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E-Commerce · head to head

Namecheap vs SamCart

Namecheap logo

Namecheap

E-Commerce

ICANN-accredited domain registrar that also sells shared hosting, SSL certificates and email

From
$0.88/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SamCart logo

SamCart

E-Commerce

The number one checkout platform

From
$79/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Namecheap domains are advertised at a promotional first year price and renew at the standard registry rate, which for many extensions is several times higher, so the visible cost of a portfolio understates what it costs to keep.; SamCart no feature differentiation between CORE and PRO tiers, pricing tier based on expected transaction volume only
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Namecheap and SamCart actually diverge.

Attributes where Namecheap and SamCart differ
AttributeNamecheapSamCart
Starting price$0.88/year$79/month
Founded2000Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Namecheap

  • Domain registration
  • Free WHOIS privacy
  • DNS management
  • Shared and VPS hosting
  • SSL certificates
  • Private email
  • Domain transfers

Only in SamCart

Nothing recorded that Namecheap does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Namecheap

  • Registering and holding the domain for a store hosted on a separate platformnot SamCart
  • Consolidating a portfolio of defensive domain registrations under one accountnot SamCart
  • Managing DNS for a site whose hosting and mail live with different providersnot SamCart
  • Standing up a low traffic brochure site or landing page cheaply before a real buildnot SamCart

SamCart

  • Increasing average order value through automated order bumps and upsellsnot Namecheap
  • Recovering failed subscription payments with retry logic and dunning managementnot Namecheap
  • Generating sales pages, emails, and ads with AI from product descriptionsnot Namecheap
  • Sending cart abandonment recovery emails without customer re-entrynot Namecheap
  • Migrating existing customer bases from competing platforms without data lossnot Namecheap

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Namecheap

  • Domains are advertised at a promotional first year price and renew at the standard registry rate, which for many extensions is several times higher, so the visible cost of a portfolio understates what it costs to keep.
  • ICANN rules impose a sixty day transfer lock after registration and after registrant detail changes, so a domain registered in the wrong account or under the wrong entity cannot be moved for two months regardless of urgency.
  • Shared hosting is oversubscribed by design, so a storefront on it degrades under traffic spikes, which is precisely when a promotion or a press mention makes traffic spike.
  • Support runs through chat and tickets with no telephone escalation, so an outage affecting DNS or mail is resolved at the pace of a support queue rather than at the pace of your revenue loss.
  • It is a registrar and host rather than a commerce platform, so anyone comparing it against a store platform is comparing two different purchases and will still need to buy the platform separately.

SamCart

  • No feature differentiation between CORE and PRO tiers, pricing tier based on expected transaction volume only
  • Transaction fees of 2.9% plus $0.30 apply to all plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Namecheap

$0.88/year
  • Standard Domains$0.88/year
    • Domain registration
    • Free WhoisGuard
    • Dynamic DNS
  • Web Hosting$2.88/month
    • Unlimited bandwidth
    • Free SSL
    • Easy WordPress install

SamCart

$79/month
  • CORE$79/month
    • All features included
  • PRO$199/month
    • All features included

Which should you pick?

Choose Namecheap if

  • You need domain registration.
  • You also want free whois privacy.
Namecheap review

Choose SamCart if

Nothing in the data separates SamCart from Namecheap on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

SamCart review

Questions people ask

Is Namecheap or SamCart better?
Neither clearly leads. Namecheap starts at $0.88/year and SamCart at $79/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Namecheap or SamCart?
Namecheap starts at $0.88/year and SamCart at $79/month.
Does Namecheap or SamCart run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Namecheap best used for?
Namecheap is most often used for registering and holding the domain for a store hosted on a separate platform, consolidating a portfolio of defensive domain registrations under one account, managing dns for a site whose hosting and mail live with different providers, standing up a low traffic brochure site or landing page cheaply before a real build. Of those, registering and holding the domain for a store hosted on a separate platform and consolidating a portfolio of defensive domain registrations under one account are not what SamCart is typically brought in for.
What can Namecheap do that SamCart cannot?
Namecheap covers Domain registration, Free WHOIS privacy, DNS management, Shared and VPS hosting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Namecheap: Can I run an online store on Namecheap?

You can host store software there, but shared hosting is not a sensible home for a transacting storefront. Use it for the domain and DNS and put the store on a platform built for it.

SamCart: How much does SamCart cost?

SamCart offers two subscription tiers: CORE at $79/month and PRO at $199/month. Both plans include all features with no restrictions between tiers.

Source
Namecheap: Why is renewal more expensive than registration?

The first year is promotional. Renewal reflects the registry's standard wholesale price plus margin. Check the renewal rate, not the headline, before registering an extension.

SamCart: What are SamCart's transaction fees?

SamCart charges a transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction on all payments processed through the platform.

Source
Namecheap: Can I move my domain away if I change my mind?

Yes, but not immediately. ICANN enforces a sixty day lock after registration or after changing registrant details, and the domain must be unlocked with an authorisation code to transfer.

SamCart: Does SamCart offer a free trial?

Yes, SamCart offers a 7-day free trial available for both the CORE and PRO plans, allowing customers to test the platform before committing to a subscription.

Source
Namecheap: Is WHOIS privacy extra?

Namecheap includes it rather than billing for it annually, which is a real difference from several larger registrars where it is a recurring line item per domain.

SamCart: Does SamCart offer migration services from other platforms?

Yes, SamCart offers done-for-you migration services for customers switching from Kajabi, ThriveCart, ClickFunnels, Shopify, and Teachable. Specific pricing for migration services is not listed on the main page.

Source
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