Namecheap

✍️ Editor Review

The Optimal Domain Strategy

• Register: Use Namecheap or Porkbun for lowest first-year price
• After 60 days: Transfer to Cloudflare Registrar (lowest renewal at cost price)
• Always: Enable WHOIS privacy protection
• Avoid: GoDaddy (low first-year trap, very high renewals)

What You Must Know Before Registering

Domain costs split into first-year registration price and renewal price—often 2–3x apart. GoDaddy offers .com at $0.99 first year but renews at $21.99. Namecheap is $4.98 first year and $13.98 renewal. Always check renewal pricing. Always enable WHOIS privacy protection, or your name and email will be publicly searchable in the WHOIS database.

Optimal Registration Strategy

The optimal strategy: register at Namecheap or Porkbun for the low first-year price, then transfer to Cloudflare Registrar after 60 days for the lowest lifetime renewal cost.