How To Buy a Domain Name Anonymously (3 Easy Ways)

I still remember the first time I registered a domain name. It felt like a huge step, but a wave of anxiety washed over me when I learned my personal information, name, address, and email, would be listed in a public directory.

Many of our readers share this same concern about the public WHOIS database. It’s a valid worry, as exposing your details can lead to a flood of spam emails and put you at risk of identity theft.

After registering hundreds of domains for our own projects, we’ve mastered the art of keeping personal data private. This guide will walk you through the exact methods we use to buy a domain name anonymously.

Why Buy a Domain Name Anonymously?

When you create a WordPress website, you’ll need a domain name. It’s your site’s address that people will type into their browsers to visit your website.

However, when you buy a domain name, your personal information is often saved in a public WHOIS database. While global privacy laws like GDPR mean some registrars automatically redact certain details for users in specific regions, purchasing dedicated privacy protection guarantees your information is fully hidden worldwide.

Using this database, anyone can find out who actually owns a domain name. This includes your name, email address, physical address, server name, DNS, and other information.

Buying a domain with privacy protection allows you to hide your personal data in the public WHOIS database. Instead of your details, it will show generic proxy information from your registrar.

Additionally, most registrars bundle this with a Domain Protection service, which helps prevent malicious or accidental domain transfers by locking your domain.

While buying a domain anonymously protects your identity, most privacy add-ons also bundle a Domain Lock feature. This lock is what actually improves your site’s online security by preventing hackers from stealing or transferring your domain without your permission.

Plus, registering a domain name with your personal information exposes you to spam emails, unsolicited phone calls, or even physical mail.

Today, spammers frequently use AI tools to scrape public WHOIS data and generate highly personalized phishing attacks. Anonymously registering a domain is the best way to block these automated threats.

Now, we’ll show you three ways to hide your information in the WHOIS database using domain registrars and a web hosting company.

You can click the links below to jump ahead to your preferred section:

Which Method Should You Choose?

Choosing the right method for anonymous domain registration depends on your specific needs. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

• Network Solutions: Ideal if you need an established registrar with comprehensive domain management tools and robust corporate-grade security.
• Bluehost: Best for beginners who need web hosting, as it bundles a free domain name and domain privacy, simplifying setup for new WordPress sites.
• GoDaddy: Perfect if you’re looking for tiered domain protection plans, hijacking prevention, or need to acquire an already taken domain name anonymously through their broker service.

Method 1: Buy Domain Name Anonymously Using Network Solutions

Network Solutions is one of the oldest and largest domain name registrars. You can easily find a domain for your website, as it offers a wide variety of website name extensions.

With Network Solutions, you get access to multiple tools for domain management. For example, you get:

• Bulk registration
• Easy transfers
• DNS management
• Domain forwarding
• And more

To anonymously buy a domain name, you’ll first visit the Network Solutions website and enter a name in the search bar. After that, simply click the ‘Search’ button.

The domain name registrar will now see if the domain you’re looking for is available and show a list of options with different website extensions.

If your domain is available, you can add it to your cart. Network Solutions will add the ‘Domain Privacy + Protection’ add-on by default.

However, this is a paid add-on and will currently cost you around an additional $11.99 per year, along with the cost of the domain name.

You will see it in your shopping cart, and you can click the ‘Continue to Checkout’ button to complete your purchase.

Method 2: Buy Domain Name Anonymously Using Bluehost

Bluehost is one of the largest hosting companies in the world and an official WordPress hosting partner. When you sign up for their hosting service, you can register a domain for free.

Bluehost lets you add the ‘Domain Privacy Protection’ add-on to your package during signup. This way, your private information won’t be publicly available, as it will be replaced with generic Bluehost contact details in the WHOIS database.

To get started, you need to visit the Bluehost website and click the ‘Get Started Now’ button.

Next, you will need to select a pricing plan.

Simply click the ‘Choose Plan’ button for any plan you’d like to use.

After that, Bluehost will ask you to set up a domain. First, make sure that the ‘Domain Privacy + Protection’ add-on is selected.

Bluehost charges $15 per domain per year for ‘Domain Privacy + Protection.’

Next, since we’re buying a new domain, simply enter a name under the ‘Register a new domain’ field and click the ‘Search For Domain’ button. You can also choose the domain extension you’d like to use.

If you are struggling to come up with a website idea, we highly recommend using an AI-powered tool like the Nameboy Domain Name Generator to instantly brainstorm the perfect, available URL. For more help, see our article on how to choose the best domain name.

Bluehost will then check if the domain name you entered is available.

If it is, then you’ll see the cart page.

Click on the ‘Continue to Checkout’ button to proceed.

Next, you can add your personal details to create an account.

Lastly, scroll down the page to enter your payment details to purchase website hosting and domain names anonymously.

