Registrant vs. Registrar vs. Registry: What Newbies Must Know

The Three Key Players in Domain Ownership

1. Registrant

• The legal owner of a domain (e.g., JohnDoe.com).

• Responsibilities: Renew domains, avoid trademark infringement.

2. Registrar (The Seller)

• Companies like GoDaddy or Namesilo that sell domains.

• Red Flags: Upselling fake “SEO packages” or hiding renewal fees.

3. Registry (The Database Manager)

• Organizations managing TLDs (e.g., Verisign for .com, Afilias for .info).

• Controversy: Some registries (.sucks) charge predatory fees ($200+/year).

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How They Work Together (With Example)

Scenario: Buying BestCryptoWallet.com

• Registry: Verisign tracks all .com domains.

• Registrar: You pay them to register it.

• Registrant: You own it, but must renew before expiration.

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Common Newbie Mistakes

• Mistake 1: Assuming registrars own domains (they’re just middlemen).

• Mistake 2: Ignoring registry renewal fees (e.g., .io costs $60/year).

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Pro Tips for Savvy Buyers

• Use ICANN lookup to confirm your registrar isn’t reselling (e.g., CheapRegistrar.com [now already ceased operation] might resell GoDaddy).

• Avoid registrars charging >$15/year for .com renewals.

Use this to check .COM updated pricing

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