Quick Answer
Google Domains no longer exists. Google sold its entire domain registration business to Squarespace in September 2023, stopped accepting new registrations that same day, and completed the migration of every existing customer account to Squarespace Domains by mid-2024. If you’re comparing “Google Domains vs GoDaddy” today, the real comparison is Squarespace Domains vs GoDaddy, since that’s who now handles what used to be Google’s domain business. Squarespace Domains offers simpler, more transparent pricing with free privacy protection included; GoDaddy offers a much wider range of add-on services, 24/7 phone support, and aggressive introductory discounts that jump significantly at renewal.
What Happened to Google Domains?
Google announced in mid-2023 that it was exiting the domain registrar business entirely, as part of a broader effort to focus its resources elsewhere. Squarespace acquired the Google Domains business, including all customer accounts and roughly 10 million registered domain names, for about $180 million, with the deal closing on September 7, 2023. That same day, Google Domains stopped selling new domain registrations. By July 2024, every existing Google Domains customer had been fully migrated to the Squarespace Domains platform.
If you look up Google Domains today, you’ll find a page directing you to Squarespace. The product itself is gone.
What Happened to Existing Google Domains Customers?
If you registered a domain through Google Domains before the shutdown, your domain is now managed through Squarespace, not Google. Squarespace committed to honouring existing Google Domains renewal pricing for at least 12 months after the acquisition closed, which meant most customers didn’t see an immediate price change. That window has since passed for anyone who registered before the transition, and renewals now generally follow Squarespace’s own, typically higher, standard rates.
Some users who went through the migration have reported friction: DNS settings needing manual adjustment to preserve existing email or website configurations, and slower support response during transfer requests. If you still have a domain from the old Google Domains days, it’s worth logging into your Squarespace account directly to confirm your current renewal price and DNS settings rather than assuming nothing changed.
Google Domains vs GoDaddy: The Real Comparison Today
Since Google Domains no longer exists, the accurate version of this comparison is Squarespace Domains vs GoDaddy. Squarespace largely inherited Google Domains’ approach: transparent, all-inclusive pricing with free privacy protection built in, versus GoDaddy’s lower introductory pricing that steps up significantly at renewal, with add-ons like privacy protection typically priced separately.
| Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains) | GoDaddy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing structure | Transparent, renewal usually matches initial price | Discounted first year, higher renewal |
| WHOIS privacy protection | Included free | Paid add-on |
| Customer support | Email and chat | 24/7 phone and chat |
| Additional services | Website builder, limited domain tools | Hosting, website builder, domain auctions, appraisals |
| Interface | Simple, minimal | Feature-dense, can feel like an upsell funnel |
| Google Workspace integration | Exclusive domains provider for Workspace signups | Not a native Workspace integration |
Buying a Domain Through Google Workspace
If you’re setting up Google Workspace and need a domain, this is where the Squarespace transition matters most directly. Squarespace became the exclusive domain provider for anyone purchasing a domain alongside a Google Workspace subscription bought directly from Google, for a minimum three-year period following the acquisition. In practice, that means the domain-purchase step during Workspace signup routes through Squarespace, not a standalone “Google Domains” product.
If simplicity matters more than owning every piece of the process yourself, working with an authorized Google Workspace reseller for setup, domain verification, and DNS configuration is often the more practical path than navigating the Squarespace purchase flow solo, particularly if you already own a domain through GoDaddy or another registrar and just need it properly connected.
GoDaddy: Strengths and Weaknesses
GoDaddy remains one of the largest and most recognizable domain registrars, and its core trade-offs haven’t changed just because its old rival exited the market.
GoDaddy strengths
Wide selection of domain extensions, bundled services including hosting and a website builder, domain auction and appraisal tools for buying or valuing existing domains, and genuinely available 24/7 phone support, useful for anyone who wants to talk to a real person rather than submit a ticket.
