Mind the renewal price: the traps
The advertised price is almost always the first year. The real cost is the renewal — sometimes 2 to 10× higher. Here, on .com, is who plays fair and who traps you:
| # | Registrar | 1st year | Renewal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hostinger | $0.01 | $19.99 ⚠ renews $19.99 | See offer |
| 2 | IONOS | €1.00 | €20.00 ⚠ renews €20.00 | See offer |
| 3 | GoDaddy | $5.19 | $23.19 ⚠ renews $23.19 | See offer |
| 4 | Spaceship | $9.08 | $10.18 | See offer |
| 5 | Cloudflare Registrar | $10.46 | $10.46 | See offer |
| 6 | Dynadot | $10.88 | $10.88 | See offer |
| 7 | Gandi | $11.00 | $38.38 ⚠ renews $38.38 | See offer |
| 8 | Namecheap | $11.28 | $18.48 ⚠ renews $18.48 | See offer |
| 9 | OVHcloud | €14.69 | €14.69 | See offer |
| 10 | Hover | $14.99 | $14.99 | See offer |
| 11 | Name.com | $14.99 | $14.99 | See offer |
| 12 | NameSilo recommended | $16.29 | $17.29 | See offer |
| 13 | Squarespace Domains | $20.00 | $20.00 | See offer |
Spot the rows with the ⚠ renews badge: their renewal is well above year one. Conversely, registrars like Cloudflare (at-cost) or NameSilo keep an almost flat price.
🏆 Our pick: NameSilo
For most projects, NameSilo is the best all-round choice from $16.29 (renews at $17.29, no spike): low prices, free lifetime WHOIS privacy and, above all, a renewal almost identical to year one (no trap). Full transparency: this is an affiliate link — at no extra cost to you, and our ranking stays sorted by real price.
Visit NameSilo →Frequently asked questions
Why is a domain renewal more expensive?
Registrars lure you with a teaser price in year one, then apply their standard rate (often much higher) at renewal. It's legal but not very transparent.
How do I avoid the renewal trap?
Pick a registrar whose renewal is close to year one (Cloudflare at cost, NameSilo). Our comparator always shows both prices.
Can I transfer a domain to pay less at renewal?
Yes: transferring to a cheaper registrar is possible (often +1 year included). It's a way to escape an abusive renewal.
Find your name at the best price
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Start a search →Verified, indicative, dated prices — never ranked by commission. Some "See offer" links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.