Registry, registrar, hosting provider: who does what, how to find out who manages your domain, which criteria to use to choose a registrar and how to switch without downtime.
By Mouhamed BANKOLE, CEO at ITNET Technologies · Updated October 27, 2026 · Reading time: 9 min
When you buy a domain name, you run into words that sound alike: registry, registrar, hosting provider. The one that matters to you day to day is the domain registrar: it registers your name, renews it and lets you move it elsewhere. A poor choice usually costs you later, at renewal time or on the day you want to leave. Here is what a registrar does, how to find out which one manages your domain, how to choose one and how to switch without downtime.
In short
- A domain registrar is the company that registers your domain name with the registry of the extension (Afnic for .fr) and renews it for you.
- The registrar does not own your name: the rights belong to the registrant listed in the Whois, which means you.
- To choose one, compare the renewal price (not just the first year), DNS management, Whois privacy, account security and transfer terms.
- You can switch registrars with the authorization code (auth code or EPP code), outside the 60-day lock periods set by ICANN rules.
- Domain and hosting can be kept apart: bundling them is simpler, separating them reduces dependence on a single provider.
Contents
- What is a domain registrar?
- Registry, registrar, hosting provider: who does what?
- How do you find out who your registrar is?
- Which criteria should you use to choose a registrar?
- How much does a domain name cost at a registrar?
- Should your domain be with your hosting provider?
- How do you protect your domain at your registrar?
- How do you switch registrars without downtime?
- What happens if you forget to renew?
What is a domain registrar?
A domain registrar is the company that registers a domain name on your behalf with the registry of the extension, then renews and updates it at your request. For .fr, Afnic's guide describes the registrar as the registrant's main point of contact, handling registration, renewal, transfer and deletion on their behalf (registrant's practical guide, Afnic).
In practice, your registrar:
- registers the name you picked, if it is available;
- renews it at each due date (yearly or multi-year);
- often hosts the DNS zone that points the domain to your website and email;
- gives you the transfer code if you want to move elsewhere;
- keeps the registrant's contact details up to date in the Whois database.
For generic extensions such as .com, the registrar must be accredited by ICANN to carry out transfers (transfer policy, ICANN).
Registry, registrar, hosting provider: who does what?
The registry runs an extension, the registrar sells and manages names under that extension, and the hosting provider runs your website: three separate roles, even when one company covers two of them.
| Party | Role | Example | Your relationship with it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registry | Runs the database of an extension and its DNS infrastructure | Afnic for .fr | Almost none: it works through the registrar |
| Registrar | Registers, renews and transfers names | Your domain provider | Contract, invoice, customer account |
| Hosting provider | Stores and serves your site, databases and sometimes email | Your hosting plan | Hosting contract |
| Registrant | Holds the rights to the name | You or your company | — |
Afnic describes itself as the registry appointed by the French State for .fr and says it deals with registrants only "exceptionally" (Afnic). The same guide states that the rights to the name belong to the registrant listed in the Whois database, not to the registrar (Afnic).
Pro tip: check that the listed registrant is your company, not the agency or freelancer who built your website. This is the most common reason domains get "stuck" when you change providers.
How do you find out who your registrar is?
Run a Whois lookup on your domain name: the "Registrar" field shows the provider that manages it. ICANN points to its whois.icann.org tool to find this information (ICANN).
Three ways to find it:
- an online Whois tool (ICANN's for generic extensions, Afnic's for .fr);
- your invoices: the registrar is the company that bills the domain renewal;
- your emails confirming registration or renewal.
If the Whois hides the registrant's details, that is normal: privacy protection is often turned on. The registrar's name stays visible. To learn more about reading Whois results, see our guide to checking domain name availability.
Which criteria should you use to choose a registrar?
A good registrar stays reasonable at renewal, gives you full control of your DNS and does not hold you back when you want to leave. The first-year price matters far less than everything else.
What to check before you pay:
- the renewal price, clearly shown for each extension;
- the extensions available (.fr, .com, .eu, country codes);
- DNS management: free editing of A, MX, CNAME and TXT records;
- Whois privacy for personal data, included or paid;
- account security: two-factor authentication, domain lock;
- outbound transfer terms: code provided with no fee or unreasonable delay;
- support: reachable, in your language, with clear response times;
- where the provider and its data are located, if sovereignty matters to you.
| Criterion | What to look for | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal | Price shown before purchase | Only the first-year price is visible |
| DNS | Interface for every record type | Locked DNS or DNS tied to in-house hosting |
| Whois | Privacy included | Paid option at every renewal |
| Security | Two-factor authentication, transfer lock | Password only |
| Exit | Transfer code available in your account | Code sent only on request to support |
At Wayhost, the DNS interface lets you manage A, MX, CNAME and TXT records, and Whois privacy protection is included (checked on October 27, 2026 on the domain names page).
How much does a domain name cost at a registrar?
The price depends mainly on the extension and on the gap between the first year and renewal, which you should always compare. Common national and generic extensions cost from a few euros to a few tens of euros per year, while some sought-after extensions cost much more.