Method 3: Buy Domain Name Anonymously Using GoDaddy

Another way you can get a domain name anonymously is to use GoDaddy, one of the market’s oldest and most popular domain registrars.

To get started, you can search the GoDaddy website for a domain name.

Next, GoDaddy will check to see if your domain name is available. It will also show different domain extensions you can purchase along with the .com extension.

If it’s available, simply click the ‘Continue’ button.

On the next screen, you can select different add-ons for your domain name. This includes protecting your domain and keeping your information anonymous.

Simply select the ‘Full Domain Protection’ option, which currently costs around $9.99 per year, and click the ‘Continue to Cart’ button.

After that, GoDaddy will show you a summary of your cart, and you can check if everything is correct.

Next, go ahead and click the ‘I’m Ready to Pay’ button to proceed to the payment process and finalize your purchase.

Additionally, GoDaddy differs from other registrars because you can buy a domain name that’s already taken by using their domain broker service.

If the domain name you’re looking for is owned by someone else, then GoDaddy will work as a broker and try to work out a deal with the domain owner.

Since GoDaddy acts as the middleman and handles all the steps, your identity is never revealed to the actual owner.

Simply visit the GoDaddy Domain Broker Service webpage and enter the domain name in the search bar.

Next, you can hire GoDaddy as your domain broker so they can negotiate a deal to purchase your domain name.

Doing so and using GoDaddy as a broker will currently cost you an upfront fee of around $99.99 per domain, plus a 20% commission on the final price of the domain.

Please note that this initial broker fee is non-refundable, meaning you will not get it back even if the broker cannot successfully acquire the domain for you.

Bonus Tip: Create a Fully Anonymous WordPress Website

Now that you’ve bought a domain name anonymously, you might want to learn how to create a fully anonymous WordPress website.

An anonymous website hides who runs or owns it, allowing people to stay private.

It is important to note that WHOIS privacy only hides your info from the public. The domain registrar still has your billing details.

If you want 100% true anonymity, you will also need to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to hide your IP address and pay for your domain and hosting using a prepaid business card or cryptocurrency.

There are many reasons someone might want to be anonymous.

For instance, whistleblowers may need to expose corruption without getting in trouble, and journalists in harsh regimes might need anonymity to stay safe.

Alternatively, you might be an aspiring content creator who wants to keep your blog private from employers or family so you can express yourself freely. And if you’re a blogger trying to get better at writing, you might also prefer to be anonymous for a while.

For more details, you can read our guide on how to create a truly anonymous website.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buying a Domain Anonymously

We get a lot of questions about anonymous domain registration. Below are answers to some of the most common ones we receive.

1. What is domain privacy protection?

Domain privacy protection is a service offered by domain registrars that hides your personal contact information from the public WHOIS database.

Instead of your name, address, and email, it displays generic proxy information provided by the registrar, protecting you from spam and identity theft.

2. Is it legal to buy a domain name anonymously?

Yes, it is completely legal to buy a domain name using privacy protection. Most domain registrars offer this service as a standard add-on to help you comply with ICANN rules while still protecting your personal information from being publicly accessible.

3. How much does domain privacy cost?

The cost varies by registrar. Some, like Bluehost, may offer it as part of a hosting package, while others charge an annual fee. For example, the services mentioned in this guide have prices ranging from about $9.99 to $11.99 per year.

4. Can I add privacy protection to a domain I already own?

Yes, in most cases, you can add domain privacy protection to an existing domain name. You can typically do this through your domain registrar’s dashboard. Keep in mind that it may take a day or two for the WHOIS database to update with the new private information.

5. Are there any disadvantages to using domain privacy?

While domain privacy offers great benefits, it usually comes with an additional annual fee that auto-renews.

Important: Because your real name isn’t attached to the public domain record, you must keep your registrar login credentials extremely secure. If you lose access to your account, proving to customer support that you actually own the domain can be very difficult.

6. Does domain privacy also protect my website from hackers?

Domain privacy primarily hides your personal contact information from the public WHOIS database, which reduces risks like spam and identity theft. However, it doesn’t directly protect your website from technical hacking attempts. For comprehensive security against hackers, you’ll need robust WordPress security plugins and strong hosting security measures.

Additional Resources

We hope this article helped you learn how to buy a domain name anonymously. You might also want to check out these related articles on domain names and website security:

• Beginner’s Guide: What is a Domain Name and How Do Domains Work? – A great starting point if you’re new to the world of domains.
• How to Choose the Best Domain Registrar (Compared) – This guide breaks down the best places to register your domain name.
• How to Buy a Domain Name That is Taken – Learn the steps to acquire a domain that someone else already owns.
• Best Places to Find Premium Domain Names for Sale – Discover marketplaces for high-value and brandable domain names.
• The Ultimate WordPress Security Guide – A comprehensive checklist to keep your entire website secure.

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