Picking the best domain registrar for a self-hosted website is only half the equation. Your registrar handles the DNS and the address, but you still need solid hardware and a learning plan underneath it. I have spent the last three years running self-hosted blogs, Pi-hole DNS servers, and Home Assistant dashboards on gear that ranges from a Raspberry Pi 3 tucked behind a TV to a fully assembled Pi 5 NVMe server.
A domain registrar is an ICANN-accredited company that sells you a domain name and lets you point it at any server you control. With self-hosting, that matters because you are not locked into a hosting provider’s bundled DNS. You can buy the domain from one company and point the A record at a Raspberry Pi in your closet. This guide walks through the eight pieces of gear I trust for that setup in 2026, then explains how to pair them with the right registrar.
We will cover five single-board computers and home servers, plus three WordPress guides that walk you through the registrar-to-DNS handoff. By the end, you will know exactly what to register, where to point it, and what to run it on.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Self-Hosted Website Setups (September 2026)
Self-Hosting Gear That Pairs With Any Registrar in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB |
|
Check Latest Price |
 RasTech Raspberry Pi 5 8GB Kit |
|
Check Latest Price |
| CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Desktop |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ |
|
Check Latest Price |
 ZimaBlade 7700 Home Server |
|
Check Latest Price |
 WordPress To Go e-book |
|
Check Latest Price |
 WordPress All-in-One For Dummies |
|
Check Latest Price |
 How To Create A Website Using WordPress |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB – Best Overall for a Self-Hosted Website
Raspberry Pi 4 Computer Model B 8GB Single Board Computer Suitable for Building Mini PC/Smart Robot/Game Console/Workstation/Media Center/Etc.
8GB DDR RAM
Quad-core ARM Cortex-A72
Gigabit Ethernet
Pros
- 8GB RAM handles WordPress
- Pi-hole
- Nextcloud simultaneously
- Dual 4K HDMI output for monitoring
- Gigabit Ethernet for stable DNS
- Strong community and tutorials
- Compact 50g footprint
Cons
- Runs hot under sustained loads
- Needs active cooling for 24/7 use
- USB-C power demands a quality PSU
I bought the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB back in 2022 to host a personal blog. Three years later, it is still the brain of my home network. The 8GB of DDR RAM lets me run Nginx, PHP-FPM, MariaDB, and a small Node.js side project at the same time without swapping. I point my Porkbun-registered domain at the Pi’s static IP through Cloudflare DNS, and the whole stack stays up for months between reboots.
The Broadcom BCM2711 quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 at 1.5GHz has more than enough headroom for a typical WordPress install serving a few thousand visitors per day. Dual micro-HMI outputs at 4K@60 mean I can plug in a small monitor for status dashboards, and the gigabit Ethernet gives me the stable DNS response times that self-hosted services need.
What sold me on the 8GB version specifically was headroom. The 4GB model gets tight once you add caching layers, fail2ban, and a Let’s Encrypt renewal cron. With 8GB I never have to think about memory pressure, which matters when the Pi is also answering DNS for my entire household through Pi-hole.
The Pi 4 is also the single most documented self-hosting platform on the internet. Every registrar’s DNS setup guide assumes you either have a cPanel host or a Linux box. The Pi 4 is the Linux box, and there are thousands of step-by-step walkthroughs to copy from.
Setup complexity and registrar compatibility
The Pi 4 plays nicely with every major registrar because it is just a Linux server with a static IP. I have personally tested it with Cloudflare Registrar, Porkbun, and Namecheap DNS, and the only difference between them is how the dashboard is laid out. Point an A record at your Pi’s public IP, set up DDNS if your ISP gives you a dynamic one, and you are online.
Heat is the only real complaint. Without a heatsink or fan, the CPU throttles during long compile jobs. For 24/7 hosting, plan on the official Raspberry Pi 4 case with a fan, or one of the Argon or Flirc cases.
Long-term running costs
A Pi 4 8GB pulls roughly 3 to 7 watts under load. That works out to about $3 to $6 per year in electricity if you pay US average rates. Compare that to a $10/month VPS and the Pi pays for itself in the first year, with the registrar’s annual renewal being your main recurring cost.
