Top 10 Registrars by New .COM Registrations in December 2019

The number of new .com registrations serves as a powerful indicator of market activity, reflecting fresh business ventures, expansion initiatives, and general enthusiasm for establishing an online footprint. This metric highlights which registrars are most effective at attracting new customers and capturing market demand during a specific period. For December 2019, the competitive arena saw familiar titans maintaining their grip, while specific players made notable moves.

1. GoDaddy.com* (NYSE: GDDY) – 904,896 (Compared to 946,270 in November): GoDaddy, the undisputed behemoth of the domain world, consistently leads in new registrations. Despite a slight dip from November, their near-million new registrations underscore their massive market reach, aggressive marketing campaigns, and extensive suite of integrated web services. Their brand recognition remains unparalleled, making them the go-to choice for countless individuals and small businesses seeking an online presence.
2. Tucows** (NASDAQ:TCX) – 165,119 (Compared to 182,250): Tucows, a major player known for its reseller-centric model, secured the second spot. While seeing a modest decrease from the previous month, their strong performance highlights the continued robustness of their wholesale offerings to various hosting providers and smaller registrars globally. Their diverse portfolio, including services like Enom and Ascio, ensures a broad market penetration.
3. Namecheap Inc. – 162,806 (Compared to 163,141): Namecheap continues to be a formidable contender, holding steady in third place. Known for its competitive pricing, strong customer service, and commitment to user privacy, Namecheap consistently attracts a significant volume of new registrations. Their slight month-over-month stability suggests a consistent customer acquisition strategy resonating with a cost-conscious yet quality-focused demographic.
4. Chengdu West/West.cn – 156,630: This prominent Chinese registrar demonstrates the significant demand for .com domains within the Chinese market. Their strong showing highlights the rapid digital transformation and entrepreneurial spirit prevalent in China, positioning them as a key gateway for businesses and individuals seeking to establish their online presence.
5. Alibaba (HiChina) – 155,992 (Compared to 163,419): Alibaba’s domain arm, HiChina, is another major force reflecting China’s digital ambitions. While experiencing a slight reduction from November, Alibaba’s sustained presence in the top five underscores its immense ecosystem, which seamlessly integrates cloud services, e-commerce, and domain registration, catering to a vast user base.
6. Endurance+ (NASDAQ: EIGI) – 154,234 (Compared to 127,219): Endurance Group exhibited significant growth in December, climbing the ranks with a substantial increase in new registrations. This surge could be attributed to aggressive promotional activities across its various brands, which include PDR, Domain.com, FastDomain, and Bigrock, indicating a successful acquisition strategy across its diverse portfolio of services.
7. Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL) – 127,652 (Compared to 136,518): Google Domains, while relatively new compared to some industry veterans, maintains a strong position, leveraging Google’s vast ecosystem and brand trust. Their slightly lower numbers compared to November are a minor fluctuation in their consistent pursuit of offering a streamlined and integrated domain management experience for users within the Google universe.
8. Web.com – 77,885: A solid performer, Web.com’s consistent presence in the top ten demonstrates its enduring appeal, particularly among small and medium-sized businesses. Their diverse offerings, encompassing website building, hosting, and marketing services, allow them to capture a steady stream of new domain registrants.
9. GMO – 66,082 (Compared to 86,969): GMO, a leading Japanese internet conglomerate, saw a decline in new registrations from the previous month. While still a significant player, especially in the Asian market, this fluctuation could point to seasonal factors or intensified competition within their primary operational regions.
10. Wix (NASDAQ: WIX) – 64,869 (Compared to 62,712): For the second consecutive month, Wix made a notable entry into the top ten for new .com registrations, showing a healthy increase over November. This performance is particularly significant as Wix primarily focuses on its website builder platform, indicating that its integrated domain registration service is a powerful draw for users looking for a complete solution to get online. Their continuous growth reflects the success of their user-friendly platform and integrated ecosystem.

A notable observation from December’s data is the sharp drop of Xin Net from the top ten list for new registrations. After registering 72,991 new .com domains in November, their numbers plummeted to just 18,212 in December. Such a dramatic change often signals a shift in business strategy, the conclusion of a major promotional campaign, or increased local competition within the Chinese market. It underscores the dynamic and sometimes volatile nature of domain acquisition, particularly in regions with rapid regulatory and market shifts.

Top 10 Registrars by Total .COM Domains Under Management (End of December 2019)

While new registrations highlight current market acquisition, the total number of .com domains under management provides a holistic view of a registrar’s accumulated market share and long-term customer retention capabilities. This metric reflects the stability and extensive reach of established players who have built massive portfolios over years, or even decades, of operation. As of the end of December 2019, the leaderboard for domains under management largely reflects long-standing dominance, albeit with subtle shifts.

