Key facts
- The registrant named on a domain is its legal owner, wherever it is managed.
- A separate registrar keeps the domain independent of your hosting.
- Keeping domain and hosting together means one bill and one point of contact.
- Lock-in risk comes from domains registered in someone else's name, not from where they sit.
- .uk domains move by IPS tag change; .com and other gTLDs use an auth code.
- Live prices, search and registration are in the dijitul client portal.
- One domain registration or renewal a year is included free with dijihost Complete Hosting.
Registrar, host and DNS are three different jobs
A registrar registers and renews your domain with the registry (Nominet for .uk, other registries for .com and the rest). A hosting company runs the server for your website, and sometimes your email. A DNS provider answers the questions that point your domain at both.
One company can do all three, or you can split them. Many hosting companies also sell domains through a registrar partner. What matters most is not where the domain sits, but whose name is on it and who holds the login. See how to check who owns your domain.
The two approaches compared
| Factor | Separate registrar | With your hosting company |
|---|---|---|
| Bills and renewals | Separate renewal to remember | One bill, often renewed together |
| Changing host | Point DNS or nameservers at the new host; domain stays put | Often means transferring the domain too |
| Control | Your own login for domain settings | Depends on the host giving you access |
| Lock-in risk | Lower, if registered in your name | Higher if the host registered it in its own name |
| Support | Registrar support is often basic | One contact who knows your set-up |
| If the host fails | Domain unaffected | Renewal and DNS can be caught up in it |
The real risk: who owns the domain
The most common problem we see is not where the domain sits but whose name is on it. If a web designer or host registered the domain in their own name, they are the legal registrant. Getting it back can be slow, especially if the relationship has ended.
Whichever approach you choose, check that:
- The registrant is your business, with a contact email you control.
- You have your own login, or can get one on request.
- Renewal reminders go to an address that is read.
- You know how to move it. A .uk domain moves by changing its IPS tag, with no auth code; a .com uses an auth code. See domain transfer auth codes and transferring a .co.uk domain.
Renewals and expiry
Missed renewals cause more outages than almost anything else. When a .uk domain expires and is not renewed, Nominet suspends it 30 days after expiry, so your website and email stop working. It can still be renewed until the end of the 90th day after expiry, after which it is cancelled and released for anyone to register.
For .com and other gTLDs, there is a registrar grace period that varies, then a 30-day redemption period with a restore fee, then release. One bill with your host makes it harder to forget. A separate registrar means one more account to watch. Read what happens when a domain expires and our domain renewal page.
How dijitul handles it
We take the middle path. Domains are registered in your name through the dijitul client portal, where you can see live prices, search, register, renew and change settings yourself. You keep control, and you can move away whenever you like.
If you also host with dijihost, one domain registration or renewal a year is included free with Complete Hosting (£1 a day + VAT) on common extensions such as .uk, .co.uk, .com, .org, .org.uk and .net. Premium names and some extensions are excluded. See domain names or transfer a domain to us.
Frequently asked questions
Should I register my domain with my web host?
It is fine if the domain is registered in your name and you have your own login. The convenience of one bill is real. The risk comes when a host registers the domain in its own name, which makes leaving harder. Check the registrant details before you commit.
Can I change hosting company without moving my domain?
Yes. The domain can stay with its registrar while you point the DNS records or nameservers at the new host. Only the records that send traffic and email change. The registration, ownership and renewal date stay the same.
How do I get my domain back from a web designer?
First check who the registrant is. If it is you, ask for a transfer: an IPS tag change for .uk domains, or an auth code for .com and similar. If the designer is the registrant, you need them to change it to you, which may take negotiation.
Is it riskier to keep everything with one company?
Only if you cannot get at your domain. With everything in one place, a dispute or failure affects website, email and domain together. That risk is low if the domain is in your name, you have a login, and you know how to transfer it out.
Where can I see dijitul domain prices?
Live prices, search and registration are in the dijitul client portal at clients.dijitul.uk. One domain registration or renewal a year is included free with dijihost Complete Hosting on common extensions; premium names and some extensions are excluded.
Are domains registered through dijitul in my name?
Yes. Domains registered through the dijitul client portal are registered in your name, as the registrant. You can manage them in the portal and move them to another provider whenever you choose, using the IPS tag for .uk or an auth code for gTLDs.
Related
Find and register your domain
Live prices, registration and renewals in the dijitul client portal. Or call us and we will do it for you.