Metaregistrar Review 2025. Is metaregistrar.com good web hosting in Netherlands?

📄 Editorial Review

(3*) 🔧 Services: Web HostingDomain Registration ICANN registrar
Metaregistrar is a Dutch ICANN-accredited registrar and hosting provider, founded in 2010 and based in Gouda, the Netherlands. They are primarily a partner for organizations with large domain and hosting portfolios: digital agencies, resellers, brands, governments and other professional users. They state that they manage more than one million domain names and keep tens of thousands of websites online, so this is clearly an infrastructure-focused platform rather than a small retail host.

A core pillar of their positioning is compliance and security. Metaregistrar operates under ISO 27001:2022 certification and is designated by the Dutch government as an essential provider of domain and hosting services under the NIS2 framework. They publish an information security policy and data-processing agreement, outlining how customer data, incidents and audits are handled. This makes them particularly attractive for customers that must meet their own regulatory obligations.

On the domain services side, Metaregistrar specializes in managing large portfolios across nearly all common ccTLDs and gTLDs. Domains can be handled via a web interface or programmatically through EPP and REST APIs. The platform supports DNSSEC, IPv4 and IPv6, IDN domains and premium names. They also facilitate simple secondary-market activity: premium domains can be priced on request and existing domains in a portfolio can be marked "for sale" from within the control panel.

DNS is treated as a first-class product. Every domain includes DNS hosting, and for more demanding use cases Metaregistrar offers Premium DNS on a worldwide anycast network designed to absorb large DDoS attacks and minimize latency. Their DNS platform supports essentially all current record types, can be managed in the control panel on a per-domain basis, and can be controlled in bulk via a dedicated DNS API, which is important for resellers and SaaS vendors that manage thousands of zones.

Their web hosting is built around Plesk-based shared hosting. Packages are aimed at smaller sites and customers but still run on the same infrastructure as their larger partners: Plesk control panel, daily backups, MySQL databases, IPv4/IPv6 support, Imunify360 for attack detection, free SSL certificates and spam filtering on mailboxes. Customers can choose among several PHP versions (from 7.3 up to 8.x) and deploy typical PHP/MySQL applications such as WordPress or Joomla.

For customers who need more control and isolation, Metaregistrar offers managed VPS servers. These are positioned as a "we maintain it for you" service: the Metaregistrar team can install and update software on request, while customers retain root or SSH access for their own applications. VPS instances can run Plesk, DirectAdmin or cPanel, include IPv4 and IPv6, backups and snapshots, and are built with high availability in mind. This is particularly suitable for agencies that host their own client base.

A key differentiator is their API-first and Hosting-as-a-Service (HaaS) approach. Through RESTful APIs, partners can automatically provision, adjust and remove hosting accounts, manage DNS zones and order SSL certificates. Additional tools such as a Dunning API for payment reminders extend the platform beyond traditional hosting into billing workflows. For digital agencies, Metaregistrar also promotes AI website tools, free migrations, white-label or branded portals and a "Co-Creators" program for joint product development. Taken together, the portfolio is clearly shaped as a backend engine for other hosting brands and online service providers.

The website and support resources are available in English and Dutch, reflecting their Dutch roots and international customer base. Pricing and invoicing are handled in line with European norms, with a strong emphasis on contractual clarity and yearly service periods rather than casual, month-to-month retail hosting.

💰 Price & Cost

Pricing is linked to customer accounts and visible inside the control panel, and domain fees are referenced via a separate price list accessible around the contact area. Domain and hosting pricing are oriented toward B2B and bulk customers, so portfolio size and composition can play a role in the commercial terms.

Their general terms and conditions specify that subscriptions for services are billed in 12-month periods by default, regardless of the type of subscription. Amounts paid are described as non-refundable unless explicitly agreed otherwise. They also reserve the right to adjust prices, with prior notice and the option for customers to terminate if they do not accept the new pricing.

Domains registered through the platform are set to auto-renew by default according to the selected billing frequency (monthly, quarterly or yearly, as configured). Renewals continue until the customer cancels. This model is standard in registrar environments but requires active management from portfolio owners to avoid unwanted renewals.

Accepted payment methods include bank debit, iDeal and credit card. Invoices generally need to be paid within 14 days. If payment is late, Metaregistrar can charge reminder fees, outsource collection to third parties and, in severe cases, suspend or delete domains or accounts. Where a refund is granted in exceptional circumstances, they reserve the right to deduct bank or transaction costs.
There is no prominently advertised money-back guarantee or free trial equivalent for domain or hosting services. The financial and contractual framework is closer to enterprise and wholesale standards than to consumer-oriented "30-day refund" offers.

