poll Favorite Domain Registrar Poll

[JB Lions]

Another thread asking about this, I figure let's finally poll it. I remember looking for something like this years ago here and was surprised one didn't exist, since it's a topic that gets brought up from time to time. I picked 20 (19)* domain registrars, all the ones mentioned in the recent thread plus a few others. If your favorite isn't listed, post it in the thread and I'll see if I can add it to the poll. You can pick up to 3 of your favorite, just 1 if you want. I still think Namepros should have a Best Of The Year series

*there is currently a 20 choice limit with polls, but NP can add more if needed. In case I missed some obvious ones.

 

[ivey]

I'm not surprised Godaddy is on top. I spent years watching domainers bash them and was just confused. You can talk trash about hosting or other side products but as domain registrar they were the best to me. Never had a serious issue. And not to forget mentioning, that for years they offered some of the best coupons around.. Even threads here on NP specialzedin that. Now they have a discount club with a yearly fee but thats for another thread. My only concern was their domain control panel... I think it could have improved, as I don't think it was improved to fit domainers with many domains and want to organize them easily. I think this is the main reason why Uniregistry.com may rise in time..because they have a very domainer friendly control panel. And they seem to have decent prices or willing to offer good deals. I'm not yet using them beyond their sales platform DNS, but I'm considering it. As long as prices can be guaranteed...

 

[HUKU]

I'm not surprised Godaddy is on top.

The offering of Godaddy is absolutely terrible, the pricing isn't great compared to their competitors nor is the control panel and the upsells are unlimited but yet it's impossible to be surprised. They have the largest volume in the market place, every one has used them or knows about them and they are the registrar that is closest to the mainstream (with their super bowl ads and what not).

It's just common sense. Don't be surprised if you poll a million people asking them what their favorite soda is and the winner turns out to be Coke.

Now if you were to poll the top 500 domain portfolio owners on their favorite registrar (ie a more discerning crowd), I am sure the results would be quite different.

 

[Joseph Green]

A poll with a question like this is heavily influenced by popularity.

I can't imagine anyone would pick GoDaddy if they ever used Dynadot or Uniregistry or any other domain registrar that is designed sensibly.

Dynadot is the best registrar today. Tomorrow that could change, but today my vote is for Dynadot.

 

[Haris]

Which features of Dynadot and Uniregistry are better than other registrars especially GoDaddy.. other than UI/Design?

 

[ivey]

The offering of Godaddy is absolutely terrible, the pricing isn't great compared to their competitors nor is the control panel and the upsells are unlimited but yet it's impossible to be surprised. They have the largest volume in the market place, every one has used them or knows about them and they are the registrar that is closest to the mainstream (with their super bowl ads and what not).

It's just common sense. Don't be surprised if you poll a million people asking them what their favorite soda is and the winner turns out to be Coke.

Now if you were to poll the top 500 domain portfolio owners on their favorite registrar (ie a more discerning crowd), I am sure the results would be quite different.

1. I didn't say I was surprised; I said I was "not" surprised.
2. NamePros has the best mix of both established and new domainers learning. This is the best hub in my opinion to find the best info on domaining.
3. I spent years buying .com's for 99 cents on Godaddy, so I ain't complaining.

 

[namerav]

Good thought and excellent opportunity to find out industry top registrars. Poll should go on for 3 months and draw conclusion.

 

[Haris]

Thanks for the info.. I have used Dynadot and it's really fast, don't have many domains there due to higher price.. created an account there to receive few domains won at Namepros..

I never found bulk management to be an issue at GD.. but due to pricing I only use GD for domains won at auctions. I use NameBright for all new registrations.

 

[HUKU]

1. I didn't say I was surprised; I said I was "not" surprised.

That's why I said its impossible to be surprised ie no-one else should be either. Enough marketing money will generate interest in anything. What catches my attention is discerning domainers and "smart money".

 

[NetPark]

I think most domain name investors and users have no idea about the new giant in domain industry. With its innovative thinking, with the new projects like Uniregistry Market as well, with excellent mobile application, special discount programs and campaigns, Uniregistry will be the leader of domain industry in the next 1-2 years, no doubt about it. This achievement is the result of best work of Frank Schilling and his team, which are open to innovation and giving importance to quality on business.
In second place I see Name.com with useful UI and weekly discount campaigns.

