NameCheap Review 2021

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about the name: Namecheap is most recognized for being a cheap alternative to domain names. While the firm specializes in domain registration and management, it also offers web hosting services, making it a one-stop-shop for your website development needs.

The company was established in 2000 and got acclaim for selling domains at a bargain. Today, they maintain over 14 million domain names and have 3 million+ clients. Richard Kirkendall, the founder of NameCheap, believed that internet users should be able to get inexpensive domain names with outstanding service. This idea has remained valid in the business today.

Namecheap also makes building your website easy. If you need to build a new site, you can do so with one of their site-building apps, and if you already have a website, you can move it over to Namecheap for the low price of free!

In this review, we will go over the domain name registration process, web hosting options, renewal prices, hosting apps, and more. Read on to learn everything you need to know about Namecheap!

What’s on This Page

NameCheap logo

NameCheap

4.25/5

  • Cheap domains and shared hosting
  • Highly Secure
  • Very easy to use

Who should use NameCheap?

You should use Namecheap if you want to get your hands on a lot of domain names, and you don’t want to pay the prices that some other domain registrar’s offer. While the first year for domain names are more affordable than Namecheap’s competitors, it’s important to note that there will be higher renewal rates. That said, the renewal rates at Namecheap are among the best in the industry.

The company also offers web hosting services, so if you have needs past just securing the domain name, you can get it all done in one place. There are several hosting options to choose from and free apps to build your website.

Is NameCheap good for small businesses?

When determining if something is good for your business, you should always do your own research. Take time to understand your business needs, and then weigh those needs against the product’s offerings.

Namecheap is cheap and cheerful in the beginning, but when you start experiencing renewal fees and see promotional prices fall by the wayside, you might start to think that one of Namecheap’s budget-friendly competitors, like Bluehost, could be better for your business in the long term.

Regardless, the service still provides feature-rich options for the budget-conscious, and it’s a great starting place for a startup or small business.

NameCheap Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Free WordPress migration
  • Customer support
  • Free domain privacy
  • 30-day money back guarantee

Cons

  • Renewal rates
  • Downtime issues
  • Lack of datacenters

How is security implemented by NameCheap?

Namecheap has a plethora of security offerings including hardware and software firewalls, SSL certificates and virus scanners. Namecheap creates its own backups of your site which you can gain access to on request. It also provides “Leech Protect” which will allow you to set a maximum number of logins that can occur in a 2-hour period. It also offers “CodeGuard” which provides monitoring, backup and restoration services.

On their website, Namecheap writes, “[…] while we at Namecheap are renowned for providing affordable domain names, security is very important to us. That’s why we provide a host of services to keep your domain name safe, including SSL certificates, 2-factor verification, and more importantly, free domain privacy protection, for life.”

Our Rating Process

Choosing your domain registrar and hosting service is an important decision. We evaluated Namecheap based on features, price, customer service, and user experience so you can make the best decision based on your needs.

Features – 4/5

Namecheap comes with a plethora of features to get started on your website journey. The service guarantees 100% uptime, and if this isn’t achieved, you get credits! The pages load quickly which is very important for any online business, and all plans back up at least twice a week.

If you already have a website, the service offers free migration to their platform. And for new accounts, they offer free email accounts.
One of the features that a lot of Namecheap users like is Softaculous, this is a tool that lets you install software to extend the features of your website. Some features you can install with Softaculous are Polls, surveys, web-based games, blogs, live chats, and e-commerce tools.

Price – 5/5

Although Namecheap has the word cheap in its name, that doesn’t mean it’s free! When compared to some of its competitors though it’s clear that it is much more affordable. They even have some domains for as low as $0.99.

Web hosting is a little more expensive than domain names, but still very affordable when compared to competitors. All shared hosting plans come with unmetered bandwidth, a free website builder, domain name, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. So if you decide you don’t like it, you can always get your money back.

Customer Service – 4/5

If you get stuck on your website journey, you’ll have to venture off to Namecheap’s help center. There is an extensive knowledge base, where you’ll find hundreds of how-to guides that answer everything from beginner questions to more expert level how-tos.

The live chat and ticket system is available 24/7, but if you’re someone who requires telephone support, you’re out of luck because Namecheap does not offer this service.

User Experience – 4/5

Namecheap’s user experience is relatively simple to navigate for beginners. The drag-and-drop website builder along with the extensive knowledge base make it so almost anyone can build their own website.

This is a great option for small businesses and startups, but once all the deals run their course, and you’re paying full price, you might find yourself looking for another option.

Package Comparison

Product Details

Stellar

Stellar Plus

Stellar Business

Price per month

$3.55

$6.02

$10.96

Domain name

Yes

Yes

Yes

Unlimited websites

No (3 websites)

Yes

Yes

Free CDN

Yes

Yes

Yes

Auto Backup

No

Yes

Yes

SSD

20 GB

Unmetered

50 GB

Technical / Product Details

Product Details

Specs

Supported Languages

C/C++, Perl, Java, PHP, ASP, Visual Basic

Compatibility

Android 2.3+, Apple iOS 3.0+, Blackberry 5.0+, Chrome OS, Windows 7+

Restricted countries

N/A

Customer support

24/7 live chat, knowledge base, ticket support

Hosting plans

Shared, WordPress, VPS, Reseller, Private Email and dedicated hosting

Apps

100+ apps with 1 click install, including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does NameCheap DNS take?

Namecheap’s DNS propagation can take 24-48 hours. This period is the duration it takes for the nameservers of a domain to update.

How do I connect a NameCheap domain to Shopify?

When you create a store on Shopify, it is automatically assigned a Shopify domain. To make your store accessible on your Namecheap domain, you need to:

  1. Add the domain to your Shopify account
  2. Set up the necessary records for your root domain in your Namecheap account
  3. After you’ve connected your domain to your Shopify store, you can use Namecheap’s Shopify DNS template or add A and CNAME records.

Find more information here: https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/9848/2208/how-to-point-a-domain-to-shopify/

How to transfer an existing domain to NameCheap?

First you’ll have to verify that your domain is eligible for transfer. For most domains, to be eligible, the domain must have been registered or transferred at least 60 days ago; and the domain must be unlocked at the current registrar.

After you verify that your domain is eligible for transfer, you can purchase the transfer at Namecheap. Find more instructions here: https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/255/83/how-do-i-transfer-my-existing-domain-to-namecheap/

What is premium DNS on NameCheap?

PremiumDNS is NameCheap’s new globally available DNS service which provides a 100% service level agreement for DNS resolution. PremiumDNS can be used with any domain registered at any registrar. This is one of the most cost-effective high performance DNS services.

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