Best Web3 Domain Name Services Compared (2026 Guide)

A Web3 domain name is a human-readable label recorded on a blockchain or similar decentralized registry and linked to data such as wallet addresses, profile details or a website. Instead of pasting a 42-character address, you type something like a name followed by.eth, and the wallet looks it up.

The key difference from the traditional Domain Name System is who controls the record. With DNS, a registrar and registry sit between you and the name, and they can suspend or seize it under their policies. With a Web3 name, ownership usually sits in a smart contract and the holder's wallet signs changes. That does not remove all risk, since a contract can have bugs and a registry can have governance rules, but it changes who can alter the name.

Most services offer the same core features:

• Forward resolution: the name points to one or more addresses, often on several chains.
• Reverse resolution: an address points back to a primary name, so apps can show a handle instead of hex characters.
• Records: text fields such as an avatar, social handles, an email or a short bio.
• Content pointers: a link to decentralized storage so the name can open a site.

Two things are worth knowing before you compare services. First, names only work where apps and wallets support that naming system, so reach matters as much as features. Second, a name is a public identifier. Anyone can see which wallet holds it and what it points to, which has privacy consequences covered later in this guide.

There is no single best service, because the right pick depends on the chain you use and what you want the name to do. Use these criteria to compare options.

1. Ecosystem support. Check whether the wallets, explorers and apps you use resolve the name. A name that few apps recognize is a weak payment handle.
2. Chain fit. Some systems live on Ethereum, some on Solana, some on layer-2 networks. Registration and renewal fees are paid in that chain's gas and token.
3. Fee model. Compare annual renewal against one-time purchase, and how price scales with name length. Shorter names usually cost more.
4. Ownership model. Find out who can change or revoke the name, whether it is a transferable token, and whether a company or a DAO governs the registry.
5. Multichain records. Can one name hold addresses for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and others?
6. Website and identity features. Look for avatar records, social verification and decentralized site hosting if you need them.
7. Longevity and governance. An established registry with open governance and long operating history lowers the risk of the system fading.

A practical rule is to start with the system your main wallet and apps already show. If you mostly use Ethereum and its rollups, ENS is the default. If you live on Solana, the Solana Name Service is the natural fit. Treat extra names on other systems as optional additions, not replacements. Verify current prices and supported suffixes on the service's own site before buying, because both change.

The Ethereum Name Service is the most widely recognized Web3 naming system. Its.eth names are registered through smart contracts on Ethereum, and a DAO governs the protocol through its ENS token. Because so many wallets, explorers, exchanges and apps resolve.eth names, they work as a payment handle and an identity across the Ethereum ecosystem.

How it works. A name is registered for a chosen number of years and must be renewed to keep it. After expiry there is a grace period, and then the name is released, usually with a temporary premium price that decays over time so that sniping is less attractive. Fees depend on name length, with shorter names costing more, plus network gas. Check the ENS app for current prices.

Features.

• Primary name setting, so apps display your handle instead of your address.
• Addresses for many chains in one name, plus text records for avatar, links and social accounts.
• Subnames, which let you issue names under your own, such as a team or community naming scheme.
• Content hash records that point to decentralized storage.
• Import of some existing DNS domains through a DNS-based proof system.
• Support for offchain and layer-2 name data through its cross-chain lookup design, which can reduce fees for subnames.

Strengths: breadth of support, open governance, long operating history, and a large open-source tooling base.

Trade-offs: mainnet gas can make registration and edits costly when the network is busy, and annual renewals mean you must track expiry dates. Lookalike names are a real phishing risk, so always verify the exact spelling.

Unstoppable Domains is a company-run service that sells names with suffixes such as.crypto,.nft,.x,.wallet,.dao and others, and has historically focused on one-time purchases instead of yearly renewals. Names are minted as tokens that you hold in your own wallet, and the service records addresses and website data against them.

Where it fits. It suits people who want a cheaper path to a readable name without a renewal calendar, or who want a suffix beyond.eth. It also offers tools for sending payments to names, for building simple decentralized sites, and for sign-in with a name in apps that integrate it.

What to check before buying.

• Terms and pricing. Fee models, supported suffixes and the chains used for minting have changed over time, so read the current terms.
• Support in the apps you use. Resolution of these suffixes is supported by many wallets and exchanges but not all. Test with a small transfer.
• Registry control. The company operates the minting infrastructure, so the system is more centralized than a DAO-governed registry. Read what that means for your rights if something goes wrong.
• Suffix availability. Some older suffixes are no longer sold in the same way, so check which are active.

