Domain Registrars With Free WHOIS Privacy

What separates the top domain registrars with free WHOIS privacy?

Price and renewal terms do most of the separating. Porkbun scores 9 and costs $11.06, with .com renewing at the same price you paid. Cloudflare Registrar scores 8.7 at $10.44, charging registry wholesale price plus the ICANN fee with no margin. Squarespace Domains scores 7.6 at a flat $20, and Name.com scores 7.5 at $18.99.

Privacy is included across the board, so it is not the deciding factor. What differs is what comes with it. Porkbun bundles WHOIS privacy, SSL and email forwarding. Cloudflare adds free WHOIS redaction, DNSSEC and email forwarding. Squarespace turns privacy and DNSSEC on by default. Name.com has offered free WHOIS privacy since 2022.

Management and support split the field further. Porkbun gives you a clean DNS editor with an API, but support is email and chat only. Cloudflare keeps everything in the same account as its DNS, CDN and security, though you must use Cloudflare nameservers and there is no phone or chat support on the free plan. Squarespace has no API. Name.com offers a full API and bulk tools.

What should I check before buying a domain with free WHOIS privacy?

Scoring weights pricing at 35, privacy and security at 25, management at 20 and support at 20, so run your own shortlist against those four.

• Renewal price: Porkbun renews at the same price you paid. Name.com renews at $18.99. Squarespace charges $20 a year for a .com.
• Checkout add-ons: Name.com adds email and SSL offers at checkout. Squarespace adds nothing at checkout.
• Nameserver rules: Cloudflare requires Cloudflare nameservers. The others do not.
• Support channel: Porkbun is email and chat only. Cloudflare has no phone or chat support on the free plan.
• API needs: Porkbun and Name.com have APIs. Squarespace does not.

Porkbun

Best for buyers who want the lowest full-service price with privacy, SSL and email forwarding included, and a renewal that matches year one.

Cloudflare Registrar

Best for anyone already using Cloudflare DNS, CDN and security who wants wholesale pricing and does not need phone support.

Squarespace Domains

Best for people who want flat, transparent pricing, privacy and DNSSEC on by default, and Google Workspace setup in a few clicks.

Name.com

Best for users who need a full API, bulk tools and a broad TLD list, and can accept an $18.99 renewal.

Porkbun suits buyers who want the lowest full-service price with privacy, SSL and email forwarding included. Cloudflare Registrar suits anyone already on Cloudflare DNS who wants wholesale pricing. Squarespace Domains suits those who prefer flat pricing with privacy and DNSSEC on by default, and Name.com suits users who need an API and bulk tools.