Squarespace acquires assets of Google Domains as the registrar prepares to shut down

Google Domains, the popular domain registrar service offered by Google, is set to shut down as its assets are being sold to Squarespace, the renowned leading website building and hosting platform. In a definitive asset purchase agreement, Squarespace has acquired the assets associated with Google Domains, including approximately 10 million domains hosted on the platform. According to the company, this move comes as Google aims to shift its focus towards other areas of its business.

Launched in 2014 and exiting beta in 2022, Google Domains has provided a reliable and user-friendly platform for individuals and businesses to register and manage their domain names. However, it seems that with the decision to sell the registrar business, the product will change hands and it will no longer be part of Alphabet's product portfolio, which suggests a good opportunity to explore other alternatives on the Google Domains app page.

To ensure a smooth transition for customers, Squarespace has enlisted the support of the Google Domains team. During the transition period, customers' Google Domains accounts will remain unaffected, and Squarespace has committed to honoring existing customers' renewal prices for at least 12 months. The transaction between Squarespace and Google is expected to be finalized in the third quarter of 2023. Once the acquisition is complete, Squarespace will assume ownership and management of the domains hosted on Google Domains. For customers who purchase a domain with their Google Workspace subscription, Squarespace will become the exclusive domains provider for a minimum of three years. Additionally, Squarespace will offer billing and support services to Google Workspace customers who signed up through Google Domains, further ensuring a seamless experience for users. So, yes, PAID users who placed their trust in Google will henceforth transition into customers of an entirely separate company, irrespective of their preferences.

Customers will retain the flexibility to make changes to their domains account as needed, even after the transition to Squarespace is complete. Google has provided a support document with detailed information about the transition, enabling customers to stay informed and address any concerns they may have.

With the unexpected closure of Google Domains, we can add a new service to the list of products Killed by Google, alongside the recently reported Google Optimize, its A/B testing tool, or the widely buzzed-about Google Stadia, its cloud-based game streaming service.