September 2019 .COM Domain Report: Shifting Sands and Namecheap’s Milestone Growth

The global domain name industry is a perpetually dynamic ecosystem, with constant shifts in market share, emerging players, and evolving strategies. Understanding these movements is crucial for businesses, investors, and anyone invested in their digital presence. Every month, the official data released by Verisign (NASDAQ: VRSN) and published by ICANN provides invaluable insights into the health and direction of the venerable .com namespace. Our latest deep dive focuses on the September 2019 report, which reveals a period of significant activity, marked by notable entries, surprising exits, and a monumental achievement by one of the industry’s most popular registrars.

September 2019 proved to be a particularly eventful month in the highly competitive world of .com domain registrations. The latest registrar-by-registrar report sheds light on the intense battle for market dominance, highlighting both established giants and rapidly ascending challengers. From dramatic shifts in new registration volumes to strategic consolidations impacting overall domain portfolios, this period offered a clear snapshot of an industry in flux. The headline grabber, however, was undoubtedly Namecheap, which achieved a significant milestone, solidifying its position as a major force in the domain registration landscape.

Key Market Movements and Notable Shifts in September 2019

The September 2019 report showcased several compelling changes across both new .com registrations and total domains under management. These shifts underscore the competitive pressures and evolving strategies within the domain registrar ecosystem.

• Xin Net’s Retreat: On the new registrations chart, China-based Xin Net Technology Corporation experienced a significant downturn, dropping out of the top ten. Their monthly volume plummeted from a robust 220,000 to just 51,000, indicating a substantial change in their market activity or strategic focus during this period.
• OpenProvider’s Ascent: Capitalizing on market opportunities, Hosting Concepts B.V., operating as OpenProvider, made a strong entry into the top 10 for new .com registrations. As an “at-cost” registrar, OpenProvider’s surge signals the growing influence of providers offering competitive pricing models, often appealing to resellers and businesses looking for bulk domain solutions.
• GMO Reclaims Spot: In a closely watched tussle for overall market share, GMO successfully replaced NameSilo in the coveted #10 spot on the total .com leaderboard. This move demonstrates the continuous ebb and flow among mid-tier and larger registrars vying for long-term customer portfolios.
• Namecheap’s Historic Milestone: Perhaps the most significant news of the month was Namecheap Inc. surging past an incredible 5 million .com domains under management. This achievement is a testament to their sustained growth, customer-centric approach, and effective market strategies.
• Web.com’s Strategic Consolidation: On the administrative front, the totals for Web.com were adjusted to include Crazy Domains. This update reflects Web.com’s acquisition of Dreamscape, Crazy Domains’ parent company, earlier in 2019. Such strategic mergers and acquisitions continue to reshape the competitive landscape, consolidating market share under larger corporate umbrellas.

Analyzing New .COM Registrations: A Snapshot of Market Activity

The volume of new .com registrations serves as a powerful indicator of current market demand and the effectiveness of registrars’ acquisition strategies. September 2019 presented a mixed bag of results, with some registrars maintaining steady performance while others experienced significant fluctuations.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the top registrars by new .com registrations for September 2019, along with their comparative figures from August:

1. GoDaddy.com* (NYSE: GDDY): 855,287 (down from 862,732 in August)
2. Chengdu West: 222,511
3. Tucows** (NASDAQ:TCX): 180,825 (down from 187,769 in August)
4. Namecheap Inc.: 163,226 (up from 161,107 in August)
5. Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL): 138,929 (down from 141,014 in August)
6. Endurance+ (NASDAQ: EIGI): 124,810 (down from 126,603 in August)
7. Alibaba (HiChina): 105,294 (significantly down from 136,895 in August)
8. GMO: 95,565 (significantly up from 66,910 in August)
9. Web.com++: 71,894
10. OpenProvider: 67,647

GoDaddy maintained its undisputed lead, consistently registering a massive volume of new .com domains, underscoring its dominant market position and extensive marketing reach. While showing a slight decrease from August, their figures are still exponentially higher than any other competitor. Chengdu West maintained a strong second position, highlighting the continued robust demand for .com domains within the Chinese market. Namecheap demonstrated healthy, consistent growth in new registrations, a precursor to their portfolio milestone. The most dramatic movement was GMO’s impressive surge, showing a significant increase in new registrations, suggesting successful campaigns or strategic initiatives. Conversely, Alibaba experienced a notable dip, while OpenProvider’s entry into the top ten signals its aggressive expansion and competitive offerings.

The Total .COM Domain Leaderboard: Consolidating Power and Milestone Achievements

While new registrations indicate immediate market activity, the total number of .com domains under management reflects the long-term strength, retention capabilities, and overall market share of registrars. This metric provides a clearer picture of established giants and the cumulative success of their strategies over time.