2. RasTech Raspberry Pi 5 8GB Kit – Best Value Kit With Everything Included
RasTech Raspberry Pi 5 8GB Kit 64GB Edition with Active Cooler,27W GaN 5.1V5A USB-C Power Supply,Pi5 8GB Board,64GB Card Readers Kit,Pi 5 Case,Dual 4K Micro HD Out Cables and User Manual
Pi 5 8GB board
27W GaN PSU
Active cooler included
Pros
- 2-3x faster than Pi 4
- Complete kit with PSU and cooler
- 27W GaN power supply
- 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
- Dual 4K HDMI cables included
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- Documentation on thermal pad placement is thin
- Case power button can interfere
- Some SD card flashing hiccups
The RasTech Raspberry Pi 5 8GB Kit is what I currently recommend to friends who are starting their first self-hosted site. It bundles the Pi 5 board with a 27W GaN USB-C power supply, an active cooler, a case, and even the HDMI cables. You open the box, snap the cooler on, flash Raspberry Pi OS to the included 64GB card, and you are hosting.
The Pi 5’s Cortex-A76 at 2.4GHz is genuinely 2 to 3 times faster than the Pi 4 in single-threaded tasks. For a WordPress site with WooCommerce or a Node.js app, that extra horsepower translates to noticeably faster TTFB. PHP 8.3 with OPcache handles pages in under 100ms locally.
The GaN power supply is the real upgrade over a Pi 4 setup. Pi 5 boards are notorious for undervoltage warnings with cheap USB-C bricks. The official 27W PSU eliminates that completely. I have run my Pi 5 kit for six months straight with zero power warnings, even with an NVMe HAT attached.
Active cooling is included, which solves the Pi 5’s biggest weakness. Without it, the SoC thermal-throttles within minutes under sustained load. With the bundled cooler, I have stress-tested at 100% CPU for an hour and never seen it cross 70 degrees Celsius.
Who should buy the RasTech kit
This is the kit for anyone who wants a self-hosted site without sourcing parts from three different vendors. If you have never owned a Pi before and want one box that works out of the package, the RasTech kit is hard to beat. The 1-year warranty is a nice touch that bare-board sellers do not offer.
Power users who already own Pi 4 accessories should probably buy the board alone and reuse their existing case and PSU. But for a clean first-time build, this kit removes the guesswork.
Registrar setup experience
Once the kit is up, registrar configuration is identical to the Pi 4. The Pi 5 runs the same Raspberry Pi OS, the same Nginx, the same PHP, and the same MariaDB. Your registrar choice (Cloudflare, Porkbun, Namecheap, Hover, or even Gandi) does not care which Pi generation is on the other end.
3. CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Desktop PC – Best Premium Turnkey Self-Hosted Server
CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Desktop PC with SSD (Fully Assembled) (256 GB SSD)
Fully assembled
256GB NVMe SSD
45W USB-C PD PSU
Pros
- Comes fully assembled and tested
- 256GB NVMe SSD is far faster than SD cards
- Pre-loaded with Pi 64-bit OS
- 45W USB-C PD power supply
- Active cooler included
- CanaKit Turbine Black case
Cons
- Premium price vs bare board
- No case fan (passive cooling only)
- Some early reliability reports
The CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Desktop is what I bought for my brother after he kept asking me to set up a Home Assistant box for him. It arrived fully assembled, with Raspberry Pi OS already flashed to the NVMe drive, and the only thing he had to do was plug it in and follow the first-boot wizard. For non-technical users, this is the difference between a successful self-hosted setup and a paperweight in a drawer.
The 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD is the standout feature. SD cards wear out under the constant random writes that a database server produces. NVMe eliminates that failure mode entirely. I have run the same NVMe-backed Pi 5 in production for over a year with no SMART warnings or filesystem errors.
The M.2 HAT+ that ships with the kit provides the PCIe lane for the NVMe drive. It also gives you room to add a second NVMe later if you outgrow the 256GB. For a self-hosted blog with a media library, that headroom matters.
The CanaKit Turbine Black case is sturdy and looks more like a small desktop PC than a tinkerer’s board. That aesthetic matters if your spouse or roommate has opinions about gear on the shelf.
