Selection criteria
- ICANN-accredited or recognized ccTLD registrar.
- Publicly available pricing on the registrar's website.
- Sufficient public information to evaluate against scoring criteria.
- Available to consumers in at least one of our reviewed countries.
Scoring weights
Every registrar receives a 0–10 score in each category. The overall score is a weighted average using these weights:
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Renewal pricing | 20.0% |
| Pricing transparency | 15.0% |
| WHOIS privacy | 10.0% |
| DNS tools | 10.0% |
| Security / 2FA | 10.0% |
| Support quality | 10.0% |
| Transfer experience | 10.0% |
| TLD / ccTLD coverage | 7.5% |
| Developer tools / API | 5.0% |
| Beginner UX | 2.5% |
Pricing
Renewal pricing is weighted higher than first-year pricing. Many registrars advertise low first-year prices that mask higher renewal costs. We compare first-year and renewal prices separately, and surface the three-year cost (one first-year price + two renewals) for long-term comparison.
WHOIS privacy
We check whether WHOIS privacy is free, what contact fields are redacted by default, and whether opting in requires extra steps.
DNS tools
DNS scores reflect supported record types (including ALIAS / ANAME, CAA, DNSSEC, and DNS-over-HTTPS), propagation behavior, and UI clarity. Anycast network quality is also considered when published.
Security and 2FA
We evaluate 2FA support (TOTP, security keys, SMS), account recovery flows, registry lock availability, and audit log access.
Support
Support is tested with timed live-chat or ticket questions on common scenarios such as transfer-out, DNS configuration, and WHOIS updates.
Transfer experience
We initiate inbound and outbound transfers on at least one TLD per registrar to measure friction, fees, and confirmation timing.
TLD and ccTLD coverage
Coverage is verified against the registrar's published TLD list and cross-checked against the IANA root zone for ccTLDs.
Country recommendations
For each country we evaluate ccTLD pricing, local presence requirements, local payment methods, and local-language support.
Developer tools and API
API scores reflect documentation completeness, scope coverage (registration, transfers, DNS, contacts), rate limits, and stability.
Update frequency
- Pricing: Monthly
- Scoring: Quarterly or after a notable registrar change
- Country recommendations: Quarterly
- Registrar reviews: At least once per year and after major product changes
Affiliate policy
Some links on this site may earn a commission. Affiliate relationships do not determine which registrars are included, how they are scored, or which are recommended. Scores are based solely on the published criteria above.
Corrections policy
If a price, score, or fact is incorrect, contact us via the corrections form. Verified corrections are applied within 7 business days and noted in the changelog of the affected page.