Google Domains
By Google (discontinued)
Google Domains was Google's domain name registration service, offering domain search, registration, and DNS management with a simple interface, before Google sold the business to Squarespace in 2023.
Definition
Google Domains was Google's domain name registration service, offering domain search, registration, and DNS management with a simple interface, before Google sold the business to Squarespace in 2023.
Overview
Google Domains launched in beta in 2014 and exited beta in 2015, quickly becoming a popular Domain Registrar thanks to its clean interface, straightforward pricing with no aggressive upselling, and free WHOIS privacy protection — traits that made it a favorite among developers who wanted a no-friction way to register and manage domains alongside other Google services. In June 2023, Google announced it was exiting the domain registration business and selling Google Domains' assets and customer accounts to Squarespace, a decision consistent with Google periodically discontinuing consumer-facing products that weren't core to its main business lines. Existing customers were migrated to Squarespace Domains over the following months, retaining their domains, DNS records, and (per Google's announcement) comparable pricing during the transition. Google Domains is included in this glossary primarily because it remains a frequent search term and reference point — many tutorials and older documentation still mention it — even though new registrations are no longer possible through Google, and the service is now fully operated as Domain Registrar infrastructure under Squarespace. It is often mentioned alongside Namesilo in this space.
Key Features
- Formerly offered simple, no-upsell domain registration
- Included free WHOIS privacy protection by default
- Straightforward DNS management interface
- Integrated well with other Google Workspace and Cloud services
- Discontinued as a Google product; sold to Squarespace in 2023
- Existing accounts migrated to Squarespace Domains