Gandi.net

Overview

Gandi.net was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Paris, France. It is one of Europe's most iconic domain registration providers, known for its "No Bullshit" philosophy — transparent pricing, no hidden fees, and no aggressive upselling. Gandi is also a strong advocate for internet privacy and freedom.

Gandi is a B Corp certified company, committing a portion of its profits to open source software projects and privacy protection initiatives. As one of the few registrars maintaining identical first-year and renewal pricing, Gandi supports over 800 TLDs covering virtually all major and country-code domains. As of 2026, Gandi manages millions of domains with significant influence across the European market.

Key Strengths

• Transparent Pricing: All prices are clearly listed with identical first-year and renewal rates. No "low first year, high renewal" bait-and-switch tactics.
• Strong Privacy Protection: Free WHOIS privacy and active participation in internet freedom advocacy. Gandi publicly opposed SOPA/PIPA and similar censorship legislation.
• Corporate Social Responsibility: B Corp certified, directing profits toward open source software and digital privacy initiatives. Choosing Gandi supports a fairer internet ecosystem.
• Wide TLD Selection: 800+ TLDs including country-code domains (.fr, .de, .uk, .cn) and new gTLDs (.io, .dev, .app), covering global market needs.

Product Ecosystem

Domain Registration

Gandi offers registration across 800+ TLDs from traditional .com/.net/.org to country-code and emerging gTLDs. The registration process is transparent with no hidden options or forced bundling. Domain transfers are straightforward with batch operations supported.

DNS Management

Professional-grade DNS management supporting all standard record types and DNSSEC. DNS infrastructure is distributed across multiple global data centers for reliability. Domain forwarding and email forwarding are also included.

Additional Services

Beyond domain registration, Gandi offers web hosting, business email, and SSL certificates — all following the same transparent pricing model.

Limitations

• Not the Cheapest Option: .com domains at approximately $16/year are higher than Porkbun and other budget registrars.
• Dated Control Panel: The interface is feature-complete but visually dated compared to modern registrars.
• Europe-Focused: While globally available, product design and support are primarily oriented toward European users.

Use Cases

• Privacy-Conscious Users (★★★★★): Privacy protection and corporate ethics make Gandi a top choice for privacy advocates.
• European Users (★★★★★): Excellent service in Europe with EUR payment support and local market understanding.
• Users Who Hate Upselling (★★★★): Transparent pricing with no cross-selling or hidden fees.
• Budget-Focused Users (★★★): Not the cheapest option; Porkbun or similar may be better for cost savings.

Pricing

Note: All Gandi prices include tax with identical first-year and renewal rates.

FAQ

• Does Gandi keep renewal prices consistent? Yes. Gandi maintains a same-first-year-and-renewal pricing policy — renewal prices do not suddenly increase. Domain renewal strategy

• Does Gandi support non-European customers? Yes, global registration is available. The control panel is primarily in English and French, and payments via international credit cards and PayPal are accepted. Domain purchase guide

• What is B Corp certification? B Corp certification means the company meets high standards of social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and transparency. Gandi dedicates a portion of profits to open source and privacy projects. Open source and commercial software market

• Can I host a website with Gandi? Yes, Gandi offers web hosting, business email, and SSL certificates in addition to domain registration. Domain registrar selection guide