Our Top Picks
Cloudflare Registrar
At-cost pricing ($10.44/year for .com), free CDN, free DDoS protection, free SSL. No markup, ever.
Best for: Anyone running a website
Porkbun
$11.06/year renewals, excellent human support, modern interface, free WHOIS privacy. Fun branding, serious service.
Best for: Those who value support and flexibility
Spaceship
$1 first year, $9.98 renewals—cheapest long-term. Owned by Namecheap. Clean, minimal interface.
Best for: Maximum savings on multiple domains
Complete Price Comparison
| Registrar | First Year | Renewal | 10-Year Cost | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spaceship | $1.00 | $9.98 | $90.82 | Free |
| Cloudflare | $10.44 | $10.44 | $104.40 | Free |
| Porkbun | $10.37 | $11.06 | $109.91 | Free |
| Namesilo | $11.95 | $11.95 | $119.50 | Free |
| Namecheap | $6.49 | $16.98 | $159.31 | Free |
| Dynadot | $11.99 | $11.99 | $119.90 | Free |
| GoDaddy | $0.01 | $21.99 | $197.92 | $9.99/yr |
| GoDaddy + Privacy | $10.00 | $31.98 | $297.82 | Included |
Prices verified October 2025. .com TLD shown.
The Renewal Trap
⚠️ Don't Fall For Low First-Year Prices
Many registrars advertise $0.99 or $1 domains. But look at renewals:
- GoDaddy: $0.01 first year → $21.99 renewal = 219,900% increase
- IONOS: $1 first year → $20 renewal
- Gandi: Fair first year → $38 renewal (!)
Solution: Always compare renewal prices, not promotional prices.
What to Look For
✓ Green Flags
- Free WHOIS privacy
- Transparent renewal pricing
- Free DNS hosting
- Two-factor authentication
- No aggressive upselling
✗ Red Flags
- Paid WHOIS privacy
- Hidden renewal prices
- Aggressive upsells at checkout
- "Free" domain with hosting lock-in
- Confusing cancellation process
Quick Decision Guide
Running a website? → Cloudflare (free CDN + security)
Want flexibility + support? → Porkbun
Absolute lowest cost? → Spaceship
Managing 50+ domains? → Namesilo (bulk discounts)
Need hosting too? → Namecheap (but buy domain separately)
Bottom Line
The best domain registrar depends on your needs, but for most people: Cloudflare if you want the absolute best value + infrastructure, or Porkbun if you want great support and a pleasant experience. Avoid GoDaddy's renewal trap.
Compare All Registrars →