstname@lastname.

    8. DreamHost

    DreamHost

    DreamHost is another great Google Domains alternative. Like many other options on the list, it also helps you register a domain and get web hosting for your website.

    You get a free domain name, SSL certificate, and domain privacy with any hosting plan. However, you can purchase a domain name for your business using DreamHost.

    There are over 400 domain extensions to choose from. Besides that, DreamHost provides a variety of hosting options.

    For instance, you can select shared hosting, managed WordPress hosting called DreamPress, dedicated server hosting, cloud hosting, VPS hosting, and more. You can see our details DreamHost review to learn more.

    It also easily integrates with Google Workspace. Plus, DreamHost offers email hosting, a website builder option, custom web design, SEO marketing, social media marketing, and other website management services.

    9. HostGator

    HostGator website

    HostGator is the last Google Domains alternative on our list. It is another popular hosting provider for WordPress that offers a free domain name.

    What makes it an attractive option compared to Google Domains is the pricing plans. You get affordable plans that include free one-year domain registration, SSL certificate, easy WordPress install, and more.

    HostGator also offers a domain transfer feature. You can migrate a domain from another platform, such as Google Domains, to HostGator.

    Aside from that, the hosting service provides other features like website builder, shared and dedicated hosting, Google Workspace integration, web design facility, SEO and pay-per-click (PPC) consultation, and more.

    Which Google Domains Alternative is the Best?

    After reviewing multiple services, our top picks are Domain.com, Hostinger, GoDaddy, and Network Solutions.

    Domain.com makes it super easy to find a domain name with multiple domain extensions. It also offers some of the best domain management and security features.

    On the other hand, if you want a domain name with web hosting, we highly recommend Hostinger. With each hosting plan, you get a free domain name and SSL certificate for one year.

    If you’re in the market to just register a domain name, then GoDaddy and Network Solutions are excellent alternatives to Google Domains. Both offer powerful domain search tools.

    FAQs about Google Domains Alternatives

    Here are some frequently asked questions about choosing a Google Domains alternative.

    1. Is Google good for buying domains?

    Google launched Google Domains in 2015 to help users buy a domain name for their websites and offer competitive prices compared to other domain registration services. However, Squarespace acquired Google Domains in 2023. Once the migration is complete, you can purchase domains on Squarespace, and Google Domains will no longer be available.

    2. Why is Google Domains better than GoDaddy?

    One of the reasons why people liked Google Domains is because it offered cheaper domains compared to GoDaddy. However, with Google Domains transitioning to Squarespace, GoDaddy is a more attractive option than Squarespace. You get more features, web hosting, a website builder, and more in GoDaddy.

    3. What is the lowest cost of a domain?

    The cost usually depends on the domain name and extension you’re looking for. Domain.com offers domain names starting from $11.99. On the other hand, Hostinger offers a domain for free with its WordPress starter and higher plans. GoDaddy lets you register a domain for as low as $0.99.

    4. Can I sell my Google domain?

    Yes, you can sell your Google domain. There are many domain registrars and marketplaces where you can sell your domain. For example, GoDaddy lets you select domains from your portfolio and list them for sale. Besides that, you can also use marketplaces like Flippa and Efty to sell your domain or website.

    We hope this article helped you pick the best Google Domains alternative. You may also want to see our guide on what’s the difference between a domain name and web hosting and must-have WordPress plugins for business sites.

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post 9 Best Google Domains Alternatives for 2023 (Compared) first appeared on WPBeginner.

  • How to Set Up WP Mail SMTP with Any Host (Ultimate Guide)

    Do you want to set up WP Mail SMTP on your WordPress site?

    WP Mail SMTP is the best WordPress SMTP plugin that allows you to easily send WordPress emails using a secure mail transfer protocol (SMTP). It makes sure your emails go to the inboxes of your users and not to the spam folder.

    In this article, we will show you how to easily set up WP Mail SMTP with any host or third-party SMTP service.

    Setting up WP Mail SMTP with any WordPress host

    This is a lengthy article, so we have added a table of contents. If you know what you are looking for, then you can click the link to jump to that section:

    What Is WP Mail SMTP, and Why Do You Need It to Send WordPress Emails?

    WP Mail SMTP is the best WordPress SMTP plugin on the market. It allows you to send all your WordPress emails using an SMTP server.

    Once you set up your WordPress site, you may notice that you are not getting any emails from WordPress. These include WordPress notification emails and emails from your WordPress contact form plugin.

    The reason you are not getting emails is usually that WordPress uses the PHP mail() function to send them.

    Most WordPress hosting companies do not configure this function properly, and some simply disable it to prevent abuse.

    The easiest fix for this issue is to use SMTP to send WordPress emails.

    SMTP stands for ‘secure mail transfer protocol’, and it is pretty much the standard way to send emails. It requires you to log in to a mail server to send emails. This prevents the abuse of the hosting server and improves email deliverability, which means that you and your users will receive all WordPress emails.

