Choosing where to register your domain matters more than the first-year price suggests. The registrar holds the settings that keep your website and email online, sends the renewal notices that stop you losing the name, and decides how easy it is to leave later. This guide explains what to compare, how the main types of registrar used in India differ, and where Domain India fits, with our own prices shown openly.
Compare registrars on the renewal price, not the first-year offer; on what privacy, DNS and transfer lock cost; on how renewals are billed; and on how easily you can transfer away. For .in domains, personal details are hidden from public WHOIS free of charge whichever registrar you use. Domain India is a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar: .in costs ₹575 to register and ₹625 a year to renew, and .com ₹1,150 a year, excluding 18% GST.
1. What a registrar actually does
A registry runs an extension: NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India) runs .in and its second-level extensions such as .co.in, and other registries run .com, .org and the rest. A registrar is the accredited company you register through. It submits your registration to the registry, keeps your contact details, and gives you the controls for nameservers, DNS and transfers.
Registration is a yearly rental. You can register for 1 to 10 years, and the name stays yours as long as you renew. So the company you choose is one you will deal with every year, not once.
2. What to compare before you choose
| Factor | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal price | The price in year two and after, not just the first year | You pay it every year; first-year offers often renew much higher |
| Accreditation | NIXI accreditation for .in; ICANN accreditation for .com and other generic domains | Shows who is authorised by the registry; many brands resell another registrar's service |
| WHOIS privacy | Free, paid or unavailable, per extension | Privacy is free and automatic on .in; on .com it is usually a paid add-on |
| DNS and forwarding | Whether DNS management, domain forwarding and email forwarding are included | Basic tools shouldn't cost extra |
| Transfer lock and account security | Free transfer lock; two-factor sign-in to the account | These are your main defences against hijacking |
| Renewal billing | Automatic card charge, or an invoice you pay | Decides whether a renewal can happen without you noticing |
| Transfer out | Whether the auth (EPP) code is easy to get | A registrar that makes leaving hard has less reason to keep you happy |
| Support | Channels, hours and first-response time | You will need help at the worst moment, such as near expiry |
| Billing for Indian businesses | GST invoice, UPI and net banking | Needed for input tax credit and easy payment |
Many registrars sell the first year below cost and recover it on renewal. Add the first-year price to four years of renewals and compare that five-year total. It is often a different ranking from the one the headline offer suggests.
3. The main types of registrar used in India
Prices and promotions change every few weeks, so this guide doesn't quote other companies' prices. Check each company's current renewal price, privacy charge and terms on its own website before you decide.
None of these types is right for everyone. A business with one .in and one .com needs something different from a domain investor with hundreds of names or a developer who wants a particular extension.
4. .in domains: what is different
- Registry: NIXI runs .in and the Indian second-level extensions (.co.in, .net.in, .org.in, .firm.in, .gen.in, .ind.in and others).
- Privacy: for .in and its second-level extensions, personal registrant details are not shown in public WHOIS. This is free and automatic; there is nothing to switch on. Company or organisation names may still appear.
- Verification: .in registrations can require the registrant's identity to be verified. Use accurate registrant details from the start, because wrong details cause trouble in a verification check or an ownership dispute.
- Choosing a registrar: NIXI accreditation shows the registry itself has authorised the company as a .in registrar.
5. Protecting your domain, wherever it is registered
- Secure the account.Use a strong, unique password and turn on two-factor authentication. Anyone who can sign in can change your nameservers or transfer the domain away.
- Keep the transfer lock on.Unlock only when you are moving the domain yourself.
- Keep the contact email current.Renewal notices and transfer approvals go there.
- Renew early.An expired domain takes your website and email offline, and recovering it soon costs far more than a renewal.
- Don't share the registrar login.Give your web designer the DNS records to add, not your password.
- Ignore fake renewal and "SEO registration" emails.Renew only from your registrar's own client area.
