question Moving to a new registrar - Please advise

[Mtaly]

I have been using name.com for a very long time. But I decided to end this relationship today :/ due to their unreliable customer service + their high prices compared to other registrars.

I am thinking about the following alternative and need some experts advise, as I look for:

• Well established registrar.
• Strong customer service, 24/7 chat is always my preferred way of communication.
• Security, 2 step verification for login.
• Affordable prices within the industry with free WHOIS - monthly coupons ...etc.

So, I have been thinking to transfer my domains from name.com (5 domains) to:

• Namesilo: I have a couple of domains with them but I do not like their interface especially the mixed modern and classic .. makes me confused.
• Google domains: high in prices but Google is well established and secure.
• Cloudflare: I do not know anything about them, if someone has used their domain registry system please share your experience.
• Dynadot.

What do you think guys?

 

[Samer]

Missed the NP Registrar of the year??

@Rob Monster @epik

100% epik.

Name.com .com renewal too high for me.

 

[branding]

Epik or Dynadot. I personally prefer Dynadot as they're more established and recognised beyond the domainer Industry. Best UI ever.

For full on 24/7 support, especially if you're a frequent NP user Epik is a solid choice. Make sure to contact them to get domainer/Namepros pricing activated for your account.

I could recommend both Google and Cloudflare If you're the enduser for your domains. Great support and security features and those companies will not go anywhere soon. Solid.

 

[7363824]

I agree Epik or Dynadot are probably among your best choices. Also were ranked #1 and #2 respectively in the latest poll for best registrar.

Personally I prefer Epik over Dynadot as they are more innovative constantly bringing new things to the industry. You can get their best pricing before you pay a dime just for contacting them and telling them you're a namepris member (dynadot requires you to spend money with them to earn better pricing). Also I find Epik to have better policies. Such as waiving 60 day locks in most cases upon request. Which I have used before when trying to close a ddeal.And Epiks CEO Rob is much more visible here and accessible if the need arises.

 

[Rob Monster]

Epik won't allow you to transfer newly registered domains within 60 days besides a push which can be done at any registrar that supports account pushes. No registrar allows you to transfer domains within 60 days after registration as per ICANN rules.

They do however lock transferred in domains and pushed domains for 60 days by default, which is uncommon, especially for pushes.

Verified accounts or established accounts can push anyitme.

The thing we are safeguarding against is the unfortunate practice of people who buy domains with stolen credit card and push their names to their victims.

Truth be told, this policy is to protect that kind of abuse. We are very reasonable, but have some simple policies designed to deter crooks.

 

[kalr]

Porkbun

 

[Kassey Lee]

I find Epik's lander with lease option very easy to set up. I just started my first 3-year lease with option to purchase a 5-figure domain. My buyer sent me a contract drafted by his lawyer, but later he was OK with the standard one offered at the lander, and he just clicked the button and started the lease option without any assistance from me. Epik handles the money so it's very easy. I also like Godaddy for its wide distribution.

 

[Rob Monster]

Exactly, Epik is good but very complicated. I always preferred Godaddy or Dynadot

The thing about Epik is that it is a platform. It is actually the most complete domain name asset management platform in the industry.

If all goes as planned, then starting tomorrow, it will power a vast single sign on ecosystem which will be open to partner integrations.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1284221294528147456

So, yes, it is more than a bare bones registrar. A lot more.

 

[Compassion]

Epik.

 

[internext]

Epik all the way. Be sure to request NamePros pricing

 

[tasaki25]

Epik of course !

 

[7363824]

Truth to be told, most registrars don't put those locks in place by default..

Really?? I've never seen one that doesn't do that....and usually they are quite rigid in you have to wait the full 60 days, no getting it released early. (Even Dynadot does...https://www.dynadot.com/community/help/question/cant-transfer)

... Newly transferred domains cannot be transferred to another domain registrar until 60 days after the original transfer date...

So really nothing special there, at least Epik will waive it in most cases if you ask. Most registrars won't (honestly don't know about Dynadot, never tried)

 

[Haroon Basha]

I go with Vox populi ---------------------EPIK.com.
I have transferred nearly 300 names to Epik during last three months.

 

[Steven McEvoy]

I use to be Pro Namesilo... Now I really love Dynadot UI. EPIK is now my 2nd followed by Namesilo in 3rd.

