The specific domain "google.com" is owned by Google and is not available for purchase. However, if the question refers to the cost of registering a domain name through the service formerly known as Google Domains, its pricing was quite straightforward.
Historical Pricing for Google Domains
Before its transition, Google Domains offered a clear pricing structure for domain name registrations. Domain name registrations were generally priced at a consistent annual rate, making it easy for users to estimate their recurring costs.
Google Domains provided three pricing editions, all of which were consistently priced at $12 per year. This transparent pricing applied to various domain extensions (TLDs), with a few exceptions for premium domains or less common extensions that might have varied slightly.
| Pricing Edition | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard Domain | $12 |
| Premium Features | $12 |
| Advanced Options | $12 |
Note: The specific names for these "editions" were not detailed in the available information, but the pricing structure across all standard offerings was consistent at $12.
The Transition of Google Domains
In June 2023, Google announced the sale of its Google Domains assets, including all domain registrations, to Squarespace. This means that Google no longer operates as a direct domain registrar. Existing domains managed by Google Domains have been or are in the process of being migrated to Squarespace.
What This Means for New Domain Registrations
- No New Registrations via Google Domains: You can no longer purchase a new domain name directly through Google Domains.
- Squarespace as the Successor: For those looking for a similar service or managing previously registered Google Domains, Squarespace now handles these operations. Their pricing for new domain registrations may vary. You can explore Squarespace's domain registration services for current pricing and offerings.
- Alternative Registrars: Many other reputable domain registrars, such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Hover, offer domain registration services with varying pricing structures depending on the domain extension (.com, .org, .net, etc.) and included features.
Included Features (Historically with Google Domains)
When a domain was registered through Google Domains, the annual fee typically included several valuable features without additional cost, such as:
- Privacy Protection: Many domains included WHOIS privacy, which helped protect personal contact information from public view.
- DNS Management: Robust and reliable DNS infrastructure powered by Google.
- Email Forwarding: The ability to create custom email addresses (e.g., [email protected]) that forwarded to an existing personal email account.
- Domain and Subdomain Forwarding: Redirecting your domain or specific subdomains to other web addresses.
- Google Workspace Integration: Seamless integration with Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) for professional email and collaboration tools (though Workspace itself was a separate subscription).
Understanding the historical cost of Google Domains provides context, but current domain purchases require consulting current registrars like Squarespace or other established providers.
