Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Name.com is a well-established domain registrar and web hosting provider. The company aims to simplify online presence management for individuals and businesses, offering domain registration, web hosting, SSL certificates, website builders, and email hosting.
With over 320,000 customers worldwide, Name.com has built a reputation for reliability and convenience. It continues to expand its services, adapting to the evolving digital landscape while maintaining its focus on user-friendly solutions.
Competitive but not the cheapest. Offers a fair balance between features and cost.
4.0 PerformanceRespectable uptime and loading speeds for most users.
3.8 FeaturesIncludes standard features but lacks some advanced options.
4.0 Customer SupportResponsive but inconsistent. Helpful, but support quality varies.
4.2 Ease of UseSimple and user-friendly interface, great for beginners.
Pros
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Wide range of domain registration options.
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User-friendly interface for beginners.
Cons
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Additional fees for certain essential services.
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Higher renewal rates than initial prices.
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Occasional uptime issues reported.
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Lacks advanced features for experienced users.
Pricing
Name.com offers competitive initial pricing, making it an attractive choice for individuals and small businesses. Hosting plans are reasonably priced, aligning with industry standards, and include adequate storage and bandwidth.
However, renewal rates are noticeably higher than introductory prices, a common practice in the industry but something customers should plan for. While Name.com is generally transparent about its costs, some essential services come as paid add-ons, so users should review their selections carefully during checkout.
For risk-free testing, Name.com provides a 30-day money-back guarantee on web hosting plans, allowing new customers to try the service without financial commitment.
Customer Support
Phone Support
Name.com does not offer customer support via phone.
Name.com provides customer support through live chat, email, and a ticketing system, though phone support is not available. Live chat is generally responsive during business hours, while email inquiries are typically addressed within 24 hours. The support team is knowledgeable, though some responses may start with canned replies before offering personalized assistance. In addition to direct support, Name.com offers a detailed knowledge base with guides and tutorials, making self-service troubleshooting a viable option. While the overall support experience is acceptable, the lack of phone support may be a drawback for some users.
Name.com provides customer support in English.
Performance
Uptime
We perform thousands of uptime checks each day to ensure our reviews are accurate and reliable. The statistics below are based on the uptime checks we have performed in the last 30 days.
Uptime Guarantee
Monthly Uptime
Monthly Downtime
# of outages
Name.com guarantees 99.9% uptime, aligning with industry standards for shared hosting. While this is generally reliable for most users, actual uptime may sometimes fall slightly below this mark, as observed in independent monitoring.
Compared to leading providers, Name.com's uptime performance is slightly below average, with some competitors maintaining 99.95% or higher. While major outages are rare, occasional brief downtimes have been reported. Fortunately, these incidents are typically resolved quickly, minimizing disruptions.
For businesses that require near-perfect uptime, higher-tier hosting solutions may be a better fit. However, for personal websites and small businesses, Name.com’s uptime is reasonable for the price.
Data Center Locations
- United States
For its shared hosting service, Name.com operates data centers within the United States, though specific locations and the number of facilities are not publicly disclosed. This centralized infrastructure is well-suited for U.S.-based businesses, offering potentially lower latency for domestic visitors.
However, the lack of international data centers may be a limitation for businesses targeting a global audience, as localized hosting options can improve speed and accessibility for users in different regions. Additionally, Name.com does not provide clear information on website migration between data centers, suggesting such options may be limited or require direct support intervention.
For those who prioritize global reach or geographic redundancy, other hosting providers with a broader data center network may be a better fit.
Features
Storage
Name.com provides SSD storage across its shared hosting plans, ensuring fast data retrieval and improved website performance compared to traditional HDDs. Their hosting plans come with 10 GB, 100 GB, or unlimited storage, depending on the selected tier.
Like most shared hosting providers, Name.com enforces I/O and inode limits to maintain server stability and prevent resource overuse. While these restrictions are reasonable for standard websites, users with high resource demands should monitor their usage or consider upgrading to a higher-tier plan.
Bandwidth
Name.com offers shared hosting plans with no predefined bandwidth limits, allowing users to handle varying levels of website traffic without worrying about strict usage caps. However, the bandwidth is subject to Name.com's acceptable usage policies. This means that as long as a website operates within fair use guidelines and does not negatively impact network performance, users can continue to enjoy unrestricted bandwidth. Excessive usage that strains server resources may prompt intervention, such as requests to optimize resource consumption or migrate to a higher-tier hosting solution.
For most typical websites, Name.com's bandwidth policy should be sufficient without concerns about overage charges. However, users with resource-intensive sites or those expecting high volumes of traffic should review the company's acceptable usage policies to ensure their needs align with the hosting environment.
Migrating to Name.com
Name.com does not prominently advertise a free website migration service for new hosting customers, distinguishing it from some competitors that offer complimentary transfers. Instead, users are generally responsible for handling the migration process themselves or seeking paid assistance.
While Name.com provides a knowledge base with documentation to assist users, there is no automated migration tool, meaning customers need a certain level of technical proficiency to complete the transition smoothly.
Backups
Name.com provides free automated backups every 48 hours as part of their shared hosting service, offering essential protection against data loss. This is a valuable feature for users who want regular backups without having to manage them manually.
However, backup retention details are not explicitly stated, so users should verify how many backup versions are stored and for how long. Additionally, for those needing more frequent backups or greater control, using a third-party backup solution may still be advisable to ensure comprehensive data protection.
Name.com provides email hosting as part of its shared hosting plans, offering essential email functionality for individuals and small businesses. Their email service includes features such as webmail access, spam protection, and compatibility with popular email clients like Outlook and Thunderbird, ensuring ease of use and reliable communication.
Each shared hosting plan supports up to 100 email accounts, making it suitable for small to medium-sized teams. However, specific details on mailbox size limits and sending restrictions are not explicitly listed on their website.
SSL Certificates
Name.com offers free SSL certificates through Let's Encrypt, providing basic encryption with automatic renewal. For enhanced security, they also offer paid SSL certificates, including DV, OV, and EV options, which come with higher warranty levels and organization validation.
Ease of Use
Name.com offers a user-friendly website with an intuitive layout, making it easy to navigate for both beginners and experienced users. Signing up for hosting is a streamlined process, with clear instructions and minimal friction, though some users report occasional delays in the verification process. Hosting plans are managed through cPanel. Users benefit from one-click installers for popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, simplifying website setup.
Based on genuine customer reviews, expert analysis, and monitored performance metrics.
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