 

[Raymond C]

My favourite:

Uniregistry - Best looking design platform, clean and minimal, with constant changing of great looking background photos of the global cities. Excellent job done by design team.
Easy to use, great management tool at Uniregistry Market. User friendly in mobile app.
Cheaper domain names than other registrars.

 

[JB Lions]

A lot of these posts are just lacking specifics. New giant, innovative thinking, cheap prices.......... Some people posting GD pricing isn't great. Let's take that. We actually went thru specifics in the GD coupon thread. If you happen to have a few hundred domains and using their club, it's the cheapest. Nobody in that thread came up with anything cheaper. I went thru the ones that had the top 4 votes, reg a .com:

GoDaddy - $8.29 - $8.47 with fee (using their Discount Club) $11.99 without club
NameSilo - $8.99 icann fee included
Dynadot - $10.99
Uniregistry - $10.88, renewal same, when I searched for .com, they also had .link right next to it

So GoDaddy is cheaper for me. For those other 3 and people that use them, how do I get cheaper for a .com? Is there some club, do I need to have a certain number? Specifics. I'm looking to get cheaper than $8.29, renewals also. Or around that area because you need to factor in the price for the Club, which I think I got for free last year.

Also, what are the major things you look for in a registrar, if you were to have the perfect one. Most domains, you buy and they just sit there. You don't need to feed them or take them out for a walk. For me, it's simple, the 3 main things, GoDaddy scores:

Price - A they're the cheapest for me
Service, if I need it - A, have a great rep, fast response
The ease of site - C, it could be better, they change it too often for me. But I can get around and do what I need to do

What else do you look for in a registrar besides Price, Service, Ease Of Site?

 

[DOMAIN ILLUMINATI]

@JB Lions
If possible, please add ALPNAMES Ltd. to the poll (instead of one which still have zero votes).
I am sure this registrar will get votes.
Thanks in advance.

 

[vivaldi]

A lot of these posts are just lacking specifics. New giant, innovative thinking, cheap prices.......... Some people posting GD pricing isn't great. Let's take that. We actually went thru specifics in the GD coupon thread. If you happen to have a few hundred domains and using their club, it's the cheapest. Nobody in that thread came up with anything cheaper. I went thru the ones that had the top 4 votes, reg a .com:

GoDaddy - $8.29 - $8.47 with fee
NameSilo - $8.99 icann fee included
Dynadot - $10.99
Uniregistry - $10.88, renewal same, when I searched for .com, they also had .link right next to it

So GoDaddy is cheaper for me. For those other 3 and people that use them, how do I get cheaper for a .com? Is there some club, do I need to have a certain number? Specifics. I'm looking to get cheaper than $8.29, renewals also. Or around that area because you need to factor in the price for the Club, which I think I got for free last year.

Also, what are the major things you look for in a registrar, if you were to have the perfect one. Most domains, you buy and they just sit there. You don't need to feed them or take them out for a walk. For me, it's simple, the 3 main things, GoDaddy scores:

Price - A they're the cheapest for me
Service, if I need it - A, have a great rep, fast response
The ease of site - C, it could be better, they change it too often for me. But I can get around and do what I need to do

What else do you look for in a registrar besides Price, Service, Ease Of Site?

You compare a discounted price plan with standard price plans (excluding NameSilo).

As for how you get a better price, send them an email. If price is all you are looking for then NameBright might be the best solution.

 

[JB Lions]

You compare a discounted price plan with standard price plans (excluding NameSilo).

As for how you get a better price, send them an email. If price is all you are looking for then NameBright might be the best solution.

Hence be asking if there is some club or number I need to buy to get better pricing, your reply gave no details to that. Do you use one of those other 3 and get cheaper than $8.29 .com pricing? If so, how much do you pay?

*also added club and non-club price

 

[vivaldi]

Hence be asking if there is some club or number I need to buy to get better pricing, your reply gave no details to that. Do you use one of those other 3 and get cheaper than $8.29 .com pricing? If so, how much do you pay?

As for Uniregistry it's just a personalized discount plan, no club fees and fooling around with coupons. I won't disclose my price plan out open.

 

[JB Lions]

Checked out Namebright:

.coms

Namebright - $8.53, $8.03 if you prefund account
GoDaddy - $8.29 - $8.47 with fee (using their Discount Club) $11.99 without club
NameSilo - $8.99 icann fee included
Uniregistry - $10.88, renewal same - you can get it cheaper but you have to email apparently, no public numbers, it's a secret
Dynadot - $10.99, $8.75 if you prepay $500 or spend $500 a year, $8.50 if you prepay $5,000 or spend $5,000 a year

As for Uniregistry it's just a personalized discount plan, no club fees and fooling around with coupons. I won't disclose my price plan out open.