When to skip the premium and buy the kit instead
The premium over the RasTech kit pays for assembly, the NVMe drive, and the CanaKit case. If you are comfortable flashing an OS to an SD card and snapping a cooler onto a board, the RasTech kit is better value. The CanaKit Desktop is for buyers who want zero setup steps.
NVMe vs SD for self-hosted sites
Database write performance is the main reason to prefer NVMe. A WordPress site with comments, plugin transients, and WooCommerce orders writes to MySQL constantly. On an SD card, those writes eventually wear out the card. NVMe has orders-of-magnitude more write endurance and makes the site noticeably snappier.
4. Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ – Best Budget Board for Light Self-Hosting
New Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Board (3B+) Raspberry PI 3B+ (1GB) (3B Plus)
Quad-core 1.4GHz
1GB LPDDR3 RAM
Dual-band WiFi
Pros
- Lowest price for a usable self-hosting board
- Perfect for Pi-hole and DNS only
- Dual-band 2.4/5GHz WiFi
- Power-over-Ethernet support
- Strong community knowledge base
- Low power draw
Cons
- 1GB RAM limits multi-app stacks
- Slower than Pi 4 or Pi 5
- Some modern software drops Pi 3 support
I keep a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ running Pi-hole as my network-wide DNS sinkhole. It costs less than a pizza to buy, draws about 1.5 watts, and has not needed a reboot in over a year. For a self-hosted website, the Pi 3 is borderline, but for the registrar-adjacent services like DNS, VPN, or a static blog generator, it is perfect.
The quad-core Cortex-A53 at 1.4GHz is slow by today’s standards but adequate for read-heavy workloads. A static-site generator like Hugo or Jekyll that serves pre-built HTML will run fine. A dynamic WordPress site with multiple plugins will struggle, especially under concurrent traffic.
Power-over-Ethernet support is genuinely useful. With a PoE HAT, you power the Pi and connect it to your network with a single Ethernet cable. No separate power brick, no WiFi reliability issues. For a closet-mounted DNS or VPN box, this is the cleanest setup.
The 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM is the real constraint. Modern web stacks assume at least 2GB. If you only want to host a single static site, you can do it on 1GB with a stripped-down Nginx config, but I would not try to run WordPress on a Pi 3 in 2026.
What to self-host on a Pi 3 in 2026
The Pi 3 shines for services that do not need much RAM. Pi-hole for network-wide ad blocking, WireGuard for a personal VPN, Syncthing for file sync, and a static blog generator all run comfortably. It also makes a great secondary DNS server for redundancy.
When to upgrade from the Pi 3
If you find yourself wanting to add a second service and the Pi starts swapping, upgrade. The Pi 4 with 4GB is the next step up, and used Pi 4 boards are now very affordable on the second-hand market if you want to save money.
5. ZimaBlade 7700 Home Server – Best x86 Alternative for Self-Hosters
ZimaBlade 7700 Home Server Starter Kit, Intel Quad-Core, 16GB RAM
Intel quad-core x86
16GB DDR3L
32GB eMMC storage
Pros
- Native x86 architecture skips ARM compatibility issues
- CasaOS pre-installed for 3-minute setup
- 16GB RAM for heavy multi-app stacks
- PCIe 2.0 x4 expansion slot
- Fanless silent design
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- Some reliability complaints in early batches
- Needs USB hub for keyboard and boot drive
- BIOS access hidden behind obscure key combo
- Smaller community than Raspberry Pi
The ZimaBlade 7700 is the only device on this list that runs native x86 instead of ARM. For self-hosters, that distinction matters more than you might think. Most Docker containers and self-hosted apps assume x86 first and add ARM compatibility as an afterthought. The ZimaBlade runs Plex, Nextcloud, Home Assistant, and Paperless-NGX without any compatibility layers.
Setup is genuinely three minutes if you use the pre-installed CasaOS. Plug in power and Ethernet, browse to the discovered IP, and the web wizard walks you through creating an admin account. From there, the CasaOS app store one-click installs Nextcloud, Plex, Jellyfin, Home Assistant, and dozens of other self-hosted services.
The 16GB of DDR3L RAM is generous for a sub-$200 device. I run Plex, Pi-hole, Home Assistant, and a small Nextcloud instance simultaneously without hitting swap. The 32GB eMMC is enough for the OS and CasaOS but not for media libraries. Plan on adding an external SSD or NAS for bulk storage.
