Do I Need to Move My Domain?
Google Domains, the domain registrar of choice for myself and countless other webmasters, has been officially acquired by Squarespace as of June 15, 2023. For the uninitiated, Google Domains launched in June of 2014 and offers over 300 name extensions, which is enough for most people, if not as extensive as some other platforms.
Most people don’t think much about their domain registration beyond choosing and purchasing a domain name, but it’s important to keep abreast of these industry changes as it can mean changes to your pricing and the platform from which you manage your settings.
In the end, the only thing that’s really changing is where your domain is registered, so you may not have to do anything in response to the acquisition. But you should be aware that with a new company pulling the reigns, it’s worth it to look into your options. I put this article together to let you know the main changes coming so that you can decide whether to switch platforms or not.
What Changes Are Coming
These changes will be coming slowly over time. Google Domains is a large platform with vast amounts of data that will need to be transferred. To be clear, Google has stated that you don’t need to do anything at this point, and the transfer should not affect your website.
However, the details of the acquisition and the transfer process are still under development, so you’ll want to keep tabs on news and notifications from both companies going forward. As we get closer to the official transfer, Squarespace will have the final word on any steps you’ll need to take. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know:
- All Google Domain registrations will be moved to Squarespace
- Google Workspace accounts connected through Google Domains will be managed through Squarespace (This does not apply to accounts connected through other means.)
- Google Cloud Domains will also be transferred to Squarespace.
- You will make all applicable payments to Squarespace
- Your domain will remain under Google Domains Terms of Service and Privacy Policy until the transfer is complete, but Squarespace’s equivalent documents will take over thereafter.
- You can move your domain to another registrar at any time if you choose.
I recommend that you check out pricing for various platforms before the transfer takes place. For instance, the yearly price of the studiooriley.com domain will be rising by $8 when the transition takes place.
Wrapping Up
Other than potential pricing changes, this acquisition shouldn’t affect your life as a webmaster much. However, in order to manage your domain, you will need to familiarize yourself with the Squarespace interface and workflow.
If you’d prefer to transfer to a new domain registrar before the acquisition, there are plenty of options, from Ionos and Domain.com to DreamHost and Web.com.
To read more about this change directly from the horse’s mouths, you can read the notices directly on Google Support and Squarespace Domains.