5 Best Domain Registrars With WHOIS Privacy (FREE) In 2024

When you’re looking to register a domain name, privacy is a big concern. Your personal details are required by law to be listed in a public directory known as WHOIS, which can be unsettling because anyone can find your contact information with a simple search.

That’s where WHOIS privacy comes into play – it keeps your personal info out of that directory and helps protect you from spam and unwanted solicitations.

Picking the best domain registrar that offers WHOIS privacy can be tricky. While many domain registrars offer this feat, not all of them offer it for free.

That’s where I come in.

In this article I am going to review the best domain registrars that offer FREE WHOIS privacy by default or by just enabling from within your account.

These domain registrars are trusted, have million of clients around the world, offer have the best prices but most importantly they offer FREE WHOIS with each registered domain.

Understanding Whois Privacy

When you buy a domain, your personal details are usually up for grabs in a public record. Whois privacy keeps that info under wraps.

What Is Whois Privacy?

Whois privacy, also known as domain privacy, hides your personal details when you register a domain name.

Normally, your full name, email, address, and phone number are listed publicly on the Whois database—a protocol that displays domain ownership.

Whois privacy services replace your information with the details of a proxy, effectively shielding your personal data from the public.

You can just visit websites like Who.is, plug any domain name and check who owns it.

5 Best Domain Registrars With WHOIS Privacy (FREE)

☝️ Keep in mind that there are some Top Level Domains that don’t support Whois privacy. Here’s a list if you want to check out.

Why Is Whois Privacy Important?

Privacy matters. Without Whois privacy, your personal information can easily be seen by anyone on the internet.

This exposure can lead to unwanted emails, telemarketing calls, and even more serious issues like identity theft.

Whois privacy keeps your email and physical mailbox from getting cluttered with spam and reduces the risk of your personal details falling into the wrong hands.

Criteria for Choosing The Domain Registrars

When writing this article, I picked domain registrars that have certain features. For example: privacy options (of course), good pricing, customer support, and ease of use.

Whois Privacy: All the domain registrars in this list offer Whois privacy. This service keeps your personal information hidden from the public Whois database. Not all registrars offer this service for free,.
Registration Cost: All domain registrars in this list have transparent and affordable pricing for initial registration and renewal.
Value for Money: A low price doesn’t always mean good value. The folloding domain registrars offer additional services like email hosting or SSL certificates within their package.
Great Online Reviews: All domain registrars have hundreds (if not thousands) of 5-star reviews and are deemed trusted by the online community.
Customer Service and Support: All the domain registrars you are about to see are vetted by me for their customer support. Their customer support is accessible, fast and knowledgeable.
User Experience: The domain registrars you are about to see have a clear and user-friendly dashboard to manage your domains.
Management Tools: All domain registrars in this list have many domain management features, such as bulk domain transfers, easy DNS management, and automatic renewal options.

My review on each domain registrar will be based on the above criteria.

Top Domain Registrars for Privacy

Here are the Best domain registrars with FREE Whois privacy:

Domain Registrar	Free WHOIS Privacy	Additional Notes
Namecheap	Yes	Automatically applied with domain registration
Hostinger	Yes	WHOIS privacy included at no extra cost
Domain.com	Yes	WHOIS privacy included at no extra cost
Namesilo	Yes	WHOIS privacy included at no extra cost
Porkbun	Yes	Automatically applied with domain registration

1. Namecheap

Best Overall

Namecheap, a leading ICANN Accredited Domain Registrar, is known for its affordable domain registration and hosting services.

🔏 Whois Privacy: Namecheap offers free domain privacy protection for every eligible domain registration or transfer. They have recently switched their domain privacy protection service providers from WhoisGuard to Withheld for Privacy.

🤔 WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHOIS GUARD AND WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY?

WhoisGuard and Withheld for Privacy are both privacy protection services offered by Namecheap. The main difference is that WhoisGuard won’t give out any personal information at all, while Withheld for Privacy helps you share your personal information in the smallest amount possible. [1] [2]

💲 Domain Registration Costs: Namecheap supports numerous TLDs. Generic TLDs like .COM, .ORG, and .NET cost between $10 and $15 per year, cheaper than on many rival platforms^.. Uncommon, premium TLDs like .IO and .AI cost between $30-$80 yearly.

🤑 Value for Money: Namecheap offers excellent value, providing plenty of SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and affordable hosting plans.

✍️ Online Reviews: Namecheap has mixed reviews: a 2.4 from 190 users on HostAdvice and a more favorable 3.9 from over 13,000 reviews on Trustpilot.

👩‍💻 Customer Service and Support: Namecheap offers 24/7 Live Chat or Ticket System for all paid plans. It also has a comprehensive knowledge base with how-to videos and detailed step-by-step guides.

😁 User Experience: Namecheap has an easy user interface where you can purchase what you’re looking for relatively fast.

⚒️ Domain Management tools: Namecheap provides a range of services such as VPN services, website builders, and SSL certificates to help customers build their online presence.

