Is Squarespace a good option for domain registration?

Reviews
1

Hey everyone,

I’ve been hearing a lot about Google Domains and Squarespace recently, so I’m curious about two things:

  1. Besides higher fees, are there any downsides to using Squarespace solely as a domain registrar?
  2. When transferring domains from Google Domains to another registrar (like Cloudflare or Porkbun), is it true that WHOIS info goes public during the process, or is there a way to keep it private through the transfer?

Thanks for any insights!

2

  1. I wouldn’t want to keep my domains with a highly profit-driven company like Squarespace. They push their website builder a lot, so you’ll probably get constant ads for their platform if you stick with them.

  2. As long as the new registrar supports it, WHOIS privacy usually stays intact during the transfer. It’s something they confirm when you start the transfer.

3

@Harmon
And as a general rule, always keep your domain registrar and hosting separate.

4

I wouldn’t use Squarespace for domains. It’s not their main focus, and they’ll push their site builder on you. Best to keep hosting, website builder, and domain registration separate.

5

Charlie said:
I wouldn’t use Squarespace for domains. It’s not their main focus, and they’ll push their site builder on you. Best to keep hosting, website builder, and domain registration separate.

Thanks for the tip! Do you have any recommendations for hosting, a site builder, and a domain registrar?

6

For domains, I’d suggest Porkbun, Namecheap, or NameSilo. Personally, I wouldn’t go with Cloudflare for domains—they’re a great CDN, but I’ve had clients with stolen domains from there, and their support isn’t easy to reach without a paid plan. They only respond to domain issues for a $250/month fee, whereas other registrars offer free support.

7

@Declan
Curious, how do domains usually get stolen? Is it through phishing or other security breaches?

8

Cameron said:
@Declan
Curious, how do domains usually get stolen? Is it through phishing or other security breaches?

There are quite a few ways domains get stolen:

  • Phishing or hacking into accounts.
  • Sharing login info with web designers or developers who then transfer the domain to themselves (sometimes demanding payment to return it).
  • Ex-employees taking control of domains they still have access to.
  • Hosting and domain registration with the same company (like GoDaddy), which can make domain theft easier.

There are other ways too, but these are the most common scenarios.

9

@Declan
Thanks for the rundown—really helpful to know how these things happen!

10

@Declan
Could you share any security tips to keep domains safe?

11

@Declan
Can you help recover a stolen domain? I’m willing to pay.

12

Caleb said:
@Declan
Can you help recover a stolen domain? I’m willing to pay.

Yes, I can help with that. You can find my contact info if you search for my username.

13

I use Squarespace for work and manage about 40 sites there, but I find their domain management overpriced and not very user-friendly. I’m gradually moving my domains to Porkbun or other registrars as renewals come up to avoid paying transfer fees all at once.

14

@lonjhus
Any alternative website builders you’d recommend? I like the look of Squarespace sites but it does add up.

15

Jesse said:
GoDaddy is okay for domain registration only, but go with a different company for hosting. Cloudflare works too for domains.

Why GoDaddy though? Cloudflare’s a solid choice.

16

When I transferred from Google Domains to Namecheap, WHOIS stayed private, no issues there.

17

Squarespace isn’t great for domains. Stick with a real registrar.

18

GoDaddy is okay for domain registration only, but go with a different company for hosting. Cloudflare works too for domains.

19

@Finley
For people who find Cloudflare too complicated, GoDaddy is easier. Not everyone wants the technical interface.

20

Jesse said:
@Finley
For people who find Cloudflare too complicated, GoDaddy is easier. Not everyone wants the technical interface.

It’s surprising that folks in IT wouldn’t want to learn a more robust platform like Cloudflare.