Google Domains Alternatives After the Shutdown

Google Domains shut down in 2023. If you had domains registered there, Google transferred them to Squarespace. If that happened to you, or if you're now looking for a registrar and wondering where the Google option went, you need to know your alternatives. The gap left by Google Domains has been filled by established competitors, each with different strengths.

What Happened to Google Domains

Google launched Google Domains to simplify domain registration for their users. The service was clean, transparent, and integrated with Google Workspace. But Google eventually decided domain registration wasn't a core business for them. They sold the business to Squarespace and transferred all existing customer domains there.

If you had a domain at Google Domains, you got transferred to Squarespace automatically. Your domain still works. Pricing is similar. The transition was smooth for most users. However, not everyone wanted Squarespace handling their domain registration.

Where Google Domains Users Went

Most users stayed with Squarespace because the transfer was automatic and the service works fine. Some users who wanted different features or didn't want to be locked into Squarespace's ecosystem transferred their domains elsewhere. The main alternatives are Namecheap, Dynadot, Porkbun, and established registrars like GoDaddy or Network Solutions.

Squarespace (Current Home for Google Domains)

If you were transferred here automatically, you're fine. Squarespace's domain registration is straightforward and transparent. Pricing is competitive. Their website builder is decent if you want to use it, but you don't have to—your domain works with hosting anywhere else.

The advantage is integration with Squarespace's ecosystem. If you're building a Squarespace site, your domain is already there. If you're using hosting elsewhere, the integration doesn't matter.

The disadvantage is lock-in risk. Squarespace owns your domain registration. If their pricing changes or you want to leave their ecosystem, you can transfer your domain, but there's friction in the process.

Squarespace is a reasonable home for your domain if you're already using their services or don't mind the risk of potential lock-in.

Namecheap

Namecheap is the most popular destination for people leaving GoDaddy or Google Domains. Their pricing is transparent, renewals don't surprise you, and they include Whois privacy by default.

Namecheap's DNS management is simple and effective. Their API is well-documented for developers. Support is available through chat and tickets, though not as fast as larger competitors.

For most users, Namecheap is the best choice if you're leaving a larger registrar. It's cheaper than GoDaddy, more transparent than Squarespace's new ownership, and developer-friendly if you need to automate anything.

Pricing for a .com domain is around $8.88 per year, with stable renewal pricing. That's cheaper than what Squarespace charges and much cheaper than GoDaddy's renewal prices.

Porkbun

Porkbun is smaller and more eccentric than Namecheap. They're known for competitive pricing and a quirky brand. Their domain prices are often the lowest available—sometimes cheaper than Namecheap.

The trade-off is that Porkbun is smaller, which means support is slower and they have fewer integrations with third-party services. But if you're technically competent and just need a domain registered cheaply, Porkbun is solid.

Porkbun is particularly known for cheap specialty domains (like .io or .co extensions). If you're registering something beyond .com, Porkbun often has the best pricing.

Dynadot

Dynadot is another smaller registrar with competitive pricing. They're particularly known for bulk domain purchases and competitive pricing on specialty extensions.

Like Porkbun, Dynadot is smaller and less established than Namecheap or Squarespace. But they're reliable and their pricing is genuinely competitive.

If you're registering many domains or using specialty extensions, Dynadot is worth comparing on price.

Established Players (Revisiting Your Options)

GoDaddy remains the largest registrar, but their pricing model relies on upsells and confusion. If you were using Google Domains to avoid GoDaddy, moving to GoDaddy now doesn't make sense.

Network Solutions is old (they were one of the first registrars) but overpriced. Their interface is dated, and their service isn't compelling compared to modern alternatives.

eNom is another old player. They're adequate but not differentiated from better options.

These established registrars remain viable but aren't compelling choices if you're comparing against Namecheap, Porkbun, or Squarespace.

