£5.04 first year inc VAT. Affiliate link: we may earn a commission, which never changes a score. Why this pick?
Which registrar is best for registering a .co.uk domain without a nasty renewal bill? We rank 7 registrars with a published score built from prices (inc VAT) and features verified on each provider's own site. Commission is never an input.
Why scores differ from the homepage. Every guide uses the same six score components but weights them for the job. This one counts renewal price (45%) and trustpilot (20%) most; the homepage's all-round score gives renewal price the biggest share. So Porkbun scores 7.8 here. See this guide's weights · Methodology
Small print under each price is exactly as the provider advertises it. Buttons are affiliate links (disclosure). Converted figures add VAT at 20% where prices are quoted ex VAT (or the basis isn't stated). 3-yr cost = intro price for the promo period then renewal. Providers that bill in US dollars or euros are converted to pounds for scoring at the ECB reference rate for 26 Oct 2026 ($1 = £0.7492, €1 = £0.8382; source: Frankfurter/ECB). Advertised foreign-currency prices are shown next to every converted figure.
How the score works for this guide
Each component is scored 0–10 and weighted as shown. Commission is never an input. Full methodology.
Host
Renewal price (inc VAT) 45%
Intro price (inc VAT) 15%
Trustpilot 20%
Support 10%
Guide features 10%
UK data centre 0%
Total
Porkbun
10.0
2.4
9.5
0.0
10.0
0.0
7.8
IONOS
4.2
10.0
8.5
10.0
10.0
0.0
7.1
Fasthosts
3.3
10.0
9.0
4.0
10.0
0.0
6.2
Krystal
5.2
1.2
9.5
4.0
10.0
0.0
5.8
Heart Internet
3.5
1.7
8.5
2.0
10.0
0.0
4.7
GoDaddy
3.2
0.0
7.0
8.0
5.0
0.0
4.2
123 Reg
3.2
2.5
4.0
2.0
5.0
0.0
3.3
Guide features: Offer on a 1-year term, Renewal price published. Only features verified on the provider's own site count. 123 Reg: Renewal price not published: scored as the highest renewal in this guide.
What to look for: domains
Renewal priceYou'll pay it every year you keep the domain; first-year offers end.
Term conditionsSome 1p offers need a 3-year purchase upfront.
VATMost UK registrars quote prices ex VAT.
TransfersMoving a .uk domain between registrars is usually free.
A .co.uk domain costs very little in the first year almost everywhere; the real difference is the renewal price, which you pay every year after. We score registrars on renewal price per year inc VAT (45%), first-year price (15%), Trustpilot (20%), support (10%) and two buyer-protection checks (10%): whether the offer works on a 1-year registration, and whether the renewal price is published. Porkbun scores highest at 7.8/10.
1-year registration (first-year price; registration list price £9.99)
Verified 2026-11-01 on each registrar's own page (linked). VAT added at 20% where the price is ex VAT or the basis isn't stated. 3-year cost = first-year price then renewal for years two and three.
How to avoid overpaying for a .co.uk
Compare the renewal price. A £1 first year followed by £12.83 a year costs more over three years than a flat £7.99.
Check the term. GoDaddy's 1p offer needs a 3-year purchase; most others let you buy one year.
Don't forget VAT. UK registrars mostly quote ex VAT; Porkbun prices in US dollars.
Transfers between UK registrars are handled through Nominet's registrar tag system rather than an auth code, and several registrars here list free .uk transfers in.
US registrar with flat, low .co.uk pricing: the same price to register and renew
Pros
Same price at registration and renewal
Free transfers in listed
Trustpilot 4.9
Cons
Priced in US dollars
US company; no UK phone line
VAT handling not stated
Scored plan: .co.uk domain, Transfer in $0.00 (free). 1 year, same price at renewal. Converted from US dollars at the ECB reference rate for 26 Oct 2026 ($1 = £0.7492); you are billed in USD, so the pound figure moves with the exchange rate (price from Porkbun's public pricing API). Trustpilot 4.9/5. Verified 2026-11-01.
Rock-bottom entry prices with big storage allowances
Pros
Very cheap first year (Plus £1/mo for 12 months)
Huge NVMe storage allowances
24/7 phone, chat and email support
Free domain and SSL
Cons
Renewal jump after promo
UK data centre for shared hosting not stated
Few mailboxes on lower plans
Scored plan: .co.uk domain, Domain Lock; DNS included. 1 year (offer price for the first year). £1 for the first year, list price £10/yr excl. VAT. Trustpilot 4.7/5. Verified 2026-11-01.
British brand, UK data centres, strong small-business hosting
Pros
UK data centres
24/7 UK phone support
Generous storage
Free domain included
Cons
Renewal jump after 3–12 month promo
Few mailboxes on cheaper plans
Green-energy claim self-declared
Scored plan: .co.uk domain, DNS management included. 1 year (first-year offer, two per new customer). £1 first year, then £12.83/yr; two per new customer. Trustpilot 4.8/5. Verified 2026-11-01.
UK-based, renewable-powered host with flat pricing (no renewal jump)
Pros
Renewable-powered, listed by the Green Web Foundation
UK company with London data centres
Daily backups included
Unlimited mailboxes on every plan
Cons
Higher entry price than promo-led hosts
Free domain not included on the entry plan
Live chat hours not stated as 24/7
Scored plan: .co.uk domain, Free WHOIS privacy listed. 1 year, same price at renewal. £7.99 ex VAT/yr to register and renew. Trustpilot 4.9/5. Verified 2026-11-01.
Big-name registrar with 24/7 phone support; best if your domains are already there
Pros
24/7 phone and chat support
Free domain listed with hosting
Daily backups and free SSL
Well-known brand for domains
Cons
Renewal more than double the intro price
UK data centre not stated
VAT basis not stated on the hosting page
Scored plan: .co.uk domain, Additional years £12.99. 3-year purchase required (1p first year, then £12.99 a year). 1p first year only with a 3-year purchase; additional years £12.99. Trustpilot 4.4/5. Verified 2026-11-01.
Established UK brand with cheap 3-year lock-in deals
Pros
Very low upfront for 3-year lock
Free domain & SSL
cPanel control panel
Long-established UK brand
Cons
High renewal prices
3-year lock-in commitment
Mixed support reviews
Scored plan: .co.uk domain, Free .uk/.co.uk transfers in. 1st-year price; renews at the then-current list price. £3.99 for the first year; renewal price not shown on the page ("renews at the then-current list price"). Trustpilot 3.8/5. Verified 2026-11-01.
Over three years including VAT, Porkbun is cheapest in our comparison at about £15.12. The lowest first-year prices are offers that end: always check the renewal price.
How much does a .co.uk domain cost to renew?
Of the registrars that publish it, renewal ranges from £5.04 to £15.60 a year inc VAT.
Can I move my .co.uk domain to a cheaper registrar?
Yes. .uk domains move between registrars using Nominet's registrar tag (IPS tag) rather than an auth code, and several registrars here list free .uk transfers in. Your website and email keep working as long as the DNS records move with the domain.
Should I register .uk as well as .co.uk?
Many businesses register both to protect their name. Prices for .uk are usually the same as .co.uk at the registrars in this guide; check the registrar's page.