domain marketplace: definition

A domain marketplace is a website where people who hold a domain name offer it for sale, and buyers find it, make an offer or pay a set price. The name already belongs to someone, so a purchase only happens if that holder agrees to sell and then hands control of the name to the buyer.

What a domain marketplace is

Marketplaces are part of the aftermarket The market where domain names that are already registered are bought and sold. Full definition of aftermarket, the resale market for names that are already registered. Buyer and seller agree the price, not the registry The central database and system of a top-level domain, or loosely the organization that runs it. Full definition of registry, so it can be far higher than a normal registration Obtaining the right to use a domain name for a set period. Full definition of registration fee.

Selling is the holder’s choice: ICANN Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers The nonprofit that coordinates the global DNS and gTLD policy. Full definition of ICANN’s guidance for registrant The person or organization that holds a domain name registration. Full definition of registrant says it is up to the holder whether to respond to an offer.

Afternic GoDaddy's domain marketplace, which shows listings across many partner registrars. Full definition of Afternic, Sedo A German domain marketplace that also offers brokerage and parking. Full definition of Sedo and Atom are examples, and Dan.com A former domain marketplace that GoDaddy bought and closed in 2025. Full definition of Dan.com was one until it closed. Naming them is not a recommendation.

How listings work: buy it now, make offer and auctions

A seller usually chooses one of these listing types, or combines them:

Fixed price (BIN Buy It Now A fixed price at which a buyer can purchase a domain without negotiation. Full definition of BIN, “buy it now”). Anyone who pays the stated price gets the name, without negotiation.
Make offer. Buyers propose a price. The seller can accept, reject or reply with a counteroffer. A seller can also set a minimum offer.
Auction. Buyers bid against each other.

The asking price The price a seller states for a domain, fixed or open to negotiation. Full definition of asking price may be fixed or only a starting point for talks, and the rules differ between marketplaces.

Fees and commissions

Marketplaces usually keep a commission from the seller’s side of the sale. Rates, minimum charges and other costs differ between marketplaces and change over time, so check the marketplace’s current terms before listing or buying.

How a sale is completed

Two things change hands: the money and control of the name. The marketplace usually takes the payment and arranges the handover. Alternatively, an escrow A neutral service holding payment until a domain is transferred. Full definition of escrow service holds the buyer’s money until the name has moved, and only then pays the seller.

gTLD names under current rules

For generic top-level domains such as .com, the handover is a change of registrant A change of a domain's owner details, with confirmation steps. Full definition of change of registrant under ICANN’s Transfer Policy ICANN's rules for moving gTLD domains between registrars and changing registrants. Full definition of Transfer Policy. A change counts when the holder’s name, organization or email address changes, other than to fix a typing error. As of October 2026:

The seller asks their current registrar to change the holder to the buyer.
The registrar asks for confirmation through a secure method, usually an email. If it is not confirmed within the period the registrar sets (at most 60 days), the request lapses.
The registrar processes the change within one day of confirmation.
Both the old and the new holder are notified.

Either party may authorize a Designated Agent, such as an intermediary, to approve the change on its behalf.

As of October 2026, if the buyer also wants the name at another registrar, the auth code authorization code A secret code needed to approve moving a domain to another registrar. Full definition of auth code is needed. If the holder cannot get it in their account, the registrar must provide it and remove its transfer lock A restriction that blocks a domain from moving to another registrar. Full definition of transfer lock within five calendar days of the request. After a change of registrant, the registrar must lock the name against registrar transfers for 60 days, unless the holder opted out before the change. The policy therefore advises moving the name to the new registrar first and changing the holder afterwards. A registrar may also refuse a registrar transfer within 60 days of registration or of a previous transfer.

Changes adopted but not yet in force

On 7 June 2026, the ICANN Board ICANN's board of directors, which adopts policies and approves key decisions. Full definition of ICANN Board adopted the recommendations of the Transfer Policy Review ICANN process whose adopted but not yet implemented recommendations will change gTLD transfer rules. Full definition of Transfer Policy Review. As of October 2026, they are not in force: ICANN lists the project as in queue, with no start date. Once implemented:

A change of holder will no longer trigger a lock. Instead, the registrar must notify the holder no later than 24 hours afterwards.
Owner changes will move to a separate Change of Registrant Data Policy.
New 30-day (720-hour) locks will follow a registration and a registrar transfer. The lock after a transfer may be lifted early, for example to complete a documented aftermarket purchase or because of an escrow intermediary.

.es and .eu names

Spain’s national plan for .es (Orden ITC/1542/2005) allows a voluntary transfer of a name if the new holder meets the rules and the old holder’s approval is communicated to the registry before the registration data The information kept about a domain and its owner. Full definition of registration data change. The .es registry calls this procedure “Transmisión de Dominio” (domain transmission): the old holder requests the change, then the new holder accepts the conditions. Its page states no fee or deadline. In .eu, a single authorisation code serves for a change of registrar, of holder, or both.

Example

A holder lists example.com with a fixed price and an offer option. After a counteroffer, the buyer accepts and pays the marketplace or an escrow service. Under current gTLD generic top-level domain A top-level domain not tied to a country, run under ICANN contracts. Full definition of gTLD rules, if the buyer wants another registrar, it is simpler to move the name there first. The registrar then asks the seller to confirm the change of registrant, processes it within one day, and notifies both parties.

How to list a domain for sale

Only the holder, or someone the holder authorizes, can sell a name. The seller chooses a listing type and an asking price, or invites offers. Many sellers also show a for-sale lander The web page on a domain that tells visitors the name is for sale. Full definition of for-sale lander on the name itself: a page with the price or an offer form, provided by the marketplace. Set-up steps differ between marketplaces.

Risks and how to avoid scams

Disputes. A name cannot pass to a new holder while a UDRP Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy ICANN's out-of-court process for trademark disputes over domain names. Full definition of UDRP case is pending, nor for 15 business days after it ends, nor during a related court case. Check before buying.
Trademarks. Under the UDRP, acquiring a name mainly to sell it to a trademark owner or a competitor for more than documented costs is evidence of bad faith Intent to take unfair advantage of another's trademark through a domain name. Full definition of bad faith, a sign of cybersquatting Registering a domain in bad faith to profit from another's trademark. Full definition of cybersquatting. A buyer of a name close to a brand can lose it, so the seller should not target brand owners. Anyone unsure should ask a lawyer.
Payment. Pay through the marketplace or an escrow service, not directly to a stranger, and check that the seller really controls the name.
Fake buyers. Be wary of unsolicited “buyers” who ask the seller for an upfront fee.

domain marketplace