GoDaddy weaknesses
Pricing can be genuinely confusing, with attractive first-year discounts followed by meaningfully higher renewal rates. WHOIS privacy protection is typically a separate paid add-on rather than included. The interface and checkout flow are known for aggressive upselling of additional services.
Domain Value and Appraisal Tools
GoDaddy’s domain appraisal tool estimates what an existing domain might be worth, useful context if you’re considering buying a premium or already-registered domain, or thinking about selling one you own. These estimates are informational rather than guaranteed sale prices; actual value depends on buyer interest, and premium or highly sought-after domains are typically negotiated individually rather than sold at an appraised price.
Google Domains vs GoDaddy vs Namecheap
Namecheap is a third option worth a brief mention, since it comes up alongside this comparison often. Namecheap has built a reputation similar to what Google Domains once had: straightforward pricing, privacy protection included by default, and a simpler interface than GoDaddy’s. With Google Domains gone, Namecheap and Squarespace Domains are the two registrars most commonly recommended as the simpler, less upsell-heavy alternative to GoDaddy.
Is Google Domains Still Available in Any Country?
No. The shutdown wasn’t regional, it applied globally. Before the shutdown, Google Domains had expanded to serve customers across roughly 26 countries, including markets like Pakistan, India, and much of Europe, but that availability list is no longer relevant since new registrations stopped everywhere simultaneously in September 2023. Anyone searching for “Google Domains” availability in a specific country today will find the same answer regardless of location: it’s discontinued, and Squarespace Domains, GoDaddy, or another registrar are the current options.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trying to register a new domain through Google Domains. It’s not possible; the product no longer exists.
- Trusting older articles that describe Google Domains as a live, ongoing option. A meaningful amount of content online hasn’t been updated since the 2023 shutdown.
- Assuming your old Google Domains renewal price still applies. Squarespace’s promotional pricing match only lasted 12 months after the acquisition.
- Confusing a Google Workspace domain purchase with “Google Domains.” That purchase flow now runs through Squarespace.
- Not checking DNS settings after the migration if you’re still on a domain originally registered through Google Domains.
The Bottom Line
Google Domains stopped existing as a product in September 2023, with a full customer migration to Squarespace completed by mid-2024. Anyone comparing “Google Domains vs GoDaddy” today is really comparing Squarespace Domains vs GoDaddy, and the trade-offs are largely the same ones that applied before the acquisition: Squarespace offers simpler, more transparent pricing with free privacy included, while GoDaddy offers a broader service ecosystem and 24/7 phone support at the cost of steeper renewal pricing and more upselling. If you’re setting up a domain alongside Google Workspace, that purchase now runs through Squarespace by default, though working with an authorized reseller can simplify the whole setup regardless of which registrar holds the domain itself.
FAQ
Does Google Domains still exist?
No, Google sold the entire Google Domains business to Squarespace in September 2023 and stopped accepting new registrations that same day. All existing customers were migrated to Squarespace by mid-2024.
What happened to my Google Domains account?
It was migrated to Squarespace Domains. Logging in through the old Google Domains portal now redirects to Squarespace, where your domain is managed going forward.
Is Squarespace Domains the same as Google Domains?
Not exactly the same company, but Squarespace acquired the entire Google Domains business and largely inherited its approach to pricing and privacy protection.
How do I buy a domain for Google Workspace now?
Squarespace is the exclusive domains provider for domains purchased alongside a Google Workspace subscription bought directly from Google. Many businesses instead work with an authorized reseller to handle domain setup and verification.
Is Google Domains still available in Pakistan or other countries?
No, the shutdown applied globally, not by region. Google Domains isn’t available for new registrations anywhere, regardless of country.
Is GoDaddy or Squarespace Domains better?
It depends on priorities. Squarespace Domains offers simpler, transparent pricing with free privacy protection. GoDaddy offers a wider range of services, domain auctions, and 24/7 phone support, with typically higher renewal pricing.
Can I still find articles describing Google Domains as active?
Yes, and that content is outdated. Google Domains has not accepted new registrations since September 2023, regardless of what an article’s publish date suggests.