    Hosting SMTP Server vs. Third-Party SMTP Server – Which One Should You Use?

    Most WordPress hosting companies offer free business email addresses that you can use with your own domain name.

    We recommend setting up a separate email address for your WordPress website. It can be anything like support@example.com or info@example.com.

    However, your WordPress hosting provider does not specialize in sending emails. Their SMTP servers are basic and have strict limits on the number of emails you can send.

    If you run a small business website or a blog, then you will probably be fine with your hosting provider’s SMTP servers.

    On the other hand, if you run an online store or a membership website, then emails become mission-critical for your business. You want to make sure that your customers get important email notifications delivered to their inboxes.

    This is where you need a third-party SMTP service provider. These companies specialize in securely sending large numbers of emails without triggering spam filters.

    We recommend using SendLayer, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), or SMTP.com for most online businesses. They are reasonably priced and can scale as your business grows.

    For more information, you can see our article on the top SMTP service providers.

    Once you have chosen an email delivery method, the next step is to connect your WordPress website to your mail server.

    This is where the WP Mail SMTP plugin comes in. It allows you to send WordPress emails via SMTP by entering your SMTP credentials.

    WP Mail SMTP is the most popular SMTP solution for WordPress, currently used by over 3 million websites. It’s maintained by the same team as WPForms.

    There is also a free WP Mail SMTP lite version that is fully functional and can be used with any WordPress hosting company or third-party SMTP service provider.

    The premium version of the WP Mail SMTP plugin supports all the top SMTP service providers and works with any WordPress hosting company that offers email accounts.

    It also comes with powerful features like email logs, email controls, priority support, and a white glove setup.

    Installing and Setting Up WP Mail SMTP

    The first thing you need to do is install and activate the WP Mail SMTP plugin. For more details, see our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

    Upon activation, you will see the setup wizard. You can skip it as we will show you how to set up WP Mail SMTP manually.

    WP Mail SMTP Launch Wizard

    Just click on ‘Go back to the Dashboard’.

    Next, you need to visit the WP Mail SMTP » Settings page to configure the plugin settings.

    WP Mail SMTP Settings

    You need to enter your SMTP settings to use WP Mail SMTP. The first part of the settings will be similar regardless of your hosting company. It includes the following fields:

    • From Email – This email address will be used to send all WordPress emails.
    • From Name – This name will be used to send emails. We recommend using your website’s title.
    • Return Path – Check this box to receive delivery notifications or bounced messages.
    • Mailer – You need to select ‘Other SMTP’ here as you will be sending emails using your host’s SMTP server

    Note: If you want to use third-party mailers, follow this guide to send WordPress emails via Gmail SMTP. We also have a similar guide for the Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) SMTP setup.

    WP Mail SMTP return path and mailer settings

    If you want to continue using your host, you need to select ‘Other SMTP’ and enter the SMTP server settings provided by the hosting company.

    • SMTP Host – The SMTP host address provided by your hosting company.
    • Encryption – The encryption method used by your mail server to send emails. Usually, it is TLS.
    • SMTP Port – The port used by the outgoing mail server.
    • Auto TLS – This setting should be set to On.
    • Authentication – Needs to be On.
    • SMTP Username – Usually the email address you are using to send emails.
    • SMTP Password – The password for the email account you are using to send emails. We don’t recommend saving SMTP passwords here. Instead, you need to store your password in the wp-config.php file.
    Other SMTP

    These settings are required to connect with any SMTP server. However, their values may differ from one WordPress hosting company to another.

    Let’s see how to set up the WP Mail SMTP plugin with different hosting companies.

    Setting Up WP Mail SMTP on Bluehost

    Bluehost is one of the biggest hosting companies in the world and an officially recommended WordPress hosting provider.

    We recommend Bluehost to all users who are starting a WordPress blog or making a small business website.

    Here are the SMTP settings you will be using to connect WP Mail SMTP to the Bluehost SMTP server:

    • SMTP Host – mail.example.com
    • Encryption – TLS
    • SMTP Port – 587
    • SMTP Username – Your email address (e.g. wordpress@example.com)
    • SMTP Password – Your email account password

    Don’t forget to replace example.com with your own domain name.

    Bluehost SMTP

    Setting Up WP Mail SMTP on SiteGround

    SiteGround is another popular WordPress hosting company. They offer excellent shared, managed, and WooCommerce hosting services.

    Here are the SMTP settings you will be using to connect WP Mail SMTP with SiteGround servers:

    • SMTP Host – mail.example.com
    • Encryption – TLS
    • SMTP Port – 587
    • SMTP Username – Your email address (e.g. wordpress@example.com)
    • SMTP Password – Your email account password
    SiteGround SMTP

    Setting Up WP Mail SMTP on HostGator

    HostGator is another popular WordPress hosting company. WPBeginner is hosted with HostGator, and we have been using them for over a decade.