CONS:

Mixed Online Reviews
No Phone Support
Limited Data Centers
Renewal Costs Jump Significantly After Introductory Period

PROS:

Free Whois Privacy
Affordable Domain Registration Costs
Excellent Value for Money
24/7 Customer Support
User-friendly Interface

In conclusion, Namecheap is a reliable choice for domain registration and hosting, offering a balance of affordability, robust features, and commendable customer support.

VISIT NAMECHEAP

2. Hostinger

Best Value For Money

Hostinger is a well-known domain registrar and web hosting provider that offers a range top-level domains. This service adds an extra layer of protection for your private information when registering a domain.

🔏 Whois Privacy: Hostinger provides free WHOIS privacy protection for all supported TLDs. This feature ensures your contact details are masked and safe.

💲Domain Registration Costs: The cost of registering a new domain with Hostinger ranges between $10-20/year. They also offer low-cost domains for only $0.99/year and a free domain with any hosting package.

🤑 Value for Money: Hostinger is recognized for its value-for-money offerings. Their plans are affordable, and they provide a wide range of features.

✍️ Online Reviews: Hostinger has high user ratings on various platforms, showing a positive customer experience.

👩‍💻 Customer Service and Support: Hostinger offers 24/7 customer support. However, they do not provide telephone support.

😁 User Experience: Hostinger’s custom-built hPanel offers is very intuitive and user-friendly. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.

⚒️ Domain Management Tools: Hostinger’s hPanel provides a set of hosting and domain management features which allow me to manage my websites and files hassle-free.

☝️ Just for the record, I host ClixsenseSuccess with Hostinger.

CONS:

No telephone support
Domain renewal prices are higher

PROS:

Free WHOIS privacy protection
Affordable domain registration costs
High value for money
Positive online reviews
24/7 customer support
User-friendly hPanel
Comprehensive domain management tools

Hostinger offers a comprehensive and affordable domain registration service with a focus on user experience and privacy. However, the lack of telephone support might be a drawback for some users (not for me anyway). Overall, Hostinger is a solid choice for domain registration.

VISIT HOSTINGER

3. Domain.com

Most Popular

Domain.com is a popular choice for domain registration, offering a range of features that make it stand out.

🔏 Whois Privacy: Domain.com offers free Whois privacy, a crucial feature for those wanting to keep their personal information private. This is a significant advantage over many other registrars that charge for this service.

💲 Domain Registration Costs: The costs are competitive, providing good value for money. They offer a variety of TLDs at reasonable prices.

🤑 Value for Money: Considering the free Whois privacy and the range of services offered, Domain.com provides excellent value for money.

✍️ Online Reviews: Online reviews for Domain.com are generally positive, with users praising the value for money and customer service.

👩‍💻 Customer Service and Support: Domain.com offers robust customer support, with a responsive and helpful team. They provide 24/7 support via phone and live chat.

😁 User Experience: The website is user-friendly, making domain registration and management straightforward even for beginners.

⚒️ Domain Management Tools: Domain.com provides a comprehensive set of domain management tools, allowing users to easily manage their domains.

CONS:

Some users have reported issues with domain transfer processes
No free email service with domain registration

PROS:

Free Whois privacy
Competitive pricing
Excellent customer service
User-friendly website

In conclusion, Domain.com is a solid choice for domain registration, offering a balance of cost, service, and features. It’s particularly notable for its free Whois privacy, a feature not always offered for free by other registrars.

VISIT DOMAIN.COM

4. Namesilo

Best For Low Prices

Namesilo provides affordable domains with WHOIS privacy included at no extra cost. They aim to keep your personal details out of the hands of marketers and spammers. NameSilo is also an ICANN-accredited domain name registrar and web hosting provider, is known for its low prices and quality support.

🔏 Whois Privacy: NameSilo offers free WHOIS privacy protection for all domain registrations. This feature protects your personal information from being publicly accessible, making it a strong contender for those concerned about privacy.

💲 Domain Registration Costs: NameSilo offers competitive pricing for domain registration. The prices usually start from $0.99 per month, and the renewal rate for a .com domain is $10.95 per year. It’s among the cheapest domain registrars I have worked with.

🤑 Value for Money: NameSilo is praised for its low-cost domain registration and management services. The pricing is transparent, with no hidden fees or extra charges.

✍️ Online Reviews: NameSilo has received positive reviews for its customer service. However, some users have expressed dissatisfaction.

👩‍💻 Customer Service and Support: NameSilo’s customer service is highly rated. They offer support via phone, email, and live chat.

😁 User Experience: A couple of years ago, Namesilo’s user-interace looked like it was forgotten from back in the 90s. After their homepage revamp and gradually their inner pages as well, the process of registering a domain with them became more straightforward, modern and user-friendly.

⚒️ Domain Management Tools: NameSilo provides a robust set of domain management tools. These tools include domain forwarding, DNS management, custom domain parking, and more.