As of the end of September 2019, here’s the leaderboard of the top registrars by total .com registrations, with August’s figures for comparison:

1. GoDaddy* : 51,253,800 (up from 51,098,287 in August)
2. Tucows** : 13,047,695 (down from 13,123,695 in August)
3. Web.com++ : 7,031,650 (significantly up from 6,607,353 in August due to consolidation)
4. Endurance+ : 6,873,843 (down from 6,886,901 in August)
5. Alibaba : 6,118,945 (down from 6,189,184 in August)
6. United Internet^ : 5,549,036 (slightly down from 5,549,520 in August)
7. Namecheap : 5,051,943 (up from 4,978,908 in August)
8. Xin Net Technology Corporation : 4,518,714 (down from 4,575,392 in August)
9. Google : 2,845,811 (up from 2,755,721 in August)
10. GMO : 2,183,060 (new entry to top 10, replacing NameSilo)

Namecheap’s Remarkable 5 Million .COM Domain Milestone

The standout story in the total domains category is undoubtedly Namecheap’s achievement of managing over 5 million .com domains. This milestone is not just a number; it represents years of strategic planning, robust customer support, competitive pricing, and a strong brand reputation that resonates with a broad spectrum of users, from individual bloggers to small businesses and developers. Namecheap’s consistent growth in this highly competitive market demonstrates their ability to attract new customers and, crucially, retain existing ones. This achievement solidifies their position as a top-tier registrar and a significant contender to the long-established giants of the industry.

The Impact of Acquisitions: Web.com’s Growth Through Consolidation

Web.com’s substantial jump in total domains, moving from 6.6 million to over 7 million, clearly illustrates the power of strategic acquisitions. By integrating Crazy Domains’ portfolio following the Dreamscape acquisition, Web.com significantly boosted its market share. This trend of consolidation is a recurring theme in the domain industry, as larger entities seek to expand their customer base and economies of scale by acquiring smaller or regional players. Such moves often lead to a more concentrated market, with fewer, larger entities controlling a greater percentage of the domain landscape.

GMO’s Resurgence and Other Key Players

GMO’s re-entry into the top 10 for total domains, displacing NameSilo, indicates a successful period of growth and retention. This suggests that their strategies for both new acquisitions and customer loyalty are yielding positive results. GoDaddy, as expected, continued its march forward, adding over 150,000 domains to its already colossal portfolio, further cementing its unchallenged leadership position. While Tucows, Endurance, Alibaba, United Internet, and Xin Net experienced minor contractions in their total portfolios, these fluctuations are relatively small in the context of their vast holdings, indicating a general stability among these established players.

Understanding Registrar Groupings: A Holistic View of Market Share

To accurately assess market share and understand the true reach of major domain companies, it’s essential to recognize that many operate multiple accredited registrars or brands under a single corporate umbrella. The official Verisign data often lists individual accreditations, necessitating consolidation to reveal the full scale of these market giants. Our report accounts for these groupings to provide a more comprehensive and realistic view of the competitive landscape.

• GoDaddy*: This colossal entity includes not only its flagship GoDaddy.com brand but also Wild West Domains and 123 Reg. This multi-brand strategy allows GoDaddy to target different market segments and maintain its overwhelming dominance.
• Tucows**: A significant player in the wholesale domain market, Tucows’ totals incorporate its own brand alongside prominent registrars like Enom, Ascio, and EPAG. This diverse portfolio extends its reach across various customer bases, including resellers and corporate clients.
• Endurance+: The Endurance International Group’s figures are a combination of several popular brands, including PDR, Domain.com, FastDomain, and Bigrock. While they manage other registrars, these represent the largest contributors to their substantial domain portfolio.
• Web.com++: Following recent strategic acquisitions, Web.com’s consolidated numbers now include Network Solutions, Register.com, and the newly integrated Crazy Domains. This expansion reflects their aggressive strategy to grow market share through M&A.
• United Internet^: A major European player, United Internet’s impressive domain count is derived from the combined strength of brands like 1&1, PSI, Cronon, United-Domains, Arsys, and world4you, showcasing its wide footprint across various European markets.

These groupings are critical for accurate market analysis, as they prevent an underestimation of the true power and influence held by these large corporations in the domain name industry. Without this aggregation, the competitive landscape would appear far more fragmented than it actually is.

The Dynamic Nature of the .COM Domain Market

The September 2019 report serves as a vivid reminder of the ever-evolving nature of the .com domain market. From the aggressive growth of “at-cost” registrars like OpenProvider to the strategic consolidations exemplified by Web.com, and the impressive organic growth leading to Namecheap’s 5 million milestone, the industry is constantly adapting. Factors such as pricing strategies, marketing campaigns, customer service quality, and geopolitical influences all play a role in shaping these trends. As businesses and individuals continue to prioritize their online presence, the demand for .com domains remains robust, ensuring that the competition among registrars will continue to be fierce and fascinating.

Staying informed about these registrar movements and market dynamics is essential for anyone involved in the digital economy. The .com domain remains the gold standard for online identity, and understanding who is leading the charge in its registration and management offers critical insights into the broader internet landscape.