Namecheap vs Hostinger Domain Transfer Cost: 2026 Price Audit
EPP Authorization • TLD Cost Matrices • WHOIS Protection
If you are planning to consolidate your domains and hosting services, understanding the transfer fees, renewal prices, and WHOIS privacy structures is essential. This guide compares transfer costs and renewal fees between Namecheap and Hostinger.
Transfer & Renewal Cost Matrix
Every domain transfer transaction includes a 1-year registration extension. Below is the side-by-side cost breakdown for major Top-Level Domains (TLDs) in 2026:
| Domain Extension (TLD) | Hostinger (Transfer Cost) | Hostinger (Renewal / Yr) | Namecheap (Transfer Cost) | Namecheap (Renewal / Yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .com | $9.99 | $13.99 | $10.48 | $14.98 |
| .net | $12.99 | $14.99 | $13.48 | $15.98 |
| .org | $12.99 | $14.99 | $12.98 | $16.98 |
| .xyz | $13.99 | $14.99 | $13.98 | $16.98 |
| .info | $14.99 | $16.99 | $15.48 | $17.98 |
| WHOIS Privacy | ★ FREE FOREVER | ★ FREE FOREVER | ||
How to Transfer a Domain from Namecheap to Hostinger
Follow this step-by-step sequence to transfer your domain registration with zero downtime:
Unlock at Namecheap
Log in to Namecheap, locate your domain, navigate to the Sharing & Transfer settings, and toggle the Domain Lock to Unlocked.
Get the EPP Code
Click Auth Code inside Namecheap. Select a reason for transfer, and Namecheap will send the unique password code to your registrant email.
Purchase at Hostinger
Go to Hostinger's Domain Transfer tool, enter your domain name, complete the $9.99 transfer fee payment, and enter the EPP code in hPanel.
Confirm Email
Check your registrant email inbox for the transfer authorization request and click the link to confirm the transfer details.
Wait 5-7 Days
The transfer transaction takes 5 to 7 days to complete. Your website and custom email configurations will remain online during this time.
Long-Term Renewal Costs
Many users focus on the initial domain transfer fee but forget to check yearly renewal costs. While Namecheap is a legendary domain registrar, their renewal fees for standard TLDs are slightly higher than Hostinger's current rates.
For example, renewing a .com domain name at Hostinger costs $13.99/year, whereas Namecheap renews at $14.98/year. While a $0.99 difference seems minor, it adds up over multiple years and across a portfolio of domains.
Additionally, if you purchase any Premium or Business hosting plan at Hostinger (starting at $2.99/mo), they include a free domain registration for the first year, allowing you to bypass initial setup costs entirely.
Domain Transfer: FAQs
Yes, when you transfer a domain between Namecheap and Hostinger (or vice versa), the transfer cost includes a 1-year registration extension. For instance, if your domain is set to expire in September 2026, transferring it will extend its expiration date to September 2027 automatically.
The cost to transfer a .com domain to Hostinger is $9.99. This fee covers the transfer fee itself and adds 1 full year to your domain's registration period. Namecheap's fee to transfer a .com from Hostinger to Namecheap is $10.48.
Yes. Both registrars provide free WHOIS privacy protection forever. This feature replaces your personal contact details (name, phone, address, email) in the public ICANN registry with placeholder registrar information, protecting you from spam calls and marketing databases.
An EPP code (also known as an Authorization Code or Auth Key) is a secure, unique alphanumeric password generated by your current registrar. It acts as a security lock, proving you own the domain and authorize its transfer to the new registrar.
Domain transfers typically take between 5 to 7 days to complete. The exact duration depends on how quickly your current registrar releases the domain once you submit the EPP authorization code. During this period, your website files remain online and active.
No. Your website and custom email accounts will remain online and fully functional throughout the transfer process, provided you do not modify your nameservers while the transfer transaction is pending.
No. Under ICANN rules, you cannot transfer a domain name to a different registrar within 60 days of its initial registration or a previous transfer. If your domain is brand new, you must wait until the 60-day lock period expires.
Transferring a .net domain to Hostinger costs $12.99 (includes 1-yr extension), and a .org domain costs $12.99. Namecheap charges $13.48 for .net transfers and $12.98 for .org transfers.
Hostinger and Namecheap renewal prices are very competitive. For .com domains, Hostinger renews at $13.99/yr, and Namecheap renews at $14.98/yr. Hostinger is slightly cheaper for .com renewals, whereas Namecheap is comparable.
No. The free domain promotion offered with Hostinger's Premium or Business hosting plans is only valid for new domain registrations. If you are transferring an existing domain, you must pay the standard transfer fee (which includes a 1-year registration extension).
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) levies a flat $0.18 annual fee on every domain registration, renewal, or transfer. Hostinger includes this fee in its listed transfer prices, whereas Namecheap sometimes lists it separately in the shopping cart.
Log in to your Namecheap account, navigate to Domain List, click Manage next to your domain, select the Sharing & Transfer tab, scroll to the status section, and click Unlock to disable the registrar lock.
If you want to move your hosting at the same time, we recommend pointing your domain nameservers to your new host before initiating the transfer. If you change them during an active transfer, it can cause database updates to pause.
Yes, you can transfer an expired domain provided it is still within its grace period (usually up to 30 days after expiration) and you have access to the EPP code. However, we recommend transferring before expiration to avoid service interruption.
If transferring away from Hostinger, log in to hPanel, navigate to Domains, click on your domain, select the Transfer / Lock tab, toggle off the domain lock, and click Show Auth Code.