Domains Newsletter - January 2026

Openprovider

Domains newsletter - January 2026

Happy New Year!

 

Ever wondered how domain pricing really works, and why the price of the same domain can vary wildly between registrars? Find out in the latest episode of the Openprovider Podcast, in which our CEO, Arno Vis, shares what actually goes on behind the scenes of domain pricing.

 

In this newsletter, you’ll also find a host of fresh TLD offers - from .org to .eu to .blog! We also share our take on solving four of the biggest current challenges of the domain industry, and the latest update of our WHMCS domains module (our biggest one yet!). 

 

As usual, at the end of this newsletter, you will also find a roundup of upcoming price and policy changes.

 

Happy reading!

Copy of Internal newsletter headers (7)-2

.blog is a TLD for customers who create. For writers, educators, freelancers, agencies, and anyone sharing ideas, a .blog domain signals authenticity and independence.

 

You can position it to your customers as a home for original content - articles, videos, photos, podcasts, artwork  - all in one dedicated place.

 

Here are 3 reasons to highlight .blog in your offer:

  • Instant recognition online with a TLD made for publishing.
  • Strong brand alignment for creators and content-driven businesses.
  • More choice for short, memorable domains because of its excellent availability.

And all of that comes at a great price! Until March 31st, register .blog at Openprovider for just $1.99 for the first year.* Now that’s a great deal to start the year!

 

Learn more about .blog

 

*Promotion valid until 31/03/2026, for Members only, and for new, one-year registrations only.  After the first year of registration, the regular renewal rate of $20.20/year will apply. All prices exclude VAT.

3-Apr-17-2025-11-51-46-6418-AM
EN_CO
EN_EU (1)
EN_ORG (1)
EN_XYZ
EN_Earth
EN_BIZ
Industry insights

Podcast: Inside domain pricing with Arno Vis

Sit down and grab a cup of coffee for our latest podcast with our CEO, Arno Vis! In this episode, we dive into the topic of domain pricing - from bargain-basement promos to niche TLDs.

 

Arno and Brendan discuss:

  • Why the same domain can cost dramatically different amounts depending on where you buy it
  • How niche and emerging TLDs are reshaping pricing and market competition
  • The role of pricing in building trust and long-term customer relationships
  • Practical guidance for resellers aiming to succeed with the next generation of entrepreneurs

Listen here!

 

Building a brighter future for the domain industry

On Substack, we ended the year by discussing some of the biggest challenges in the domain industry in 2026. Rising costs, outdated processes, growing abuse problems, and slow innovation are creating real problems for businesses that rely on domains.

 

We share our vision on how to turn these obstacles into opportunities - with action points for registrars, registries, and resellers alike.

 

Read the full article here, and join the discussion in the comments!

1-Jan-14-2026-12-57-35-7949-PM

We are excited to announce that we released the latest version (v5.9.0) of our WHMCS domains module last month. This is our biggest update to the module yet - if you haven’t updated your module yet, download the update here!

 

Updates in the module include: 

  • PHP 8.3 support.
  • (Experimental) Bash scripts for one-step installation and upgrade of the module.
  • Per-domain sync button in the WHMCS Admin area.
  • Enhanced Openprovider widget with module version and update check, plus a single function that shows available balance.
  • Support for .fi, .ae, .eu, and .es (.es ANNEX III registrant Acceptance) additional fields.
  • Renewal date sync to WHMCS with WHMCS native domain sync to avoid mismatched dates caused by renewal offsets.

We’ve also implemented several bug fixes to ensure a smoother domain management experience. Consult the full list of updates and fixes here

 

Download the module on GitHub

2-Jan-14-2026-12-58-47-0851-PM

We have informed you of several price and policy changes in the past month. For your convenience, you can find the following communications back on the control panel newsfeed:

  • Prohibited use of disposable and encrypted emails for .in domains (effective January 14, 2026)
  • New validation rules for postal codes and telephone numbers (effective January 28, 2026)
  • Upcoming price increase for .eu domains (effective February 1, 2026)
  • Upcoming price increase for .hk domains (effective February 1, 2026)  
  • Upcoming price increase for .fm domains (effective February 1, 2026 - only for Members)
  • New registrant data accuracy requirements from the .cat registry (effective February 1, 2026)

Log in to the control panel to view all updates

Was this article helpful?
Additional questions? Submit a request