Overview
NameSilo is a registrar that built its following among domain investors with plain, stable pricing. Its pricing page promises that renewals never cost more than registration, except for .mobi and special promotions, and all add-ons are free: WHOIS privacy, email forwarding, Domain Defender protection, custom WHOIS records and DNS management.
The retail .com price is $17.29 for registration and renewal, which on its own is higher than several competitors. The NameSilo Discount Program changes that: it costs nothing to join, and anyone paying from account funds (topped up in $50 minimum deposits) gets lower prices, starting at $11.05 for .com and falling to $7.75 at the largest portfolio tiers.
NameSilo's DNS manager covers standard records, but its default nameservers do not sign zones; NameSilo's own blog says to use a third-party DNS provider for DNSSEC and then add DS records in the domain manager. An API is available for bulk and automated work.
Pricing and plans
checked 28 Sept 2026| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| .com retail | $17.29/yr | Registration and renewal |
| .com Discount Program, entry tier | $11.05/yr | Pay with account funds; $50 minimum deposit |
| .com Discount Program, higher tiers | Down to $7.75/yr | Tiers depend on active domain count |
What it does
- Free add-ons
- WHOIS privacy, email forwarding, Domain Defender, custom WHOIS records and DNS management at no charge.
- Discount Program
- No-fee program that lowers prices when you pay from account funds; .com from $11.05.
- Stable renewals
- Renewal never costs more than registration, apart from .mobi and promotions.
- DS record management
- Add, edit and remove DNSSEC DS records for supported registries.
- Bulk tools
- Volume discounts and bulk management for large portfolios.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- Renewals capped at registration price
- All common add-ons free
- Large discounts for pre-funded and high-volume accounts
- ICANN fee included in displayed price
Limitations
- Retail .com price of $17.29 is high unless you use the Discount Program
- Discount Program requires paying from account funds with $50 minimum deposits and excludes transfers
- Default nameservers do not sign zones, so DNSSEC needs external DNS
Who it suits
Good for
- Domain portfolios and investors
- Developers happy to pre-fund an account to save on renewals
Look elsewhere if
- People who want DNSSEC on the registrar's own DNS
- Buyers paying by card for one or two domains, who pay the retail price
Alternatives to NameSilo
| Tool | From | Free option | Stages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare Registrar At-cost domain registrar | $10.46/yr | ||
| DNSimple DNS hosting and domain management | $0.5/mo | ||
| Dynadot Domain registrar and aftermarket | $10.88/yr | ||
| easyDNS Managed anycast DNS and registrar | $20/yr | ||
| GoDaddy Domains Domain registrar | $22.99/yr | ||
| Infomaniak Domains Domain registrar | CHF 13.60/yr |
Questions
What does a .com cost at NameSilo?
$17.29 a year at retail, or $11.05 at the entry tier of the Discount Program when paid from account funds.
How does the NameSilo Discount Program work?
It is free to join; you pay for registrations and renewals from account funds, deposited in amounts of at least $50, and prices drop automatically.
Is WHOIS privacy free at NameSilo?
Yes, along with DNS management, email forwarding and Domain Defender.
Does NameSilo support DNSSEC?
You can add DS records for supported registries, but NameSilo's default nameservers do not sign zones.
Sources read for this page