Please stay away from the following:
Network Solutions
Uniregistry
IONOS(1and1)
GoDaddy
My honest opinion

 

[asxforum]

Yes Epik.com the best registrar by far .

Been with the rest Epik is the best .

 

[7363824]

I don't think it's automated once you verified but support will enable it upon request I suppose.

Idk if it's automated or not but Rob PMed me and said it should be on my account, and I did check and it was. It's possible he manually added it first but the way he made it sounds is that it is automated because he was asking me if I had any problems with that on my account.

But add that to the list of things to like about Epik, I mean no other company I've dealt with do I get emails/PMs directly from the CEO. I mean I realize as Epik grows that won't scale well but he has built up a great team to where in almost all cases I feel confident that the team can handle in and in those rare cases for something extreme happens, I suspect he will continue to be available as needed.

 

[thekiller]

The thing I really liked about epik.com is that they have many options for payout, much more than anyone else, PayPal, ACH, Wire, Bitcoins as well as TransferWise. Plus 9% commission on sales is much better than those of GoDaddy (20% and limited payout options).

 

[MarGroup]

Epik / DynaDot.

 

[branding]

Such as waiving 60 day locks in most cases upon request.

Truth to be told, most registrars don't put those locks in place by default.

It's one of the few things I don't like about Epik.

 

[7363824]

Ok, probably misread that

Thing is, Epik is not the only registrar allowing you to transfer again. I recently moved away from some lesser known registrars within 60 days. I know Namecheap allows this.

Not 100% sure about Dynadot/namesilo as I never needed to transfer away again within 60 days. It's allowed by ICANN so who knows?

Fact remains, Epik will impose locks that are not industry standard. Both on aftermarket purchases, transfers, pushes. Sure, they can be lifted (they have good support) but when it comes to a new user (in special) that's something to take into account.

I would still disagree on the "industry standard" pertaining to 60 day locks. Every registrar I have an account at enforces then on recent transfers, including Epik, Dynadot, NameSilo, NameBright, GoDaddy, and Network Solutions.

 

[Kai W.]

I prefer to use dynadot because I'm more focused on the UI experience and dynadot is the easiest registrar I've ever used, faster access, customer support, open (I think they do the best job with their risk controls, although some things still need work).

 

[Rob Monster]

im shook, i didnt even know EPIK had special prices this whole time... so much wasted money i bet lol..

oh well i've already started switching to dynadot anyway, always cheaper and no secret passwords needed lol

We got @turbo funk upgraded to domains at cost. It turns out, he did great -- lots of promo .coms as low as $5.49 when we did a really crazy promo last summer. The big savings with NP pricing is on renewals. So, he got NP pricing just in time because he joined in August 2019 and his renewals were coming up. All is well.

 

[Rob Monster]

Do all namepros accounts get better renewal prices?

If we know someone is a NP member, we adjust their pricing to domains at cost plus enable some other notable benefits like:

- $8.49 .com backorders
- Commission-free escrow for domains on Epik for wire/BTC buyers
- Free domain swaps
- Free portfolio review
- Help with closing deals (time-permitting!)

 

[Haroon Basha]

Epik is a good one, but if you have more than 100 domains I would say Uniregistry, it works with Afternic Premium Network too, so, for me it's the best

Uniregistry is one of the best but the problem with them is HIGH PRICING.

 

[Fadi H]

I recommend Dynadot or Epik.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

Lots of good advice offered by various people in this thread.

I would suggest a couple of things @Mtaly.

1. In your list of points to consider, I did not see mention of selling pluses. Is it important to you that whatever register you select is both Sedo and Afternic premium network partner so your names will get widest distribution possible in the registration path? Your current registrar is, as are a number highly mentioned here, but not all.
2. Is it important if the registrar has its own marketplace? This can be a handy way to close deals fast, or to sell domain names you no longer wish to keep. Not sure if that matters to you.
3. Is there a reason why, as I understand it, you want to move to a single registrar? I understand it is slightly simpler to have one registrar for management, and just get to know one system, but using a few may give you overall better pricing, particularly if you hold several TLDs.

To me Sedo/Afternic and Marketplace are important, so other things being equal I prefer a registrar with good prices and support, but also those factors.

Best wishes in your choice.

Bob