    Here are the SMTP settings you will be using to connect WP Mail SMTP with HostGator servers:

    • SMTP Host – full.servername.com
    • Encryption – SSL
    • SMTP Port – 465
    • SMTP Username – Your email address (e.g. wordpress@example.com)
    • SMTP Password – Your email account password
    HostGator SMTP settings for WordPress

    You will notice that instead of using your domain as the SMTP Host, it uses the server name. You can find the server name in your cPanel hosting dashboard.

    Simply log in to your cPanel, and you will see the full server name in the right column towards the bottom.

    HostGator server hostname

    Setting Up WP Mail SMTP on DreamHost

    DreamHost is a popular WordPress hosting company. They have been around since 1997 (way before WordPress, Google, or Facebook) and offer shared WordPress hosting, managed, and VPS hosting plans.

    Here are the SMTP settings you will be using to connect WP Mail SMTP with DreamHost servers:

    • SMTP Host – full.servername.com
    • Encryption – SSL
    • SMTP Port – 465
    • SMTP Username – Your email address (e.g. wordpress@example.com)
    • SMTP Password – Your email account password
    DreamHost SMTP

    You will notice that Dreamhost doesn’t use your domain name as the mail server. Instead, they use different servers to manage emails, and you will need to find out which one is used by your hosting account.

    You can do this by logging in to your DreamHost hosting panel and then going to the Support » Data Centers page. From here, you need to scroll down to the Mail service section.

    DreamHost Mail Service

    You will find the name of the email cluster under the Details column next to your domain name.

    Next, you need to visit DreamHost’s email configuration page and scroll down to the ‘Where to find your mail hostname (cluster) name’ section.

    Here, you can match your email cluster with the names in the table and copy the outgoing server address next to it.

    SMTP server DreamHost

    Setting Up WP Mail SMTP on InMotion Hosting

    Here are the SMTP settings you will be using to connect WP Mail SMTP with InMotion Hosting servers:

    • SMTP Host – server##.inmotionhosting.com
    • Encryption – SSL
    • SMTP Port – 465
    • SMTP Username – Your email address (e.g. wordpress@example.com)
    • SMTP Password – Your email account password
    InMotion Hosting SMTP settings for WordPress

    In the SMTP host field, you need to replace ## with your server number.

    You can find this by logging in to your cPanel dashboard and then clicking on the ‘Account Technical Details’ icon.

    Finding your InMotion Hosting server number

    Setting Up WP Mail SMTP on GoDaddy

    GoDaddy is the world’s most popular domain name registrar, managing more than 76 million domain names for over 17.5 million customers. They also offer different hosting plans (For details, see our article on the difference between a domain name and web hosting).

    Here are the SMTP settings you will be using to connect WP Mail SMTP with GoDaddy shared hosting plans:

    • SMTP Host – mail.example.com
    • Encryption – TLS
    • SMTP Port – 587
    • SMTP Username – Your email address (e.g. wordpress@example.com)
    • SMTP Password – Your email account password
    GoDaddy SMTP settings for WP Mail SMTP

    Setting Up WP Mail SMTP on iPage

    Here are the SMTP settings you will be using to connect WP Mail SMTP with iPage hosting servers:

    • SMTP Host – smtp.ipage.com
    • Encryption – TLS
    • SMTP Port – 587
    • SMTP Username – Your email address (e.g. wordpress@example.com)
    • SMTP Password – Your email account password
    iPage SMTP settings for WP Mail SMTP

    Setting Up WP Mail SMTP on GreenGeeks

    Here are the SMTP settings you will be using to connect WP Mail SMTP with GreenGeeks:

    • SMTP Host – mail.example.com
    • Encryption – SSL
    • SMTP Port – 465
    • SMTP Username – Your email address (e.g. wordpress@example.com)
    • SMTP Password – Your email account password
    GreenGeeks SMTP settings for WP Mail SMTP

    Setting Up WP Mail SMTP on JustHost

    Here are the SMTP settings you will be using to connect WP Mail SMTP with JustHost:

    • SMTP Host – mail.example.com
    • Encryption – SSL
    • SMTP Port – 465
    • SMTP Username – Your email address (e.g. wordpress@example.com)
    • SMTP Password – Your email account password
    JustHost SMTP settings for WP Mail SMTP

    Setting Up WP Mail SMTP With Third-Party Email Services

    Some managed WordPress hosting companies do not offer email services as part of their hosting plans. So, you will need to use a third-party SMTP service provider to send emails.

    WP Mail SMTP supports multiple popular mailing services, including SendLayer, Gmail/Google Apps for Work, Microsoft Outlook and Office 360, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), SMTP.com, and more.

    Simply click on the mailer service, and the plugin will show you the information required to use that mailer.

    Mailers in WP Mail SMTP

    For details, you can see our tutorial on how to use a free SMTP server to send WordPress emails.

    We hope this article helped you learn how to set up WP Mail SMTP with any host. You may also want to see our guide on why you should never use WordPress to send your newsletter emails and our expert picks for the best newsletter plugins.

    If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

    The post How to Set Up WP Mail SMTP with Any Host (Ultimate Guide) first appeared on WPBeginner.