ENS is the best Web3 name service for most wallets: a .eth name of 5+ characters costs $5 in ETH per year, and an expired name gets a 90-day grace period. The six services here split into two models. ENS, Basenames and SPACE ID rent names by the year, while Unstoppable Domains and Freename sell Web3 domains with no renewal fees. Pick the one tied to the chain you use most.
Quick answer
ENS for Ethereum and EVM wallets ($5 in ETH a year for 5+ characters), Basenames if you live on Base, and SNS for Solana. Choose Unstoppable Domains or Freename only if you want to avoid renewals and accept narrower support.
- 01ENS: Best overall
- 02Basenames: best for Base users
- 03SNS: best for Solana
- 04Unstoppable Domains: best for no renewals
- 05SPACE ID: best for BNB Chain
The 6 best web3 name services
ENS maps .eth names to wallet addresses, sites and profiles, and its homepage lists over 37 million names. 5+ character names cost $5 in ETH per year, 4 characters $160 and 3 characters $640, plus gas.
- Chains
- Ethereum, with names resolvable across many chains and apps
- Platforms
- Web
- Custody
- Self-custody
- Pricing
- 5+ characters: $5 in ETH per year; 4 characters: $160; 3 characters: $640
- Fees
- Annual renewal; 90-day grace period after expiry, then a premium that falls over 21 days
Pros
- 5+ character .eth names cost $5 in ETH per year
- 90-day grace period after expiry before a name is released
- No maximum registration length, so you can prepay many years
Cons
- Names must be renewed; a lapsed name can be registered by anyone
- 3 and 4 character names cost $640 and $160 per year
- Registration and renewal also cost Ethereum gas
Skip it if you will forget to renew: a lapsed name can be registered by anyone after the 90-day grace period.
Basenames issues .base.eth names on Base, built on the same technology as ENS. 5 to 9 characters cost 0.001 ETH a year and 10+ characters 0.0001 ETH. Coinbase Verification holders can get one 5+ letter name free for a year.
- Chains
- Base; names usable for sending on other EVM chains
- Platforms
- Web
- Custody
- Self-custody
- Pricing
- Annual: 3 chars 0.1 ETH; 4 chars 0.01 ETH; 5 to 9 chars 0.001 ETH; 10+ chars 0.0001 ETH
- Free plan
- One free 5+ letter name for one year for eligible users, such as Coinbase Verification holders; one discount per address
Pros
- 10+ character names cost 0.0001 ETH per year
- One free 5+ letter name for a year with Coinbase Verification and other listed criteria
- Contracts are in a public GitHub repo
Cons
- Names are rented per year and must be renewed
- 3 character names cost 0.1 ETH per year
- Profile data you publish is recorded on-chain
Skip it if you want a short name: 3 characters cost 0.1 ETH per year.
SNS maps .sol names to Solana addresses. Its docs list 5+ character names at $20 and single characters at $750, payable in a chosen token or by card via Coinflow, with 5% off in FIDA.
- Chains
- Solana
- Platforms
- Web
- Custody
- Self-custody
- Pricing
- 1 char $750, 2 char $700, 3 char $640, 4 char $160, 5+ char $20
- Token
- SNS, a community token for .sol holders; airdrop claims were not available in the US
Pros
- 5+ character .sol names cost $20
- Card checkout through Coinflow as well as crypto
- 5% discount when paying with FIDA
Cons
- Short names cost $160 to $750
- SNS token airdrop claims were geo-blocked for US users
- Names work only in the Solana ecosystem and its integrations
Skip it if you are in the US and want the SNS token: its airdrop claims excluded US users.
Unstoppable Domains says a Web3 domain bought and claimed from it carries no renewal fees, and it also registers regular DNS names, with .com at $10.67 a year. Its homepage says it manages over 1 million domains.
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Pricing
- Web3 domains: one-time purchase, no renewal fees; DNS .com: $10.67 to register or renew
- Fees
- DNS prices exclude method-dependent processing fees of about 3%
Pros
- Web3 domains carry no renewal fees, per its terms
- Also registers regular DNS domains, with .com at $10.67
- Reseller API and an MCP server for AI tools
Cons
- Its terms warn Web3 names can collide with names on other blockchains or DNS
- Web3 domains do not resolve in standard browsers without extra support
- DNS orders add about 3% payment processing
Skip it if you need the name to work in any browser: Web3 domains need extra support to resolve.
SPACE ID runs .bnb on BNB Chain and .arb on Arbitrum from one portal, plus a toolkit for communities to launch their own TLDs. Its docs say .bnb reached 168K unique holders within 6 months of launch.
- Chains
- BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Ethereum
- Platforms
- Web, SDK, API
- Custody
- Self-custody
- Pricing
- Annual rent; fee depends on name length and registration duration
- Token
- ID token
Pros
- One portal to search, register and manage names across several TLDs
- SDK and API for apps to resolve Web3 names
- Partners can earn referral commission on .bnb and .arb registrations
Cons
- Names are rented per year and must be renewed
- Its docs do not publish a fixed price table
- Several docs pages were last updated 2 to 3 years ago
Skip it if you want a fixed price table: its docs say the fee depends on name length and duration.
