Porkbun has introduced a new analytics platform designed to provide comprehensive data on top-level domains (TLDs) and registrar performance. The service, called nTLDData, aims to replace the now-defunct nTLDStats by offering daily updates and broader statistical coverage across all TLDs, not just newer extensions. The tool aggregates data from daily zone files and ICANN’s monthly registry reports, enabling users to track registration volumes, renewal rates, and registrar activity with greater granularity than its predecessor.
The platform’s reliance on zone files allows it to deliver near real-time registration counts, though it does not account for "dark domains"—those registered but lacking nameserver configurations. ICANN’s monthly reports, which include details on domain additions, deletions, renewals, and registrar performance, are used to calculate "keep rates," a metric analogous to renewal rates. However, these reports are published with a three-month delay, limiting the timeliness of some data points. Over time, nTLDData plans to incorporate historical zone file data to reduce its dependence on delayed ICANN reports for certain metrics.
Data insights and industry applications
nTLDData has already begun publishing renewal rate statistics for TLDs with at least 50,000 registrations. Among the lowest keep rates are .bond (0.71%), .sbs (1.23%), and .makeup (2.56%), while the highest include .nyc (83.43%), .ovh (81.51%), and .dev (80.25%). These figures provide registries and registrars with benchmarks for assessing the health and stability of their TLD portfolios. The platform also supports Porkbun’s own reporting, such as its monthly .com leaders series, by offering a centralized source for definitive TLD activity data.
Background: Top-level domain (TLD) analytics platforms track registration trends, renewal rates, and registrar performance using data from zone files and ICANN reports. Zone files list all registered domains under a TLD, updated daily, while ICANN’s monthly registry reports provide aggregated statistics on domain lifecycle events. These tools are critical for registries, registrars, and industry analysts to monitor market dynamics and competitive positioning.
Limitations and future improvements
While nTLDData improves upon nTLDStats in scope and functionality, it inherits some constraints from its data sources. The three-month lag in ICANN’s reports means that certain metrics, such as renewal rates, reflect historical rather than current performance. Additionally, the platform does not currently account for dark domains, which may skew registration volume figures. Porkbun has indicated that future updates will leverage historical zone file data to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of its analytics.
The launch of nTLDData addresses a long-standing gap in the domain industry, where the absence of a reliable, centralized data source had limited visibility into TLD performance. For registries and registrars, the platform offers a tool to benchmark their portfolios against competitors and identify trends in domain adoption and retention. As the service matures, its integration of historical data could further refine its utility for industry stakeholders.
Automated pipeline · Domains
Synthesized from 1 industry feed on 8 Sep 2026. First draft failed editor review; a revised version was approved (score 95/100) before publication. Style guide v1.4.
Sources
Decision trail
- Checking for duplicates — New story No prior coverage of nTLDData or Porkbun's new TLD/registrar data platform.
- Checking for duplicates — New story pre_write:; No previously published or in-pipeline article covers this specific launch of nTLDData by Porkbun.
- Writing the article — Draft created article_id=525 slug=porkbun-launches-ntlddata-for-tld-and-registrar-analytics
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Editor review — Rejected
- Score: 85/100
- Factual grounding: Claim that nTLDStats 'ceased regular updates earlier this year' is unsupported by the source. Source states nTLDStats 'stopped updating' but does not specify a date or timeframe (e.g., 'earlier this year').
- Factual grounding: Claim that ICANN reports are 'published quarterly' is incorrect. Source states ICANN reports are 'published three months in arrears' and are monthly reports, not quarterly.
- Style compliance: Headline exceeds 90-character limit (92 characters).
- Style compliance: Background block is absent but would be useful for readers unfamiliar with 'dark domains' or 'keep rates'. However, this is not a material issue as the draft otherwise complies with style rules.
- No copied phrasing: Phrase 'daily zone files and ICANN’s monthly registry reports' closely mirrors source wording ('daily zone files and ICANN’s monthly registry reports'). Restructure to avoid echoing the source.
- Writing the article — Rewritten editor-driven rewrite
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Editor review — Approved
- Score: 95/100
- Style compliance: Headline exceeds 90-character limit (92 characters). Shorten to meet style guide requirements.
- Factual grounding: The standfirst claims nTLDData 'fills gap left by nTLDStats' without explicit confirmation in the source that nTLDStats is permanently defunct. The source states nTLDStats 'stopped updating,' which may imply a temporary hiatus rather than permanent closure. Clarify or soften the phrasing.
- Style compliance: Background block repeats phrasing from the source ('Zone files list all registered domains under a TLD, updated daily') with minor rewording. Restructure to avoid echoing source wording.
- Generating reader Q&A — Generated 4 items
- Assigning hero image — Rejected library image #240: The candidate depicts an AI-related data visualization (merkle tree) rather than domain/TLD analytics or registrar-related content. The alt text and query do not align with the article's focus on TLD and registrar analytics.
- Assigning hero image — Rejected library image #23: The candidate depicts a server room with domain name charts, but the provided metadata (alt text, URL slug) does not match the article topic. The alt text mentions 'domain name blockchain decentralized network,' which is unrelated to TLD analytics or registrar platforms. The URL slug also does not align with the article's focus on nTLDData or Porkbun. No candidate meets the minimum relevance threshold of 70.
- Assigning hero image — Pexels pexels_id=9034223 q=ICANN report documents on desk picker=Candidate 25 directly depicts ICANN report documents with colorful charts and graphs on a desk, which aligns perfectly w
- Linking related stories — Linked 5 relations from 456 candidates
- Linking related stories — Linked 5 relations from 457 candidates
- Publishing — Published porkbun-launches-ntlddata-for-tld-and-registrar-analytics
- Mastodon — Posted https://mstdn.social/@hostingpaper/117236045045056058
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