Find the perfect domain name

Establish your brand
A custom domain name allows you to establish your business name and create a brand identity online with a website address that can grow right along with you.
Rank higher in search
A domain name with words related to your industry signals to search engines like Google what your business and new website are about, and helps people to discover you online.
Stay top-of-mind
Matching your website name to your brand or business name helps ensure that it will stick in your potential customers’ minds, and make it more likely that they'll return to your website later.

Introduction to domains

Everything you need to choose, purchase, and set up your online store’s domain name.

Domain essentials

Learn about the purpose of domains, popular domain extensions, pricing, and more.
What is a domain?

What is a domain?

A domain, or domain name, is essentially a web URL or address. You’ll see the domain name after the http:// or www in a URL. Simply put, your domain is the digital equivalent of a store’s physical address, and is how your customers find and access your online business.

Add a custom domain name to your Shopify store to give your website a name that’s easy for new customers to remember, and to create a consistent online presence, however your business grows. Custom domain names, such as website addresses with .com at the end, help new customers know where to find you online, and help new ones to discover you online through search engines like Google.

With Shopify's domain registration, hosting, and easy domain management, your domain names, website builder, store, and sales are all in one place, instead of having multiple domain names across multiple sites.

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How to choose the right domain name
Your domain name is part of your brand or company name, and the different parts of domain names can impact your brand as well. Ideally, go with a web domain like yourstore.com, but if it’s taken and that’s not an option, try using a different domain extension (such as .ca or .biz), or getting creative with your .com domain names.
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Learn from today’s most popular domains
Domains ending with .com are by far the most popular choice, but there are hundreds of options available — .org, .app, .ca, .biz, .net, and .info, just to name a few. We’ve analyzed the domain secrets to some of the most successful and memorable web stores and website names online so you can pick the right domain extension for your online business.
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How much does a domain name cost?
Domain name cost can vary by the types of domain extensions (such as .com or .net) and how long you plan on registering the domain for, like if you register annually and automatically renew, or register for up to 10 years at a time.
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Why domain SEO matters
Choosing a great and custom domain can actually help your website or blog rank in search engines like Google, help people find your website quickly, and work with online marketing. We’ve put together some tips for choosing intuitive domains and finding the best domain name to represent your company online.
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How to buy a domain name?
You can buy a web domain name directly through Shopify using the search bar above. Simply search for your name, then follow the steps to authorize and purchase your domain name. Configuration and setup are completely automated, and you can also use email forwarding, manage subdomains, and add international domains.
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Need a clever idea for a domain name?

Coming up with a catchy domain name that’s also the right choice for your business long term is a challenge, but well worth the effort! Shopify's domain name generator and suggestion tools can search for domains, give you domain name suggestions, and check domain availability instantly.
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Learn more about domains

Take a deep dive into domains and learn about top-level domains, subdomains, web hosting, and more.
Host your domain with Shopify?

Host your domain with Shopify?

Shopify makes it easy to host your domain. Your hosting plan costs are incorporated into your website builder account and monthly plan, so you won’t need to worry about juggling multiple subscriptions and domain registration fees.

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What is web hosting?
A web host is where a website’s content and services are stored, and is part of the system that lets us browse and interact with sites on the web. Find out more about what to consider when choosing a hosting provider.
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How much does web hosting cost?
Web hosting costs depend on what you need your website to do. From handling huge traffic surges, to simple plug and play solutions, learn more about what goes into determining hosting costs.
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What is a top-level domain (TLD)?
A top-level domain (TLD) is the end of the link that falls after the period, such as .com. Think of it like your postal code. Top-level domains can be popular real estate (such as a .com) or signal where you are located (such as a .ca for Canada), or what your business is all about (such as .sports).
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What is a subdomain?
A subdomain is a section of a regular domain. It’s an extension of the primary domain that’s dedicated to a specific function or purpose. Subdomains have a prefix that sends the user to a different destination. A subdomain might look something like shop.website.com or country.website.com.
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What is a country code TLD (cc TLD)?
Country code top-level domains (cc TLD) are the country-specific TLD (such as .uk), and is designated for businesses operating in those regions. Here’s everything you need to know about securing a cc TLD where you need it.
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What is a Content Delivery Network (CDN)?
Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are groups of interconnected servers around the world that work together to deliver fast, reliable internet speed.
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What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL (which stands for Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a small digital file that lets other servers know your website can be trusted. Having an SSL certificate can also help prevent your customers from seeing a “this site is not trusted” error message when they arrive at your website.
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What is the Domain Name System (DNS)?
DNS stands for domain name system and is a universally recognized mechanism used to identify and locate all pages and content reachable through the web.
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Looking into a domain’s history

