If you’re looking to build a website or a web app, a good domain & hosting provider serves as the foundation for your web presence when you are ready to launch. However, it’s important to be careful when selecting a provider, as not all will give you the same level of service, options, and flexibility. This guide will help you determine the best domain & hosting provider for your needs in 2022.

Before we get started, let's discuss what domain & hosting providers are and what they do.

• Domain - A domain name is a human-readable name that you can easily enter into a web browser’s search bar to connect to your website. Your domain name maps to a corresponding server IP address, which usually contains numbers (often starting with “192.168”). However, since IP addresses can change, it’s important to have a massive database that is constantly updated. The leading domain name providers fill this crucial role.
• Web Hosting - Every website’s files need to be stored on a physical computer that can run 24/7 and accept connections from around the world. Web hosting companies fill the role of providing a variety of servers and associated services to help you keep your website online at all times.

What Matters When Looking for the Best Domain & Hosting Providers in 2022

As of 2020, there were 1514 top-level domains (TLDs) available from which to choose. TLDs are the suffixes you see when you type a website into your web browser’s search bar. Examples of TLDs include .com, .net, .us, or .io. The number of TLDs supported by a provider is crucial because it gives you more flexibility when purchasing your domain name.

In terms of web hosting services, you can choose from:

• Shared Hosting – Shared hosting is when you are put on the same server, sharing the same hardware resources without any isolation. One problem can bring down the server for everyone.
• Virtual Private Server (VPS) – Each person has an isolated virtual server on the same physical server. The virtualization technology determines whether each VPS shares hardware resources or not.
• Dedicated Hosting – As the name implies, you have one hardware server to yourself. However, you are left vulnerable if a hardware failure happens.
• Public Cloud Hosting – Cloud hosting that is offered to everyone.
• Private Cloud Hosting – As the name suggests, this cloud solution is only available to you.

Privacy is another area that matters when choosing a domain & hosting provider. You must provide your real name and address for domain registration. Certain providers can mask your real information with a replacement address, email, and phone number.

1. Namecheap

Namecheap positions itself as a one-stop shop for domains, hosting, email, and privacy solutions, and differentiates itself by offering free domain privacy protection with every domain registered.

TLD Options and Pricing

Namecheap provides every major TLD including .com, .net, .info, .org, .ai, .in, .live, and .me. There are regular discounts and offers, making Namecheap a great budget solution. For example, you can buy a .com domain name for just $5.98 with a promo code. It gets even cheaper than $5.98 during yearly Cyber Monday sales events.

Why Choose Namecheap

You should choose Namecheap if you value cheap domain names that come with free privacy protection. There are also many hosting solutions you can select as needs arise. There are even a few business productivity apps such as a logo maker, business name generator, and business card maker. These tools serve as a starting point when you lack ideas.

Hosting Options

Namecheap offers managed WordPress hosting, along with VPS hosting and dedicated service. You also have shared hosting as an entry-level service. Namecheap’s shared hosting plans come with cPanel, free SSL certificates, and the Softaculous app installer.

Other Services

Namecheap also offers a free CDN, VPN, and public DNS.

2. GoDaddy

There was a time when GoDaddy was more famous for its commercials featuring Danica Patrick than for being a reliable domain & hosting provider. However, GoDaddy has updated its offerings, making them a great starting point.

TLD Options and Pricing

GoDaddy supports about 500 TLDs, with more than ten coming soon. You won’t need to go anywhere else for your domain hosting needs. GoDaddy offers less frequent discounts than Namecheap, but there are still enough to help you save a bundle. You can buy a .com domain for an average of $10 per year.

Why Choose GoDaddy

GoDaddy offers a premium website builder, which is inferior to the Bubble platform. Despite this, it is an excellent option if you have no other choice. GoDaddy also offers its own payment solution.

Hosting Options

In the domain hosting industry, GoDaddy differentiates itself by offering dedicated E-commerce hosting solutions.

