Name.com vs GoDaddy
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Name.com and GoDaddy.
Quick Verdict
3.6/5
Name.com
0 reviews
3.1/5
GoDaddy
0 reviews
Name.com is rated higher (3.6 vs 3.1). Owned by Identity Digital (formerly Donuts Inc.) since the 2017 Rightside acquisition; not part of Newfold Digital 82M+ domains (about 81M under management as of Dec 31, 2025)
Name.com Domain registrar with website builder bundle | GoDaddy The world's largest domain registrar | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.6 (0 reviews)✓ | 3.1 (0 reviews) |
| Pricing model | paid | paid |
| Starting price | From $13.19/mo | From $0.01/mo✓ |
| Best for | Developers and small platforms registering domains at scale who want a scriptable registrar with bundled privacy and published reseller pricing. | Support-first buyers and domain investors who value phone support and portfolio tooling over renewal price |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | api access | mobile app |
| Visit Name.com → | Visit GoDaddy → | |
Name.com
Pros
- + Free Domain Safe on eligible domains: WHOIS privacy, SSL certificate, and security locks included
- + Documented public REST API with pricing endpoints, plus published reseller tiers
- + Long operating history since 2003 with roughly 3.1 million gTLD domains under management
- + Full registrar toolkit: bulk tools, aftermarket, backorders, DNS management, URL forwarding
- + 24/7 live chat support with ticketing and a broad knowledge base
Cons
- - No DNSSEC support on Name.com's own nameservers — DS records only via third-party DNS
- - Renewal outliers: .info renews at $40.19 and .xyz at $21.19 after cheap first years
- - .com renewal of $20.19 is several dollars above near-wholesale registrars
- - Ownership has changed three times in a decade; current parent is a registry operator
- - Hosting and email bundles are standard fare — buy domains here, infrastructure elsewhere
GoDaddy
Pros
- + World's largest registrar — about 81M domains under management, broad TLD coverage
- + Domain Privacy now included free on eligible domains and on by default
- + 24/7 phone support with local numbers in dozens of countries
- + Strong portfolio tooling: auctions, backorders, broker service, bulk management
Cons
- - Renewal pricing roughly double at-cost registrars (.com renews at $22.99/yr)
- - Intro offers require multi-year purchases; true first bill is far above the sticker price
- - Aggressive checkout upselling of protection tiers, email, and hosting
- - Best domain-protection features (change alerts, lock-down) are paid tiers
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