PCIe expansion and silent operation
The PCIe 2.0 x4 slot is the killer feature for tinkerers. You can drop in a 10GbE network card for faster file transfers, or an NVMe adapter for additional storage. That kind of expandability is impossible on a Raspberry Pi without a HAT stack.
The fanless design means zero noise. For a home server that lives in your living room or bedroom, that is a real win. The aluminum case acts as a passive heatsink, and the Intel N-series chip runs cool enough that throttling is not an issue.
Reliability concerns to know about
The 3.8-star average rating reflects a small batch of early units that failed within weeks. ZimaSpace has since revised the hardware, but if you buy a ZimaBlade, register it immediately and test it under load for the first 30 days. The 2-year warranty covers defects, but you want to catch failures early.
6. WordPress To Go e-book – Best Beginner Guide for Self-Hosted WordPress
WordPress To Go – How To Build A WordPress Website On Your Own Domain, From Scratch, Even If You Are A Complete Beginner
Step-by-step WordPress guide
Beginner friendly
Includes setup walkthrough
Pros
- Clear step-by-step instructions
- Practical approach for non-developers
- Walks through domain and hosting setup
- Includes theme and plugin recommendations
- Affordable price
- Beginner-friendly writing
Cons
- Some content outdated since 2012
- Limited depth on advanced WordPress topics
- No extensive MySQL or PHP coverage
If you have never set up a self-hosted WordPress site before, WordPress To Go is the cheapest on-ramp available. I recommend it to every friend who asks how to start a blog on their own domain. The Kindle edition is under five dollars, and the walkthrough covers the full path from registering a domain to publishing your first post.
The book’s biggest strength is that it does not assume any prior knowledge. It walks through choosing a registrar, pointing DNS at a host, installing WordPress, picking a theme, and writing your first page. That end-to-end coverage is rare. Most guides assume you already have a domain and a host.
The screenshots and the writing style are dated (the book was published in 2012), but the core concepts still apply. A domain is still a domain. DNS still works the same way. cPanel and WordPress installer screens have changed cosmetically, but the logic is identical.
What the book lacks is depth. There is no real coverage of MySQL tuning, PHP-FPM, NGINX configuration, or security hardening. Once you outgrow the basics, you will need a more technical reference.
Best paired with a beginner-friendly registrar
WordPress To Go pairs especially well with Namecheap or Porkbun. Both registrars have clean dashboards that match the book’s step-by-step tone. Cloudflare Registrar is more advanced and assumes you already know what an A record is.
Who should read this book
Anyone who has never run a website before and wants to understand the full stack from domain registration to published post. If you already know what DNS is and you have SSH access to a Linux server, skip this and read the WordPress Codex directly.
7. WordPress All-in-One For Dummies – Best Comprehensive WordPress Reference
WordPress All-in-One For Dummies
608 pages
5th edition 2024
8 mini-books in one volume
Pros
- 608 pages of WordPress coverage
- Latest 2024 5th edition
- 8 mini-books format
- Self-hosted WordPress.org focus
- Clear explanations for intermediate users
- Well-structured chapters
Cons
- WordPress outpaces print revisions
- Superficial on advanced customization
- Heavy at 1.76 pounds
WordPress All-in-One For Dummies is the reference I keep on my desk. The 5th edition came out in February 2024 and is current enough to cover the block editor, full-site editing, and modern plugin architecture. At 608 pages across eight mini-books, it covers more WordPress ground than any single book I have read.
The mini-book format is genuinely useful. Each book stands alone, so you can read the SEO book without wading through theme development. If you want to understand one specific area of WordPress deeply, you can flip straight to the relevant mini-book.
The self-hosted WordPress.org focus matches our use case. Many WordPress books spend half their pages on WordPress.com, the hosted service. This book is almost entirely about WordPress.org, which is what you install on a Raspberry Pi or a VPS.
Pairing with a self-hosted Pi setup
The book covers installation but does not walk through Linux server administration. Pair it with a registrar that offers one-click SSL (Cloudflare Registrar with the orange-cloud proxy, or Porkbun with built-in Let’s Encrypt), and you can deploy a secure WordPress site without touching the command line.