Strengths: simple onboarding, a range of suffixes, and a purchase model that avoids renewals in many cases.

Trade-offs: a single company runs the platform, and recognition outside crypto-native apps is narrower than.eth. If your counterparties mostly use Ethereum wallets, a.eth name will usually be recognized more widely.

The Solana Name Service gives Solana users.sol names, and it is the main naming system in that ecosystem. Bonfida built the original software, and the protocol's name accounts live on Solana, so fees are paid in SOL and are generally low compared with Ethereum mainnet.

Features.

• A.sol name maps to a Solana wallet and can hold records for other chains, a profile picture and social handles.
• A primary-name setting lets apps show your handle in place of a long address.
• Names can be transferred or traded on NFT marketplaces on Solana.
• Subdomains can be created under a name you own.
• Names can point to content for simple sites.

Fit. If your main wallet is a Solana wallet and you use Solana apps, a.sol name will show up in more places than any Ethereum-based name. Many Solana wallets and explorers resolve it directly.

What to check.

• Whether the name is a one-time purchase or needs renewal under current rules. Registration terms can change, so read the current terms in the app.
• Whether the wallets you use for sending and receiving resolve.sol names. Test with a small amount first.
• Lookalike names. As on any naming system, similar-looking characters and near-duplicates are used for scams.

Strengths: low fees, deep integration in the Solana ecosystem, and simple registration.

Trade-offs: recognition outside Solana is limited. If you also work on Ethereum, you may want a.eth name alongside it. Keep in mind that a.sol name is not valid as an Ethereum address, so payments on other chains need the right record set.

Several ecosystems run their own naming systems, and the best one for you is often the one native to the chain you use.

Basenames. Base, Coinbase's layer-2 network, offers names under the.base.eth pattern. They sit within the ENS framework and are aimed at users and apps on Base. Because they are on a layer 2, fees are generally lower than registering on Ethereum mainnet. To pay for a name you need funds on Base, which you can move over with a bridge such as Base Bridge, covered by the site.

Space ID. Space ID provides names such as.bnb and.arb, plus an SDK that lets developers resolve names from several systems in one lookup. It suits BNB Chain and Arbitrum users.

Other chain-native systems.

• Sui Name Service:.sui names for the Sui network.
• Lens handles: names tied to the Lens social graph, so they are useful if you are in that ecosystem.
• Avalanche, Tezos and Aptos naming systems: each has its own suffix and is used mainly inside its own chain.
• Optimism, Arbitrum and Polygon: ENS-style names and tools are usable around these networks, so users may bridge funds with Optimism Bridge, Arbitrum Bridge or Polygon Bridge before registering.

How to decide. Pick a chain-native name when most of your activity, followers and counterparties are on that chain. These systems often have cheaper fees and better integration in local apps, but their names rarely resolve elsewhere. Confirm which suffixes and chains the service currently supports in its own app, because lists change often.

Handshake takes a different approach. Instead of registering names under an existing suffix, it is a decentralized naming protocol that manages top-level names themselves. A person can own a whole suffix, and then issue names beneath it. Names are claimed through auctions on the Handshake blockchain, and the holder controls records through their keys.

Use cases. It appeals to people who want an entire suffix for a brand, community or service, and to developers building naming products on top of it. It also attracts people who want a naming layer that does not rely on ICANN's root zone.

Limits to understand.

• Standard browsers and operating systems do not resolve Handshake names by default. You need a supporting resolver, gateway or extension.
• Support in crypto wallets for sending to these names is narrower than for ENS or.sol.
• Auctions and renewal rules differ from other systems, so read the protocol's current documentation.

Freename and similar providers. Some companies sell names across a range of independent suffixes and offer tools for owning your own. These can be useful for branding, but the practical value depends on whether the apps you and your audience use resolve them. Review who controls each suffix and what rights you actually hold.

Namecoin. An early blockchain naming system using.bit. It is historically important, but it has far less modern wallet support than the systems above.

Bottom line. Handshake and similar root-level systems are for people who understand the tooling trade-offs. For simple payments and identity, a name on ENS or a chain-native system is more practical.

This table gives a general comparison. Fee models, suffix lists and supported chains change, so confirm each point on the service's own site.

