Which builders sell domains, as their own pages describe it
Website builders rarely act as the registrar themselves. Even when a builder offers a "buy domain" button, the domain is usually registered with a partner, and you end up with an account at that partner. That matters later, when you renew, change DNS or leave the builder. The table summarises what each official page said as read on 30 October 2026. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][12]
| Builder | Sells domains? | Who holds the registration | Plan requirement for a custom domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrd | Docs say the domain must be registered before use and can be bought at "any domain provider", naming Cloudflare, Namecheap and Porkbun as examples | Your chosen registrar | Pro Standard or higher |
| Framer | Help article: "No, Framer does not sell domains." A free or discounted first year is offered through partner Hover | Hover for the offer; otherwise your current registrar | Hover offer needs a yearly site plan; Framer pricing FAQ says a paid plan is needed to connect a custom domain |
| Webflow | Update post (31 August 2023): you can buy a new domain "with IONOS directly from Webflow" | IONOS for purchases made in Webflow | Pricing page: the free Starter plan uses a webflow.io domain; Basic ($15 per month billed yearly) and higher include a custom domain |
| Shopify | Help center: "you can buy a domain through Shopify"; price depends on the extension | Shopify; registered for one year and renewable annually | Transfer the domain before you deactivate the store |
First-year price versus renewal price
The number that decides your long-run cost is the renewal price. Registrars often discount the first year, and some extensions renew far above the headline price. Porkbun publishes all three prices side by side, including ICANN and other fees, which makes it a useful reference even if you buy elsewhere. [9]
Builder-linked offers are harder to compare. Framer says a domain claimed through its Hover offer renews automatically "at the standard rate", and its domains page does not state that rate. Shopify says its domain prices depend on the extension and that domains are registered for one year and renewed annually. Check the renewal figure at checkout before accepting either. [4][5][8]
| Extension (Porkbun, USD) | First year | Renewal | Transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com | $11.08 | $11.08 | $11.08 |
| .org | $7.98 first-year sale ($11.84 list) | $11.84 | $11.84 |
| .shop | $2.06 first-year sale ($25.23 list) | $31.41 | $31.41 |
| .store | $2.57 first-year sale ($43.77 list) | $43.77 | $43.77 |
| .io | $28.12 first-year sale ($51.80 list) | $51.80 | $51.80 |
Worked example: three years of one domain
Hypothetical: a one-person studio needs a domain for three years. Using Porkbun prices read on 30 October 2026, the three-year totals are: .com $33.24 ($11.08 x 3); .shop $64.88 ($2.06 + $31.41 x 2); .store $90.11 ($2.57 + $43.77 x 2); .io $131.72 ($28.12 + $51.80 x 2). The .store looks cheapest on day one and costs almost three times the .com over three years. [9]
The Framer route works differently: the Hover offer gives a free or discounted domain for a site on a yearly plan, once per site subscription, and the domain then renews automatically at the standard rate, which the Framer page does not list. Framer also says redeeming the offer forfeits the option to request a refund. If you might change builders or plans in the first weeks, that trade-off is worth more than one year of a $11 domain. [4][5]
Cloudflare Registrar says registration, transfer and renewal prices are "at or below what registries and ICANN charge us" with no markup, so it is a reasonable benchmark for what a renewal should cost. [10]
WHOIS privacy and transfer-out rules
Registration data can be published in WHOIS. Porkbun lists free WHOIS privacy with every domain, Cloudflare describes free WHOIS redaction, and Hover advertises free WHOIS privacy on supported domains. Shopify says WHOIS privacy is included except on a list of exception extensions, which includes .io, .us, .de and .fr. Check privacy for your exact extension before you buy. [8][9][10][11]
Leaving a registrar is governed by ICANN rules. ICANN's registrant FAQ says a registrar may deny a transfer within 60 days of initial registration or within 60 days of a previous transfer, and must deny one during a 60-day Change of Registrant lock that follows changes to the registrant name, organisation or email, unless you opted out where the registrar offers that. Your registrar must provide the transfer (AuthInfo) code within five calendar days of your request. [1]
Practical consequence: a domain bought today cannot reliably be moved for about two months. Changing the owner email during a handover can restart a 60-day lock. Plan migrations and client handovers around those dates. [1]
Who should buy where
- Buy at a registrar if you might change builders, run email on the domain, or hand the site to a client later. The domain account stays the same when the builder changes.
- Use a builder-linked purchase if you want the fastest setup and accept a second account (IONOS for Webflow, Hover for the Framer offer) plus a renewal price you check at checkout. [4][6]
- Carrd users have no in-builder option: the docs ask you to register the domain first, then connect it on Pro Standard or higher. [2]
- Shopify store owners can buy inside Shopify, but Shopify does not provide email hosting, and you need to transfer the domain before deactivating the store. [8]
- Skip discounted first years on extensions that renew high unless the name is worth the renewal.
Checklist: keep registrar access separate from the builder
- Register the domain in an account owned by the business, with an email address that is not on the same domain, so a DNS mistake cannot lock you out.
- Turn on two-factor authentication at the registrar and store recovery codes outside the builder.
- Write down the renewal price, renewal date and whether auto-renew is on.
- Confirm WHOIS privacy or redaction is active for your extension.
- Keep a copy of every DNS record before connecting a builder, so you can restore email or move hosts.
- Note the 60-day lock dates after registration, transfer or owner changes. [1]
- If a builder bought the domain for you, find the partner account (IONOS, Hover or Shopify admin) and confirm you can log in to it directly.
Questions before you decide
Does Carrd or Framer sell domains?
Carrd docs say the domain must already be registered and can be bought at any domain provider. Framer's help center says Framer does not sell domains; its free or discounted domain offer is handled by partner Hover for sites on a yearly plan.
Can I move a domain to another registrar right after buying it?
Not reliably. ICANN's registrant FAQ says a registrar may deny a transfer within 60 days of initial registration or of a previous transfer, and must deny it during a 60-day Change of Registrant lock unless you opted out where offered.
Is a cheap first year a good deal?
Only if the renewal is acceptable. At Porkbun on 30 October 2026, .store was $2.57 for the first year and $43.77 per renewal, so three years cost $90.11 versus $33.24 for a .com.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- ICANN: FAQs for registrants, transferring your domain name Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Carrd docs: using a custom domain Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Framer help: is Framer a domain registrar? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Framer: free domains Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Framer help: how to connect a custom domain Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Webflow updates: improvements to managing custom domains Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Webflow pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Shopify help: buying a domain through Shopify Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Porkbun: domain name pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Cloudflare Registrar Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Hover: pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Framer pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.