Moving Away From GoDaddy

[Keral_Patel]

Hello NPers,

I don't know if this is the correct section to post this as it has been a long time since I posted anything.

So here is the thing. I have like 60 domains at Godaddy and the renewals are crazy. (I know buying DDC membership might help but it doesn't as it is not worth buying it for just 60 domains)

So after 15 years of being there I am thinking to move them to someplace else. Where they don't give outrageous pricing and then to add insult to injury put in the taxes++

Currently top choices are

Epik
Dynadot


Any suggestions or updates would be very useful. As I have lost some touch with the domain market in all this years and thought will get best possible advice right here.

Thank You.

 

[Abdullah Abdullah]

Dynadot also has a super generous renewal timeline. Most others are far more aggressive in applying restoral fees, changing nameservers, selling your domain at auction, etc. imo.

Could you please elaborate more on the renewal part?

 

[Silentptnr]

Could you please elaborate more on the renewal part?

Rather than me just pointing out a few differences, I will try to find the expiration timeline for each of the four (GD, Epik, DD, NS). I know for sure that Dynadot is far and away more lenient than any of them. Namesilo might come close. But Epik and GD are the toughest on expirations. For me, it's a bit important because I pay renewals once a month at the end of each month. GoDaddy and Epik starting getting very tough after a week or two. But it would be best to have the actual timelines. I know I posted GoDaddy's a while back somewhere here.

 

[Silentptnr]

Could you please elaborate more on the renewal part?

I know that Dynadot adds no late fees up to 30 days after expiration on .com. I believe that Epik and GD do add them, and I think it is after a week, maybe two.

 

[Silentptnr]

I think with GD and Epik, at 30 days past expiration, your domain is completely gone!

 

[1Darko]

Rather than me just pointing out a few differences, I will try to find the expiration timeline for each of the four (GD, Epik, DD, NS). I know for sure that Dynadot is far and away more lenient than any of them. Namesilo might come close. But Epik and GD are the toughest on expirations. For me, it's a bit important because I pay renewals once a month at the end of each month. GoDaddy and Epik starting getting very tough after a week or two. But it would be best to have the actual timelines. I know I posted GoDaddy's a while back somewhere here.

Regarding the expiration timeline I can say that Porkbun is very cool - Recently I thought I have lost a domain to some error from my side but at the end could recover it at standard renewal at day 39 after expiration - cool
If a domain isn't renewed before its expiration date, it faces deletion if you don't take action. Here's typically what happens at Porkbun after your domain expires:

For the first 10 days, nothing. Your domain will keep resolving as before.

Your domain will be made to stop resolving DNS requests ten days after it expires. It can be renewed at the normal renewal price for the first 29-30 days after expiration. These 29-30 days are called the “Auto-Renew Grace Period.”

For days 30-31 through 36-37, the domain is put up for auction through Dynadot. You may still renew the domain during this time at the standard renewal fee. If the domain is purchased at auction it will be transferred to the winner at the end of this seven day period.

For days 37-38 through 39-40, if the domain was not purchased at auction, it will remain available for renewal at the standard renewal fee.

For days 40-41 through 69-70, the domain passes into the "Redemption Grace Period." The domain is seized by its registry (see: " What is a registry?") and can be redeemed for $120 plus the normal renewal fee.

From days 70-71 through 74-75, it will be "Pending Delete" and can no longer be redeemed. On or around the 75th or 76th day, it will either be released to the public or reserved by its registry.

 

[Silentptnr]

I was speaking with a colleague about this subject and found a good chart so I thought I would share.

Show attachment 152556

Here is a link to the actual webpage:
https://www.godaddy.com/help/what-happens-when-my-domain-expires-609

This is the GoDaddy timeline.

 

[1Darko]

Show attachment 169052
This is the GoDaddy timeline.

Yes, everything done in shorter timelines in comparison to Porkbun

 

[Silentptnr]

As I mentioned, at Epik, 1 day after expiration, the host records are changed. At 15 days, the domain may be gone.

At 15 days after expiration, restoral fee kicks in of $90.

Epik Timeline
Source: https://www.epik.com/support/faq/expired-registration-recovery-policy/

 

[Silentptnr]

Moral of the story......

If you renew your domains prior to the expiration date, you can choose any of the mentioned registrars.

However, if you are like me and renew domains at the end of each month...Do not use GoDaddy or Epik....you will either lose the domain or have a hefty restoral fee.

Dynadot doesn't have that thankfully. As stated, apparently Porkbun doesn't do that either.

 

[Silentptnr]

From my review, it appears that Epik has the harshest expired renewal policy, followed by GoDaddy. The most flexible seem to be Porkbun and Dynadot.

 

[DomainBanana]

For me with 10,000 domains Epik is a very easy decision. Five quick reasons:
- Rob Davis

It seems like any time a thread like this comes up, Epik staff jumps in and tries to turn the topic to Epik while failing to disclose that they're on the Epik payroll.

Please be upfront and disclose if you're getting paid by the registrar you're pretending to review.

