Domains · head to head
Namecheap vs Porkbun
What each costs, whether there's a free plan, and what each is best for, from prices checked on their own sites.
| Fact |  Namecheap |  Porkbun |
|---|---|---|
| .com first year | $11.2825% off, regular $14.98 | $11.08 |
| .com renewal | $18.48/yr | $11.08/yr |
| Transfer | $11.48 | $11.08 |
| ICANN fee | Added on top | Not stated |
| Privacy | Free on eligible domains | Free |
| Checked | Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
| Website | Visit | Visit |
The difference in short
- Porkbun is cheaper for the first year: $11.08 against $11.28.
- Porkbun renews for less: $11.08 a year against $18.48. Renewal is what you pay every year after the first.
- Free with a domain at Namecheap: free lifetime domain privacy, free DNS and DNSSEC. At Porkbun: free WHOIS privacy, SSL certificates, email forwarding and URL forwarding.
- Namecheap is best for the lowest renewal, and a free trial first; Porkbun for simple, flat yearly pricing.
What's good, and what to watch for
Namecheap
- Stellar allows 3 websites with 20 GB SSD storage and 30 mailboxes
- Free automatic SSL, unmetered bandwidth and free website migration
- Imunify360 security included on all plans
- Stellar has no AutoBackup; it comes with Stellar Plus and Stellar Business
- The 30-day money-back guarantee applies only to accounts that did not start with the free trial
- .com renews at $18.48/year after the $11.28 first year (25% off $14.98)
Porkbun
- Same $11.08 to register, renew and transfer: 'No surprise renewals'
- Free WHOIS privacy, free Let's Encrypt SSL and free URL forwarding
- Free DNS management powered by Cloudflare
- No first-year discount on .com: $11.08 from the start
- Costs more per year than Spaceship ($9.98) and Cloudflare ($10.46)
Other domains options
Cheapest first where the prices compare.
Hosting.com
DreamHost
GreenGeeks
HostingerFAQ
Which is cheaper, Namecheap or Porkbun?
Porkbun is cheaper for the first year: $11.08 against $11.28. Prices checked Oct 18, 2026 on each company's own site.
Which renews for less, Namecheap or Porkbun?
Porkbun renews for less: $11.08 a year against $18.48. Renewal is what you pay every year after the first.
What comes free with a domain at Namecheap and Porkbun?
Free with a domain at Namecheap: free lifetime domain privacy, free DNS and DNSSEC. At Porkbun: free WHOIS privacy, SSL certificates, email forwarding and URL forwarding.
What else should I compare with Namecheap and Porkbun?
Other domains options we've checked: Hosting.com ($1.99/mo), DreamHost ($2.89/mo), GreenGeeks ($2.95/mo), Hostinger ($2.99/mo).
Keep comparing
- Namecheap: pricing, free plan and alternatives
- Porkbun: pricing, free plan and alternatives
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- GreenGeeks vs Namecheap
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- Namecheap vs SiteGround
- Porkbun vs Spaceship
- Namecheap vs Spaceship
Built from the prices and facts we checked on each company's own site. We haven't tested either hands-on.How we work