Best Domain Registrars

Porkbun Review 2026

Overall 9.0

Hands-on testing across renewal pricing, WHOIS privacy, DNS tools, security, support, transfer experience, and TLD coverage.

Last updated 2026-05-12Prices checked monthlyHands-on testedTransparent methodology
Verdict

Consistently low renewal prices, free WHOIS privacy, and a clean UI make Porkbun the best all-around registrar for most users.

Score breakdown

CategoryScore (0–10)Bar
Overall9.0
Pricing9.5
Renewals9.5
Pricing transparency9.5
WHOIS privacy9.5
DNS8.5
Security / 2FA8.5
Support8.0
Transfer experience9.0
TLD / ccTLD coverage8.5
Developer tools / API8.5
Beginner UX8.5
Why this score? Consistently low renewal prices, free WHOIS privacy, and a clean UI make Porkbun the best all-around registrar for most users.
Best for
  • Cheap renewals
  • Free WHOIS privacy
  • Email forwarding
Not ideal for
  • Enterprise account management
  • Large premium TLD catalog

Pricing

TLDFirst-yearRenewal3-year costTransferWHOIS privacyChecked
.com$9.13$11.06$31.25$9.13Free2026-05-12
.net$10.41$12.34$35.09$10.41Free2026-05-12
.org$9.92$11.85$33.62$9.92Free2026-05-12
.io$31.45$38.74$108.93$31.45Free2026-05-12
.ai$73.94$82.04$238.02$73.94Free2026-05-12
.co$9.99$28.18$66.35$9.99Free2026-05-12

Renewal pricing explained

First-year prices often look low because of promotional pricing. The renewal price is what you pay every year after that. For long-term value, weigh the renewal price and three-year cost over the first-year promo.

WHOIS privacy

Free, included by default

DNS tools

Free DNS, ALIAS records, DNSSEC, and good UI

Security and 2FA

TOTP authenticator app

Support test

Channels: Email, Live chat (business hours), Knowledge base. We test live channels with timed questions about transfer-out and DNS configuration.

Transfer experience

Inbound and outbound transfers are tested on at least one TLD. Three-year cost on .com at Porkbun is $31.25.

TLD and ccTLD coverage

Wide TLD list with aggressive pricing on many extensions

Developer / API tools

Public API available for registration, DNS, and account workflows.

Pros
  • Among the lowest renewal prices for .com, .net, .io, .dev
  • Free WHOIS privacy and SSL on many domains
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Cons
  • Support limited to business hours for chat
  • Smaller brand recognition than legacy registrars

Alternatives

Cloudflare Registrar
Overall 9.2 · Best for Developers
Namecheap
Overall 8.6 · Best for Small business
Spaceship
Overall 8.4 · Best for Modern UX
Dynadot
Overall 8.1 · Best for Domain investors

FAQ

Is Porkbun a good domain registrar?+
Porkbun earns an overall score of 9.0/10. Consistently low renewal prices, free WHOIS privacy, and a clean UI make Porkbun the best all-around registrar for most users.
Does Porkbun offer free WHOIS privacy?+
Free, included by default
What 2FA options does Porkbun support?+
TOTP authenticator app
Does Porkbun have an API?+
Yes. Porkbun offers a public API suitable for automated registration, DNS, and account workflows.
How much does a .com renewal cost at Porkbun?+
As of 2026-05-12, a .com renewal at Porkbun costs $11.06 USD.

Changelog

  • 2026-04-29: Full review refreshed.
  • 2026-05-12: Pricing re-checked.

Sources