They Are Built on the Same Foundation
Basenames (.base.eth) is not a separate naming protocol. It runs on ENS — the same smart contracts, the same resolution architecture, the same ERC-721 token standard. Base (Coinbase's L2) deployed ENS-compatible contracts on their chain, and Basenames is the branded frontend to those contracts.
This means any app that supports ENS resolution will, in principle, be able to resolve Basenames too. The technical underpinning is the same. What differs is where the contracts live, how much things cost, and which ecosystem each name fits into.
Gas Costs
This is the biggest practical difference.
ENS (.eth) runs on Ethereum mainnet. Every registration, renewal, or record update goes through Ethereum's transaction layer. During periods of network congestion, a single ENS registration can cost $20–80 in gas fees alone on top of the registration price.
Basenames (.base.eth) runs on Base, which is a Layer 2 network. Gas fees on Base are measured in cents, not dollars. A Basename registration might cost less than $0.05 in gas.
If you are registering multiple names, or if you are building a product that registers names programmatically, this difference is substantial. For a casual user registering one name and holding it for years, it matters less.
Registration Prices
The annual fees are structured identically:
| Name length | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| 3 characters | 0.1 ETH |
| 4 characters | 0.01 ETH |
| 5+ characters | 0.001 ETH |
Same tiers. But the ETH is on different chains. ENS fees go to the ENS DAO treasury on Ethereum. Basename fees go to the Base protocol on Base.
Basenames also has a free tier: one 5+ letter Basename for a year if you hold certain Coinbase credentials (CB Verification, Coinbase One, etc.). ENS has no equivalent free option.
Name Availability
Basenames launched in August 2024. ENS launched in 2017.
Seven years of registrations means ENS is significantly more picked over. Common words, short names, popular handles — most of these were claimed on ENS years ago. The same name is often still available on Basenames.
If you have a specific name in mind that is already taken on ENS, it is worth checking Basenames before giving up. The overlap is significant, but not 100%.
Ecosystem Fit
ENS (.eth) has broader adoption across the Ethereum ecosystem:
- Supported in MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, Rainbow, and most major wallets
- Displayed on Uniswap, OpenSea, Farcaster, and most major dApps
- Used as a standard for Web3 identity across multiple chains via ENS's cross-chain resolution
Basenames (.base.eth) has deeper integration within the Base and Coinbase ecosystem:
- First-class support in Coinbase Wallet and Base App
- Native identity layer for Base Account (smart wallet)
- Increasingly supported in Base-native protocols (Aerodrome, Base-native DEXs, etc.)
- Over 750,000 registrations as of early 2026
The honest answer is that both are useful, and the gap in ecosystem support is closing as Basenames adoption grows.
Which One Should You Register
If you interact primarily with Coinbase products and Base-native apps, and you want low gas costs: Basenames.
If you want the broadest possible compatibility across the Ethereum ecosystem today: ENS.
If you want to protect a name comprehensively: register both. The total cost for a 5+ letter name on both is under $10 per year combined.
This tool checks both simultaneously, so you can see your preferred names' availability on ENS and Basenames in a single search.