I’ve considered Porkbun or Namecheap but I want something with strong privacy policies and against selling user data (I think Namecheap claims to in their policies, but their site is still full of analytics). I’ve seen MyNymBox on kycnot.me and was considering getting it, but the two former options seem cheaper. Though, I know some people here are just satisfied with WHOIS protection (which you can get on these two) and use these services anyway.
Thoughts? Any domain registrars you use rarely mentioned around here?
I’ve used Hover for years… and because of that, haven’t really done a modern evaluation of others. But for example, it has private domain WHOIS privacy built in (no extra cost). I’ll be curious to hear what others recommend.
Porkbun also has whois for free. However, I’ve heard stories of users not being able to transfer domains OUT of Porkbun without sending in gov identification. I don’t like that practice, and would prefer if user identification is required it be during the transfer-in/purchase process.
My 3 usual registrar are dynadot, porkbun and spaceship. They’re a regular traditional registrar so kyc should be expected. Using vpn, tor etc when registering is no go there.
Dynadot probably got the most secure panel against breach out there among mainstream registrar. Can lock domain behind a combination of pin, passkey, 2fa totp, email totp, sms. Can’t edit nameserver, or dns record or transfer away the domain if doesn’t met the combination of your choosing. But their panel is busy, settings are all over the place hidden behind multiple submenu. Navigating their panel can be annoying.
Porkbun got the simplest, old school panel. 1 thing i don’t like about porkbun is they’re sneaky about transferring away domain. When transfer away they deliberately delay it by default so it can take the maximum time of icann policy, i think 5 days for the domain to be auto release unless you opt-in for fast transfer, ie manually click a button in the panel to instantly release. Less observant people that doesn’t realised that would wait the 5 days. Confused the hell outta me when i first transfer away from them, thought it’ll be instant by default like dyna or spaceship.
Spaceship got more modern, pleasant looking panel than dyna or porkbun. But they now are owned by a venture capital because their parent, namecheap got bought last year. Enshittification should be expected but its not really a big problem since you’re not locked to a registrar indefinitely, can transfer away domains every 60 days on most tld. Currently my main domain are with spaceship.
All 3 got proper whois privacy for free, and among the cheapest registrar too usually markup just $1-2 on top of what registry charges them. Spaceship i think doesn’t even markup anything, what they charge is what registry charge plus icann $0.20 fee.
Good to know you had the ability to decline before purchase. I was not required to do this when purchasing the domains from Porkbun.
What I don’t find acceptable is allowing users to sign-up and purchase domains with no gov ID and camera verification, then require it in order to transfer domains out. I don’t think the domains should be held as leverage in that circumstance.
Would Cloudflare be dumb for privacy? I heard they sell domain registration and renewal at cost, which would provide a lot of peace of mind for renewals.
Although I don’t know at what point this becomes necessary, it could also be because the chosen TLD requires it.
To name a common one, Germany’s DENIC registry (registry, not registrar) requires KYC to register a .de domain, which registrars have to enforce.
Registrars also are not able to provide WHOIS privacy for these. However, a natural person will not have their name disclosed in the query, but a legal entity, e.g. a company, will be.