CONS:

Some domain extensions are expensive upon renewal
Mixed online reviews

PROS:

Free WHOIS privacy protection
Competitive domain registration costs
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Highly rated customer service
User-friendly interface
Comprehensive domain management tools

NameSilo offers a range of features that make it a strong choice for those seeking a low-cost, user-friendly domain registrar with a focus on privacy and customer service.

VISIT NAMESILO

Save $1 from any domain you register with Namesilo. Use discount code PAV1.

5. Porkbun

Best For Simplicity

Porkbun provides WHOIS privacy for free, automatically applied when you register a domain. It is also, ICANN-accredited domain name registrar based out of the Pacific Northwest and it has quickly become a popular choice for domain registration.

🔏 Whois Privacy: Porkbun offers free Whois Privacy via Private by Design, LLC, which protects users from public enquiries by hiding their Whois contact information. This service is automatically applied to every domain that supports it.

💲 Domain Registration Costs: Porkbun is known for its competitive pricing. The cost for a .com domain starts at $9.73 per year. All prices include ICANN and any other fees.

🤑 Value for Money: Porkbun provides a low-cost, feature-rich service. It offers free extras such as domain name privacy, SSL certificates, URL forwarding, and email forwarding.

✍️ Online Reviews: Porkbun has received positive reviews for its low-cost, user-friendly service. It has an excellent rating of 4.8 stars on Trustpilot.

👩‍💻 Customer Service and Support: Porkbun offers telephone support from 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time, seven days a week. They also provide live chat support and email support.

😁 User Experience: Porkbun’s domain name search and registration process is simple and straightforward. They offer transparent pricing, both for introductory and renewal rates.

⚒️ Domain Management Tools: Porkbun’s Domain Management page allows you to manage your domains, add more domains to register, and use their newly added web hosting services.

CONS:

Email hosting is slightly more expensive than some competitors.
Web hosting plans are not the cheapest
Does not have 24/7 support.

PROS:

Free Whois Privacy.
Very cehap pricing.
Excellent customer service.
User-friendly interface.

Porkbun offers a comprehensive, user-friendly service at a competitive price, making it a strong contender in the domain registration market. However, it may not be the best choice for those seeking the cheapest web hosting plans or 24/7 customer support.

VISIT PORKBUN

Ongoing Management and Renewal

When you own a domain, keeping your personal details hidden through WHOIS privacy and managing renewal deadlines are key to maintaining control of your online presence.

Keeping Your Privacy Protection Active

WHOIS privacy keeps your personal details out of the public database, which is important for your privacy and to prevent spam.

Make sure that the domain registrar you choose offers free WHOIS privacy and that it doesn’t expire without your knowledge.

Check your registrar’s settings regularly to ensure that your privacy protection remains active and doesn’t turn off automatically.

Handling Expiry and Renewals

Domain renewal is something you can’t afford to forget — if your domain expires, it could be snapped up by someone else!

Stay on top of your domain’s expiry date by setting up reminders or enabling auto-renewal if your registrar provides this option.

Keep your payment information up to date to avoid service interruption. If the cost increases over time, plan your budget accordingly or look into multi-year renewal options that might offer savings.

Remember, staying informed and proactive about these aspects will save you from future headaches and keep your domain in your hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

ICANN stands for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It is a non-profit organization responsible for managing and coordinating the Domain Name System (DNS) and the allocation of IP addresses.

An ICANN-accredited domain name registrar is a registrar that has been officially recognized and accredited by ICANN. This means that the registrar has met certain criteria and standards set by ICANN to ensure the security, stability, and integrity of the domain name system.

To become ICANN-accredited, a registrar must go through a rigorous application process and meet specific requirements, including technical and financial capabilities, compliance with ICANN policies, and adherence to certain operational standards.

If you are not satisfied with your current registrar or if you find a better deal or service with another registrar, you may want to transfer your domain to the new registrar.

The answer is generally yes, it is possible to transfer a domain to another registrar.

Yes and No. Allow me to explain:

After the initial registration period expires, you have the option to renew the registration for an additional period of time.

However, it is important to note that domain registrations are not typically offered for lifetime. Most domain registrars only offer registration periods of up to ten years.

This means that even if you were to register a domain name and continuously renew it for the maximum period allowed, you would still need to actively manage and renew the registration periodically to maintain ownership of the domain name.

What you can do is to register a domain for 10 years and set up auto renew. This way, the domain will be always registered to you.

While WHOIS privacy can hide personal information from the general public, it does not guarantee complete anonymity.

Law enforcement agencies and certain authorized entities can still access the domain owner’s information through legal means

Final Words

So ther you have it. The best domain registrars that come with free Whois domain privacy. These are the on;y domain registrars you’ll ever need.

Cheap prices, great reviews, great customer support and… FREE Whois.

Do you have any other domain registrar to suggest? Leave your review in the comments section below.

Like what you’ve read? Check my other software and business lists below:

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5 Best Domain Registrars With WHOIS Privacy (FREE)