1. GoDaddy* – 51,788,723 (Compared to 51,629,563 in November): GoDaddy’s colossal lead in total domains under management is simply staggering. Holding over 51 million .com domains, they command an unparalleled portion of the market. This figure not only highlights their aggressive growth in new registrations but also their remarkable ability to retain customers, showcasing the strength of their ecosystem and ongoing customer loyalty. Their slight increase from November further solidifies their already dominant position.
2. Tucows** – 12,837,586 (Compared to 12,910,915): Tucows maintains its strong second-place position, managing nearly 13 million .com domains. While experiencing a slight decrease from the previous month, their significant portfolio underscores their critical role in the reseller market, supporting a vast network of smaller providers and businesses worldwide.
3. Web.com++ – 7,154,081 (Compared to 7,096,388): Web.com holds a robust third position, showing healthy growth in its total domains. This increase indicates effective retention strategies across its various brands, including Network Solutions, Register.com, and Crazy Domains/Dreamscape, catering to a diverse clientele seeking comprehensive web solutions.
4. Endurance+ – 6,807,222 (Compared to 6,817,113): The Endurance Group, while slightly down from November, manages a significant portfolio of nearly 7 million .com domains. This extensive base is a testament to its strategy of acquiring and operating multiple domain and hosting brands, thereby consolidating market share and serving a broad spectrum of users.
5. Alibaba – 6,014,079 (Compared to 6,013,715): Alibaba’s presence with over 6 million domains under management underscores the massive scale of the Chinese market and Alibaba’s central role within it. Their stable figures reflect the enduring demand for .com domains within China, supported by Alibaba’s integrated digital services ecosystem.
6. United Internet^ – 5,508,700 (Compared to 5,526,648): United Internet, a major European internet services provider, manages a substantial portfolio exceeding 5.5 million .com domains. Their slight decrease may reflect natural churn or a focus on optimizing their extensive European-centric domain holdings across brands like 1&1, PSI, and Arsys.
7. Namecheap – 5,232,862 (Compared to 5,182,418): Namecheap continues its steady ascent, growing its total domains under management by a significant margin in December. This consistent growth highlights their successful long-term strategy of offering value, reliability, and excellent customer support, translating into strong customer retention and an expanding user base.
8. Xin Net Technology Corporation – 4,286,667 (Compared to 4,433,678): Despite its dramatic drop in new registrations, Xin Net still commands a significant portfolio of over 4.2 million .com domains. This showcases the difference between short-term acquisition fluctuations and long-term market presence. While new sales may vary, their existing customer base remains substantial, though they did experience a decrease in their total managed domains for the month.
9. Google – 3,109,392 (Compared to 3,032,888): Google Domains shows consistent growth in its total domains under management, now exceeding 3.1 million. This steady expansion indicates that more users are choosing Google for their domain needs, drawn by its integrated services, minimalist interface, and the overall trust associated with the Google brand.
10. GMO – 2,278,000 (Compared to 2,253,907): GMO maintains a solid position with over 2.2 million .com domains under management. Despite a slight dip in new registrations, their total portfolio shows a modest increase, demonstrating a stable base of Japanese and Asian customers who value their comprehensive internet services.

Understanding Market Dynamics and Consolidation

The domain registration industry is characterized by a blend of intense competition and strategic consolidation. Many domain companies operate with multiple ICANN accreditations, a practice that can sometimes obscure the true scale of their operations. To provide a clearer picture of market share and influence, it’s crucial to acknowledge these corporate structures. For instance:

• GoDaddy*: Their impressive numbers encompass domains managed by GoDaddy itself, alongside significant subsidiaries such as Wild West Domains and 123 Reg, extending their reach across different market segments and geographic regions.
• Tucows**: This includes domains under Tucows, Enom, Ascio, and EPAG. These entities collectively represent a massive network, particularly strong in the reseller market, where they power countless smaller domain providers.
• Endurance+: The figures for Endurance Group incorporate domains from PDR, Domain.com, FastDomain, and Bigrock, among others. While there are additional Endurance registrars, these represent the largest contributors to their substantial portfolio. This multi-brand strategy allows Endurance to target diverse customer demographics.
• Web.com++: Their total domains include the portfolios of Network Solutions, Register.com, and Crazy Domains/Dreamscape. This consolidation places Web.com as a major player, offering a wide array of web services beyond just domain registration.
• United Internet^: Their extensive European footprint is reflected in the inclusion of brands such as 1&1, PSI, Cronon, United-Domains, Arsys, and world4you, demonstrating their regional dominance and integrated service offerings.

These consolidations highlight a broader trend in the domain industry: larger entities acquiring smaller, established brands to expand their customer base, diversify their service offerings, and gain greater market leverage. This strategy allows them to maintain a competitive edge and offer more comprehensive solutions to both new and existing customers.

Looking Ahead: Trends and Future Outlook

December 2019’s data paints a picture of a robust and dynamic .com namespace. GoDaddy’s continued dominance, both in new registrations and total domains, underscores its strategic strength and market leadership. The steady performance of Namecheap and the growth of Google Domains signal a healthy competitive environment where user experience and value propositions remain key differentiators.

The emergence of website builders like Wix in the top ten new registrars is a significant trend, indicating a shift towards integrated solutions where domain registration is just one component of a larger online presence package. This trend is likely to continue, with more users opting for seamless setups that combine domains, hosting, and website design.

The volatility observed in the Chinese market, exemplified by Xin Net’s fluctuating numbers, highlights the unique characteristics and rapid changes within this crucial geographical segment. Understanding these regional dynamics is vital for any registrar operating on a global scale. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, propelled by technological advancements and shifting user behaviors, the .com domain remains a cornerstone of online identity. Monthly reports like these are indispensable for tracking its pulse and anticipating future trajectories in the ever-expanding world of the internet.