⚡ Quick Answer
Yes, domain privacy is worth it—but you shouldn't pay extra for it. Choose a registrar that includes it free (Cloudflare, Porkbun, Namecheap).
What WHOIS Privacy Hides
Without privacy protection, anyone can look up your domain and see:
❌ Without Privacy
- • Your full legal name
- • Your home address
- • Your phone number
- • Your email address
- • When you registered
✓ With Privacy
- • Privacy service name
- • Privacy service address
- • Proxy phone number
- • Forwarding email
- • Registration date (still visible)
Why It Matters
📧 Spam Prevention
Without privacy, spammers harvest your email from WHOIS. Expect domain-related spam, hosting offers, and SEO pitches within days of registration.
🏠 Address Protection
Your home address becomes public record. This is especially concerning for personal blogs, side projects, or if you work from home.
📞 Telemarketing Calls
Your phone number in WHOIS means cold calls from web designers, SEO companies, and domain resellers.
🔒 Security
Personal info in WHOIS helps attackers with social engineering, targeted phishing, or researching you for other attacks.
Free vs Paid Privacy
| Registrar | Privacy Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | FREE | Built-in, can't be disabled |
| Porkbun | FREE | Included with all domains |
| Namecheap | FREE | "WhoisGuard" included |
| Google/Squarespace | FREE | Included |
| GoDaddy | $9.99/yr | "Domain Privacy" |
| Network Solutions | $9.99/yr | "Private Registration" |
When You Might Skip Privacy
There are rare cases where public WHOIS makes sense:
- • Businesses required to be transparent: Some regulated industries
- • Establishing ownership: Legal disputes over domain
- • Trust signaling: Some argue public info looks more legitimate
- • ccTLDs that don't allow it: Some country codes require accurate WHOIS
For most personal and business domains, privacy is the better default.
The Bottom Line
Domain privacy is valuable, but it should be free. If your registrar charges for it, that's a sign to switch.
Free privacy registrars: Cloudflare, Porkbun, Namecheap
Avoid paying: GoDaddy's $9.99/yr is a ripoff