Ask HN: What to factors keep in mind while choosing domain registrar?

10 points by hargup ↗ HN
I want to buy a domain for long term use what factors other than cost should I keep in mind while choosing domain registrar?

12 comments

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[Editing for formatting.]

Ease of use.

Amount of up-selling you'll have to deal with.

If this isn't enterprise production business stuff, it really doesn't matter. They're just selling a commodity. Go with the cheapest one.
The one that's just as likely to screw you over as it is to fuck up something technical?

Yeah that sounds like a good choice.

Not Hover. They store passwords in plaintext, they've probably got some other glaring security issues too.
Their response to requests for DNSSEC support was pretty epicly terrible too.

Basically they used the argument "we are a reseller" (even though they're owned by the registrar) to avoid the rules about supporting DNSSEC, and then relented by saying they could do absolute bare minimum to allow its use on a one-off case for $500 per domain.

This was enough to make me move. I'm using namesilo and couldn't be happier.

I had a similar experience with Hover and DNSSEC. Also, as stated on their site now: 'OK, .cn domains are a bit tricky to transfer. Trust us, we've helped a lot of people through the process. We'd love to help you too: give us a ring at 1-866-731-6556 so that we can sort things out for you. At no charge of course.' ...which is very misleading. They do not offer .cn domain transfers at all. I reported this 3 months ago but they still have not changed the wording as they said they would.
Look for 2 factor auth.
(comment deleted)
I'd be interested in a neutral registrar, who wouldnt comply to random silly laws. Such as impacting freedom of expression, or who would not kidnap your domain.
Management, interface. I have been with some "small-time" regional registrars and some of the interfaces where terrible. Simple tasks become complicated (and sometimes impossible), often I found myself emailing them because their interface didn't have a certain functionality.
Trust, word of mouth from people who used the service before. 2FA a must.

Used namesilo and route53 for awhile now, happy customer.