Freename sells Web3 domains from $5 with no renewal fees and custom TLDs from $79. A TLD owner who pays $99 a year for a royalty license earns up to 50% of each domain registered under it.
- Platforms
- Web, API
- Pricing
- Web3 domains from $5, no renewal fees
- Fees
- TLD royalty license $99 per year; up to 50% of each domain registered under your TLD
Pros
- Web3 domains start from $5 with no renewal fees
- Own a custom TLD from $79
- TLD owners can earn up to 50% of each registration under it
Cons
- Royalties need a $99 per year license
- Web3 domains need extensions or supporting apps to resolve
- The .CHZ extension is an exception and requires renewals
Skip it if you want a name most wallets already resolve: Freename domains need extensions or supporting apps.
Web3 Name Services compared
Select a name to jump to its review.
| Name | Best for | Fees | Pricing | Chains | Custody |
|---|
| ENS | Ethereum and EVM wallets | Annual renewal; 90-day grace period after expiry, then a premium that falls over 21 days | 5+ characters: $5 in ETH per year; 4 characters: $160; 3 characters: $640 | Ethereum, with names resolvable across many chains and apps | Self-custody |
|---|
| Basenames | Base and Coinbase users | Not verified | Annual: 3 chars 0.1 ETH; 4 chars 0.01 ETH; 5 to 9 chars 0.001 ETH; 10+ chars 0.0001 ETH | Base; names usable for sending on other EVM chains | Self-custody |
|---|
| SNS | Solana wallets | Not verified | 1 char $750, 2 char $700, 3 char $640, 4 char $160, 5+ char $20 | Solana | Self-custody |
|---|
| Unstoppable Domains | Web3 plus DNS domains | DNS prices exclude method-dependent processing fees of about 3% | Web3 domains: one-time purchase, no renewal fees; DNS .com: $10.67 to register or renew | Not verified | Not verified |
|---|
| SPACE ID | .bnb and .arb names | Not verified | Annual rent; fee depends on name length and registration duration | BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Ethereum | Self-custody |
|---|
| Freename | Owning your own TLD | TLD royalty license $99 per year; up to 50% of each domain registered under your TLD | Web3 domains from $5, no renewal fees | Not verified | Not verified |
|---|
“Not verified” means we could not confirm the value on the project’s own pages.
How we rank web3 name services
- 01Price: the published price for a standard name, in the currency the service uses. We do not compare ETH prices with dollar prices.
- 02Renewal: yearly rent or one-time purchase, and what happens when a name expires.
- 03Support: how widely wallets and apps resolve the name, and whether it needs a browser extension.
- 04Chain fit: which chain the name lives on and which addresses it maps.
- 05US availability: any US restrictions stated by the service, such as token airdrops.
No project paid to be listed or ranked. Full rules: methodology.
How to choose
Rent or buy
ENS, Basenames and SPACE ID charge yearly. Unstoppable Domains and Freename sell Web3 domains with no renewal fees, though Freename’s .CHZ extension is an exception and requires renewals.
Prepay if you rent
ENS has no maximum registration length, so you can pay many years at once. If a name lapses, ENS gives a 90-day grace period, then a premium that falls over 21 days before anyone can buy it.
Check where the name resolves
A name only helps if your wallet and the apps you use read it. Web3 domains from Unstoppable Domains and Freename do not resolve in standard browsers without extra support.
Mind what goes on-chain
Profile records such as avatar, social handles and addresses are public. Basenames notes that profile data you publish is recorded on-chain.
Who should skip all of these
- A business website: a regular DNS domain works in every browser. Unstoppable Domains also sells those.
- Anyone who wants privacy: a name links your address and profile in public.
- Short-name speculation on a budget: 3-character names cost $640 a year on ENS and 0.1 ETH a year on Basenames.
Bottom line
Start with ENS on Ethereum, Basenames on Base or SNS on Solana, each tied to the chain its names serve.
If you rent, prepay several years: a lapsed ENS name is released after the 90-day grace period.
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; do your own research.
FAQ
How much does an ENS name cost?
±
5+ character .eth names cost $5 in ETH per year, 4 characters $160 and 3 characters $640, plus Ethereum gas for registration and renewal.
Do Web3 domains expire?
±
ENS, Basenames and SPACE ID names are rented per year and expire if not renewed. Unstoppable Domains and Freename sell Web3 domains with no renewal fees.
Can I use a Web3 domain as a website address?
±
Not in a standard browser without extra support. Unstoppable Domains also sells regular DNS names, with .com at $10.67 a year.
Which name service works on Solana?
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SNS issues .sol names. 5+ characters cost $20, and you can pay by card through Coinflow.
Is Basenames the same as ENS?
±
Basenames runs on Base and is built on the same technology as ENS, with names ending in .base.eth. Prices are set in ETH: 0.001 ETH a year for 5 to 9 characters.
What changed in this list
2026-09-26First version: 6 Web3 name services, prices checked in each service’s own docs.