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Ask HN: Most reliable domain registrar

5 points by drndown2007 ↗ HN
My current registrar leaves me with a few concerns, so it's time to move.

I've Googled for "most reliable domain registrar" and there are thousands of hits, many of them just affiliates trying to get you to use their registration link.

The folks at HN are probably more able to judge this so I'm asking here for recommendations. Low cost or ease of web interface isn't what's most important. Reliable (ie can get help if needed, and my domain won't get stolen or lost, or the company won't go out of business) are the most imporant.

Thanks

10 comments

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brianwillis
Marco Arment made a blog post this week (http://www.marco.org/2011/04/14/why-is-it-so-hard-to-be-a-go...) that generated some chatter here related to domain registrars (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2448061). The consensus seems to be that NearlyFreeSpeech.net is the one to go with.
Shooter
Is anyone on here <from> NearlyFreeSpeech? In their FAQs, it says they are not really interested in being a domain register and that their registration services are essentially just a convenience for their hosting customers.

I have thousands of domains, and was considering using them - but I would not be using their hosting services, so it seems moot now...

ra
I have used Moniker, GoDaddy and NearlyFreeSpeech.

NearlyFreeSpeech is the only one I would recommend.

mangoleaf
1and1.com
tnorthcutt
Based on my experience with 1and1 as a registrar and as a host, I recommend not depending on them for anything, ever. They have atrocious customer service. Which is fine, as long as everything works (and if they're just your registrar, things should be fine, most of the time). However, when things stop working is when you need good customer service, and that's the point at which 1and1 will fall flat on their face.
ohashi
I would highly recommend NameCheap unless you're holding hundreds, then Fabulous is the best.
bluecobalt
I've been very happy with moniker.com. I have 73 domains with them. They're inexpensive, I like their web interface, and I've had no trouble with them at all.
[dead] ZackShapiro
Name.com is the best. They have really quick and helpful customer support. Their website is incredibly clean and intuitive and they're not trying to sell you something on every page like GoDaddy does.

I bought a domain name from a guy in Brazil. We exchanged over 100 emails back and forth with the help of Google Translate and when it came time for the guy to transfer his domain, somehow Name.com had a woman on staff who spoke Brazilian Portugese who helped facilitate the transfer.

I'd never go back to Godaddy