There's actually a rule about this on NamePros now.

 

[Abdullah Abdullah]

Moral of the story......

If you renew your domains prior to the expiration date, you can choose any of the mentioned registrars.

However, if you are like me and renew domains at the end of each month...Do not use GoDaddy or Epik....you will either lose the domain or have a hefty restoral fee.

Dynadot doesn't have that thankfully. As stated, apparently Porkbun doesn't do that either.

Thanks, but I thought Epik provided upto 30 days without renewal for Np members? Rob, @Rob Monster isnt that the case?

 

[Silentptnr]

Thanks, but I thought Epik provided upto 30 days without renewal for Np members? Rob, @Rob Monster isnt that the case?

I wish.

 

[Silentptnr]

Thanks, but I thought Epik provided upto 30 days without renewal for Np members? Rob, @Rob Monster isnt that the case?

I can provide specific domain names that were completely gone from my account in less than 30 days.

And a few others that I will let go because I will not pay $90 restoral fee for each.

 

[DomainBanana]

I like NameSilo, Dynadot, or GD.

Leaving GD because of pricing doesn't make sense to me, even with 60 domains. GoDaddy's interface is clunky for sure but managed properly, it's one of the most cost-effective registrars out there.

 

[1Darko]

I like Dynadot, NameSilo, or GD.

Leaving GD because of pricing doesn't make sense to me, even with 60 domains. GoDaddy's interface is clunky for sure but managed properly, it's one of the most cost-effective registrars out there.

I would argue because customers from europe have to pay additional european VAT on top, regardless that GoDaddy is an american company. In my case additional 22% on top

 

[1Darko]

I would argue because customers from europe have to pay additional european VAT on top, regardless that GoDaddy is an american company. In my case additional 22% on top

and Godaddy to my knowledge has no registered subsidiary in Slovenia - Europe - so to whom goes all this additional 22% VAT payment?

 

[Silentptnr]

I like NameSilo, Dynadot, or GD.

Leaving GD because of pricing doesn't make sense to me, even with 60 domains. GoDaddy's interface is clunky for sure but managed properly, it's one of the most cost-effective registrars out there.

I have never found GD pricing to beat Dynadot, Namesilo, or Porkbun. Also, I find that GD rarely runs specials that help domain investors.

 

[DomainBanana]

I have never found GD pricing to beat Dynadot, Namesilo, or Porkbun. Also, I find that GD rarely runs specials that help domain investors.

It would be nice to see more promotions -- particularly promos that apply even if you're in the DCC.

Still, with the discount club, GD offers one of the best values for me in the US.

They also have partnerships with credit card companies that other registrars don't, which makes things even more economical in the long run. Also, they have some nice partnerships with Rakuten, Lolli, etc.

 

[Silentptnr]

It would be nice to see more promotions -- particularly promos that apply even if you're in the DCC.

Still, with the discount club, GD offers one of the best values for me in the US.

They also have partnerships with credit card companies that other registrars don't, which makes things even more economical in the long run. Also, they have some nice partnerships with Rakuten, Lolli, etc.

Gotcha

 

[DomainBanana]

There's also a trust factor.

In my experience, many buyers feel more comfortable buying a domain that's registered at GoDaddy.

 

[Silentptnr]

There's also a trust factor. In my experience, many buyers feel more comfortable buying a domain that's registered at GoDaddy.

My primary aftermarket sales platform is Afternic. I like the consumer confidence GD/Afternic and parking pages lend consumers. But as a registrar, definitely better elsewhere for me.

 

[frank-germany]

Hello NPers,

I don't know if this is the correct section to post this as it has been a long time since I posted anything.

So here is the thing. I have like 60 domains at Godaddy and the renewals are crazy. (I know buying DDC membership might help but it doesn't as it is not worth buying it for just 60 domains)

So after 15 years of being there I am thinking to move them to someplace else. Where they don't give outrageous pricing and then to add insult to injury put in the taxes++

Currently top choices are

Epik
Dynadot


Any suggestions or updates would be very useful. As I have lost some touch with the domain market in all this years and thought will get best possible advice right here.

Thank You.

cloudflare

 

[Rob Monster]

Thanks, but I thought Epik provided upto 30 days without renewal for Np members? Rob, @Rob Monster isnt that the case?

Default grace period is 15 days. It can be extended upon request. It is usually helpful to have the discussion. Abusing grace periods is usually not a sustainable economic model.

For domains that drop into redemption, if we can recover a domain without a fee, we usually will do so without charging the customer. We were the first registrar to offer that for Verisign, for example:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1245398098446295040

As you know, we actually care.

 

[Silentptnr]

Default grace period is 15 days. It can be extended upon request. It is usually helpful to have the discussion. Abusing grace periods is usually not a sustainable economic model.

For domains that drop into redemption, if we can recover a domain without a fee, we usually will do so without charging the customer. We were the first registrar to offer that for Verisign, for example:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1245398098446295040

As you know, we actually care.

Hmmm. Maybe I should call customer service to discuss? Or maybe the chat?