{
  "slug": "namecheap",
  "category": "domain-registrars",
  "name": "Namecheap",
  "description": "Large US domain registrar with free WHOIS privacy on eligible extensions and TOTP or security-key login.",
  "website": "https://www.namecheap.com",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "US",
    "name": "United States",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": "provider"
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "F",
  "score": 39,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Namecheap scores 39 out of 100 (grade F) on the domain registrars criteria. It meets 3 of 12 criteria: no ads or data sales, TLS configuration and two-factor login. It partly meets tells users about requests, security headers, Free WHOIS privacy and transfer and registry lock. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry, independent audit, transparency report and honest renewal pricing. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act. Automated tests: SSL Labs grade A+ and Mozilla HTTP Observatory grade B+.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/domain-registrars/namecheap/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/domain-registrars/namecheap/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Closed source."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://www.namecheap.com/legal/general/privacy-policy/",
      "note": "The privacy policy allows cookies from partners and tracking companies and sharing pseudonymous data with analytics partners."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.namecheap.com/legal/general/privacy-policy/",
      "note": "Funded by paid domain and hosting services. The policy states personal information is not sold."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No transparency report or government request policy is published."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.namecheap.com/legal/general/privacy-policy/",
      "note": "The policy says Namecheap may take reasonable steps to notify users of legal process where permitted, with no firm commitment."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/analyze.html?d=www.namecheap.com&hideResults=on",
      "note": "Grade A+"
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/observatory/analyze?host=www.namecheap.com",
      "note": "Grade B+ (80/100+)"
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "pending",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Not tested yet."
    },
    "free_whois_privacy": {
      "title": "Free WHOIS privacy",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.namecheap.com/security/domain-privacy-service/",
      "note": "Free for life on eligible extensions, but not available for about 40, including .us, .uk, .de and .eu."
    },
    "at_cost_renewals": {
      "title": "Honest renewal pricing",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://www.namecheap.com/domains/",
      "note": "First-year sale prices renew much higher, for example a .com at about 11 USD renews at about 18 USD."
    },
    "two_factor": {
      "title": "Two-factor login",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.namecheap.com/security/totp-two-factor-authentication/",
      "note": "TOTP apps and U2F security keys are supported."
    },
    "registry_lock": {
      "title": "Transfer and registry lock",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "partial",
      "evidence": "https://www.namecheap.com/domains/transfer/",
      "note": "Domains are locked at the registrar against transfers. No registry lock service is published."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": "A+",
    "observatory": "B+",
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": null,
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T07:01:35.281Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T07:44:20Z"
}