Gandi vs Register.com
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Gandi and Register.com.
Quick Verdict
3.2/5
Gandi
0 reviews
2.4/5
Register.com
0 reviews
Gandi is rated higher (3.2 vs 2.4). Free WHOIS privacy and free Anycast DNS (LiveDNS with DNSSEC) on every domain; SSL free for the first year only; the formerly included free mailboxes were withdrawn in 2023 and email is now a paid subscription Register.com registers domains and provides hosting, email, and website builders for small businesses and individuals establishing their online presence.
Gandi French registrar — no bullshit policy since 1999 | Register.com Domain registration with hosting and website building tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.2 (0 reviews)✓ | 2.4 (0 reviews) |
| Pricing model | paid | paid |
| Starting price | From $11/mo | From $5/mo✓ |
| Best for | EU and privacy-conscious buyers with a handful of names who want a principled, GDPR-native registrar with strong free DNS and are willing to pay above-market renewals | Existing customers with legacy domain portfolios here and small businesses who prioritize phone support and single-vendor bundling over renewal economics. |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | eu datacentergdpr compliantapi access | — |
| Visit Gandi → | Visit Register.com → | |
Gandi
Pros
- + No checkout upsell carousel; transparent per-TLD price list with a public A-E volume discount grid (up to 50% off)
- + Free WHOIS privacy, free Anycast LiveDNS with DNSSEC and automatic DNS backups, unlimited aliases and forwarding with every domain
- + Long, mostly reliable track record: registered 1999, ICANN-accredited (IANA ID 81), GDPR-native French jurisdiction
- + Solid automation: public API across domains, DNS, email and billing, plus bulk portfolio actions
Cons
- - Renewals are among the highest in our comparison: .com renews at $38.38/yr, about 3.5x at-cost
- - Included mailboxes were removed in 2023, including for customers who had prepaid multi-year registrations
- - Volume discounts only start at $600 annual spend; small portfolios pay full price
- - Paid email and post-first-year SSL add-ons cost more than standalone specialists
Register.com
Pros
- + Three decades in domain registration — founded 1994, 2 million+ domains under management by its own count
- + One-account bundling of domains, DNS, email, SSL, hosting and a website builder for non-technical owners
- + Phone-based support channel for buyers who prefer calling over self-service
- + Standard registrar mechanics (auto-renew, transfer lock, auth codes, Advanced DNS) are documented and self-serve
- + Reseller/partner program exists for agencies managing customer portfolios ($249.99 account deposit)
Cons
- - Renewals run far above promo rates — third-party checks put .com renewals near $35/yr, the top of the market
- - WHOIS privacy is a paid add-on (~$8.99-9.99/yr) where mainstream registrars include it free
- - Steady-state pricing is hidden behind add-to-cart flows; no public renewal matrix
- - Complaint record is a concern — 2026 comparisons cite a BBB D- rating, billing disputes and transfer friction
- - Advanced DNS (DNSSEC, RBAC/audit) documentation and portfolio tooling lag specialist registrars
Stay in the loop
Get weekly updates on the best new hosting and infrastructure providers, deals, and comparisons.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.