What is a domain registrar?

Registry, registrar, reseller

Role	What it does	Examples
Registry	Runs an extension and its database	ZACR (.za), Verisign (.com)
Registrar	Registers domains with registries for you	Hostnali
Reseller	Sells domains through a registrar under its own brand	Web designers, hosting resellers
Registrant	The domain’s owner	You

You don’t deal with the registry: the registrar does it for you and handles renewals, transfers and DNS.

What a good registrar gives you

• Fair, clear pricing: renewal prices shown up front, not just a cheap first year.
• Full control: nameservers, DNS, contacts and your EPP code in your own client area.
• Domain in your name, never the registrar’s.
• Renewal reminders and auto-renewal so nothing lapses.
• Local payment and support that answers.

Registering .co.za domains with Hostnali

We register .co.za and the other South African extensions, plus .com, .africa and other global ones, all in one client area with prices in rand. Pay by card or bank transfer, and our team helps with DNS, transfers and renewals 24/7.

Can I change registrar?

Yes, by transferring the domain with its EPP code. Global domains such as .com take 5–7 days and add a year; South African domains follow ZACR’s process, which is often quicker.

Want to become a reseller?

If you build websites or host clients, you can sell domains under your own brand. The domain reseller program is free to join and comes with a WHMCS module.

Search for a domain on domain registration.