Sometimes it’s important to learn about your domain name’s internet past, as previous usage can have an impact on SEO. Find out more about your desired domain with these tips for looking into who owns a domain name, and through Shopify’s WHOIS lookup tool.

Related Content

The ultimate domain dictionary
Learning about domains can feel overly complicated. To help you understand exactly what you’re reading, we have compiled a list of definitions for common terms you might see while learning about domains.
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Tips for domain registration
Explore what features and factors to look into when choosing a domain registrar and internet domain name registration through a platform like Shopify, as well as tips for domain registration setup.
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Why custom domain names help you get noticed
You don't necessarily need to find the perfect domain name, but the right domain can help your business or blog rank in search engines, boost your web presence, and help streamline marketing materials and company communications like professional email.
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How to choose a domain registrar
Buying domain names can feel complicated and cumbersome, so we put together a quick facts guide on how to choose the best domain registrar for your business, and see our picks for today’s top domain registrars.
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Setting up your Shopify business online
A great website name is just the beginning. Now that you have your domain name, it’s time to create and set up your store using Shopify's website builder, so you're ready to sell. This step-by-step video takes you through all of the steps for launching your Shopify web store.
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How do I transfer a domain?
If you’ve purchased domains from a provider other than Shopify site and want easy domain management in your Shopify site admin and account, you can transfer your domains over to your Shopify website.
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Can I purchase Shopify domains without a plan?
Yes, you can purchase a domain through Shopify without signing up for a Shopify site plan. You can also use your domain name you purchased for websites from other hosting plans and providers. This means your Shopify domain can grow as you sell more and your business online needs evolve.
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How do I connect a domain from another provider to my Shopify store?
Already purchased a domain for your online store? It’s easy to connect your existing domain to your Shopify website. Once you connect your domain to Shopify, you still use your third-party domain provider to manage your domain settings, pay for your domain, and renew it.
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Can I move my website address to a different domain?
Shopify offers easy domain management. You can move your website to a different domain if you want to change your URL. When you move your website to a different domain, it is important to follow SEO best practices to minimize the loss of traffic. By redirecting the old domain to the new, live domain, you will signal to Google that the new domain is now the home of the old website content.
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Find more domains

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Join the Shopify Community

The Shopify Community is more than a forum—get advice, ask questions, and share strategies with business owners around the globe.

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Domain FAQs

  • Think of domain names as the sign and address of your virtual storefront. It helps customers find your online store in search engines, and can drastically improve your online presence.

  • If a domain name is the face of your virtual storefront, think of a subdomain as another door. Here’s why adding a subdomain can help you cater to international or targeted customers, and more.

  • A top level domain (TLD) is the end of the link that falls after the period, such as .com. Think of it like your postal code. Top level domains can be popular real estate (such as a .com) or signal where you are located (such as a .ca for Canada), or what your business is all about (such as .sports).

  • Country code top-level domains (cc TLD) are the country-specific TLD (such as .uk), and is designated for businesses operating in those regions. Here’s everything you need to know about securing a cc TLD where you need it.

  • Think of web address hosting plans as the utilities powering your online store. Hosting powers new websites so they are visible to customers on the internet, and the security systems are working. All of Shopify’s ecommerce website builder plans include hosting services.

  • An SSL (which stands for Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a small digital file that lets other servers know your website can be trusted. Having an SSL certificate can also help prevent your customers from seeing a “this site is not trusted” error message when they arrive at your site or blog. Learn more about why SSL certificates are an important factor when choosing the right domain name provider.

  • When connecting third-party domain names to your Shopify store, or connecting your Shopify site domains to another platform, you will likely need to change your DNS settings.

  • Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are groups of interconnected servers around the world that work together to deliver fast, reliable internet speed.