So secret. Doesn't help at all if you're trying to compare. They should have some base number people can look at, and I understand giving special discounts to those who ask or those with bigger portfolios, but nobody is apparently allowed to say. Why? Are you allowed to say if it's cheaper than Namebright or GoDaddy price using the club?

Anybody know about Dynadot? How to get cheaper than the public $10.99? I found it:

https://www.dynadot.com/company/prices_bulk.html

If anybody sees any errors or ways to get cheaper pricing on the 5 I picked above, let me know.

 

[DOMAIN ILLUMINATI]

I give a vote for ALPNAMES Ltd. although it's still not in the poll list (?).

+1

 

[Haris]

@JB Lions I would like to mention that the minimum pre-fund at NameBright is only $15, unlike other registrars where you have to pre-fund $xxx to $xxxx to get a small discount! So whenever you need to register a domain, first pre-fund and then reg the domain, a 3% fee is charged from the pre-funded amount which makes the end price around $8.20/com. A lot cheaper than any of the registrars.

 

[NamesMax]

Missing my personal favorite, Epik.com

 

[Fancy.domains]

I am actually using the 5 ones with most votes. I like all of these.

I have accounts with other players as well, but tend to transfer domains out from them to one of the five mentioned.

 

[carob]

What I have found over the last ten years is stuff changes and sooner or later you will have a problem anywhere, though a good registrar will fix it quickly.

Domainers loved Moniker and it went down the toilet. Uniregistry came on the scene. Godaddy cut out email support and coupons. Internet.bs started charging VAT. Namesilo created their own market, and are my current top choice, with excellent support. But never put all your eggs in one basket.

I'd suggest the poll should be annual. And maybe ask how many registrars you actually use.

I agree bulk editing at Godaddy is hell, and at Dynadot is very smooth.

 

[Domain Wildcatter]

Google Domains.

 

[Bean]

I've only used a few out of that list but Namecheap is hands down my favorite registrar
Seriously, I can't think of a single thing about their service that I would want to complain about.
Coming from Godaddy, I really like how they let me withdraw my earnings from the Namecheap marketplace directly to my Namecheap account balance. Something that annoyingly is not possible with GD unless you buy into their 'inhouse currency' or whatever. This is not that big of a deal but Namecheap plenty little things like that that make for an outstanding experience.
5 out of 5 stars from me!

 

[golan]

I can't imagine anyone would pick GoDaddy if they ever used Dynadot or Uniregistry or any other domain registrar that is designed sensibly.

So true. I couldn't say it better.

 

[JB Lions]

I can't imagine anyone would pick GoDaddy if they ever used Dynadot or Uniregistry or any other domain registrar that is designed sensibly.

As far as that, just a few things.

I don't think I could ever use Uniregistry simply because it's the only one I'm aware of where the owner is literally bidding against me in auctions. So when I'm geting outbid, outbid, outbid, in my head I would be thinking I could be getting outbid with my own money, which doesn't make sense to me. For me to send money off to a competitor, they need to go above and beyond and it would take more than a Pretty (Inter)Face, to do that. Let's say the have the best interface in the world, I myself gave GD a C, but other things more than make up for it.

Staying with them. All registrars look like they have basic pricing available but for bulk or domainer pricing, it's the only one that's not transparent. The other registrars I can find the info, this one, I need to email. If you have competitive pricing, why wouldn't you put it out there? Get out there and compete.

I think people like that Joe Styler from GD is here participating, answering questions, doing a good job with it. I think Uniregistry and the other registrars should as well. If I go back to some Uni threads here, sometimes I see a rep but it's usually, email me. Why not stick around and handle the questions, any issues that come up. Usually if one person has them, other people have them as well.

For some recent posts about registrars that aren't in the poll, you would have to message Eric to get them in, since I can't edit it.

End of day as far as this topic, if you're happy with your registrar, that's all that matters. If somebody is happy with Dynadot or Namesilo, I believe them. Believe me, I'm happy with the one I'm using. I do have some credit from back in the day when I prefunded at Dynadot, so next time I hand reg (which is rare) might as well use up that credit I have. And I might try 1 with Namesilo, just to see.