Gandi vs Namecheap
Gandi is a European alternative to Namecheap — same cloud & hosting use case, built under EU data-protection law.
By the EU Alternatives team Last updated
Register domains across 800+ extensions, host in EU datacenters, and get SSL, Anycast DNS, and email bundled at no extra cost.
- Jurisdiction
- EU / EEA
- GDPR by default
- Yes
- US CLOUD Act exposure
- No
- Open source
- No
- Free tier
- No
Namecheap by Namecheap.
- Jurisdiction
- US
- GDPR by default
- Requires DPA + TIA
- US CLOUD Act exposure
- Yes
About Gandi
Gandi is a French domain registrar and web host that bundles what competitors sell separately: every domain includes free SSL certificates, Anycast DNS with DNSSEC, and email forwarding. Founded in Paris in 2000, it manages 2.5 million+ domains across 800+ TLD extensions for individuals and businesses who want a no-upsell registrar with transparent renewal pricing.
Hosting plans run PHP, Python, and Node.js from €2/month, with PostgreSQL and MySQL databases, unlimited SSL renewal, and one-click installs for WordPress, Nextcloud, and PrestaShop. VPS cloud servers start at €5/month with optional block storage. A full DNS management interface supports DNSSEC, configuration templates, and automatic zone backups.
Key benefits:
- 800+ domain extensions with transparent renewal pricing and no surprise upsells
- Free SSL certificates auto-renewed on all domains and hosting plans
- Anycast DNS with DNSSEC included — plus configuration templates and automatic backups
- Custom email mailboxes on your own domain, with unlimited aliases and forwarding
- PHP, Python, and Node.js hosting with PostgreSQL and MySQL on every plan
- VPS servers from €5/month with full root access and block storage add-ons
- One-click installs for WordPress, Nextcloud, PrestaShop, and Matomo
All infrastructure runs from Gandi's own datacenters in Paris, France (FR-SD3) and Luxembourg (LU-BI1), with no reliance on third-party hyperscalers. The platform holds ISO 27001:2022 certification and is fully GDPR-compliant, with support teams based in Europe. Gandi has operated its own physical infrastructure since 2000, well before cloud sovereignty became a selling point.
Ideal for developers, agencies, and freelancers who want a European registrar with honest pricing, bundled essentials, and a vendor that has defended the open internet since 2000.
Why choose Gandi over Namecheap?
The decisive argument is data jurisdiction. Namecheap is headquartered in US, which means personal data processed through it can be subject to non-EU legal regimes — the US CLOUD Act, FISA 702, or similar laws depending on the provider. After the 2020 Schrems II ruling, EU organisations must carry out a transfer impact assessment for every such data flow.
Gandi removes that overhead. As a France-based provider, it operates natively under GDPR, and data stays inside the EU/EEA by default. For regulated sectors — health, public administration, finance — that's not a nice-to-have but a requirement. For everyone else, it's concentration-risk insurance: you avoid depending on a single non-EU jurisdiction that can change the rules without warning.