I run a small digital entrepreneurs community and asked over 250 website owners to vote for their favorite domain providers.
From that poll and my years of buying domains, I compiled a practical, no-nonsense guide to the Best Domain Registrars you should consider.
A domain is a critical component of any website and will stay with your project for years, so choosing a registrar with fair pricing, reliable support and transparent policies matters.
Table of Contents
- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:34 How the Domain Registrars Are Ranked?
- 03:00 Namecheap — Why is Namecheap my top pick?
- 05:45 Porkbun — What makes Porkbun stand out for price and simplicity?
- 08:17 Namesilo — Why choose Namesilo for bulk & crypto-friendly payments?
- 09:48 Cloudflare — Can you register domains with Cloudflare?
- 12:04 GoDaddy — Why is GoDaddy still so prominent (and controversial)?
- 18:16 Dynadot — What does Dynadot offer for straightforward pricing?
- 20:18 Name.com — Is Name.com a good middle-ground registrar?
- 22:26 Hostinger — Should you get a domain from a hosting-first company?
- 24:46 Google Domains — What are the benefits of registering with Google?
- 27:07 Internet.bs — Is Internet.bs a reliable low-cost option?
- 28:46 NameBright — When should you consider NameBright?
- 30:22 Bluehost — Is buying a domain through a major host a smart move?
- 32:16 Uniregistry — What changed after GoDaddy acquired Uniregistry?
- 33:31 Epik — Why consider Epik for minimalistic registration and leasing?
- 34:36 Conclusion
00:00 Introduction
Choosing the Best Domain Registrars can feel confusing because every company promises low prices and fast support. In this guide I share how I ranked the providers, what each registrar is known for, the services they offer, pros and cons, and my personal experience with each one. All registrars listed here were ICANN-accredited at the time I recorded my research.
00:34 How the Domain Registrars Are Ranked?
I ranked these registrars based on a community poll of over 4.4K members where roughly 250 people voted, combined with my personal experience managing 100+ domains. The result blends crowdsourced opinions (what working entrepreneurs actually use) with hands-on testing — price, transparency, customer support, privacy (WHOIS) policies, and general usability.
03:00 Namecheap — Why is Namecheap my top pick?
Namecheap (est. 2000, USA) ended up as my top recommendation. They support a wide range of TLDs, offer cost-effective pricing and bulk discounts, and provide 24/7 live chat and email support. Most importantly, Namecheap includes free WHOIS privacy (“WhoisGuard”) for supported TLDs and avoids aggressive upsells when you register domains.
What I like: simple UI, easy domain management, reliable live-chat support that uses a changing support PIN to verify account ownership, and periodic discounts (Black Friday, mid-year sales). I’ve managed over 100 domains on Namecheap without negative issues — that level of consistent experience is rare.
05:45 Porkbun — What makes Porkbun stand out for price and simplicity?
Porkbun (est. 2014, USA) is a newer registrar but one of the friendliest: low prices for .com and many TLDs, free WHOIS privacy for supported extensions, free domain parking, and an uncomplicated checkout. They don’t carry huge markups.
What I like: porkbun often undercuts competitors by a couple of dollars on standard registrations. Support through live chat and knowledge base is available, and I’ve used Porkbun recently for new registrations with very smooth results. It’s a great budget-friendly option if the TLD you need is supported.
08:17 Namesilo — Why choose Namesilo for bulk & crypto-friendly payments?
Namesilo (est. 2010, USA) is another low-cost registrar that supports over 150 payment methods — including crypto — and provides free WHOIS privacy and DNS management. Support includes chat, email and phone (during active hours).
What I like: transparent pricing, no hidden fees, and features geared toward buyers who register many domains. The control panel is functional though not flashy, but it gets domain management done efficiently. I still keep a few domains there.
09:48 Cloudflare — Can you register domains with Cloudflare?
Cloudflare started domain registration in 2019 but with an important limitation: you cannot register new domains directly through Cloudflare; you must transfer an existing domain from another registrar. Their unique selling point is that they sell domains at wholesale cost — no markup.
What to expect: support for 200+ TLDs and attractive pricing at cost. Some community members reported slower support at times. If you already use Cloudflare for DNS/CDN, transferring a domain there can simplify renewals and DNS management while minimizing cost.
12:04 GoDaddy — Why is GoDaddy still so prominent (and controversial)?
GoDaddy (est. 1996, USA) is the largest registrar by customer count and heavily advertised. They often lure new customers with deep first-year discounts (sometimes 90% off), but renewal prices typically jump and are higher than many competitors. The checkout flow includes many upsells, so inexperienced buyers can accidentally purchase extra services.
What I like: GoDaddy Auctions is excellent — a powerful marketplace for buying expired and auctioned domains with CSV export and automatic bidding. What I don’t like: higher renewals, fewer free WHOIS privacy offerings, and aggressive upsell tactics. I use GoDaddy mainly for auctions and transfer domains away after purchase.
18:16 Dynadot — What does Dynadot offer for straightforward pricing?
Dynadot (est. 2002, USA) manages millions of domains and offers simple, transparent pricing with no tricky upsells. Support comes via live chat, knowledge base and support tickets. They also offer a Grace Deletion option: a short time frame to return a domain for a small fee if you change your mind.
What I like: ease of use and clear pricing. I used Dynadot earlier in my journey but migrated to registrars offering lower prices for certain TLDs. Still, Dynadot remains a reliable choice.
20:18 Name.com — Is Name.com a good middle-ground registrar?
