The decision to select a domain registrar is not to be taken lightly. It holds the power to significantly influence your brand’s market position, especially in the context of a decentralized web space.
For example, many Web3 domain providers offer full ownership, content privacy, and top-notch security as essential features. However, with the evolution of the decentralized internet, a lot of other features have become part and parcel of a Web3 domain, and this is where things have become interesting.
In the rapidly evolving Web3 landscape, a responsive domain provider is a necessity. With features like interoperability, one-time payment, cross-chain compatibility, and decentralized storage becoming standard for crypto domains, the question of the best Web3 registrar becomes more pressing.
Whether you’re new to the decentralized internet or grappling with the same question, this guide is here to help. We’ll be assessing the leading Web3 domain providers—Freename, ENS, and Unstoppable Domain—to determine which one offers the most advanced domain features and is worthy of being your go-to Web3 registrar.
So, let’s get started.
Comparison Table: Key Differences at a Glance
The table below lists key features a Web3 domain registrar must possess to meet modern-day user requirements.
| Feature | Freename | ENS (Ethereum Name Service) | Unstoppable Domains |
| Multi-Chain Compatibility | Yes (ETH, BSC, Polygon, Cronos, and more) | Yes (ETH, Layer 2s) | Yes (ETH, Polygon, Solana, etc.) |
| Full TLD Ownership | Yes | No | Yes |
| One-time Payment, No Renewal | Yes | No(except for domains with 10+ years) | Yes |
| Domain Monetization | Yes (Earn Commission from TLD sales) | No (Not available) | No (Not available) |
| Decentralized Website Support | Yes (Complete Support) | Yes (Limited to .eth domains) | Yes (Supported) |
| Rewards Program | Yes (Credits and discounts) | No | No |
| Adoption & Reputation | Growing, multi-chain | Most recognized Web3 domain | Highly adopted, corporate partnerships |
| ICANN Accreditation | Yes | No | Yes |
| Integrations | Broader range of dApps, wallets, tokens, and browsers across multiple blockchains | Limited to dApps on Ethereum or Layer-2 chains | Supports dApps, wallets, and assets across a few blockchains |
| Security | Smart contract-based, highly secure | Highly secure, open-source | Audited, decentralized |
| Interoperability | Works across multiple chains and offers Web2 – Web3 bridge | Best for Ethereum-based dApps | Strong Web2 & Web3 compatibility |
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Now, let’s understand these features and see where each of the Web3 domain providers stand:
Multi-Chain Compatibility
Multi-chain compatibility allows users to mint a Web3 domain on a blockchain of their choice. Not only that, but users can also interact with dApps, tokens, and wallets from other chains supported by the domain provider.
Freename supports multiple blockchains because it offers decentralized domains that are compliant with the ERC-721 standard. Freename domains can be seamlessly integrated with dApps and tools across blockchains, providing flexibility and broader utility in the Web3 ecosystem.
Users can mint these domains on chains built in the Ethereum or Cronos environments. These include:
- Aurora
- Polygon
- BSC
- Solana
- Base,
- SEI and others
Unstoppable Domains also supports a few blockchains, but its scope isn’t as wide as that of Freename. On the other hand, the scope of ENS support is limited to the Ethereum blockchain only.
Domain Ownership & Control
The basic purpose of the decentralized domains is to render sole ownership to the domain owner. Unlike traditional domains, there is no central authority to share ownership over decentralized domains. This simply means users can transfer, sell, or lease their domain freely.
While all Web3 domain providers offer decentralized domains, Freename stands out with its user-centric approach. How does it do this?
Freename empowers users to register and own their own Top-Level Domains (TLDs), enabling full control and the ability to earn passive income from domain sales. In fact, TLD owners can earn up to 50% commission on every Second-level domain (SLD) registered under their TLD.
On the other hand, ENS and Unstoppable Domains offer only second-level domains, keeping TLDs under their control. This results in limited monetization opportunities for the users.
No Renewal Fees
Annual renewal of domains is a critical factor that may force you to reconsider your decision to choose a Web3 registrar. Just like traditional domain providers, ENS domains come with annual renewal fees until they’re 10+ years old. This recurring fee adds to the long-term costs.
In contrast, Freename and Unstoppable Domains only require one-time payment and transfer lifetime ownership to the buyer. However, the fact that users can only enjoy SLD ownership with Unstoppable Domains makes Freename a practically viable option since you can also enjoy TLD ownership benefits.
