Domain: why you need it and where to register it

What is a domain

A domain name is a website’s address on the Internet, for example example.ru or пример.рф. Visitors use it to open the site, and correspondents send mail to addresses like info@example.ru. A website and email on a custom domain inspire more trust from customers than a page on a website builder’s subdomain or an inbox on a free email service.

Why a domain is useful for a small business

A custom domain unites a company’s website, email, and other services under one name. It remains with the owner when changing hosting or email provider: it’s enough to update the DNS records, and the addresses customers use will stay the same. Free platforms do not provide this stability — they can change terms or cease operations.

A domain is not bought forever; it is registered for a period. Domains .ru and .рф are registered for one year and renewed annually; in international zones, for example .com, registration can be paid for up to ten years at once. If a domain is not renewed on time, it will be released and anyone can register it.

What changed in 2026

Since September 1, 2026, registration, renewal, and change of the administrator for domains in the .ru, .рф, and .su zones are possible only after the administrator verifies their identity via a verified account on Gosuslugi. The requirement applies to individuals, individual entrepreneurs, and organizations. Without verification, it will not be possible to renew a domain, and upon expiration of the registration period it will be released.

Where to register a domain

Domains are registered through accredited registrars. The largest of them in Russia are Рег.ру (Reg.ru) and RU-CENTER (Nic.ru). Both work with national and most international zones and allow managing the domain’s DNS records in the personal account.