The candidates (and the results) are obviously ones serving domainers in one way or another.
However, there is a number of respected registrars which I would recommend to endusers.
I dealt on various occasions with the following registrars, and had no issues at all.
In no particular order:
https://www.gandi.net
Based in France. Strict EU privacy applies. Backend: it simply works, no need to contact support for any purpose. Advanced hosting and vps addons, developed by Gandi in house and intended to be used by professional users (not a common wordpress or cpanel).
https://www.pairdomains.com (aka pairnic)
U.S.-based. One of the oldest registrars. Had a number of domains there (catched by Snapnames). Zero issues. Good overall impression.
https://easydns.com
Based in Canada. Very stable backend and advanced DNS hosting.
Free speech support, no random "take down" decisions. No ruling from Canadian court = no action:
https://easydns.com/blog/2014/08/29...sending-notices-of-criminality-to-registrars/
(quote begin)
Once again, we are being asked to do (something, we’re actually not sure what this time) based entirely on an allegation which has never been tested in a court of law and has been afforded absolutely zero “due process”. (The domain in question is a search engine that hosts no content).
What it is we’re being asked to do is, in our minds intentionally vague. If you recall, last time the PIPCU came around they wanted us to arbitrarily takedown domains purely on their edict, hijack said domains’ traffic and reroute it to an IP address displaying advertisements for IP lobby approved business interests.
We think this time the intent is not to actually get the domain name taken down, but rather to build some sort of “case” (I won’t call it legal, perhaps the better word would be “kafka-esque”) that we, easyDNS by mere “Receipt of this email” are now knowingly allowing domains under management to be “used to facilitate criminal activity”
(quote end)