How to Cancel Namecheap in 2026 (Transfer Domains + Stop Auto-Renewals)

Updated 2026-02-21 · 7 min read

What You're Actually Paying Namecheap

Namecheap is one of the more affordable registrars, but their renewal pricing still catches people off guard:

• .com domain: $8.88 first year → $13.98/year at renewal
• Stellar hosting: $1.98/mo intro → $7.88/mo at renewal ($94.56/year)
• Stellar Plus: $2.98/mo → $12.98/mo at renewal ($155.76/year)
• Stellar Business: $4.98/mo → $21.88/mo at renewal ($262.56/year)
• PremiumDNS: $5.88/year (often auto-added)
• Domain privacy: Free (one of the few registrars that includes this)

Step 1: Transfer Your Domains (Do This First)

Domains are the critical asset. Transfer them before canceling anything else:

1. Unlock your domain: Dashboard → Domain List → click domain → toggle off "Domain Lock"
2. Get auth/EPP code: Same page → "Auth Code" section → click "Get Code" → emailed to registrant
3. Disable auto-renewal: Domain List → toggle off auto-renewal for each domain
4. Wait for ICANN lock: If you changed contact info in the last 60 days, there's a transfer lock. You'll need to wait or contact support to lift it
5. Initiate transfer at new registrar: Enter auth code → pay transfer fee (usually ~$10, extends registration 1 year)

Step 2: Migrate Your Website

If you're using Namecheap hosting, migrate your site before the hosting expires:

• WordPress sites: Use the "All-in-One WP Migration" plugin — export from Namecheap, import at new host. Takes 10 minutes.
• Static sites: Download via cPanel File Manager or FTP → upload to new host
• Email: If using Namecheap email, export via IMAP to your new provider. Private Email starts at $11.88/year — consider free alternatives like Zoho Mail or forwarding with Cloudflare
• SSL: Most modern hosts include free Let's Encrypt SSL. No need to buy PositiveSSL from Namecheap ($5.99/year)

Step 3: Cancel Hosting Products

1. Log in to namecheap.com
2. Go to Dashboard → Hosting List
3. Click the hosting plan you want to cancel
4. Find "Auto-Renewal" → turn it OFF
5. For immediate cancellation: Contact live chat (bottom-right icon) → request cancellation and refund

Namecheap's Refund Policy

Namecheap's refund policy is actually reasonable compared to most hosts:

• Shared hosting: 30-day money-back guarantee on annual plans
• VPS/Dedicated: No refund (pro-rated credit sometimes offered)
• Domains: Non-refundable (you keep the registration period)
• SSL certificates: 25-day refund window
• Auto-renewal charges: Contact within 48 hours for a full refund

Step 4: Cancel Add-On Services

Check for these commonly forgotten Namecheap add-ons:

• PremiumDNS ($5.88/year) — not needed if using Cloudflare DNS (free)
• Private Email ($11.88-$47.88/year) — switch to Zoho free tier or Google Workspace
• PositiveSSL/EV SSL ($5.99-$48.88/year) — free Let's Encrypt covers 99% of use cases
• VPN ($34.56/year) — NordVPN, Mullvad, or ProtonVPN are better options
• EasyWP ($3.88-$11.88/mo) — managed WordPress hosting, cancel via dashboard

Go to Dashboard → Product List → review every active product and disable auto-renewal on each one.

Why People Leave Namecheap

• Hosting performance: Shared hosting can be slow during peak hours. SiteGround and Cloudways consistently benchmark faster.
• cPanel confusion: Namecheap uses cPanel which is powerful but overwhelming for beginners
• Renewal shock: That $1.98/mo hosting becoming $7.88/mo is a rude awakening
• Better at-cost options exist: Cloudflare Registrar charges exactly what they pay ICANN — no markup at all

Best Namecheap Alternatives

• Domain registration: Cloudflare Registrar (at-cost, ~$9.15/year for .com)
• Budget hosting: Hostinger ($2.99/mo, no bait-and-switch), Hetzner (EU-based, great value)
• WordPress hosting: SiteGround ($2.99/mo intro), Cloudways ($14/mo, performance-focused)
• Static sites: Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages — all free for personal projects
• Email: Zoho Mail (free for 1 domain, 5 users), Proton Mail ($47.88/year for custom domain)

How to Keep Your Domain Without Namecheap Hosting

If you want to keep your domain at Namecheap but cancel everything else:

1. Cancel hosting, email, SSL, and all add-ons
2. Point your domain's nameservers to your new host or Cloudflare (free DNS)
3. Keep auto-renewal ON for the domain only (~$13.98/year)
4. WHOIS privacy remains free at Namecheap — one of their genuine advantages

Namecheap is actually one of the more straightforward registrars to work with. The cancellation process isn't designed to trap you — it's the auto-renewal pricing that gets people. Set a calendar reminder 30 days before renewal to review whether you still need each product.