How domain name cost is set from registry to registrar
A domain name cost is built in layers. The registry sets the wholesale price for the extension. The registrar sets the retail price you are shown. Some extensions also add a small ICANN fee at checkout. On a WebJi® invoice in India, GST at 18% sits on top of the pre-tax quote.
- Registry wholesale for the extension, such as .com, .in or .io
- Registrar retail, including a first-year promo that is not the renewal
- An ICANN fee on some extensions, listed by Namecheap at $0.20 a year
- GST at 18% on a WebJi® invoice, added to the pre-tax quote
Namecheap's domain price page on 30 October 2026 says ICANN adds $0.20 for each registration, renewal or transfer on some extensions, on top of the listed price. That fee is not the retail sticker.
Cloudflare's learning article the same day says many registrars mark the registry price up by 10% to more than 100%. The number on a promo tile is retail, not wholesale. Registering the name is separate from hosting, which is what domain registration in India covers.
What other registrars listed for a domain name on 30 October 2026
The prices below were on those companies' pages on 30 October 2026. They are not WebJi® rates, and they are not Indian GST-inclusive totals. WebJi® has no fixed domain grid to copy. Email support@webji.services for an INR quote before you pay.
| Source | Extension | Shown price | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoDaddy India pricing | .com | ₹1.00 | First year, only with a 3-year purchase. Renewal not listed. |
| Namecheap | .com | $6.48/yr | New customers. The page says instead of $14.98/yr. |
| Namecheap price table | .com | $11.28, then $18.48 | First-year table price, then the renewal column. |
| Namecheap price table | .in | $9.98, then $11.98 | First year, then the renewal column. |
| Cloudflare article | Standard name | $10 or $12 | Lowest yearly lease the article states for an ordinary name. |
GoDaddy's India pricing page shows ₹1.00 for the first year of a .com only when you buy three years. It does not show the renewal beside that line. The same page lists a domain transfer at ₹1,029.00, and that price includes one year of registration.
Namecheap showed two .com first-year figures on one page: $6.48 a year for new customers, in place of $14.98, and a table price of $11.28, which is 25% off a $14.98 first year. The renewal column was $18.48. The .in row was $9.98 in year one and $11.98 to renew.
Cloudflare's article says an ordinary name can be leased for as little as $10 or $12 a year, and that intro prices elsewhere can renew at two to four times that.
The same article says Cloudflare Registrar uses an at-cost price up front and at renewal. That page has no extension table. WebJi® is not GoDaddy, Namecheap or Cloudflare. A move between registrars is a separate domain transfer quote.
Why a domain name renewal costs more than the first year
The first year is often a discount to win the registration. The renewal is what you pay to keep the name. Cloudflare's article says that later price can be two, three or four times the intro, especially on newer extensions.
Namecheap's .xyz row on 30 October 2026 was $2.00 in the first year, marked 91% off $21.48, and the renewal column was $21.48. A low intro is not the cost of holding the name.
Paying several years at checkout can lock the rate you are shown. Namecheap's tool prices terms up to 10 years. That is still a lease. It does not make the name yours forever.
What a premium domain name costs after the first year
A registry premium is a name the registry itself priced above the normal fee for that extension. The higher amount usually repeats at every renewal. It does not drop to the standard rate after year one.
An aftermarket name is already owned by someone else. You pay their selling price once. Renewal after that is usually the normal fee for the extension. The two are not the same bill.
Pay a premium when the word is the brand and you will keep it for years. Skip it for a side project that only needs a working address. A short generic word can also be expensive because buyers compete for it.
How GST changes the domain name cost in India
WebJi® domain quotes are in INR and are before tax. The invoice adds GST at 18%. Add your GSTIN in the client area before you pay if you need it printed for input credit.
A dollar sticker from another registrar is not this invoice. WebJi® does not convert that dollar price at checkout. You are shown the INR amount, then GST, before you pay.
What a free domain with hosting costs after year one
A free domain with hosting is usually year one of one extension, and only while the hosting plan stays paid. Year two is often billed at the normal renewal, and the extension list may be short.
Check three things before you treat it as free: which extension, whether year two is included, and what you owe if you cancel hosting. Privacy and DNSSEC may be extra.
Namecheap's price rows on 30 October 2026 say WHOIS privacy is included at no extra yearly fee on eligible extensions. GoDaddy's India pricing page says domain privacy is included. Ask for that line on the WebJi® quote instead of assuming it.
If the name is not renewed, it can move into a redemption period that costs more than a normal renewal, and then someone else can register it. Auto-renew on names you need is the practical guard.
How to compare a domain name cost before you pay
Compare one year of renewal for the same extension, then add 18% GST. Put the first-year teaser aside until the renewal is next to it. A ₹1.00 or $2.00 intro does not answer the yearly cost.
- Same extension and the same one-year renewal
- Privacy, transfer and the ICANN fee included or extra
- GST on the Indian invoice
- Standard name, registry premium or aftermarket resale
For a site aimed at India, compare the .in renewal on the quote, not a foreign promo. .IN domain registration is that extension. Then check domain availability for the exact string.
The figure you pay is the INR quote from support@webji.services, in Hindi or English, before GST is added. That is a price check, not a signup walkthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a domain name cost in India?
WebJi® quotes each name in INR before you pay. There is no fixed public domain rate in the catalogue, and the invoice adds 18% GST. On 30 October 2026 Namecheap listed a .in renewal at $11.98 and a .com renewal at $18.48. Those are US dollars on their page, not this invoice.
How much does a domain name cost per year?
An ordinary name is often about $10 to $12 a year. That is the low end Cloudflare's article gave on 30 October 2026 for names that are not being bid up. First-year promos go lower. Premium names and aftermarket sales go much higher. The same article, citing Domain Name Journal, reported an Icon.com sale of $12 million in 2025.
Why is domain renewal more expensive than the first year?
Year one is often discounted to win the registration. The renewal is the regular price. On 30 October 2026 Namecheap showed a new-customer .com at $6.48 a year against an $18.48 renewal. Compare the renewal, then add 18% GST on a WebJi® invoice.
Can we buy a domain name permanently?
No. A normal domain is a lease, usually one year at a time and often up to 10 years if you pay ahead. When you stop renewing, the registry can release the name and someone else can register it. Paying ahead is not ownership forever.
Is it worth paying for a domain?
Yes, if you want a site address and email on a name you control. The yearly fee is what keeps that name. A premium name is worth the higher renewal only when the word itself is the brand. A free address on someone else's domain is not the same asset.
Do I pay GST on domain names?
Yes on a WebJi® invoice. The quote is before tax and GST is 18% of that amount. Add your GSTIN in the client area before you pay if the invoice must show it. The bill is in INR.
What is the cheapest domain extension?
The cheapest first year is usually a promo, not the renewal. On 30 October 2026 Namecheap listed .xyz at $2.00 in year one and $21.48 to renew. For an India-facing site, compare the .in renewal on your INR quote instead of the lowest intro tile.
Are premium domains worth buying?
A registry premium keeps its higher price at every renewal. An aftermarket name is a one-time purchase from the current owner, then a normal renewal. Buy the premium only when you will keep the word for years. For a short project, a standard extension is the smaller yearly cost.