Name.com (est. 2003, Colorado, USA) gives transparent pricing and bulk discounts. They do charge extra for WHOIS privacy on some TLDs, which I don’t prefer, but otherwise the service is solid. They also integrate hosting through providers like DigitalOcean for those wanting cloud hosting options.
What I like: straightforward service and decent support. What I don’t like: extra fees for privacy on some domains. I keep a couple of long-running domains there out of convenience.
22:26 Hostinger — Should you get a domain from a hosting-first company?
Hostinger is primarily a hosting provider (est. 2004, Lithuania) that includes domain registration with hosting packages and often bundles a free domain with paid hosting plans. They have a large user base and competitive hosting pricing, but community reports mention occasional support and stability complaints.
What to check: if you take a “free domain with hosting” deal, read the terms — sometimes free domains are conditional or the renewal structure changes. I don’t personally rely on Hostinger for domain-only registration, but many community members use them for combined hosting and domain needs.
24:46 Google Domains — What are the benefits of registering with Google?
Google Domains (launched 2014) offers a clean, minimal interface, DNSSEC, email forwarding and one-click setups for products like Blogger, Google Sites and major website builders. They include free WHOIS privacy for all supported domains.
What I like: trust and reliability from Google, clean UX, and easy integrations. What I don’t like: pricing is not always the cheapest compared to Namecheap or Porkbun. I haven’t migrated to Google Domains because I’m satisfied with my current registrars, but it’s an excellent, low-friction option.
27:07 Internet.bs — Is Internet.bs a reliable low-cost option?
Internet.bs (est. 2003) is a trusted, affordable registrar offering WHOIS privacy, DNS and email hosting. The panel feels a bit outdated visually compared to newer registrars, but it provides all necessary functionality and reliable support via email and live chat.
What I like: solid fundamentals and affordability. I used Internet.bs earlier in my career and had no major complaints; many community members still recommend it.
28:46 NameBright — When should you consider NameBright?
NameBright (est. 2003) is another cost-oriented registrar that even sells some TLDs at cost. They support bulk management and can handle very large domain portfolios. The UI is usable but not modern; support is 24/7 via live chat and email.
What I like: bulk discounts and a robust API for automation. I still keep a few domains with NameBright; support can have slight delays but generally works well.
30:22 Bluehost — Is buying a domain through a major host a smart move?
Bluehost is primarily a hosting company (est. 2003) that often includes a free domain with hosting plans. They’re one of the largest affordable hosts, but community members report mixed experiences around hosting stability and support speed. Domain registration through Bluehost is possible, though not always the cheapest.
What to check: read the terms of any “free domain with hosting” promotion and consider whether you want hosting and domain tied together or prefer separate vendors.
32:16 Uniregistry — What changed after GoDaddy acquired Uniregistry?
Uniregistry (est. 2012, acquired by GoDaddy in 2020) started as a modern startup registrar. Prices are reasonable, they support bulk discounts, and the interface remained familiar after acquisition. They do charge extra for WHOIS privacy on some TLDs.
What I like: I used Uniregistry before the acquisition and found purchasing .us domains attractive. If you dislike GoDaddy, note that Uniregistry is owned by them now, but the user experience hasn’t dramatically changed.
33:31 Epik — Why consider Epik for minimalistic registration and leasing?
Epik (est. 2009, USA) offers a minimal interface, free WHOIS privacy, domain leasing services and hosting. It has strong reviews among some community members and supports email, phone and chat for support.
What I like: clean checkout and free privacy. I haven’t used Epik extensively yet, but it’s worth checking for minimalistic domain purchases and leasing options.
34:36 Conclusion
From my combined poll and hands-on experience, Namecheap, Porkbun and Namesilo consistently stood out for price, transparency and free privacy. Cloudflare is attractive if you want cost-price renewals and already rely on their DNS, while GoDaddy remains useful mainly for auctions. Hosting companies like Hostinger and Bluehost are convenient if you want a bundled hosting + domain option, but always read the fine print on promotions and renewals.
My personal short-list for everyday use: Namecheap and Porkbun for registrations, Namesilo when I need bulk features or unusual payment options, Cloudflare when I want domains at cost and already use their DNS. I hope this guide helps you pick the Best Domain Registrars for your next project.
Which registrars in this list include free WHOIS privacy by default?
Namecheap, Porkbun, Namesilo and Epik include free WHOIS privacy for supported TLDs. Google Domains also provides free privacy. Always double-check the specific TLD, since not all extensions support WHOIS privacy.
Can I register a brand new domain directly with Cloudflare?
No. Cloudflare currently only accepts domain transfers from other registrars — you cannot register new domains directly through Cloudflare. Their advantage is selling domains at wholesale cost once you transfer.
Why are domain renewal prices higher at GoDaddy?
GoDaddy commonly offers steep first-year discounts to attract new customers, then renews at a higher standard rate. They also present many upsells at checkout, so inexperienced buyers may pay more than expected. Always check renewal pricing before you buy.
Should I buy a domain from a web host when they offer a free domain with hosting?
Bundled free domains can be a good deal if you actually need hosting and the bundle terms make sense. But check renewal costs and whether the domain is tied to the hosting account — you may prefer registering domains separately for portability and control.
How did you combine community votes and personal experience to rank these registrars?
I ran a poll in a community of 4.4K digital entrepreneurs and collected ~250 votes, then combined those votes with my hands-on experience managing over 100 domains. Rankings considered price, transparency, WHOIS privacy, support quality and overall ease-of-use.
