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When you register a domain, your personal information becomes public. WHOIS privacy protection keeps you safe—but many registrars charge extra for it.
Here's what you need to know.
What Is WHOIS?
WHOIS is a public database that stores information about domain name owners. When you register a domain, your contact information is recorded and publicly accessible.
Without privacy protection, anyone can look up:
- Your full legal name
- Home or business address
- Email address
- Phone number
- Domain registration/expiration dates
This information is available to anyone who does a WHOIS lookup.
What Is WHOIS Privacy Protection?
WHOIS privacy (also called domain privacy or privacy protection) replaces your personal information with proxy details.
Instead of showing:
Registrant: John Smith
Address: 123 Main St, City, State 12345
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1-555-0123
It shows:
Registrant: Privacy Protection Service
Address: [Proxy Address]
Email: [email protected]
Phone: [Proxy Number]
Your information is hidden, but you still own and control the domain.
Why WHOIS Privacy Matters
1. Spam Prevention
Domain WHOIS data is harvested by spammers. Without privacy:
- Your inbox fills with domain-related spam
- You get "renewal" scam emails
- Marketing companies target you
2. Identity Protection
Exposed personal data increases risk of:
- Identity theft attempts
- Social engineering attacks
- Data aggregation by brokers
3. Physical Safety
Your home address being public can enable:
- Harassment
- Stalking
- Unwanted contact
This is especially important for solo founders and remote workers.
4. Professional Appearance
Proxy information looks professional. It's standard practice for businesses to use privacy protection.
5. Competitive Intelligence
Competitors can track your domain registrations. Privacy adds a layer of opacity.
WHOIS Privacy Pricing Comparison
| Registrar | WHOIS Privacy |
|---|---|
| namemyapp | FREE |
| GoDaddy | $9.99/year |
| Namecheap | Free (limited TLDs) |
| Google Domains | Free |
| Network Solutions | $14.99/year |
| Bluehost | $15.88/year |
namemyapp includes free WHOIS privacy with every domain—no catches, no first-year-only deals.
How to Check Your Current WHOIS Status
- Go to whois.domaintools.com (or similar)
- Enter your domain name
- View the registrant information
If you see your real name and address, your domain lacks privacy protection.
Common WHOIS Privacy Questions
Does WHOIS privacy affect email delivery?
No. Your email deliverability is based on your DNS and mail server configuration, not WHOIS data.
Does WHOIS privacy affect SEO?
No. Google does not use WHOIS data as a ranking factor. Your SEO is unaffected.
Can I be contacted through WHOIS privacy?
Yes. Most privacy services forward legitimate inquiries to you. You control whether to respond.
Does WHOIS privacy protect my trademark rights?
Your domain ownership is protected regardless of WHOIS privacy. The registrar maintains your legal ownership records.
Is WHOIS privacy available for all TLDs?
Most TLDs support WHOIS privacy, including:
- .com, .net, .org
- .io, .co, .ai
- .app, .dev
Some country-code TLDs have restrictions based on local regulations.
Can I add WHOIS privacy to an existing domain?
Yes. Contact your registrar to enable privacy protection. Most apply it within hours.
Why Do Some Registrars Charge for Privacy?
Revenue. WHOIS privacy is cheap to provide but has high perceived value. Registrars like GoDaddy use it as an upsell.
Modern registrars like namemyapp include it free because:
- It should be standard
- It improves customer trust
- It reduces support requests (spam complaints)
- It's the right thing to do
What Information Should Remain Public?
For business domains, consider keeping public:
- Business name (for legitimacy)
- Business email (for contact)
But personal details (name, address, phone) should always be protected.
The namemyapp Approach
Every domain registered through namemyapp includes:
- Free WHOIS privacy (always, for all TLDs)
- No upsells or hidden fees
- Automatic protection from day one
- Easy management if you ever want to change settings
We believe privacy shouldn't be a premium feature.
Get Your Domain with Free Privacy
Register your domain through namemyapp and get automatic WHOIS privacy protection at no extra cost.