As an example, here are Wayhost's listed prices, checked on October 27, 2026 on the domain names page:
| Extension | First year (excl. VAT/year) | Renewal (excl. VAT/year) |
|---|---|---|
| .fr | €7.70 | €7.78 |
| .com | €11.33 | €11.33 |
| .org | €9.90 | €13.20 |
| .net | €13.09 | €13.09 |
| .ai | €80.85 | €80.85 |
What changes the bill:
- the gap between first year and renewal, sometimes large at some providers;
- add-ons billed separately: Whois privacy, advanced DNS, redirects;
- inbound transfers, which often include a year of renewal;
- the registration term: a .fr can be registered for up to ten years according to Afnic (Afnic).
Should your domain be with your hosting provider?
It is not required: bundling domain and hosting makes management simpler, while separating them avoids depending on one provider. A domain can point to any hosting provider through its DNS zone.
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Domain and hosting with the same provider | One invoice, one support team, preconfigured DNS | Changing hosts takes more steps |
| Domain at a registrar, hosting elsewhere | Independence, easy to change hosts | Two accounts, DNS to configure yourself |
Either way, keep control of the DNS zone: it is what connects your domain to your web hosting and your professional email. Our domain name guide covers the basic setup.
To compare the hosting plans themselves (shared, VPS or dedicated), see our guide Web hosting: how it works and how to choose. And if you connect the domain to email addresses, our article on professional email explains what an address in your own name brings.
How do you protect your domain at your registrar?
Secure access to your registrar account first, because whoever controls that account controls your domain, your website and your email.
Settings to turn on:
- two-factor authentication on your customer account;
- transfer lock while you are not moving the domain;
- auto-renewal with an up-to-date payment method;
- a contact email address that does not depend on the domain itself (otherwise you lose the alerts if the domain expires);
- DNSSEC enabled on the domain, to sign the zone so nobody can forge DNS answers: our article What is DNSSEC and how to enable it walks you through it;
- accurate registrant details: Afnic requires them to stay accurate for the whole life of the name (Afnic).
Pro tip: also publish SPF and DKIM records in your DNS zone so nobody can spoof your domain by email, as explained in our article on DKIM and SPF.
How do you switch registrars without downtime?
Get the authorization code from your current registrar, unlock the domain, then start the transfer at the new registrar while keeping the same DNS zone. Your website and email keep working during the move as long as the name servers do not change at the same time.
The steps:
- check the registrant details and the contact email address;
- unlock the domain in your current account;
- get the authorization code (auth code, EPP or AuthInfo): according to ICANN, the registrar provides it within five days of your request, or you generate it yourself in your account (ICANN);
- start the transfer at the new registrar with that code;
- confirm the request from the email you receive;
- check the DNS zone after the transfer.
When a transfer can be refused, according to ICANN (transfer policy):
- within 60 days of the initial registration or a previous transfer;
- within 60 days of a change of registrant (mandatory refusal);
- in case of a dispute, proven fraud or a name suspended for non-payment.
At Wayhost, domain transfer is free, includes one year of renewal and lets you choose your name servers (checked on October 27, 2026).
What happens if you forget to renew?
The domain expires, then your website and email stop working; there is usually a short window to recover it before it becomes available again. For .fr, Afnic provides a 30-day redemption period after expiry, during which the deletion can still be reversed (Afnic).
To avoid that:
- turn on auto-renewal;
- register the domain for several years if it is central to your business;
- put the due date in a shared calendar;
- watch your registrar's emails, including the spam folder.
Frequently asked questions
What is a domain registrar?
A domain registrar is the company that registers your domain name with the registry of the extension. It renews it, often manages the DNS zone and gives you the transfer code. In French it is called a "bureau d'enregistrement".
Does the registrar own my domain name?
No. The rights to the name belong to the registrant listed in the Whois. Check that this registrant is you or your company, not your service provider.
What is the difference between a registry and a registrar?
A registry runs an entire extension, such as Afnic for .fr. A registrar sells names under that extension to the public and deals with the registry for you. You almost never deal with the registry directly.
Can my domain and my website be with two different providers?
Yes. You just point the domain's DNS zone to the website's hosting provider. Keeping them apart makes a future change of host easier.
How long does it take to switch registrars?
A transfer usually takes a few days, while each registrar confirms the request. Your current registrar must provide the authorization code within five days of your request. Your website stays online if the name servers do not change.
Why was my domain transfer refused?
Common causes are a domain registered or transferred less than 60 days ago, a recent change of registrant or a locked domain. A wrong or expired authorization code also blocks the transfer. Your registrar must tell you the reason for the refusal.
Is the cheapest registrar the best choice?
Not necessarily. Compare the renewal price, add-ons billed separately and how easy it is to transfer out. A low introductory price can cost a lot over several years.
Key takeaways
- The registrar registers and renews your domain, the registry runs the extension, the hosting provider runs the site.
- You remain the registrant: check that the Whois shows your company's name.
- Compare renewal prices, DNS management, Whois privacy and account security.
- Transfers use the authorization code, outside the 60-day locks.
- Turn on auto-renewal and two-factor authentication.
To register or move your domains with full DNS management and Whois privacy included, explore Wayhost domain names.
Article written by Mouhamed BANKOLE, CEO at ITNET Technologies.