{"id":42278,"date":"2015-01-14T13:43:42","date_gmt":"2015-01-14T08:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=42278"},"modified":"2026-10-12T13:56:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T08:26:06","slug":"google-domains-free-private-domain-registration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/01\/google-domains-free-private-domain-registration\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Private Domain Registration: Who Offers It in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When Google Domains opened in the US in January 2015, its biggest perk for us was <strong>free private domain registration<\/strong>. We were paying GoDaddy $7.99 a year per domain for privacy through Domains By Proxy, on top of about $12 for a .com. Google Domains is gone now (its customers moved to Squarespace in 2023), but our prediction came true: free WHOIS privacy is now standard at most good registrars.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> Free private domain registration (WHOIS privacy) hides your name, address, phone and email from public domain lookups. Most major registrars now include it free, including Cloudflare, Porkbun, Namecheap and Squarespace Domains. Some country domains (like .in or .us) have their own rules, and since GDPR many registrars redact personal details by default.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6adf273f666b9\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6adf273f666b9\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/01\/google-domains-free-private-domain-registration\/#What_is_private_domain_registration\" >What is private domain registration?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/01\/google-domains-free-private-domain-registration\/#Our_2015_view_of_Google_Domains\" >Our 2015 view of Google Domains<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/01\/google-domains-free-private-domain-registration\/#What_happened_to_Google_Domains\" >What happened to Google Domains<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/01\/google-domains-free-private-domain-registration\/#Registrars_with_free_WHOIS_privacy\" >Registrars with free WHOIS privacy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/01\/google-domains-free-private-domain-registration\/#Protect_your_domain_beyond_privacy\" >Protect your domain beyond privacy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/01\/google-domains-free-private-domain-registration\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/01\/google-domains-free-private-domain-registration\/#Is_WHOIS_privacy_free\" >Is WHOIS privacy free?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/01\/google-domains-free-private-domain-registration\/#Can_I_add_privacy_to_an_existing_domain\" >Can I add privacy to an existing domain?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/01\/google-domains-free-private-domain-registration\/#Why_isnt_privacy_available_for_my_domain\" >Why isn&#8217;t privacy available for my domain?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_private_domain_registration\"><\/span>What is private domain registration?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Every domain has public registration records (WHOIS, now often RDAP). Without privacy, anyone can see the owner&#8217;s name, address, phone and email. That invites spam, scam calls and fake &#8220;domain renewal&#8221; letters. Privacy replaces your details with the registrar&#8217;s or a proxy service&#8217;s contact information.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Our_2015_view_of_Google_Domains\"><\/span>Our 2015 view of Google Domains<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-42280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-domains.png\" alt=\"Google Domains free private domain registration\" width=\"500\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-domains.png 500w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-domains-150x99.png 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-domains-300x198.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Google Domains offered free privacy, up to 100 email forwarding addresses, Google nameservers and many new extensions such as .guru, .today and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2014\/02\/quickonline-tips-domain-name\/\">.tips<\/a>. With 10 domains, free privacy alone would have saved us about $80 a year. We expected other registrars to follow, and most did.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happened_to_Google_Domains\"><\/span>What happened to Google Domains<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Google sold its domain business to Squarespace in 2023, and Google Domains customers were moved to Squarespace Domains. If you still have old Google Domains settings, check your domain&#8217;s DNS, email forwarding and renewal details in your Squarespace account.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Registrars_with_free_WHOIS_privacy\"><\/span>Registrars with free WHOIS privacy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cloudflare Registrar<\/strong>: at-cost pricing and free redaction.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Porkbun<\/strong>: free WHOIS privacy and SSL.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Namecheap<\/strong>: free privacy protection for eligible domains.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Squarespace Domains<\/strong>: free privacy for supported extensions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Check each registrar&#8217;s renewal prices, not just the first-year deal, and whether privacy is available for the extension you want.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protect_your_domain_beyond_privacy\"><\/span>Protect your domain beyond privacy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2006\/07\/set-domain-locking-secure-your-domain-names\/\">Lock your domain<\/a> to prevent unauthorised transfers.<\/li>\n<li>Turn on auto-renew and keep your contact email working.<\/li>\n<li>Use two-factor authentication on your registrar account.<\/li>\n<li>Ignore &#8220;domain expiry&#8221; letters from companies you don&#8217;t use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Even big names slip up: read how someone <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/10\/google-com-domain-sold-for-12\/\">bought Google.com for $12<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_WHOIS_privacy_free\"><\/span>Is WHOIS privacy free?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>At most major registrars, yes. Some still charge, so check before buying.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_add_privacy_to_an_existing_domain\"><\/span>Can I add privacy to an existing domain?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Usually yes, in your registrar&#8217;s domain settings, or by transferring to a registrar that includes it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_isnt_privacy_available_for_my_domain\"><\/span>Why isn&#8217;t privacy available for my domain?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Some country-code domains don&#8217;t allow it or have their own rules.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Google Domains opened in the US in January 2015, its biggest perk for us was free private domain registration&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":42280,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25,3,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-domain-hosting","category-google","category-security"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42278"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42278\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64532,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42278\/revisions\/64532"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}