Name.com vs Register.com
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Name.com and Register.com.
Quick Verdict
3.6/5
Name.com
0 reviews
2.4/5
Register.com
0 reviews
Name.com is rated higher (3.6 vs 2.4). Owned by Identity Digital (formerly Donuts Inc.) since the 2017 Rightside acquisition; not part of Newfold Digital Register.com registers domains and provides hosting, email, and website builders for small businesses and individuals establishing their online presence.
Name.com Domain registrar with website builder bundle | Register.com Domain registration with hosting and website building tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.6 (0 reviews)✓ | 2.4 (0 reviews) |
| Pricing model | paid | paid |
| Starting price | From $13.19/mo | From $5/mo✓ |
| Best for | Developers and small platforms registering domains at scale who want a scriptable registrar with bundled privacy and published reseller pricing. | Existing customers with legacy domain portfolios here and small businesses who prioritize phone support and single-vendor bundling over renewal economics. |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | api access | — |
| Visit Name.com → | Visit Register.com → | |
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
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
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