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Head-to-head · Blockchain Domain Services

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) vs Namecoin

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Ethereum Name Service (ENS) #1 in Blockchain Domain Services 8.9/10 Paid ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit ENS
Namecoin #2 in Blockchain Domain Services 8.2/10 Open source ✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Namecoin

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) leads on 0 checks, Namecoin on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreEthereum Name Service (ENS) · 8.9/10
  • Most featuresEthereum Name Service (ENS) · 3 of 3

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) scores higher on our rubric for blockchain domain services: 8.9 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #2.

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is the better fit for buyers seeking a widely adopted Ethereum name service. Namecoin is the better fit for users who want established .bit naming and privacy.

  • Ethereum Name Service (ENS) fits best

    Buyers seeking a widely adopted Ethereum name service

  • Namecoin fits best

    Users who want established .bit naming and privacy

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Side by side

Feature Ethereum Name Service (ENS) 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Namecoin 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.2
Ranking #1 in Blockchain Domain Services #2 in Blockchain Domain Services
Best for Buyers seeking a widely adopted Ethereum name service Users who want established .bit naming and privacy
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price $5/unit/yr Open source
Free plan — Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Browser extension Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms Web Windows, Linux, macOS
Support Email, Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Ethereum Name Service (ENS) 3/3 · Namecoin 2/3
Wallet resolution ✓ ✓
Web3 website hosting ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Identity features ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported blockchains 1 1
Domain extensions Not checked yet 1
Our review
Pros
  • Resolves .eth names to wallet addresses and supports primary names
  • Stores profile records and lets users create and manage subnames
  • Offers 575 integrations and tools for app developers
  • Manage .bit names, including registration, transfer, updates, and renewal
  • Bridge .bit lookups to DNS with ncdns
  • Support private lookups and decentralized TLS validation
Cons
  • Annual registration fees rise sharply for shorter .eth names
  • Fees are paid in ETH on Ethereum Mainnet, plus variable gas
  • Core registration and resolution are Ethereum-based
  • Requires desktop or self-hosted setup rather than a turnkey hosted service
  • Name operations require NMC and a dynamically determined transaction fee
  • Support is community- and documentation-based
Our verdict

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a blockchain naming service for people and teams who want readable names for wallet addresses, profiles, and applications. It supports .eth registration and renewal, and lets users import DNS domains they…

Read the review →

Namecoin is open-source blockchain software for registering and managing names with associated data. Its `d/` namespace supports `.bit` domain names, while other namespaces can hold identity and other name types. The product suits…

Read the review →
  1. Ethereum Name Service (ENS)Blockchain Domain Services 8.9Paid
  2. NamecoinBlockchain Domain Services 8.2Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Ethereum Name Service (ENS) — where it wins

    • Resolves .eth names to wallet addresses and supports primary names
    • Stores profile records and lets users create and manage subnames
    • Offers 575 integrations and tools for app developers

    Where it doesn't

    • Annual registration fees rise sharply for shorter .eth names
    • Fees are paid in ETH on Ethereum Mainnet, plus variable gas
    • Core registration and resolution are Ethereum-based

  • Namecoin — where it wins

    • Manage .bit names, including registration, transfer, updates, and renewal
    • Bridge .bit lookups to DNS with ncdns
    • Support private lookups and decentralized TLS validation

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires desktop or self-hosted setup rather than a turnkey hosted service
    • Name operations require NMC and a dynamically determined transaction fee
    • Support is community- and documentation-based
  • Ethereum Name Service (ENS)8.9/10 · Paid

    A naming service for .eth registration, wallet resolution, identity records, and app integration.

    Visit ENSFull verdict →
  • Namecoin8.2/10 · Open source

    Open-source .bit naming with identity data, DNS bridging, and private lookups.

    Visit NamecoinFull verdict →

More comparisons

All blockchain domain services comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update