How to Transfer Your Domain from Namecheap to Porkbun

Published October 19, 2026

If you’re here because of the October 2026 Namecheap story — you’re not alone. Moving a domain sounds technical, but it’s a standardized process. Here’s exactly what to do.

Before you start

• You need access to your Namecheap account. If your account is locked, resolve that first — you can’t transfer a domain you can’t log into.
• Your domain must be older than 60 days, and not transferred in the last 60 days (ICANN rules, applies everywhere).
• Turn off WHOIS privacy temporarily if it’s on — some transfers fail with it enabled. You can re-enable it at Porkbun (it’s free there).

Step 1: Unlock your domain at Namecheap

1. Log into Namecheap → Domain List → click Manage next to your domain.
2. Find the Domain Lock section and toggle it OFF.
3. While you’re here, turn off any “theft protection” extras.

Step 2: Get your authorization code

1. In the same Manage panel, look for Auth Code (sometimes called EPP code).
2. Click to reveal it and copy it somewhere safe. Namecheap may email it to you instead — check your inbox.

Step 3: Start the transfer at Porkbun

1. Go to Porkbun’s transfer page.
2. Enter your domain name and the auth code from Step 2.
3. Pay the transfer fee (one year of registration is included — you’re not paying extra, you’re extending your domain by a year).

Step 4: Approve the transfer

1. Namecheap will email you asking to confirm. Approve it — this speeds things up enormously.
2. If you ignore the email, the transfer auto-completes after 5 days (ICANN’s mandatory waiting period).

Step 5: Verify

1. After 5 days (or sooner if you approved), check Porkbun’s domain list — your domain should appear.
2. Re-enable WHOIS privacy at Porkbun — it’s free, forever.
3. Double-check your DNS settings carried over. They usually do, but verify your site and email still resolve.

What this costs

A .com transfer to Porkbun runs about $10–11, and that includes a one-year renewal. You’re not paying a penalty to leave — you’re prepaying next year’s registration at (usually) a lower price than Namecheap charges.

Why Porkbun

It’s the name that keeps coming up in every thread about the Namecheap story: straightforward pricing, free WHOIS privacy, no upsell maze at checkout. Cloudflare Registrar is the other honest option — they sell at cost — but their transfer flow assumes you’re already using Cloudflare DNS.