Domain Registrar vs Registry

If you’ve ever bought a domain name, you’ve worked with a domain registrar. But behind the scenes, there’s another player you probably never see: the domain registry.

A domain registrar is your direct point of contact: the company where you search for domains, make purchases, and manage your settings.

Think of registrars like Unstoppable Domains, GoDaddy, Squarespace, and IONOS as the retail stores of the domain world. They handle customer service, process payments, and help you configure your domain settings.

Domain registries operate quite differently. These organizations maintain the master database for specific top-level domains like .com or .org. VeriSign, for example, runs the registry for .com and .net domains, and their infrastructure supports 56 percent of DNS hosts globally. Registries control domain allocation policies, generate zone files, and handle the technical operations that keep domains functioning.

The retail store analogy works perfectly here. Registrars sell domains “retail” to you and me, while registries operate “wholesale” with regulated pricing. When you buy a .com domain from any registrar, that registrar must notify VeriSign and pay them a fee, which gets built into the price you pay.

Both registrars and registries operate under ICANN oversight, the global organization coordinating Internet functionality. ICANN accredits registrars through Registrar Accreditation Agreements, creating accountability standards for both parties.

• Function: Registrars handle transactions and customer support, while registries maintain the central domain database.
• Your interaction: You work directly with registrars for purchases and management, but rarely interact with registries.
• Responsibilities: Registrars provide customer service, populate WHOIS data, and submit updates to registries. Registries maintain administrative data, control policies, and operate domain infrastructure.

This partnership creates a seamless experience. When you update domain settings through your registrar, they communicate those changes to the registry, which updates its database accordingly. The system works because each player focuses on what they do best.

When you buy a domain, you’re not just making a simple purchase. You’re triggering a coordinated process between registrars and registries that makes your domain work across the internet. Here’s exactly what happens.

Your domain journey starts with a search. When you check if a name is available through an ICANN-accredited registrar, that registrar immediately queries the appropriate registry to confirm availability. Find a name you want? You’ll provide your contact details: name, address, email, phone number, and complete payment. The registrar acts as your gateway to the registry, handling the commercial side of your purchase.

Your registrar doesn’t just take your money and call it done. They package your registration details and payment, then send everything to the appropriate registry through the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP), a secure system that handles these exchanges. Major registrars prefer EPP because it automates thousands of daily transactions. Part of what you paid goes directly to the registry as their wholesale fee.

The registry receives your information and adds your domain to their central database. This is where things get technical. Registries operate as either “thick” or “thin.” Thick registries store all your contact details. Thin registries only keep your nameservers, registrar name, and basic metadata like creation date. Your registrar holds the rest. Either way, once your domain hits that database, it’s officially yours.

Your registrar becomes your main point of contact for everything domain-related. Need to change DNS settings? Update contact information? Handle renewals? Your registrar manages all of this and communicates changes back to the registry’s database. Most domains auto-renew annually. If renewal problems arise, contact your registrar immediately. They’re your lifeline for keeping your domain active.

This back-and-forth between registrar and registry continues throughout your domain’s life, keeping your online presence connected to the internet’s infrastructure.

Think of registrars and registries like the difference between your local store and the warehouse. Both are essential, but they serve completely different roles in getting domains to your digital doorstep.

Registries control the master database for specific TLDs like .com or .org. They’re the ultimate authority, maintaining every registered domain within their respective TLDs. VeriSign runs the registry for .com and .net domains, handling the technical infrastructure and DNS management that keeps these domains functioning.

Registrars operate on the customer side. They handle the commercial aspects of domain registration, acting as your gateway to the registry system. Registration, customer relationships, DNS management, privacy protection — registrars manage the services you actually interact with.

Companies like Unstoppable Domains, GoDaddy, Namecheap, and IONOS provide these customer-facing tools and interfaces that make domain ownership accessible and manageable.

Here’s something most people don’t realize: you’ll probably never deal with a registry directly. Domain owners work exclusively through registrars for purchases, renewals, transfers, and support. Registrars provide all the customer-facing services that make domain ownership manageable.

The only path to register and use a domain name? Through a registrar. This separation keeps database management distinct from customer service functions.

Registries set the policies for their TLDs: eligibility requirements, registration rules, the works. Some country-code TLDs require you to live in specific countries. That’s the registry’s call.

ICANN oversees the entire system, accrediting registrars through Registrar Accreditation Agreements and establishing domain system standards. Registrars must follow both ICANN requirements and individual registry policies, staying accountable for every domain sold — including those through resellers. This hierarchy maintains consistency across the entire domain ecosystem.

Picking the right domain registrar matters more than you might think. Your choice affects everything from pricing to security to customer service when things go wrong.

ICANN accreditation isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s your first line of defense against sketchy operators. Accredited registrars go through a formal application process, pay a non-refundable USD 3,500 application fee, and sign the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA). This accreditation serves as a basic legitimacy check, although it does not necessarily guarantee quality service. You can find the current list of accredited registrars on ICANN’s website.

Registrars like Unstoppable Domains, Namecheap, and Cloudflare have all completed this process, giving users added confidence when choosing a registrar that meets ICANN’s global standards.

Some registrars offer ultra-low prices for the first year, sometimes as low as USD 0.98, but these are often followed by significantly higher renewal fees. It’s also common to see additional charges like ICANN fees (typically USD 0.18) added at checkout.

Look for registrars that are upfront about long-term costs, including renewal pricing and fees. At Unstoppable Domains, we aim to provide transparent pricing, with at-cost renewals on DNS domains and no renewals at all for Web3 domains.

WHOIS privacy protection should be your first priority. This feature shields your personal contact information from public databases, and the best registrars include it at no extra cost.

Look for these essential security features:

• Domain locks to prevent unauthorized transfers
• Two-factor authentication (2FA)
• DNSSEC support
• Registry locks for high-value domains

Most leading registrars now offer these protections as standard. Unstoppable Domains includes them by default for all DNS domains.

Real customer experiences tell the story that marketing copy won’t. Red flags include confusing interfaces, surprise fees, weak security ratings, and unresponsive support teams. Professional developers often compare registrars like Namecheap, Cloudflare, and Porkbun based on their transparency and support. Unstoppable Domains is also reviewed across platforms and communities as it continues expanding its DNS and onchain offerings.

Pay special attention to reviews about renewal processes and technical support. That’s where you’ll need them most.