Home » A Complete Guide On Dynadot – Ultimate Review

A Complete Guide On Dynadot – Ultimate Review

Sezmi

SaveSavedRemoved 0

8.5

Ten out of 10.

Dynadot, a web host and domain registrar that is accredited by ICANN, is based in California. They were started in 2002 by a software engineer. Their primary focus is on engineering and design excellence.

They are one among the many smaller domain registrars with a dedicated following, as opposed to big brands like GoDaddy. Domain Name Stat shows that Dynadot manages over 3.1 million domains. They are the 16th largest domain registrar.

Dynadot’s primary goal is to assist customers in “registering domain names and creating websites easily and affordably”.

Are they up to the task? Here’s my Dynadot review, with pros and cons.

Dynadot Pricing

Dynadot’s current prices and selection

Dynadot Alternatives

Register Your Domain for Free

When you sign up for web hosting from the below providers, you can get a one-year free domain name. Here is a list I recommend:

• Bluehost
• HostGator
• InMotion Hosting

This will definitely save you money over buying both your domain name AND hosting separately. You are required to either pay a cancellation fee or stay for a certain period of time in order to keep your domain name. This is usually a better deal than purchasing separately.

Namecheap Review

Rating

9.0/10

No cost DNS

Yes

No cost domain privacy

Yes

Promotion

Buy a.COM for $0.98

GoDaddy Review

Rating

8.0/10

No cost DNS

Yes

No cost domain privacy

No

Promotion

Purchase a.COM for as low as $4.99

Google Domains Review

Rating

8.5/10

No cost DNS

Yes

No cost domain privacy

Yes

Promotion

20% Off Promo Code DOMAINS20

Find the Best Domain Registrars

Dynadot Pros

Straightforward ordering

Dynadot delivers on its promise of simplifying the process of registering domain names. It is simple to use, clean and easy to navigate. The interface doesn’t have any fancy features, which is fine for domain registrars. We don’t use them. We needed functionality and usability. Dynadot’s interface provides both.

It is simple and directs you to the places you need.

Dynadot offers complementary products, such as hosting and websites — more about that later. However, the design does not include upsells, cross-sells or visual clutter. The main action of searching for and registering a domain is completed quickly and easily.

Transparent Pricing

Nothing is more frustrating than visiting a domain registrar to search for pricing information. Dynadot’s pricing is transparent 100% of the time. You can instantly see the price of.com domains as well as other top-level domains (TLDs), right from the moment you land on the homepage.

Dynadot is more affordable for first-time and renewal purchases. While they aren’t as affordable as Namecheap (who offer promo codes for first-time purchases of.com domains), their renewal rates ($8.99 vs. $15.17 for GoDaddy) and their transfer rates are comparable to the rest.

It may be worthwhile to purchase your domain elsewhere, then transfer it to Dynadot and renew it to save money.

There are many TLDs

Website owners should ensure that their domain registrars have all the necessary variations, especially if they are buying in bulk. Dynadot has a wide range of TLD options beyond generic domains. These include country-specific domains that can be used internationally and category-specific domains like technology or real estate. As of 2022, they have more than 495 TLDs.

Upsells

Although they are not inherently bad or annoying, upsells can be irritating. However, many domain registrars make the error of trying to sell customers directly. This can lead to annoying results.

Dynadot does not belong to this group of domain registrars. They do not offer hosting or websites as complementary products. They can be added to your account dashboard after you have purchased a domain. You can also purchase them directly from the Dynadot homepage. However, you will not be bombarded by pop-ups and forced to navigate through upsells when you try to purchase a domain.

Cons of Dynadot

Uncertain Next Steps

Although Dynadot makes it easy to register a domain, the instructions for what to do next are not clear once you have registered the domain. After I had finished checking out, I received a referral code that I could share with my friends as well as an order pending message with more details. The instructions for what I should do with my domain were not provided.

This is fine if you are experienced in building websites and registering domains. However, if this is your first experience with the process, it’s not a good idea.

Even the email follow-up I received after placing my order was processed did not contain detailed instructions. This isn’t necessarily bad if you are an expert in managing domains. If you are a novice and don’t know how to set up nameservers, forward your email, or connect with email hosting you will likely be confused.

It was also difficult for me to manage my domain, even to set up a basic subdomain. When I logged in to my account, I could not find the place where I would transfer my domain. To find this information, I had to search a lot (and finally consult the help forum).

This is called “onboarding”, which refers to the process of converting a new customer into an active customer.

Complementary Products

A domain is not a website. It is not email or any other type of service. It is simply your online address. It allows people to find your property by telling browsers/email/etc which direction to go to obtain whatever they need (website files and emails, images, data, etc).

You will need hosting if you plan to create a website.

This would typically be a pro. While I prefer to keep my domains and hosting separate to increase control and reliability, as well as cost savings, many website owners prefer having them all together for ease of use.

Due to their serious limitations, Dynadot’s complimentary products can be a real con.

If you are looking to bundle your domain management, email and website builder, you will most likely be looking for convenience.

Dynadot is simple in domain purchasing, but doesn’t place a high priority on convenience. They also don’t offer competitive pricing or options. In most cases, I recommend that you look elsewhere.

Recommendations

If you are:

• You want a simple process for buying domains
• You don’t need any guidance in setting up or managing your domain.
• You want to save on domain renewals
• You are looking for complementary products that you can tailor to your needs?

Dynadot is a great choice.

Dynadot’s current prices and selection

If you are:

• Online shopping is easier for those who are less experienced.
• You need to know how to set up and manage your domain.
• You want to keep your website/hosting separate from your domain?
• You are looking for complementary products that don’t require as much technical expertise?

Namecheap is a better choice.

To help narrow down your search, you can take the My Domain Registrar Quiz.