6. Moving a domain to a better registrar
If your current registrar's renewal price, support or tools no longer suit you, you can transfer the domain. A transfer keeps the same name, and usually adds a year to the expiry date.
- Unlock the domain at your current registrar.
- Get the auth (EPP) code.
- Start the transfer at the new registrar with the domain and the code, and pay the transfer fee.
- Approve any confirmation email the old registrar sends.
Most domains can be transferred once they are 60 days old. Start at least two weeks before expiry. Full steps are in How to transfer your domain to us.
7. Where Domain India fits
Domain India is a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar, operated by Domain Registration India Private Limited. You can register .in, .co.in and the other Indian extensions with us, alongside .com, .org, .net and hundreds of other extensions.
Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, excluding 18% GST:
| Extension | Register (first year) | Renew (per year) | Transfer (includes 1 year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| .in | ₹575 | ₹625 | ₹625 |
| .co.in | ₹475 | ₹525 | ₹525 |
| .com | ₹1,150 | ₹1,150 | ₹1,150 |
| .org | ₹1,108 | ₹1,108 | ₹1,150 |
| .net | ₹1,438 | ₹1,769 | ₹1,438 |
| .biz | ₹1,969 | ₹2,111 | ₹1,969 |
| .info | ₹2,229 | ₹2,701 | ₹2,453 |
Other extensions are on the domain pricing page. Some renew higher than the first year, so read the renewal column.
What every registration includes, free: DNS management, domain forwarding, email forwarding and the transfer lock. WHOIS privacy is free and automatic on .in; for .com and most other extensions it is an optional add-on at ₹300 a year, excluding 18% GST.
How renewals work: Domain India never charges a saved card automatically. A renewal invoice is emailed up to 30 days before the due date, and the domain renews when you pay it. You receive a GST invoice, and you can pay by UPI, card, net banking or bank transfer.
Support is on 24/7 live chat, and tickets get a first response within 15 minutes; resolution time depends on the issue. There is no phone support.
Where we may not be the best fit: if you want to bid on expired names in an aftermarket auction, a global registrar with an auction service is the better tool.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose the best domain registrar in India?
Compare the renewal price rather than the first-year offer, what WHOIS privacy and DNS cost, whether the transfer lock and two-factor sign-in are available, how renewals are billed, how easily you can transfer away, and what support channels exist. Check NIXI accreditation if you are registering a .in domain.
What is a NIXI-accredited registrar?
NIXI, the National Internet Exchange of India, runs the .in registry. A NIXI-accredited registrar is a company NIXI has authorised to register .in and its second-level extensions such as .co.in. Domain India is a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar.
How much does a .in domain cost at Domain India?
At Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, a .in domain costs ₹575 for the first year and ₹625 a year to renew, excluding 18% GST. A .co.in costs ₹475, then ₹525 a year.
Do I need to buy WHOIS privacy for a .in domain?
No. For .in and its second-level extensions, personal registrant details are not shown in public WHOIS. This is free and automatic, with nothing to switch on. Company or organisation names may still appear.
Does Domain India renew domains by charging my card automatically?
No. Domain India never charges a saved card automatically. A renewal invoice is emailed up to 30 days before the due date, and the domain renews when you pay it.
Can I move my domain to Domain India from another registrar?
Yes. Unlock the domain at your current registrar, get its auth (EPP) code, and start the transfer on the Domain India Domain Transfer page. The transfer fee includes one year, which is added to the existing expiry date.
Is the cheapest registrar always the best choice?
Not necessarily. A low first-year price can be followed by a much higher renewal, and paid privacy or difficult transfers add cost. Compare the total over several years and the service you get.
Ready to register or move a domain? Search for a name on domain registration, compare prices for every extension, start a domain transfer, or read the complete guide to domain registration.
.in from ₹575 and .com at ₹1,150 a year, excluding GST, with DNS, forwarding and the transfer lock included.
Search for a domain