Service	Example suffix	Main network	Fee model (general)	Best for
ENS	.eth	Ethereum, with layer-2 and offchain extensions	Term-based, with renewals; priced by length	Ethereum and rollup users wanting widest recognition
Unstoppable Domains	.crypto,.x,.wallet,.dao	Multiple chains	Often one-time purchase; check current terms	Users wanting non-.eth suffixes without renewals
Solana Name Service	.sol	Solana	Low fees; check current terms	Solana wallet users
Basenames	.base.eth	Base	Low layer-2 fees	Base users and apps
Space ID	.bnb,.arb	BNB Chain, Arbitrum	Varies by suffix	BNB Chain and Arbitrum users
Sui Name Service	.sui	Sui	Varies	Sui ecosystem users
Handshake	Custom top-level names	Handshake chain	Auction-based	Brands and builders wanting a whole suffix

How to read it. Recognition is the main axis. A.eth name resolves in the largest number of wallets, but it can cost more to register and edit at busy times. Chain-native names are cheaper and better integrated locally, but they resolve in fewer places. Root-level systems give the most freedom but need the most effort.

Practical combinations. Many users hold one primary name on their home chain and a.eth name for general recognition. Developers often register a name per ecosystem they serve. Avoid buying names across many systems just to collect them, because each one carries renewal tracking, phishing exposure and a public link to your wallet.

The steps are similar across most services, though the details differ.

1. Choose the chain and wallet. Use the wallet that holds the funds you will use for fees. Hardware wallets work with most registrars.
2. Fund the wallet. You need the network's gas token, plus the registration fee. For layer-2 names, that means bridging funds first.
3. Search the name on the official app. Reach the service by typing its address yourself or from a bookmark you trust, not from a search ad or a message.
4. Check the exact spelling. Look for lookalike characters, extra letters and swapped characters before you pay.
5. Review price and term. Note the registration length, renewal rules and any premium for recently expired names.
6. Register and wait for confirmation. Some systems use a two-step commit and reveal process that includes a short waiting period to stop front-running.
7. Set your primary name and records. Add the addresses for chains you use, then set the reverse record so apps show your name.
8. Test with a small transfer. Send a small amount to the name from another wallet before using it for larger payments.
9. Track expiry. Put a calendar reminder well before the end of the term, and think about renewing for several years at once.

Costs to expect. You pay the registration fee, network gas for registration, and gas for each later change to records. Fees depend on the chain, name length and network congestion, so check live figures in the app rather than relying on any quoted number.

Web3 names bring new risks along with convenience. These defensive habits cover the main ones.

Phishing and lookalikes. Scammers register names that resemble well-known ones, using swapped letters or similar-looking characters from other alphabets. Before sending funds, check the resolved address and compare the first and last characters with the address you expect. Be wary of names that appear unexpectedly in your transaction history, since these may be bait to make you copy the wrong address.

Fake registrars. Use only the official app, reached through a bookmark you made yourself. Never share your seed phrase, and be suspicious of any site that asks you to approve broad token permissions just to register a name.

Expiry. A lapsed name can be picked up by someone else, who could then receive payments meant for you. If you use a name for payments, keep it renewed and avoid relying on it for anything critical close to its expiry date.

Privacy. A name links a readable identity to a public wallet. Anyone who sees the name can look up the wallet's history and balances. If you want separation, use a different wallet for your public name, and keep sensitive holdings in addresses not tied to it. Privacy tools such as Railgun exist for shielding transactions on supported networks, but they do not hide a public name already linked to the wallet, and local rules on their use vary, so check the law where you live.

Wallet hygiene. Use a hardware wallet for valuable names, review approvals regularly, and consider holding a valuable name in a wallet separate from your daily-use one. Names can be traded as tokens, so losing wallet access can mean losing the name.

Match the name to your actual use rather than collecting suffixes.

• You mainly use Ethereum and its rollups: register a.eth name on ENS. It has the broadest wallet and app recognition and the most developer tooling.
• You mainly use Solana: register a.sol name. Fees are low and wallets in that ecosystem resolve it.
• You are active on Base: consider a Basename, and add a.eth name if you also deal with people outside Base.
• You want a non-.eth suffix and fewer renewals: look at Unstoppable Domains, and read the current terms first.
• You use BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Sui or another chain heavily: check that chain's native naming service and confirm your wallets resolve it.
• You run a community or brand: use subnames under a name you own, or look at root-level systems such as Handshake if you accept the tooling limits.
• You are a developer: use a resolution library that supports several naming systems, so your app can accept any name type your users hold.

Before you pay, check four things: that your most-used wallets resolve the name, the full cost including renewals and gas, who controls the registry, and what happens when the name expires.

For ongoing changes, consult the service's own documentation and governance pages for current prices, supported suffixes and policy updates. These details move more often than the core design of the systems, so avoid relying on any list, including this one, for live figures.