Home / Domain Registrars /
Domain Registrars · Research-based score

Porkbun

Developer-favorite registrar: flat pricing, free privacy, no upsells.

Visit official site →

Compare Porkbun with another tool →

9.2/10

At a glance

Vendor
Porkbun
Pricing
.com ~$11.08/yr, same price to renew; free WHOIS privacy — check official site
Free tier
Yes
Best for
Developer-favorite registrar: flat pricing, free privacy, no upsells.

Our verdict

Porkbun is what a domain registrar looks like when it respects you: .com at ~$11.08 a year with the renewal priced identically to registration, free WHOIS privacy, free SSL certificates and email forwarding, and a checkout flow with zero upsell dark patterns. No ‘first year $1, renews at $23’ games, no paid privacy, no maze. It has earned its reputation the slow way — named a top registrar by USA Today and recommended person-to-person across the developer internet. The gaps are minor: ticket-based support with no phone line, fewer bundled services than the giants, and a smaller brand. None of that matters for the core job. If you are registering your first domain, start here. If you are overpaying renewals elsewhere, transfer here. It is the default answer for a reason. Scores on this page are research-based, compiled from published pricing and public user feedback.

Pricing: .com ~$11.08/yr, same price to renew; free WHOIS privacy — check official site · Vendor: Porkbun

Scores

★★★★★9.2/10
Ease Of Use9/10
Performance & Reliability9/10
Speed9/10
Value10/10

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Flat pricing — renewal equals registration (~$11.08)
  • Free WHOIS privacy, SSL, and email forwarding
  • Zero-upsell, honest checkout experience
  • Free API and DNSSEC support
  • Wide TLD selection including .io, .dev, .ai

Cons

  • No phone support (ticket-based)
  • Smaller brand than GoDaddy or Namecheap
  • Fewer bundled services (no hosting empire)
  • Interface takes a little learning
📡 On our radar: we re-check this tool's pricing and feature set against official sources on a rolling basis. Last site-wide refresh: 2026-10-02. Prices change fast — confirm on the official site before buying.

FAQ

Is Porkbun worth it?

Porkbun is what a domain registrar looks like when it respects you: .com at ~$11.08 a year with the renewal priced identically to registration, free WHOIS privacy, free SSL certificates and email forwarding, and a checkout flow with zero upsell dark patterns. No ‘first year $1, renews at $23’ games, no paid privacy, no maze. It has earned its reputation the slow way — named a top registrar by USA Today and recommended person-to-person across the developer internet. The gaps are minor: ticket-based support with no phone line, fewer bundled services than the giants, and a smaller brand. None of that matters for the core job. If you are registering your first domain, start here. If you are overpaying renewals elsewhere, transfer here. It is the default answer for a reason. Scores on this page are research-based, compiled from published pricing and public user feedback.

How much does Porkbun cost?

.com ~$11.08/yr, same price to renew; free WHOIS privacy — check official site. Prices change — check the official site for the latest.

What is Porkbun best for?

Developer-favorite registrar: flat pricing, free privacy, no upsells.

Related tools

Domain Registrars
● Tracked

Dynadot

Domain registrar and auction marketplace with sharp renewal pricing.

★★★★☆8.0/10
Read review →
Domain Registrars
● Tracked

NameSilo

Budget registrar famous for cheap transfers and free privacy forever.

★★★★☆7.5/10
Read review →