How much does a .co.uk or .com domain cost?
A .co.uk domain costs £7.99 to £12.99 a year to renew at the two registrars we checked. A .com costs £11.99 to £18.99. Both prices are before VAT. A registrar is the company you buy and renew the name through.
These are the prices on each registrar's own page, checked on 29 October 2026. 123 Reg's domain names page shows a first-year price and a renewal price for each ending, and states that all prices exclude VAT. The Krystal domains page shows one price for registration and renewal, also before VAT.
- .co.uk at 123 Reg: £3.99 for the first year for new customers, then £12.99 a year.
- .com at 123 Reg: £0.01 for the first year with a 3-year purchase, then £18.99 a year.
- .co.uk at Krystal: £7.99 a year, for registration and renewal.
- .com at Krystal: £11.99 a year, for registration and renewal.
A business pays VAT on top of these prices. The standard rate is 20%, according to the government's VAT rates page. That makes the 123 Reg .co.uk renewal £15.59 and its .com renewal £22.79. At Krystal, a .co.uk becomes £9.59 and a .com £14.39. If your business is VAT registered, you can usually reclaim it.
Prices change often, so check the registrar's page on the day you buy. A .uk ending is priced the same as .co.uk at both registrars.
Why is the renewal price the one that matters?
You pay the first-year price once, and the renewal price every year you keep the name. A domain that costs 1p today can cost more over three years than one with a fair, flat price. Always compare renewal prices, not the headline offer.
The small print shows the trap. On the 123 Reg page, the .com offer needs a 3-year purchase, then moves to the renewal rate. The .co.uk offer is for new customers only. Their own help text says renewals are often more costly than registration.
Some registrars show a full price struck through and a free or 1p first year. That is a fair offer, as long as you know what year two costs. Write the renewal price down when you buy, and set a reminder a month before it is due.
What does a domain cost over five years?
Over five years, a .co.uk costs about £48 at Krystal and about £67 at 123 Reg, with VAT added. The cheap first year at 123 Reg does not make up for the higher renewals. Here is the sum, so you can run it for any registrar.
- 123 Reg .co.uk: £3.99 for year one, plus four renewals at £12.99. That is £55.95 before VAT, or £67.14 with it.
- Krystal .co.uk: five years at £7.99. That is £39.95 before VAT, or £47.94 with it.
- 123 Reg .com: £0.01 for year one, plus four renewals at £18.99. That is £75.97 before VAT, or £91.16 with it.
- Krystal .com: five years at £11.99. That is £59.95 before VAT, or £71.94 with it.
The lesson is simple. Multiply the renewal price by the years you expect to keep the name, then add the first year. For most businesses that is the whole life of the business, so the renewal price is the real cost.
How much does it cost to transfer a domain?
Moving a domain can be free, but it depends on both registrars. Krystal says it will not charge you to leave, including giving you the transfer code. 123 Reg offers free transfers in for .uk and .co.uk names. Check the new registrar's transfer price before you start.
The process differs by ending. For a .co.uk, you change the Internet Provider Security (IPS) tag to the new registrar's tag. For a .com, you remove the lock on the name and ask your current registrar for its transfer code, sometimes called an auth code.
Moving between registrars is your right. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) runs the rules for .com names. Its transfer questions for name holders say you can switch registrars. It also warns that a 60-day lock can apply after a change of owner details.
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Do you need to pay for domain privacy?
Usually not. Both registrars we checked include basic privacy for free on eligible names, which keeps your personal details out of public lookup records. 123 Reg sells a paid ownership protection upgrade with extra locks. Few small businesses need it.
Before you buy, check what the registrar shows in public lookups for your name. Keep the owner email on the record one you check, because renewal and transfer messages go there.
Who should own your website domain?
You should. The domain should be registered in your business's name, with your email as the owner contact. If a web designer or agency registers it in their own name, you may struggle to move it later. Ask who the registered owner is before you pay anyone.
This is how we set it up. On our plans and pricing page, the domain line reads: Yours. Registered to you, not to us. If you leave, your domain and your content go with you.
Our guide to pay monthly websites in the UK covers the other questions to ask about who owns what. Read it before you sign anything with a web supplier.
What should you check before you buy a domain?
Check five things before you pay: the renewal price, the VAT, the term, the owner name and the transfer terms. Ten minutes here saves you money every year after.
- Renewal price. Find it on the registrar's own page, not only the offer banner.
- VAT. Check whether the price shown includes it. Most registrar pages do not.
- Term. Some offers need you to buy two or three years up front.
- Owner. The name on the record should be your business, with an email you read.
- Transfer terms. Look for free transfers out, so you can leave without a fee.
- Auto-renew. Turn it on, and keep your payment card up to date.
Does your domain ending matter for Google or AI answers?
Not much. No domain ending gets you into Google or AI answers on its own. A .co.uk tells UK customers you are local, and a short, clear name is easier to remember. What counts most is the facts on your pages.
AI assistants and search engines read your pages, not just your address. Keep your business name, address and services the same everywhere. That makes your site easier to trust and quote.
Where Buzzozo fits
A domain is only the address. You still need a website, hosting and someone to keep it all renewed and working. Our managed website service looks after the site and its technical side for you, with the domain kept in your name.
If you already have a site, our UK web hosting includes free migration. We move your site and email across for you. For a fuller picture of running costs, read what website hosting costs on a managed plan.
Want to see your business on a new site first? Start a free 14-day trial with no card needed. Your new website is free for 14 days, so you can test it with your own details before you decide.
Common questions
How much does a .co.uk domain cost per year?
At the two UK registrars we checked, a .co.uk renews at £7.99 to £12.99 a year before VAT. That is £9.59 to £15.59 with VAT. First-year offers can be lower.
How much does a .com domain cost per year?
A .com renews at £11.99 to £18.99 a year before VAT at the two registrars we checked. With VAT that is £14.39 to £22.79. The 1p first year at 123 Reg needs a 3-year purchase.
Why did my domain renewal cost more than I paid?
Many registrars sell the first year cheaply, then charge their standard renewal rate. Check the renewal price on the registrar’s own page before you buy, and compare the total over several years.
Is it free to transfer a domain?
It can be. Some registrars do not charge you to leave, and some offer free transfers in. A .co.uk moves by changing its tag, and a .com needs a transfer code from your current registrar.
Do I need to pay for domain privacy?
Usually not. Both registrars we checked include basic privacy free on eligible names. Paid protection upgrades exist, but few small businesses need them.
Who should own my business domain?
Your business should. The domain should be registered in your name, with an email you check. With Buzzozo, your domain is registered to you, not to us.
Can I try a Buzzozo website before paying?
Yes. Start the free 14-day trial with no card needed. Check the site with your own details during the trial, then decide whether to keep it.