this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2025
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I want to get some domains for selfhosted stuff, but I'd like to use a registrar that I won't regret doing business with later, both in terms of ethics and potential customer service stuff. Who do y'all like most?

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[–] [email protected] 65 points 2 days ago (6 children)

Top answers from the last 39580202 times this was asked:

  • Namecheap
  • Porkbun
  • Gandi
  • Cloudflare
[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I was with Namecheap for years, and they're totally fine. I am now with Cloudflare because they're a bit cheaper and their API is well supported in various tools, and they also seem fine.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 days ago

I use porkbun and you get cloudflare through them, not sure to what extent, porkbuns just cheaper, I like their ui, straightforward, everything you need on one screen.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Exactly this. Also it annoys me that Namecheap tries to automatically "top up funds" over a month before renewals are due. I think they've always done it but it wound me up enough this year to move to Cloudflare.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

Counterpoint, I quite like this. I’m terrible at keeping payment details up to date, and I’ve got long renewal periods on my domains. The early renewal attempt allows me to get an email that my payment is expired or revoked (due to a stolen card number or something) and I have a month to go correct it.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 days ago (11 children)

I wouldn't buy domains from Cloudflare from a risk mitigation perspective. At work I direct six figures of budget their way annually, but as a free-tier customer in my personal life I don't trust them not to fuck up at some point and lock my account. If I register my domain elsewhere I can bring myself back online by moving the nameservers. If it's registered at Cloudflare I'm fucked.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 13 hours ago

This is the way. Never use the NS of your registrar.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Gandi massively increased their prices 2 years ago.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

For email hosting only. But yes, they are not as trustworthy as they once were

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Another +1 for name cheap, been using em for a decade now. Their deals are stellar and renewal prices are on par with any other competitors usually

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Transferred all my domains from nanecheap to CloudFlare and I'm saving like 1/3 of price on renewals.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 13 hours ago

Moved to Porkbun, saving about the same. The price creep pisses me off.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago

I'll throw in for namecheap. Been with them for a while with no complaints.

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[–] [email protected] 44 points 2 days ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago

Seconded. I switched from namecheap when they raised the price of my domain. I never had a problem with name cheap but porkbin is cheaper.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 days ago

I switched to Porkbun from Namecheap recently because Porkbun is somewhat local.

Porkbun is decent but cheaper if you have a dozen domains too

[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I've always used NameCheap. Can't speak to their ethics, but customer support has been excellent the few times I've needed it.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 days ago

Been using Namecheap for a decade or more now. Great company, no muss, no fuss, just works. The greatest thing is that they're boring as fuck. That's one of the best qualities to have in a domain registrar.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Also been using namecheap for years with no complaints. Boring and dependable.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago

Boring and dependable.

Just like I wish politics were.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (4 children)

In case anyone was wondering:

  • namecheap: US
  • porkbun: US
  • INWX: Germany
  • OVH: French
  • onlydomains: NZ

I personally have been with onlydomains for a decade or so. No complaints.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

Iwantmyname.com ticked almost all boxes last i looked. Hasnt been mentioned yet. https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=false&query=iwantmyname.com&sort=byDate&type=comment

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Pair domains supports ipv4/6 DNS, Dnsmasq, and dynamic DNS. Cheap, 2fa secured and does the job reliably.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I've been with Porkbun since Gandi got acquired. No complaints.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago

This. NameCheap actually responds to abuse reports, as well. Turns out they actually think it's bad for business to allow grifters and con artists to use their services, unlike other major registrars.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

I've been with 1984.is for a couple of years now. I think my domains cost around 12 Euros a year each. Their web GUI works fine and I've never needed to contact their customer service, so I cannot comment on that.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

I use namesilo for everything but my .au domains.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I'm using Cloudflare, because it's quite convenient since I always end up using them as DNS server.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 days ago

They're also slightly cheaper since they don't take any profit from their registrar side, hoping to make it back with other services.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 days ago

I have had a lot good experience with Porkbun.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I’ve been happy with Hover for several years. They don’t bug me and they’re owned by Tucows so they’ve got decades-old staying power.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago

I can't believe they're still around

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Namesilo is quite good - cheap & been using it for 5 years now (coming from namecheap)

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