🏢 Data Center

Metaregistrar does not spend much space naming specific data center brands or listing detailed hardware specifications, but they strongly emphasize security, resilience and compliance. Their infrastructure is described as designed with security in mind from the ground up, in line with ISO 27001:2022 requirements and the obligations that come with being an essential provider under NIS2.

They advertise an uptime objective of 99.99% for their servers and test environments, using formulations such as "Always up, always available." This is supported by their globally distributed DNS network. Premium DNS uses a worldwide anycast setup, distributing DNS nodes across multiple locations so that attacks or outages in one region do not take down the entire service. Even their standard DNS is described as globally spread, with redundancy designed to minimize the chance that all nodes go offline simultaneously.

At the same time, the legal documentation explicitly notes that uninterrupted access to systems cannot be absolutely guaranteed. Practically, this means the 99.99% figure should be read as a strong service goal rather than a publicly documented SLA with clear financial penalties on the website.

The company gives a concrete physical address in Gouda for its headquarters, but does not list all data center locations or partners by name. What is clear from their own numbers is that they operate a substantial infrastructure: more than 1,000,000 domains, well over 100,000 hosted websites and a significant number of VPS instances, all supported by a globally distributed DNS platform and aligned with European information security standards.

✍️ Customer Support

Customer support is prominently highlighted as part of Metaregistrar’s value proposition. They emphasize personal contact and list multiple direct communication channels, including a support email address, a general phone number and a dedicated support phone number, as well as a contact form on their website.

Metaregistrar operates a dedicated support portal with a structured knowledge base. The portal covers topics like account and invoicing, domains and DNS, redirects, transfers, email configuration, backups, databases, FTP access, Plesk file management and popular applications such as WordPress and Joomla. The content is available in both English and Dutch and is organized so that agencies and more technical customers can quickly find configuration guides.

For agencies and resellers, support extends beyond everyday tickets. Documentation and marketing material for digital agencies mention free domain and website migrations, direct contact with their team, white-label and branded interfaces and a co-development program. Customer testimonials focus on short communication lines, approachable staff and long-term cooperation, all of which matter when a partner depends on Metaregistrar as a backend for its own services.

🔨 Control Panel

Domain and DNS management are centralized in a customer portal at control.metaregistrar.com. Through this interface, users can search and register domains, configure DNS records, set up redirects (301, 302 and framed), control auto-renewal and privacy settings, and manage transfers. Larger partners can perform the same tasks via EPP and REST APIs, integrating domain operations into their own platforms.

Shared hosting accounts are managed with Plesk, a widely used control panel in the hosting industry. Through Plesk, customers can manage files, databases, email accounts, SSL certificates, cron jobs and application installations. Metaregistrar notes that servers and Plesk versions are kept current, and that WordPress installations and plugins can be automatically updated when that option is enabled, which helps reduce security risk.

For VPS customers, Metaregistrar offers a choice between Plesk, DirectAdmin and cPanel as the control panel layer. The VPS environment is managed: their technicians handle installations and updates upon request, while customers have SSH access for application-level tasks. This mixed model gives agencies and advanced users enough control without forcing them into full-time system administration.

DNS zones can be changed both through the control panel and via a DNS API, and SSL certificates can be ordered and maintained using an SSL API. Hosting plans themselves can be provisioned, modified and removed by calling the Hosting API. Overall, the control environment is built with automation and integration in mind, while still remaining accessible through familiar GUI tools.

🎯 Conclusion

Metaregistrar is best understood as a professional registrar and hosting backend provider rather than a simple retail web host. Their core strength lies in combining large-scale domain management, globally distributed DNS, Plesk-based shared hosting, managed VPS and an extensive set of APIs into one coherent platform. ISO 27001:2022 certification and NIS2 "essential entity" status add an important layer of trust for organizations that must meet regulatory requirements.

On the positive side, they offer a modern technical stack (Plesk, optional cPanel and DirectAdmin, Imunify360, IPv4/IPv6, DNSSEC), a clearly stated 99.99% uptime goal, anycast Premium DNS, white-label and branded options, and support that is reachable by phone and email with fast stated response times. The platform is multi-language at least for Dutch and English, and is designed to be integrated into other systems through APIs.

Less appealing for small consumers is the limited public pricing transparency and the lack of an explicit, broad money-back guarantee or trial period. Contracts are yearly by default, with non-refundable payments and formal terms that may feel rigid to hobby users. Those who simply want an inexpensive, month-to-month shared hosting plan with a big "30-day refund" banner might find this environment more formal and complex than they need.

For digital agencies, resellers, SaaS platforms, domain investors and organizations with compliance obligations, Metaregistrar offers a capable, security-conscious and automation-friendly foundation. For casual individual projects, another provider with simpler retail packaging might be more appropriate.

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