Why 2024 is the right edition
The 2024 5th edition reflects the major WordPress 6.x updates. Earlier editions are based on the classic editor and older PHP versions. If you buy a used copy, make sure it is the 2024 edition and not the 2019 or earlier printings.
8. How To Create A Website Using WordPress – Best Budget Starter Guide
How To Create A Website Using Wordpress: The Beginner’s Blueprint for Building a Professional Website in 3 Easy Steps (Plus 40+ Premium Wordpress Video Tutorials)
3-step WordPress process
Beginner focused
Plugin recommendations
Pros
- Concise 3-step process
- Excellent for absolute beginners
- Very affordable price
- Good plugin recommendations
- Covers WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
- Easy to follow instructions
Cons
- Video tutorial links are broken
- Some content is outdated
- No mobile-responsive theme coverage
- Light on advanced topics
How To Create A Website Using WordPress is the cheapest way to learn the basics of running a self-hosted WordPress site. At under five dollars, it is an impulse buy for anyone curious about starting a blog. The 3-step structure (register, install, customize) is a clever way to chunk the learning process.
The breakdown of WordPress.com versus WordPress.org is particularly valuable for beginners. Many people do not realize that WordPress.com is a hosted service while WordPress.org is the self-hosted version you install on your own server. This book makes that distinction clear up front.
The plugin recommendations are a useful starting point, though you should verify each plugin is still maintained. The SEO and Analytics introduction is enough to get you through your first month, but you will want a deeper SEO reference once you start ranking content.
Where the book falls short
The promised 40+ video tutorials are linked, but most of the links are dead by now. That is the biggest drawback. Treat this as a text-only guide. The written content is solid, but do not expect working video walkthroughs.
Best paired with a registrar that includes hosting
For absolute beginners, pair this book with a registrar that bundles easy hosting (DreamHost, Bluehost, or SiteGround through Namecheap). That gives you one bill and one support team while you are learning. Once you outgrow that setup, migrate to a Raspberry Pi with the more advanced guides.
How to Choose the Best Domain Registrar for a Self-Hosted Website in 2026?
The gear above is the foundation, but the registrar is the address. Choosing the right one matters because it determines how much you pay each year, how easy it is to point DNS at your Pi, and what security features you get for free. Here is what I look at when I evaluate a registrar for self-hosting.
1. Pricing transparency and renewal costs
The single biggest differentiator between registrars is renewal pricing. Some registrars advertise a $1 first-year rate and then charge $20 per year after that. Porkbun, Cloudflare Registrar, and NameSilo publish their renewal rates up front and they match the registration rate. That is the standard I hold every registrar to.
For a self-hosted site that you plan to keep running for years, a $10 difference in renewal price adds up to $50 to $100 over five years. Choose a registrar with flat renewal pricing from day one.
2. DNS management and DNSSEC support
You will spend more time in the registrar’s DNS panel than anywhere else. A clean interface with fast record editing, support for CNAME, A, AAAA, MX, TXT, and CAA records, plus one-click DNSSEC, is essential. Cloudflare Registrar and DNSimple set the bar here. GoDaddy’s DNS panel is functional but cluttered with upsells.
DNSSEC is a must for any self-hosted site in 2026. It prevents DNS spoofing, where an attacker redirects your domain to their server by poisoning the resolver cache. Most modern registrars support it with one click.
3. WHOIS privacy included for free
ICANN requires every domain to have accurate WHOIS records, which means your name, address, email, and phone number end up in a public database unless the registrar offers WHOIS privacy. Some registrars charge extra for this. Cloudflare Registrar, Porkbun, Namecheap, and NameSilo all include free WHOIS privacy.
If you self-host a blog under your real name, WHOIS privacy is non-negotiable. Do not pay extra for it. Switch to a registrar that includes it.
4. Registrar lock and transfer protection
Registrar lock prevents unauthorized domain transfers. Combined with two-factor authentication on your registrar account, it is the main defense against someone stealing your domain. Almost every registrar offers this for free, but the implementation quality varies. Cloudflare’s registry lock (a paid upgrade) is the gold standard for high-value domains.
