Namecheap vs. GoDaddy

If you're choosing a registrar for your domain (rather than a host), Namecheap and GoDaddy are the two names that come up most. Both sell domains; they differ in pricing and upsells. Here's the honest comparison.

What each is known for

• Namecheap — a domain-focused registrar known for cheaper renewals and fewer upsells. Also sells hosting.
• GoDaddy — the world's largest registrar, known for lots of add-ons and a low first-year price.

Side-by-side

	Namecheap	GoDaddy
Best for	Cheaper, simpler domain renewals	Familiarity and everything-in-one
Renewal pricing	Generally cheaper, more transparent	Low first year, higher renewal
Upsells	Fewer	Heavy
Support	Decent	Large team, mixed reviews
Hosting	Available, simpler	Available with add-ons

Which to pick

Choose Namecheap if you want a simpler registrar with more predictable renewal pricing and fewer upsells.

Choose GoDaddy if you're already there, want everything in one place, or prefer the familiarity of the biggest name.

The key thing to compare is the renewal price, not the first-year teaser. Domains renew yearly, so the renewal rate is what you'll actually pay. See Renew a domain.

A note on hosting: you don't have to host where you register. You can register anywhere and host with us — see Point your domain.