Domain Monetization Opportunities
Domain monetization is a lucrative factor for domain investors, allowing them to secure a domain at a low price and resell it at a higher price in the future. What if the domain owner wants to keep the domain and earn from it? This is where Freename has an edge over ENS and Unstoppable Domains.
As discussed above, Freename follows a unique model where TLD owners can generate income through sales of second-level domains under their TLD. On the other hand, ENS and Unstoppable Domains do not provide such monetization options.
Rewards Programs
Sharing profits with its loyal members adds to the reliability of a company, and Freename seems to understand that philosophy. Freename users can benefit from various rewards and loyalty programs to earn credits and discounts.
Members can participate in the Freename Referral Program to earn 15% on domain sales through referral IDs. Similarly, they can benefit from other programs, including the Ambassador Program or VIP Program. For more info, check out this demo.
On the other hand, ENS and Unstoppable Domains lack a rewards structure. They may be missing out on added value for users.
Reputation & Adoption
Both ENS and Unstoppable Domains dominated the Web3 niche for quite some time. ENS Web3 domain provider has the most recognized Web3 domain (.eth). On the other hand, Unstoppable Domains is amongst the highly adopted alternatives, developing corporate partnerships with various brands.
However, things have changed ever since Freename joined the race. Within a couple of years, Freename became the fastest-growing multi-chain domain provider and the first-ever ICANN-Accredited Web3 registrar. That’s not it.
The leading Web3 domain provider maintains a solid rating on Trustpilot, securing highly positive reviews from Web3 users.
A user, Chinedu John Ezeji-Okoye, appreciated Freename’s cutting-edge technology with Web3 SLDs and TLDs. The user also lauded their commitment to enhancing the Web3 experience and hoped that their NOTO protocol would come in handy in resolving Web2 DNS.
Another user, Henrik, gave a 5-star rating to the Web3 internet service. The user had a little problem in buying his first TLD and praised the support team for resolving the issue instantly. His actual words…
“Great place to purchase web3 domains
Great place to purchase web3 domains. I had [a] little problem buying my first TLD but the support [team] resolved it right away. Definitely recommended!”
A reviewer who goes by the name SkyInclude gave a detailed review of Freename.io. This is what he had to say:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA5wQj6yxwg]
You can also go through the complete review on the SkyInclude blog.
Integration & Usability
- Freename offers a massive pool of resources (dApps, crypto wallets, tokens, NFTs) to which to link domains. Freename domains can be linked with Web3 emails and decentralized meeting platforms.
- UD domains are compatible with a few blockchains.
- ENS domains cannot be integrated with non-Ethereum dApps or wallets.
Security
Security-wise, each of the above domain providers offers robust security:
- Freename domains are secured by FNS Smart Contracts (FNSRegistry contract, Admin proxy contract, and Minting manager contract), keeping human intervention at bay.
- ENS also offers high security, but the fact that it’s an open-source platform makes it a little less reliable than Freename.
- UD platform also follows strong security protocols.
Pricing
- Freename requires one-time fees, and there are no renewal charges. Plus, users can save on gas fees by utilizing low-traffic blockchains.
- Unstoppable Domains also require a one-time payment. However, users may experience higher gas fees because of the limited number of blockchain options available to them.
- ENS not only charges initial fees but also annual renewal fees. Plus, users will also experience higher gas fees and slower transaction speeds on the Ethereum-powered networks.
Subdomains
- Users can choose the right domain name for their brand using the Freename platform. Plus, TLD owners can also create customized subdomains for themselves.
- ENS subdomains are owner-controlled, so they’re less flexible than Freename.
- Unstoppable Domains offer limited support to subdomains.
Interoperability
- Freename is one of the leading domain providers that facilitate users from the traditional as well as decentralized ecosystems. With domain mirroring, users from one ecosystem interact with the other ecosystem.
- ENS doesn’t offer such functionality
- Unstoppable Domains also support Web2 and Web3 apps, offering users from both the web spaces to interact with each other.
Conclusion
We’ve evaluated each of the leading Web3 domain naming services based on the basic and advanced features. Freename, ENS, and Unstoppable Domains are all highly secure, reliable, and reputable platforms for Web3 domains.
However, Freename, compared to the other two, provides more advanced features to enhance the user experience. The platform offers affordable domains. On top of that, it gives you the chance to create a personalized TLD and own it to make a passive income stream.
So, it’s fair to say that Freename is the best Web3 registrar for developers, designers, data analysts, crypto traders, NFT collectors, and people from other walks of life.
