Dynadot vs Porkbun: Which Domain Registrar Should You Use?
Dynadot and Porkbun are both small, domain-focused US registrars with a loyal following among developers and domain investors. Both are ICANN-accredited, both include WHOIS privacy for free, and both price .com at the same figure for registration and renewal. Where they differ is in the size of their catalogs, the DNS features they include and how they handle discounts on newer extensions. Every price below is live from our tracker.
Prices side by side
| Extension | Dynadot: first year / renewal | Porkbun: first year / renewal |
|---|---|---|
| .com | $10.88 / $10.88 | $11.08 / $11.08 |
| .net | $12.52 / $12.52 | $12.52 / $12.52 |
| .org | $7.99 / $11.64 | $7.98 / $11.84 |
| .io | $28.89 / $53.50 | $28.12 / $51.80 |
| .co | $4.80 / $31.20 | $15.76 / $31.20 |
| .xyz | $1.99 / $14.45 | $2.04 / $14.21 |
On .com the two are within cents of each other and both renew at their registration price. The bigger differences show up on newer extensions, where both run first-year promotions and then renew at much higher standard rates, so always check the renewal column before registering a cheap novelty extension.
Transfers
Transferring a .com costs $10.88 at Dynadot and $11.08 at Porkbun, and in both cases the transfer adds a year to the registration. Both set transfer prices per extension.
Catalog size
We track 815 extensions at Dynadot and 636 at Porkbun. Dynadot's catalog is the larger of the two in our data, which matters if you hunt for unusual country codes or niche gTLDs.
Privacy and DNS
Both include WHOIS privacy on registrations for free, and both let you use custom nameservers. Dynadot includes free DNS with DNSSEC. Porkbun includes free DNS management, which it describes as powered by Cloudflare. Both are registrars first, so most customers pair either one with a separate web host.
Which one should you pick?
- Choose Dynadot if you want the widest catalog of extensions and DNSSEC in the free DNS.
- Choose Porkbun if you like its simple interface, Cloudflare-backed DNS and first-year deals on new extensions.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Dynadot | Porkbun |
|---|---|---|
| .com register | $10.88 win | $11.08 |
| .com renewal | $10.88 win | $11.08 |
| ICANN accredited | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| WHOIS privacy | Free | Free |
| DNS features | 3 win | 2 |
| Transfer fee | $10.88 | — |
| TLDs offered | 815 win | 636 |
The Verdict
There is no bad choice here. On .com the two registrars charge almost the same and both renew at the registration price, with free WHOIS privacy either way. Dynadot's larger catalog and DNSSEC in the free DNS give it the edge for domain collectors and anyone who needs unusual extensions; Porkbun's clean interface and Cloudflare-powered DNS make it a pleasant home for a handful of project domains. Compare the renewal column for the specific extensions you plan to hold.
FAQ
They are within cents of each other. Dynadot charges $10.88 to register and $10.88 to renew a .com; Porkbun charges $11.08 and $11.08.
Yes, both include WHOIS privacy on registrations at no extra charge.
Dynadot, with 815 extensions in our tracker against 636 at Porkbun.
$10.88 at Dynadot and $11.08 at Porkbun. Both add a year of registration.
Dynadot lists DNSSEC as part of its free DNS. Porkbun's free DNS is, in its own words, powered by Cloudflare; check its settings for DNSSEC support on your extension.