Domain registrars are one of those tools you don’t think about much… until something goes wrong. Pricing creep, aggressive upsells, clunky interfaces, access issues, or a client who can’t find their login… Any one of those can turn into a headache fast.
This post is a summary of a Tuesday Toolbox discussion inside The Admin Bar community, where we surveyed over 12,000 agency owners who shared the registrars they use, the ones they’ve left, and the tradeoffs they’re willing (or not willing) to make.
There’s no single “best” registrar here. But there are some very clear favorites — and even clearer reasons why.
The Most Mentioned Registrars
These registrars came up the most in the discussion:
A long tail of other registrars came up as well — often tied to reselling, regional TLDs, or very specific workflows.
Why Agencies Choose These Domain Registrars
Porkbun
The runaway favorite in this thread.
Porkbun came up more than any other registrar by a wide margin — often as the default recommendation when people were asked where they’d move next.
- Simple, no-frills interface
- Consistently low pricing without promo tricks
- No aggressive upsells
- Strong support and client-friendly features
“I moved more than 150 domains away from GoDaddy to Porkbun… not one single issue.”
Karl
Best fit: agencies who want fair pricing, minimal nonsense, and a registrar that stays out of the way.
NameCheap
Still a staple for a lot of agencies.
- Easy interface that clients can understand
- Good collaboration and access controls
- Solid support history
- Renewal pricing is higher than some competitors
Many folks mentioned sticking with Namecheap simply because it’s been reliable — even if it’s no longer the cheapest option.
Best fit: agencies managing many client domains who value familiarity and ease of use.
Cloudflare
The most debated option in the thread.
- At-cost domain pricing (no markup)
- Excellent access controls and DNS tooling
- Makes sense if you already use Cloudflare heavily
The hesitation wasn’t about quality — it was about consolidation risk.
“I try not to put all my eggs in one basket… but I’m reconsidering.”
Jason
Best fit: agencies already using Cloudflare for DNS and security who are comfortable consolidating.
Hover
Loved for its simplicity.
- Clean, uncluttered dashboard
- No upsells
- Free domain privacy included
Hover rarely wins on price — and no one seemed to care.
Best fit: agencies who value calm, clarity, and zero friction over saving a few dollars.
Dynadot
A quieter but consistent pick.
- Competitive pricing
- Good support
- Meets basic needs well
The most common criticism was an outdated interface — not functionality.
Best fit: agencies who want straightforward domain management without bells and whistles.
Notable Mentions
These registrars also came up frequently, often for specific reasons:
- eNom (resellers & APIs)
- Openprovider (at-cost pricing with membership)
- NameSilo
- Spaceship
- dnsimple
- 20i
- GoDaddy (used, tolerated, rarely loved)
Several agencies also mentioned regional registrars for country-specific TLDs or to reduce geopolitical risk.
Patterns We Noticed
A few themes showed up again and again:
- Pricing transparency matters more than promo discounts
- Upsells and dark patterns are a dealbreaker
- Agencies want clients to own their domains
- Delegated access is increasingly important
- Many are actively consolidating after Google Domains shut down
“A domain is often a client’s most important piece of intellectual property.”
Josh
In other words: trust and control beat clever pricing every time.
How to Choose the Right Domain Registrar for Your Agency
If you’re evaluating options, these questions came up repeatedly:
- Who actually owns the domain — you or the client?
- Can access be shared without giving up control?
- What happens to pricing after year one?
- Do you want domains and DNS in the same place?
- How painful would it be to move later?
These recommendations came directly from a Tuesday Toolbox discussion inside The Admin Bar community. Each week, we pick a new topic and crowdsource real-world tools and workflows from agency owners doing the work.
If you want to help shape this library, join the conversation next Tuesday.
Should agencies keep domains and DNS with the same provider?
It depends on your risk tolerance. Some agencies prefer separating them to avoid a single point of failure. Others are fine consolidating everything for simplicity, especially if they already rely heavily on a provider like Cloudflare. There’s no universal right answer — just tradeoffs.
Is it okay for agencies to manage client domains?
Many agency owners strongly prefer that clients own their domains directly, since it’s often their most important digital asset. Agencies may still request delegated access to manage DNS or renewals, but ownership usually stays with the client.
What matters more: price or usability?
Long-term usability almost always wins. A registrar that saves a few dollars per year but creates friction, upsells constantly, or complicates client access often ends up costing more in support time.
Do cheaper registrars raise prices later?
Sometimes. Several people mentioned watching renewal prices closely and being cautious of platforms that lead with low first-year pricing. Transparent, predictable renewals were valued more than short-term discounts.
Is Cloudflare safe as a registrar?
Many agencies use Cloudflare happily for domains, especially if they already use it for DNS. The most common hesitation isn’t security — it’s concern about having “all eggs in one basket.”
What features matter most for agencies?
Delegated access, clean DNS management, predictable pricing, and minimal upsells came up repeatedly. Fancy dashboards mattered far less than reliability and control.
Are reseller registrars worth it?
For agencies managing a large number of domains, reseller platforms can make sense — especially when paired with client management systems. The tradeoff is often a clunkier UI in exchange for better pricing and automation.
Kyle Van Deusen
After spending 15 years as a graphic designer and earning a business degree, I launched my agency, OGAL Web Design, in 2017. A year later, after finding the amazing community around WordPress, I co-found The Admin Bar, which has grown to become the #1 community for WordPress professionals. I'm a husband and proud father of three, and a resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
