HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPARISON

.cardvault vs ENS vs Unstoppable Domains Which Web3 Domain Should You Buy in 2026?

Unbiased comparison of the 3 leading Web3 domain platforms. Real pricing data, feature analysis, and clear winner declarations for different use cases.

12 min read
Updated February 2026
Real pricing data
Versus battle VS blue and red on background, for designing sports games, matches, tournaments, martial arts, and fight battles. 3D rendering illustrations.

Quick Verdict (TL;DR)

🏆

.cardvault

Best for: Card collectors, niche communities, revenue generation

Winner: Value + Royalties
⚡

ENS (.eth)

Best for: Ethereum ecosystem, DeFi, brand prestige

Winner: Adoption + Status
🌐

Unstoppable

Best for: Multi-chain flexibility, variety of TLDs

Winner: Chain Support

Complete Feature Comparison

Real 2026 data - updated weekly

Feature
.cardvault Freename
ENS (.eth) ENS Domains
Unstoppable Multiple TLDs
💰 PRICING (2026 Real Data)
Registration Cost
Initial purchase price
Varies by Domain
Priced individually by Freename
Real-time pricing per domain
$5-10,000+
Length-based
$5-50,000
Varies by TLD
Annual Renewal Fee
Yearly cost to keep domain
$0
✓ Lifetime ownership
$5-640/yr
Based on length
$0
✓ Lifetime ownership
Gas Fees (Est.)
Network transaction costs
$0.01-5
Polygon/Solana
$10-100
Ethereum mainnet
$5-50
Multi-chain options
10-Year Total Cost
Including all fees
Varies + Gas
Check Freename.com
$0 renewals forever
$65-6,500
+ Renewals forever
$10-50,050
One-time only
💸 REVENUE GENERATION
Subdomain Royalties
Earn from selling subdomains
Up to 50%
✓ Passive income
Possible
Complex setup
Limited
Not all TLDs
Resale Marketplace
Where you can sell
✓ Full Access
OpenSea, Rarible, etc.
✓ Full Access
OpenSea, LooksRare, etc.
✓ Full Access
OpenSea + own marketplace
⛓️ BLOCKCHAIN & TECHNICAL
Supported Blockchains
Where domains are minted
ETH Polygon Solana BSC
4 chains 🏆
Ethereum Only
1 chain
40+ Chains
Most flexible 🏆
Browser Support
Native resolution
Growing
Via gateways
✓ Best
MetaMask, Brave
✓ Good
Opera, Brave
Wallet Integration
Send crypto to domain
✓ Yes
Multi-chain
✓ Best
Ethereum native
✓ Yes
275+ cryptos
🎯 BEST USE CASES
Ideal For
Primary target audience
  • ✓ Card collectors
  • ✓ Trading communities
  • ✓ Niche branding
  • ✓ Revenue seekers
  • ✓ Ethereum users
  • ✓ DeFi protocols
  • ✓ Premium brands
  • ✓ Prestige/status
  • ✓ Multi-chain users
  • ✓ TLD variety seekers
  • ✓ Payment addresses
  • ✓ Beginners
📊 MARKET DATA (2026)
Total Registrations
Domains registered
50K+
Growing fast
3M+
Market leader 🏆
4M+
All TLDs combined
Secondary Market Volume
Resale activity
$500K+
2025 total
$50M+
2025 total 🏆
$10M+
2025 total

🏆 Winner Declarations by Category

Which platform wins for your specific needs?

🏆

Best Overall Value

.cardvault

Real-time pricing by Freename.com per domain, $0 renewals, 50% subdomain royalties. Check current prices on Freename.

Annual Renewal:
$0 Forever
👑

Most Prestigious

ENS (.eth)

Industry standard. 3M+ registered. MetaMask native. Premium .eth names = status symbol in crypto.

Market Leader:
3M+ domains
⛓️

Best Multi-Chain

Unstoppable

40+ blockchain support. 275+ cryptocurrencies. .crypto, .nft, .dao, .blockchain TLDs available.

Chain Support:
40+ chains
💰

Best Revenue Model

.cardvault

Up to 50% royalties on subdomain sales. Passive income from your digital real estate.

Royalty Rate:
Up to 50%
⚡

Best for Ethereum

ENS (.eth)

Native Ethereum integration. DeFi standard. Every major wallet supports .eth resolution.

Integration:
Ethereum Native
🎓

Most Beginner-Friendly

Unstoppable

Simple interface. Credit card checkout. No renewal fees. Easy wallet setup guides.

Ease of Use:
5/5 Stars

Which Should YOU Choose? (5 Scenarios)

🎴

Scenario 1: You're a Pokemon Card Collector

You run a trading card business, want to build a Web3 community, and earn passive income from subdomain sales.

Recommended: .cardvault 🏆
Pricing set by Freename.com per domain, $0 renewals
Perfect niche branding (pokemon.cardvault)
Sell subdomains to community members (charizard.pokemon.cardvault)
Earn 50% royalties on every subdomain sale
💎

Scenario 2: You're Building a DeFi Protocol

You need maximum credibility, Ethereum ecosystem integration, and instant wallet resolution for crypto payments.

Recommended: ENS (.eth) 🏆
Industry standard in DeFi space
MetaMask, Rainbow, Argent native support
Premium .eth = instant credibility
Cost: $10-1000+ initial + $5-640/year renewal
🌐

Scenario 3: You Use Multiple Blockchains

You trade on Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, BSC, and want one domain to receive crypto on all chains.

Recommended: Unstoppable 🏆
40+ blockchain support (most in the industry)
Receive 275+ different cryptocurrencies
TLD variety: .crypto, .nft, .dao, .blockchain
$5-50K one-time, $0 renewals
💰

Scenario 4: You Want Passive Income

You're looking to invest in digital real estate and generate revenue from subdomain sales without active management.

Recommended: .cardvault 🏆
Up to 50% royalty on every subdomain sale
Target high-value niches (Pokemon, MTG, sports cards)
Example: Sell charizard.pokemon.cardvault for $500, earn $250
Real-time pricing by Freename.com = competitive entry cost
🎓

Scenario 5: You're New to Crypto

You want to get started with Web3 domains but are intimidated by wallets, gas fees, and blockchain complexity.

Recommended: Unstoppable 🏆
Credit card checkout option (no crypto required initially)
Simple interface with step-by-step guides
No renewal fees to worry about
24/7 customer support

Final Recommendation Matrix

🏆

Choose .cardvault if:

  • ✓ You're in card collecting space
  • ✓ You want revenue generation
  • ✓ You prefer zero renewals
  • ✓ Pricing varies by domain (check Freename.com)
👑

Choose ENS if:

  • ✓ You're Ethereum-focused
  • ✓ You want premium prestige
  • ✓ You need DeFi integration
  • ✓ Budget: $15-10K+
⛓️

Choose Unstoppable if:

  • ✓ You use multiple chains
  • ✓ You want TLD variety
  • ✓ You're a beginner
  • ✓ Budget: $10-50K
Get Your .cardvault Domain

Best value for card collectors • 50% royalties • $0 renewals forever