Our verdict
Both are excellent low-cost registrars and the price difference is small. Choose Porkbun for its proven track record and free extras; choose Spaceship if you prefer its interface or can use a first-year promotion. Either is a better long-term deal than registrars that rely on high renewal prices.
Spaceship and Porkbun are two of the cheapest reputable domain registrars, and both include free WHOIS privacy. Porkbun is the established favourite among developers and small businesses for low, honest pricing. Spaceship is a newer registrar from the founder of Namecheap with a modern interface and similarly low prices.
Choose Spaceship if…
- You want a modern, fast interface
- You like frequent first-year promotions
- You may add email or hosting from the same provider
- You are moving domains from Namecheap
Choose Porkbun if…
- You want a long track record of low, transparent pricing
- You value free extras such as email forwarding and SSL
- You manage many domains and want bulk tools
- You want a registrar with a strong developer following
Side by side
| Criterion | Spaceship | Porkbun |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.1 / 10 | 8.4 / 10 |
| Features & fit | 7.6 | 7.8 |
| Ease of use | 8.8 | 9.0 |
| Value for money | 9.2 | 9.4 |
| Support & reliability | 7.6 | 8.0 |
| Security & privacy | 8.2 | 8.6 |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 7.0 | 7.2 |
| Starting price (indicative) | .com about $9.68 / year; renews $10.88 | Around $10–11 / year for .com |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Best for | Buyers wanting low renewal prices | Small businesses and individuals |
Feature by feature
| Feature | Spaceship | Porkbun |
|---|---|---|
| .com first year (indicative) | ~$9.68 (promos often lower) | ~$10–11 |
| .com renewal (indicative) | $10.88 | ~$10–11 |
| WHOIS privacy | Free | Free |
| Email forwarding | Yes | Yes |
| Free SSL | Via hosting add-ons | Yes |
| DNS | Free | Free |
| Track record | Newer | Established |
Pricing compared
Spaceship
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| .com domain | ≈ $10.88 / yr | Renewal; ~$9.68 first year |
Porkbun
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| .com | ≈ $11.08 / mo | Per year, indicative |
Indicative USD list prices; excludes tax, add-ons and promotions. Confirm on each vendor’s site.
Price
Spaceship lists .com at about $9.68 to register and $10.88 a year to renew, with promo codes often lowering the first year. Porkbun's .com is around $10–11 a year. Over several years the difference is usually under a dollar a year.
Privacy and extras
Both include free WHOIS privacy. Porkbun includes email forwarding, free SSL certificates and URL forwarding. Spaceship includes free DNS and forwarding, with paid email and hosting add-ons.
Interface
Spaceship's interface is new and fast, with clean search and management. Porkbun's interface is playful but practical, with good bulk management for larger portfolios.
Track record
Porkbun has operated for years with a strong reputation. Spaceship is newer, though its team has deep registrar experience from Namecheap.
Pros & cons
Spaceship
- Low registration and renewal prices
- Free WHOIS privacy
- Clean, fast interface
- Newer company
- Add-on services still maturing
Porkbun
- Low renewals
- Free WHOIS privacy and SSL
- Clean interface
- Basic DNS features
- Limited add-on services
Key features of each
Spaceship
- Domain search. Fast search and bulk registration.
- DNS. Free DNS with presets.
- Privacy. Free WHOIS privacy.
- Add-ons. Email, hosting and site builder options.
Integrates with: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Cloudflare.
Porkbun
- Free WHOIS privacy. Hide personal details.
- Free SSL. Certificates included.
- DNS. Easy record management.
- URL forwarding. Simple redirects.
Integrates with: Cloudflare, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365.
Who should avoid each
Skip Spaceship if…
- Teams wanting a mature hosting bundle
- Enterprise domain management
Best for: Buyers wanting low renewal prices; Small domain portfolios; Owners who like a modern interface.
Skip Porkbun if…
- Enterprises needing advanced DNS
- Users wanting bundled hosting
Best for: Small businesses and individuals; Domain portfolios on a budget; Users wanting free privacy.
Switching between Spaceship and Porkbun
Migration difficulty: Easy
Domain transfers between registrars are routine and usually add a year to the registration.
- Unlock the domain and request the authorisation (EPP) code.
- Copy your DNS records so you can recreate them at the new registrar.
- Start the transfer and approve it by email.
- Recreate DNS records before the transfer completes to avoid downtime.
- Confirm privacy and auto-renew are switched on.
Weigh it your way
Adjust the weights to your priorities to see which tool comes out ahead for you. Print or export the result for your team.
| Tool | Features | Ease | Value | Support | Security | Integrations | Your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Porkbun | 7.8 | 9.0 | 9.4 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 7.2 | 8.40 |
| 2. Spaceship | 7.6 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 7.0 | 8.13 |
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. Scores are our editorial sub-scores; weights start at the values we publish on the methodology page. Nothing you change is stored or sent anywhere.
How our scores and weights work · Add a third tool side by side
Frequently asked questions
Is Spaceship cheaper than Porkbun?
Sometimes for the first year with a promo code; renewal prices are close.
Do both include WHOIS privacy?
Yes, free on eligible domains.
Is Spaceship trustworthy?
It is an accredited registrar launched by Namecheap's founder, though it has a shorter track record than Porkbun.
Does Spaceship or Porkbun have a free plan?
Spaceship has no free plan or trial; Porkbun has no free plan or trial. Indicative starting prices: Spaceship — .com about $9.68 / year; renews $10.88; Porkbun — Around $10–11 / year for .com.
Which scores higher in our review, Spaceship or Porkbun?
Porkbun scores 8.4/10 and Spaceship 8.1/10 on our weighted rubric. Porkbun leads on 6 of six criteria. A higher score does not make it right for every buyer — see the “choose if” lists above.
