Register Your Domain Separately from Hosting: Brilliant Move!
After screwing this up royally in my early blogging days, I’m telling you straight up: register your domain separately from hosting.
I use WPX for hosting and Namecheap for domains, and it’s saved my ass more times than I can count.
I remember one morning when I was sipping my coffee, my friend Diane texted me in a panic. Her hosting company had gone full dumpster fire mode, and guess what? Her domain was registered with them, too.
Complete nightmare scenario.
Here’s the thing – when you register your domain separately from hosting, you’re basically putting your eggs in different baskets. And trust me, as someone who’s watched hosting companies disappear faster than my motivation on Monday mornings, this shit matters.
Let me break down why keeping them separate isn’t just smart – it’s essential for anyone who gives a damn about their online presence.
What Does “Separate” Actually Mean?
Before we dig deep into the juicy details, let’s clear up what we’re talking about here.
When you register your domain separately from hosting, you’re using different companies for each service – one company manages your domain name registration, while another handles your website hosting.
Think of it like this: your domain is your address, and your hosting is your house. You can change houses (hosting providers) without changing your address (domain name) when they’re separate.
Makes sense, right? Because it might help help you avoid one or two heartbreaks of the blogging journey.
The Real Reasons I Keep Mine Separate
1. Because Hosting Companies Can Be Sketchy AF
I got a PhD in Oops from experience back in 2019 when my first hosting provider – who shall remain nameless but rhymes with “Bluehost” – decided to jack up their renewal prices by 300%.
No joke. My domain was registered with them, and transferring it became a whole ass production.
When you keep your registrar and web host separate, you reduce the risk of a total and complete outage. If your host goes down or turns into a money-grabbing monster, your domain stays safe with your registrar.
2. Flexibility That Actually Matters
Here’s what nobody tells you: changing hosting providers when your domain is elsewhere is like switching apartments when you own your address. Easy peasy.
But if your landlord owns your address, too? Good luck with that mess.
I’ve switched hosting three times in five years (finally settled on WPX – they’re solid), and each time took maybe 30 minutes because my domains were safe with Namecheap.
No drama, no begging, no “processing fees” that magically appear.
3. Better Customer Service (Usually)
Companies that specialize in one thing tend to be better at it.
Registrar-only companies tend to be better at domain management than companies that do both hosting and registration.
Namecheap’s domain support has been consistently helpful, while hosting companies often treat domain issues like an afterthought. When I had a DNS issue last month, Namecheap sorted it out in 10 minutes. Try getting that kind of attention from a hosting company’s domain department.
4. Cost Savings That Add Up
This might shock you, but keeping them separate often saves money long-term.
Sure, many hosting companies offer free domain registration for the first year, but that’s just marketing bullshit. They hook you with “free” and then charge premium prices for renewals.
Namecheap.com domains transfer for $9.98 and renew at competitive rates, while hosting companies often charge $15-20 for the same thing.
Over five years, that’s real money.
The Downsides (Because I’m Not Bullshitting You)
Slightly More Complex Setup
Yeah, you’ll need to point your domain to your hosting provider’s nameservers. It’s not rocket science, but it’s one extra step that scares some people. Both WPX and Namecheap have guides that walk you through it, though.
Two Bills Instead of One
Some people prefer everything on one bill. I get it. But personally, I’d rather have two small bills than one big one that could disappear overnight if the company goes belly-up.
Potential for DNS Confusion
If you’re not tech-savvy, managing DNS settings across two platforms can be confusing. But here’s the thing – you’ll learn this stuff eventually anyway, and it’s better to learn it when you’re not in crisis mode.
My WPX + Namecheap Setup (Real Numbers)
Since I’m all about transparency, here’s what I actually pay:
WPX Hosting: $24.99/month for their Business plan (totally worth it for the speed and support)
Namecheap Domains: Around $9-12/year per domain depending on the extension. keep in mind you will get a discount if your are a new customer and pay only $6-7/year.
With WPX’s $24.99 monthly plan, my + customers page speed score stays around 90-91 even with all my plugins and customizations. The performance is legit – my sites load faster than my patience runs out on slow WiFi.
When You Might Want to Bundle (The Exceptions)
Look, I’m not completely inflexible here. There are times when bundling makes sense:
- Complete beginners who might get overwhelmed by managing two services
- Temporary projects that you don’t plan to keep long-term
- Budget constraints where every dollar counts (though this is often false economy)
But for anyone serious about their online presence? Keep that shit separate.
How to Make the Switch if You’re Already Bundled
If you’re currently with a hosting company that also manages your domains, here’s how to unfuck the situation:
- Choose a dedicated registrar (I recommend Namecheap, but GoDaddy and Hover are decent too)
- Unlock your domain in your hosting control panel
- Get the authorization code from your current provider
- Initiate the transfer with your new registrar
- Wait 5-7 days for the transfer to complete
Pro tip: Do this well before your hosting renewal date. Some companies get petty about transfers near renewal time.
GoDaddy BS: I’ve had my clients’ domains repossessed by GoDaddy three times. It was incredibly stressful and nearly cost me my reputation.
The Bottom Line
After years of blogging and helping clients with their online presence, I’m convinced that keeping domains and hosting separate is the way to go.
It’s about control, flexibility, and not putting all your eggs in one basket.
While there are times when buying your domain and hosting from different providers may be more beneficial for your website, in my experience, those times are most of the time.
Your website is your digital real estate. Treat it like the valuable asset it is, not like some impulse purchase you grabbed during a hosting sale.
FAQs
Q: Will separating my domain and hosting hurt my SEO?
A: Hell no. Search engines don’t give a shit where you registered your domain versus where you host your site. Your SEO depends on content, site speed, and user experience – not your billing setup.
Q: Is it more expensive to keep them separate?
A: Short-term, maybe. Long-term, usually not. Those “free” domain offers from hosting companies aren’t actually free – they’re built into your hosting costs and often come with premium renewal fees.
Q: What happens if I forget to renew my domain?
A: Both WPX and Namecheap offer auto-renewal options. Set it up and forget about it. Most registrars also send multiple reminder emails before expiration.
Q: Can I transfer my domain later if I change my mind?
A: Absolutely. Domain transfers are standard practice, though they usually take 5-7 days and cost around $10-15 depending on the registrar.
Q: Which registrar should I choose?
A: I use Namecheap because they’re reliable, affordable, and their interface doesn’t make me want to throw my laptop. GoDaddy and Hover are also solid options. Avoid sketchy discount registrars – this isn’t where you want to save $2.
Q: Will my hosting provider try to talk me out of transferring my domain?
A: Some might. They make money on domain renewals, so they’re not thrilled about losing that revenue. Stand firm – it’s your domain, your choice.
Q: What’s the difference between DNS hosting and domain registration?
A: Think of domain registration as owning the address, while DNS hosting is like the GPS system that tells people how to find your house. Your registrar can handle both, but you can also use your hosting provider’s DNS servers.
Look, I’ve been doing this blogging thing for a while now, and I’ve seen enough train wrecks to know that keeping your domain and hosting separate isn’t just smart – it’s essential.
Don’t be the person crying into their coffee because their hosting company held their domain hostage.
Your future self will thank you for making this decision. Trust me on this one. 😉
