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How to Choose a Domain Registrar (Cloudflare, Porkbun, Namecheap and More)

What actually matters when choosing where to buy a domain: renewal price (not the first-year deal), free WHOIS privacy, DNS quality, transfer-lock rules, 2FA and upsells. How popular registrars compare in approach, and the mistakes that cost people their domains.

A registrar is the company you buy and renew a domain name through. Lots of companies sell the same .com — the domain itself is identical. What differs is price, honesty about renewals, and how pleasant (and safe) the account is to manage. (What is a domain name?)

What actually matters

1. Renewal price, not the first-year price

A .com for $1 in the first year often renews at $20+ a year. You'll pay renewal for as long as you own the domain. Always check the renewal price.

2. Free WHOIS privacy

Domain registrations are recorded in a public database. Privacy protection hides your name, address and phone number. Most good registrars include it free; some still charge.

3. Security

  • Two-factor authentication on your account — your domain controls your website and email. (Two-factor authentication)
  • Registrar lock on by default, to stop unauthorised transfers.

4. DNS

You can use the registrar's DNS or point the domain at another DNS provider (like Cloudflare). Good registrars offer fast, reliable DNS with a clear editor. (DNS records explained)

5. No upsell maze

Some registrars bury checkout in add-ons: "premium" DNS, site builders, email, SSL certificates (which you get free elsewhere). (How automatic SSL works)

6. Easy to leave

You should be able to unlock the domain and get a transfer code without contacting support. (How to transfer a domain)

Registrar Approach Notes
Cloudflare Registrar Sells at wholesale cost, no markup Must use Cloudflare's DNS; doesn't support every extension
Porkbun Low, transparent prices Free WHOIS privacy and email forwarding; popular with developers
Namecheap Long-established, low prices Free privacy; watch first-year vs renewal prices
Squarespace Domains Took over Google Domains customers Simple, pricier
GoDaddy Biggest, heavy upsells Low first-year deals, higher renewals
Your country's registrar Some extensions (.de, .uk, .au) Local options can be cheaper or required

Prices change; compare current renewal prices for your extension before buying.

Which extension?

.com is still the safe default for most businesses. .io, .ai, .dev and .app are popular with tech products but cost more to renew — .ai in particular. (.com vs .io vs .ai vs .app)

Mistakes that cost people their domains

  1. Letting it expire. Turn on auto-renew and keep the payment card current. Expired domains can be bought by someone else, sometimes within weeks.
  2. Registering it in someone else's name — a developer's or agency's account. Make sure you own the account. (Hand off an AI-built app to a client)
  3. Using an email on that same domain as the account email. If the domain breaks, you can't receive the reset email to fix it. Use a separate address.
  4. No 2FA on the registrar account.
  5. Spreading domains across many registrars and forgetting one.

Moving later is fine

You can transfer a domain to another registrar later (usually adding a year to the expiry). ICANN has approved shortening the post-registration and post-transfer lock from 60 to 30 days, so check the current rule for your extension. (How to transfer a domain)

A sensible setup

  • Buy from a registrar with honest renewal prices and free privacy.
  • Turn on auto-renew, registrar lock and 2FA.
  • Use a DNS provider you like (often Cloudflare). (What is Cloudflare?)
  • Point the domain at your host. (How to connect a custom domain)

EasySpawn works with a domain from any registrar — add a couple of DNS records and HTTPS is set up automatically. See how it works or join the waitlist.

Related: What Is a Domain Name? · .com vs .io vs .ai vs .app · How to Transfer a Domain · How to Connect a Custom Domain

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