Registrar vs registry: what's the difference?
The difference between a domain registry and a registrar, resellers and registrants, how registrars actually make money, who sets the rules, and how to choose a registrar.
Two kinds of companies are involved in every domain you own, and people mix them up all the time. Knowing the difference helps you understand prices, rules and who to call when something goes wrong.
Registry vs registrar
| Compare | Registry | Registrar |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Runs the master database for one ending | Sells domains to the public |
| Example | Verisign runs .com and .net | Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy, Porkbun |
| Who you deal with | Almost never directly | Always: account, payments, support |
| Sets | The wholesale price and rules for the ending | The retail price, extras and service |
There are also resellers: companies like web hosts that sell domains through a registrar behind the scenes. And the registrant is you, the owner.
How registrars make money
- The markup between the registry's wholesale price and what you pay.
- Renewals. Many registrars sell the first year cheaply, sometimes at a loss, and earn it back when you renew at a higher price. That's why the renewal price matters most.
- Add-ons: email, hosting, website builders, SSL certificates and paid privacy.
- Aftermarket: auctions of expired domains and commissions on sales.
- Parking: ads shown on domains that customers haven't set up.
A few registrars, like Cloudflare, sell at or near cost and make money from other services instead.
Who sets the rules
- For generic endings like .com, ICANN accredits registrars and signs contracts with registries.
- Every registration includes a small ICANN fee built into the price.
- For country endings, each country's registry sets the rules and accredits its own registrars.
How to choose a registrar
- Compare renewal prices, not first-year deals. TLD-List makes this easy.
- Make sure WHOIS privacy is free.
- Check for two-factor login and a transfer lock.
- Look for no transfer-out fees.
- Prefer good support and a clean, simple dashboard.
Want the history? See the first domain registrar and the story of ICANN.
Questions
Is GoDaddy a registry or a registrar?
GoDaddy is mainly known as a registrar. It also runs a registry business for some endings. For .com, Verisign is the registry.
Why is my renewal more expensive than my first year?
Many registrars discount the first year to win customers and charge more at renewal. Compare renewal prices before you buy.