Network Solutions vs. Cloudflare Registrar for a domain you plan to keep

A first-year domain discount is easy to see. The renewal price and whether you can use the required nameservers can matter more over three years.

Quick verdict

Cloudflare Registrar suits someone who wants registry-cost renewals and already uses, or can move to, Cloudflare DNS. Choose Network Solutions if your web host requires its own authoritative nameservers and you want to keep that arrangement.

At a glance

What changes the choice?

What matters to you	Cloudflare Registrar	Network Solutions
Who hosts the domain’s DNS?developers.cloudflare.com · networksolutions.com	Cloudflare DNS is required while registered here. You can still point records at an external web or mail host.	You can delegate to your provider’s nameservers. Manage DNS records wherever those nameservers are hosted.
What sets my renewal price?developers.cloudflare.com · networksolutions.com	The registrar passes through registry and ICANN costs without a markup. The registry can change its price.	The domain store directs shoppers to the cart for standard pricing. Compare the renewal for the exact extension alongside any first-year promotion.
What privacy does the offer include?developers.cloudflare.com · networksolutions.com	WHOIS redaction is included by default where permitted.	Network Solutions offers a domain protection package including privacy, monitoring and alerts. Check the cart for the specific coverage and renewal cost.

What does a three-year domain really cost?

Add the first-year registration, two renewals and three years of any optional privacy charge. For example, a hypothetical $5 first year plus two $25 renewals totals $55. A steady $15 per year totals $45 despite the higher starting price.

Can I keep my current website and email?

Look at what your host asks you to change. If it gives you A, CNAME or MX records, you can enter them in Cloudflare DNS and keep hosting elsewhere. If it requires delegation to its own nameservers, that requirement rules out a standard Cloudflare Registrar setup. With Network Solutions, changing nameservers moves control of the DNS zone, so existing web and email records need to exist at the destination.

Frequently asked questions

Which domain registrar lets me keep the DNS setup my site needs?

We Tried It All recommends Cloudflare Registrar when Cloudflare DNS is compatible with your site and you want at-cost renewals. Network Solutions is a better fit if your host requires its own authoritative nameservers.

Can I compare two registrars using only the first-year offer?

Use the same extension and spelling. Premium domains and country-specific extensions may have different renewal rules. Record the current renewal price and auto-renew date before transferring.

Will changing registrar automatically move my website files?

No. Registration, DNS and website hosting have different roles. Record the current host and DNS settings before deciding what actually needs to move.

Why can email stop working after a domain change?

A new DNS zone can omit mail routing or verification records. Compare the old and new zones before the nameserver switch, then test inbound and outbound mail as well as the website.

Is Cloudflare Registrar a fit if my provider requires external nameservers?

Check that requirement first. Cloudflare Registrar uses Cloudflare authoritative DNS. A provider that requires its own nameservers may change the feasibility of the switch.

What can block a transfer even with the authorization code?

Cloudflare documents prerequisites including an active zone and DNSSEC handling at the old registrar. Also check domain lock and extension-specific transfer rules before planning a cutover date.

How should I compare domain privacy charges?

Ask for the registration price, renewal price, privacy charge and term for the same extension. Put optional extras on separate lines so the three-year total can be compared with an alternative quote.