Overview
Gandi is a French registrar accredited by Verisign for .com since February 2000, and one of the older independent registrars still operating. It offers over 750 extensions, including many ccTLDs that US retail registrars do not carry, and sells hosting, email, SSL certificates and GandiCloud VPS alongside domains.
Every domain registered at Gandi gets LiveDNS, its anycast DNS service with changes propagating in under 250 ms. DNSSEC is automatic on LiveDNS, can be set up manually for external nameservers, and Gandi also offers a free secondary nameserver that accepts pre-signed DNSSEC zones. LiveDNS and domain management are available through a REST API and CLI.
The weak point is renewal cost. In September 2026 a .com was $11.00 to register or transfer but $38.38 a year to renew (US prices, excluding VAT), or $34.54 a year on a multi-year promotion. That is more than three times what near-wholesale registrars charge, so Gandi makes sense mainly when its extension coverage, EU base or DNS tooling matter to you.
Pricing and plans
checked 28 Sept 2026| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| .com registration | $11.00/yr | US prices, excluding VAT, A-rate grid |
| .com renewal | $38.38/yr | Promotion: $34.54/yr for 2 to 9 years |
| .com transfer | $11.00 | Renews for the minimum duration |
| Late renewal | $38.38 | Up to 45 days after expiry |
| Volume grids B to E | Lower rates | From $600 to $12,000+ purchased per calendar year |
What it does
- LiveDNS
- Free anycast DNS for every domain, with updates propagating in under 250 ms.
- Automatic DNSSEC
- DNSSEC is handled automatically on LiveDNS and can be enabled manually for external nameservers.
- Secondary DNS
- A free secondary nameserver that supports pre-signed DNSSEC zones for Gandi domains.
- API and CLI
- LiveDNS records and domains can be managed through a REST API.
- Wide extension list
- Over 750 extensions, including many ccTLDs.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- EU company with long registrar history
- Anycast DNS with DNSSEC and API included
- Large ccTLD catalogue
- Volume price grids for heavy buyers
Limitations
- .com renews at $38.38 a year excluding VAT, far above most competitors
- Prices exclude VAT
- Late renewal up to 45 days costs the full renewal price, and restoring after that costs $55
Who it suits
Good for
- EU teams needing many ccTLDs
- Developers automating DNS with a REST API
- Organisations that want an EU-based registrar
Look elsewhere if
- Anyone keeping a cheap .com for years
- Hobby projects on a tight budget
Alternatives to Gandi
| Tool | From | Free option | Stages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Route 53 Managed DNS and traffic routing | $0.5/mo | ||
| DNSimple DNS hosting and domain management | $0.5/mo | ||
| easyDNS Managed anycast DNS and registrar | $20/yr | ||
| INWX Domain registrar | $15.72/yr | ||
| Cloudflare Registrar At-cost domain registrar | $10.46/yr | ||
| Dynadot Domain registrar and aftermarket | $10.88/yr |
Questions
How much does Gandi charge to renew a .com?
$38.38 per year excluding VAT on US pricing in September 2026, or $34.54 a year on a 2 to 9 year promotion.
Does Gandi include DNS and DNSSEC?
Yes. Every domain gets LiveDNS anycast DNS, and DNSSEC is automatic on LiveDNS.
How many extensions does Gandi offer?
Over 750, according to Gandi's .com page.
Is Gandi an EU company?
Yes, Gandi SAS is French.
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