Specialized Registrars

If you're registering a specialty extension (.io, .co, .dev), some registrars specialize in those. Porkbun and Dynadot both compete aggressively on specialty domain pricing.

If you're registering country-code domains (.uk, .de, .au), some registrars have better relationships with local registries and offer better support for local requirements.

For most domains (.com, .org, .net), any modern registrar works fine. For specialty domains, check pricing across a few options.

Transfer Process

If you're at Squarespace and want to move, the transfer process is:

1. Unlock your domain at Squarespace (done in their settings)
2. Request an authorization code from Squarespace
3. Go to your destination registrar (Namecheap, Porkbun, Dynadot, etc.)
4. Initiate a domain transfer and enter the authorization code
5. Confirm the transfer (usually an email confirmation)
6. Wait 3-7 days for the transfer to complete

Cost is usually small—Namecheap and Porkbun often credit a year's registration cost, so transfer is effectively free in terms of total cost.

Your domain stays live during transfer. There's no downtime if you do it correctly.

Comparing the Real Choices

If you were using Google Domains and got transferred to Squarespace, you have three realistic options:

Stay with Squarespace: Easiest. No transfer required. Integration with Squarespace services if you use them. Acceptable pricing and transparent service.

Transfer to Namecheap: Best for most people. Cheaper than Squarespace, transparent pricing, good DNS tools, responsive support. Costs about $0.50/year less than Squarespace over time, but the real advantage is confidence that pricing won't change unexpectedly.

Transfer to Porkbun or Dynadot: Best if you want the absolute cheapest price. These registrars compete on price and often win. Support is slower, but the service works fine.

The difference in cost between these options is small—we're talking $5-10 per year. The decision should be based on which registrar you trust and which user experience you prefer.

FAQ

Why did Google shut down Google Domains? Google decided domain registration wasn't a core business. They built it well, but it didn't align with their broader strategy. Selling it to Squarespace made sense—Squarespace could integrate it into their website-building platform.

Was there a price increase when Google Domains moved to Squarespace? Not significantly. Squarespace's pricing is similar to Google's pricing. The main difference is that now you're with a smaller company, so there's some lock-in risk if Squarespace changes strategy.

Can I keep my Google Domains email if I transfer? If you had Google Domains email forwarding set up, you can replicate it at any registrar—they all support email forwarding to another address. Google Workspace email (paid email from Google) is separate from domain registration and continues to work regardless of where your domain is registered.

Is it worth transferring away from Squarespace? Only if you find the cost savings meaningful and value the independence of a dedicated registrar. If you're using Squarespace for website building anyway, staying there makes sense. If you're using hosting elsewhere, Namecheap offers better pricing and peace of mind.

How long does a transfer take? Usually 3-7 days. During the transfer, your domain continues to work. There's no downtime if the process is done correctly.

Can I avoid registrar lock-in? Yes. Use a registrar like Namecheap or Porkbun that doesn't tie you into their ecosystem. DNS is portable—your DNS records work the same regardless of which registrar or hosting provider you use. You're only locked in if you build your site on Squarespace's platform or use services that are hard to move away from.

Should I buy multiple add-ons from my registrar? Generally no. Buy your domain from a registrar, but buy email hosting separately (Google Workspace, Proton Mail, etc.) and get SSL certificates from your web host or Let's Encrypt (free). Registrars charge too much for add-on services.

The Real Picture

Google Domains was a well-built service. Its shutdown created uncertainty for users, but Squarespace's acquisition was smooth and the service remains solid.

If you need to choose a registrar now (whether you're transferring from Squarespace or registering a new domain), your real choice is between Squarespace (if you want simplicity and possible website-building integration), Namecheap (if you want transparent pricing and independence), or Porkbun/Dynadot (if you want the cheapest price).

The differences in service quality are small. The differences in pricing are modest. The decision should be based on which company you trust and which workflow fits your needs. For most people, Namecheap is the most compelling alternative now that Google Domains is gone.