PlanetHippo

Overview

PlanetHippo is a UK-based domain registration and web hosting provider specializing in domain registration, particularly .uk, .co.uk, .org.uk and other UK country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) managed by Nominet. The company serves UK and European individuals and businesses with domain registration, DNS management, and bundled hosting services.

PlanetHippo's core strength lies in its deep understanding of the UK domain ecosystem, offering compliant and efficient .uk domain registration, renewal and transfer processes. While the platform also supports international gTLDs, its business focus remains firmly on the UK market.

Key Strengths

• UK Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge of the Nominet-managed .uk namespace, supporting .uk, .co.uk, .org.uk, .me.uk and .ltd.uk extensions with clear registration and transfer rules. See Domain Suffix Selection Guide.
• Free WHOIS Privacy: WHOIS privacy protection is included free by default for all domains. UK domain WHOIS rules differ from gTLDs; PlanetHippo helps users manage privacy settings compliantly.
• Domain + Hosting Bundles: Combined domain and web hosting packages with unified management, reducing technical overhead for users wanting a single-provider solution.
• UK-Based Support: Customer support team operates on UK timezone with prompt ticket and phone response for UK users.

Product Ecosystem

.uk Domain Registration

PlanetHippo's core business is .uk domain registration, supporting:

• .uk: Short UK top-level domain
• .co.uk: Most commonly used UK business domain
• .org.uk: UK non-profit domain
• .me.uk: UK personal domain
• .ltd.uk: UK limited company domain (requires company registration number)

All .uk registrations comply with Nominet's latest policies and Dispute Resolution Service (DRS).

International Domain Registration

Beyond UK domains, PlanetHippo offers .com, .net, .org and .info registration, though the selection is more limited than large international registrars.

DNS Management

Standard DNS hosting supports A, AAAA, CNAME, MX and TXT records with Anycast network distribution. Can be paired with CDN acceleration for global audience optimization.

Web Hosting

Shared hosting and WordPress hosting plans support PHP/MySQL applications. All plans include free SSL certificates, cPanel, and 24/7 technical support. Hosting plans can bundle domain registration fees.

Limitations

• Limited International TLDs: While .com/.net/.org are supported, new gTLD and ccTLD coverage is less comprehensive than Namecheap or GoDaddy.
• UK-Focused Operations: Support hours, payment methods and documentation are UK-centric, potentially limiting the experience for non-UK users.
• Limited Global Infrastructure: Fewer data center locations mean slower access speeds for non-UK audiences without CDN augmentation.
• Limited International Brand Recognition: Known in the UK but has low global brand awareness and limited third-party review coverage internationally.

Use Cases

• UK Businesses & Individuals (Rating ★★★★★): Specialized .uk domain expertise with localized UK support.
• Non-UK Users Needing .uk Domains (Rating ★★★★): Professional .uk registration with Nominet rule expertise.
• UK-Focused Small E-commerce (Rating ★★★★): Domain + hosting bundles for rapid UK market site deployment.
• Global Business Websites (Rating ★★): Limited TLD selection and global node coverage; evaluate global DNS providers.

Pricing

Note: Prices are reference only. UK domain prices are in GBP. Actual pricing at PlanetHippo official website prevails.

FAQ

• What's the difference between .uk and .co.uk? .uk is the shorter UK TLD introduced in 2014, while .co.uk is the traditional UK business domain. Both point to the same namespace. .uk holders typically have priority rights to corresponding .co.uk domains. See Domain Suffix Selection Guide.
• Can non-UK residents register .uk domains? Yes, .uk domains have no residency restrictions. However, Nominet's terms and DRS policy apply. For ccTLD selection, see ccTLD Domain Selection Strategy.
• Does PlanetHippo support domain transfers? Yes, both transfers-in and transfers-out following ICANN and Nominet standard procedures. For domain transfers, see Domain Transfer Guide.
• Does PlanetHippo's hosting support WordPress? Yes, WordPress hosting plans are available with one-click installation and auto-updates via cPanel. For hosting type decisions, see Website Hosting Type Decision Guide.
• What payment methods does PlanetHippo accept? Credit cards (Visa/MasterCard) and PayPal, billed in GBP. For domain purchasing, see Domain Purchase Guide.