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Ask HN: No-bullshit UK-based domain registrars

2 points by petecooper ↗ HN
I am looking for a replacement domain registrar. I currently use Gandi, who are based in France. I am happy with Gandi's service, but I am looking for a UK registrar because of Brexit ramifications.

I live in the UK. The current Brexit transition period[1] means I deal with UK VAT for EU purchases, including domains. I pay VAT (sales tax) and can claim it back as a business expense. When the transition period is over, my accounting will be more straightforward if I purchase domains from a UK registrar.

I don't want the cheapest possible service, I don't want endless upselling, or any of that nonsense. I would like to buy domains from a wide variety of TLDs, be able to administer DNS etc from a sensible control panel, and have clear billing so I'm not spending time deciphering things.

Who should I look at? Who should I avoid?

Thank you in advance for advice and feedback.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/transition

6 comments

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jadzia-dev
Why not just use Google Domains? You can just use an UK address and it will charge to the UK, right?
petecooper
I've had mixed results with Google services over the years. I'm a G Suite Partner, and that part of Google has seemingly no awareness of UK VAT at all, so I have to fudge my accounts when payments come in.

Granted that's earnings not expenses, but it does play on my mind.

papaf
I have used Tsohost[1] for a long time. They used to be Daily.co.uk.

For me the big advantage is that you can buy a domain for 10 years.

The control panel is pretty generic but works OK. There is no API to control DNS that I am aware of.

[1] https://www.tsohost.com/domain-names

petecooper
I used to deploy Tsohost for client and reseller sites, they were acquired by GoDaddy and their service is sadly deteriorating.