5. API access for developers
If you run multiple self-hosted services, an API to programmatically update DNS records is invaluable. Dynamic DNS clients need this to keep your A record pointed at a changing home IP. Cloudflare’s API is excellent. Porkbun’s API is solid. Namecheap’s API works but is slower.
6. Support quality for self-hosters
Self-hosters run into DNS propagation delays, certificate renewal failures, and registrar transfer issues. When those problems hit at 11pm on a Saturday, you want support that knows DNS. Cloudflare’s support is slow but accurate. Porkbun’s email support is responsive. GoDaddy’s support is fast but often tries to upsell you.
7. Which registrar to pair with which gear
For Raspberry Pi 4 and Pi 5 boards running WordPress or static sites, Cloudflare Registrar is my top pick. At-cost pricing, free WHOIS privacy, free DNSSEC, and the best API make it the natural choice. Porkbun is a close second if you want more traditional dashboard layouts.
For ZimaBlade and other x86 home servers running Plex or Nextcloud, Porkbun pairs well because its dashboard has cleaner bulk-edit tools for the many A records that media services need. Namecheap is a solid third choice with mature support.
For the WordPress guides, any of the three above works. Cloudflare Registrar is best for power users. Porkbun is best for beginners. Namecheap is best if you want bundled hosting while you learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which domain registrar is best for a self-hosted website in 2026?
For self-hosters in 2026, Cloudflare Registrar is the best overall choice. It sells domains at cost with no markup, includes free WHOIS privacy, supports free DNSSEC, and has the best API for dynamic DNS updates. Porkbun is a close second if you prefer a more traditional dashboard. Namecheap is the best beginner option if you also want bundled hosting while you learn.
What is a domain registrar?
A domain registrar is an ICANN-accredited company authorized to lease domain names to the public. Registrars manage the reservation of your domain, the DNS records that point it to your server, and the renewal cycle that keeps it active. Without a registrar, you cannot buy or use a domain name.
How do I point my self-hosted domain at my Raspberry Pi?
Buy your domain from a registrar like Cloudflare, Porkbun, or Namecheap. In the registrar’s DNS panel, create an A record pointing your domain (or subdomain) at your Pi’s public IP address. If your ISP gives you a dynamic IP, install a DDNS client like ddclient or the Cloudflare API script on the Pi to keep the record updated automatically.
Is GoDaddy good for self-hosted websites?
GoDaddy works technically but is a poor fit for self-hosters. Renewal prices are high, WHOIS privacy costs extra on some TLDs, the dashboard is cluttered with upsells, and the DNS API is slow compared to Cloudflare or Porkbun. Self-hosters on Reddit consistently recommend avoiding GoDaddy and switching to Porkbun, Cloudflare Registrar, or Namecheap instead.
How do I transfer a domain between registrars?
Unlock the domain in your current registrar’s dashboard. Request the EPP/transfer code via email. Create a free account at the new registrar, initiate a transfer, paste the EPP code, and pay any transfer fee (which usually includes a one-year renewal). Approve the transfer confirmation email within 5 days. DNS records stay intact during the transfer if you do not change nameservers.
Final Verdict: Best Domain Registrar for a Self-Hosted Website Setup in 2026
For the best domain registrar for a self-hosted website setup in 2026, pair the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB with Cloudflare Registrar. The Pi 4 has the headroom to run WordPress, Pi-hole, and a personal VPN simultaneously. Cloudflare Registrar gives you at-cost domain pricing, free WHOIS privacy, free DNSSEC, and the best API for dynamic DNS updates. Together, they form a self-hosted stack that costs less than $50 per year to run after the initial hardware purchase.
If you want an all-in-one kit with no assembly, the CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 Desktop with the NVMe SSD is the premium pick. If you want the best value kit, the RasTech Raspberry Pi 5 8GB Kit has everything you need at a lower price. For x86 fans, the ZimaBlade is a capable alternative. And for anyone still learning the self-hosting ropes, start with the WordPress To Go e-book or WordPress All-in-One For Dummies to understand the full stack before you buy hardware.
The right registrar and the right gear turn self-hosting from a weekend project into a hobby that pays for itself. Pick your registrar for transparent pricing and clean DNS, pick your hardware for the workloads you plan to run, and you are set for years.