Other Services

GoDaddy offers email and digital marketing solutions as a complement to its various hosting and domain options. GoDaddy’s payment processing offers low fees compared to the industry average and main competition.

3. DreamHost

DreamHost focuses on being a small and agile domain & hosting provider amongst the much larger competition. That agility makes it possible for DreamHost to respond better to customer demands.

TLD Options and Pricing

DreamHost offers a plethora of domain TLD options with privacy protection. This privacy protection feature is done for free – mainly to compete with Namecheap. There are over 400 TLD options when registering your domain name on DreamHost. A .com domain name costs $7.99 for the first year. However, that price jumps to $17.99 per year for subsequent years.

Why Choose DreamHost

You should choose DreamHost if you want to buy from a smaller player in the industry. It also has a cheap WP Website Builder feature if you’re focusing primarily on WordPress solutions. If you want a custom website, DreamHost can build one at a price that starts at $1,200.

Hosting Options

DreamHost offers Shared VPS, managed WordPress, dedicated, and cloud hosting options. These options give you more flexibility than the majority of other domain & hosting providers.

Other Services

On top of these services, DreamHost offers digital design, marketing, and website management. It also provides SEO, social media marketing, and custom website design.

4. HostGator

HostGator bills itself as the place where you can quickly scale from easy to expert with its hosting solutions. The prices are also relatively low, making them a great starting point if you're looking for exceptional value.

TLD Options and Pricing

As a smaller domain & hosting provider, HostGator does not offer the hundreds of TLD options you find with more prominent companies. However, HostGator does provide the main TLDs you expect when searching for a domain name. However, HostGator has higher prices for things like privacy protection. Buying a.com domain name costs you $12.95 without privacy protection. Privacy protection is an additional $14.95.

Why Choose HostGator

HostGator is a great option if you want a smaller company with all the benefits you get. For example, being a smaller company means HostGator can provide more personalized customer support.

Hosting Options

HostGator provides shared, WordPress, VPS, and dedicated hosting. You also get a website builder similar to Bubble.

These prices are some of the cheapest in the industry, making HostGator an attractive prospect.

Other Services

The great thing about HostGator is it doesn’t try to do too much— it understands that it’s a smaller player in the industry, and the level of services reflects that reality.

5. Google Domains

Google Domains offers the power and flexibility of Google with exceptional pricing. Google Domains also focuses only on domain names, giving you flexibility regarding your hosting options.

TLD Options and Pricing

Google Domains offers hundreds of TLDs from which to choose. The user interface is easy to understand, making it an attractive prospect if you want a place to register their domains. Purchase a .com domain name for $12 per year.

Why Choose Google Domains

The main benefit of choosing Google Domains is that you get the speed and power Google is known for without any hosting options to confuse you. You can register your domain names here and host on another provider.

Hosting Options

Google offers the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) separately, but there are no associated hosting options with Google Domains.

Other Services

There are no separate services with Google Domains.

Making a Choice

No matter your choice, you will get a reliable domain & hosting platform to help you on your web journey. However, Google Domains is a powerful choice if you're looking only to register a domain name with the platform. If you are looking for privacy, Namecheap is exceptional. For everything else, almost every choice will suffice.

Once you’ve decided on the domain name and web hosting plan of your choice, you can build a web app and connect your domain to Bubble’s no-code platform. Get started with a free account today.

About Bubble

Bubble is a leader in the no-code movement. Bubble offers a powerful point-and-click web editor and cloud hosting platform that allows users to build fully customizable web applications and workflows, ranging from simple prototypes to complex marketplaces, SaaS products, and more.

Millions of users are building and launching businesses on Bubble — many have gone on to participate in top accelerator programs, such as Y Combinator, and even raised $365M in venture funding. Bubble is more than just a product. We are a strong community of builders and entrepreneurs who are united by the belief that everyone should be able to create technology.