In the registrar vs web host question, the registrar sells you the domain name, and the web host stores your website. A third company, the DNS provider, links the two. One company can do all three jobs, but they are still three different jobs.
Registrar vs web host: the short answer
The easiest way to see the difference is to follow a visit to your site. First, the browser asks the DNS provider where the site lives. Next, the DNS provider points to the web host. Then the host sends the page. Behind the scenes, the registrar keeps the name yours.
| Job | Who does it | What you do there |
|---|---|---|
| Registrar | Sells and renews the name | Buy, renew and lock the name |
| DNS provider | Answers where the name points | Set the records |
| Web host | Stores and serves the site | Upload the website |
What a registrar does
A registrar is a company accredited to sell domain names. It takes your order, passes it to the registry and keeps your contact details. It also sends the renewal reminders and offers the transfer lock.
You can read how ICANN accredits registrars on its registrar page. The key point is that the registrar controls the name. If you lose access there, you lose control of everything else.
What a web host does
A web host keeps your website files on a server and sends them to visitors. It can also run your email. Hosting is a service you rent, and you can move it at any time without changing the domain name.
Because of this, you can buy a name from one company and host the site with another. Many people do. A web host does not own your name, so a host problem does not put the name at risk.
What a DNS provider does
DNS is the system that turns a name into the address of a server. A DNS provider runs the nameservers that answer this question. It stores records such as where the site lives and where email goes.
Often the registrar or the host also provides DNS, so you never notice it. In other cases, you choose a separate provider for speed or safety. Cloudflare and Amazon Route 53 are examples of providers that many people pick on purpose.
Who runs the DNS of .com names?
Our data shows how concentrated DNS is. On 8 October 2026 the biggest provider in the .com zone was GoDaddy, with 21.66% of names, and Cloudflare followed with 12.94%. We counted each name by its first nameserver.
The numbers show that many people let their registrar run DNS. You can look up the DNS provider of any name with the Hosting Stats tool. Our State of .com page keeps the full ranking.
Registrar vs web host: which one to call when something breaks
When a site breaks, start by finding which job failed. That saves hours. Use this short list:
- The name expired or was lost. Call the registrar.
- The site shows an error or is blank. Call the web host.
- The name does not resolve, or email bounces. Check the DNS records.
The Domain Health Check reads the expiry date, the DNS and the email records of a name. It helps you see which part is wrong before you call anyone.
Registrar vs web host: how to switch either one
You can move each job on its own. To change your web host, you point the name's DNS records at the new server. The name itself stays where it is.
To change your registrar, you start a transfer. First, you unlock the name at the old registrar. Then you ask for an authorisation code and give it to the new one. A name usually cannot move in the first 60 days after it is registered or after a transfer. Plan for that, and keep the site online while the move completes.
Should one company do all three?
It is simple and cheap to use one company. You have one login and one bill. However, there is a risk. If the account is hacked or closed, you can lose the name, the site and the email together.
A safer setup splits the jobs. Keep the name with a registrar you trust, and turn on the lock. Then choose a host for the site. Many owners also keep a copy of their DNS records in a note. If you want the full picture of expiry, read our post on what happens when a domain expires.
Sources
- ICANN: how registrars are accredited: what a registrar is.
- IANA: .com: who runs .com.
- RFC 1034: Domain names: what DNS and a name server are.
Originally published at namedaemon.com/registrar-vs-web-host-vs-dns-provider/. NameDaemon has 18 free tools for .com names, built on the daily zone file, and the numbers are on the State of .com page.
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