Registry vs Registrar: What's the Difference?
Two distinct roles in the domain name ecosystem — often confused, but fundamentally different.
The one-sentence summary
A registry operates the TLD. A registrar sells registrations to you.
Registry (the operator)
- Runs the authoritative name servers for the TLD.
- Maintains the master database of all registered domains under that TLD.
- Sets wholesale prices, policies, and technical requirements.
- Has a direct contract with ICANN (for gTLDs) or the relevant government (for ccTLDs).
- Examples: VeriSign (
.com,.net), Public Interest Registry (.org), Nominet (.uk), Google Registry (.dev,.app).
There is exactly one registry per TLD. You generally cannot buy directly from a registry.
Registrar (the retailer)
- Accredited by ICANN (for gTLDs) or the ccTLD registry to sell registrations.
- Provides the customer-facing interface: search, checkout, management panel, support.
- Sets retail prices, bundles services (email, hosting, privacy), and handles billing.
- Competes on price, UX, support, and extras.
- Examples: Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy, Porkbun, Gandi, Google Domains (now Squarespace), etc.
There are hundreds of registrars for popular gTLDs. For many ccTLDs, the number is smaller.
Analogy: Wholesale vs Retail
Think of it like electricity:
- The registry is the grid operator — they maintain the infrastructure.
- The registrar is your energy supplier — they bill you and handle customer service.
Or like a car manufacturer vs a dealership. The registry builds and maintains the "product" (the TLD namespace); the registrar sells it to you.
What this means for you
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who do I pay? | The registrar. |
| Who sets the renewal price? | The registry sets the wholesale price; the registrar adds their margin. |
| Can I switch registrars? | Yes, via a domain transfer (for most gTLDs and many ccTLDs). |
| Who handles DNS? | Either — you can use the registrar's DNS or point to any provider. |
| Who do I contact for abuse/legal issues? | Usually the registrar first; they forward to the registry if needed. |
Registry–Registrar separation
ICANN requires a strict separation for gTLDs: a registry cannot also act as a registrar for its own TLD (with very limited exceptions). This prevents anti-competitive behaviour and ensures a level playing field.
For some ccTLDs, the registry also acts as the sole registrar (e.g. some small country registries). This is allowed because ccTLDs follow national law, not ICANN policy.
How to find the registry for a TLD
Every TLD detail page on this site shows the Sponsoring Organisation (the registry) and a link to the IANA delegation record. Example: .com → VeriSign Global Registry Services.