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

Buying a domain name without revealing your identity can be essential for privacy.

When you register a domain, your personal details go into the WHOIS database, which anyone can search. This means strangers can see who owns the domain.

But don’t worry. There are ways to keep your details hidden.

At WPBeginner, we do this, too. By keeping our sensitive information hidden, we can protect it from malicious threats and ensure our website stays secure. 

In this article, you’ll learn 3 easy methods 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 in their browsers to visit your website.

However, when you buy a domain name, your personal information is saved in a public WHOIS database. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, requires every domain registrar to maintain a WHOIS database.

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 anonymously allows you to protect your private data and use proxy information in the WHOIS database instead. Plus, you can prevent malicious or accidental domain transfers from happening.

Additionally, getting the domain anonymously enhances your site’s online security. It prevents hackers from stealing your domain or misusing it for monetary benefit.

On top of that, registering a domain name with your personal information may expose you to spam emails, unsolicited phone calls, or even physical mail. Anonymously registering a domain can help reduce the risk of such unwanted communication.

With that in mind, we’ll show you 3 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:

Ready? Let’s jump right in!

Method 1: Buy Domain Name Anonymously Using Domain.com

Domain.com is one of the most popular domain name registrars. You can easily find a domain for your website, as it offers more than 300 website name extensions.

With Domain.com, you get access to multiple tools for domain management. For example, you get bulk registration, easy transfers, DNS management, an email account, and more.

To anonymously buy a domain name, you’ll first visit the Domain.com 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, Domain.com will add the ‘Domain Privacy + Protection’ add-on by default. However, this is a paid add-on and will cost you an additional $8.99 per year, along with the cost of the domain name.

You will see it in your shopping cart, and the ‘Add Domain Privacy + Protection to each domain for $8.99 per year’ option will also be enabled.

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 publically 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 ‘Select’ button for any plan you’d like to use.

After that, Bluehost will ask you to set up a domain. You can either create a new domain or connect an existing domain name.

Since we’re buying a new domain, simply enter a name under the ‘Create a new domain’ section and click the ‘Next’ button. You can also choose the domain extension you’d like to use.

For more help, check out 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 account information and payment page.

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

From here, simply scroll down to the ‘Package Extras’ section and make sure that the ‘Domain Privacy + Protection’ add-on is selected.

Bluehost charges $11.88 per year for ‘Domain Privacy + Protection.’

Once you select that option, you can 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 is $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 cost you $69.99 per domain plus a 20% commission on the final price of the domain.

Bonus Tip: Create a Fully Anonymous WordPress Website

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

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

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.

Or, you’re an aspiring content creator who wants to keep your work secret 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 being anonymous for a while.

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

We hope this article helped you learn how to buy a domain name anonymously. You can also see our guide on how to buy a domain name that is taken and our expert picks of the best places to find premium domain names for sale.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.