A domain broker makes the process of buying or selling a premium domain easier. We’ve compiled this list of the five best domain brokers based on our decade-plus experience in this industry.
This list intentionally focuses on boutique brokerages you won’t find on common “best broker lists.” We left out the big names that deal with high-volume customers (e.g., GoDaddy and VPN.com) because they’re often expensive and don’t offer the best service for buyers. Those big names focus more on their main businesses, i.e., domain registration for GoDaddy and VPN services for VPN.com.
You’re more likely to build one-on-one relationships with smaller, more specialized domain brokers than with a broker who’s a cog in a company-wide machine.
The 5 Best Domain Brokers for Buying & Selling Premium Domains
- Name Experts
- Domain Holdings
- Name Ninja
- Name Arena
- Dan.com
Who is this ‘best domain brokers’ list for?
A domain broker isn’t always necessary. For example, if you want to buy a new domain name, you can simply visit a domain registrar, search for the name, and pay for it—you don’t need a broker to help. A broker’s services are only needed when you want to buy a domain name already registered by someone else.
Let’s say you visit a domain registrar and search for your desired domain, only to see someone else has taken it. If you still want that domain, you can hire a domain broker to help you find the owner and negotiate a deal.
A domain broker is also helpful for a domain seller. If you have a premium domain you want to sell for a significant price; a broker can help you market it and find the right buyer. The broker handles the legal documentation and final domain transfer—the seller receives the money and pays the broker their agreed-upon commission.
We compiled this list for businesses looking to acquire a premium domain or those that own domain names they want to sell.
Name Experts
We are Name Experts, a premier domain broker that has facilitated over $100 million of acquisitions and counting. We’re an ideal broker for venture-funded startups and established businesses that want a seamless, one-on-one experience.
Joe Uddeme is our primary domain broker who gives every client delicate attention to help them acquire premium domain names. We only work with a select number of clients, which enables us to give each one the service they deserve.
Our previous clients include notable names like tech tycoon and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban, Monday.com co-founder Eran Zinnman, and Hubspot co-founder Dharmesh Shah, brokering $100 million+ worth of deals over the past decade. We’ve proudly contributed to the success of some of the biggest technology companies globally.
We pride ourselves in helping clients buy valuable domain names or sell their premium domains:
- Anonymous domain acquisition services. We keep your identity private when negotiating with a domain seller, ensuring they don’t hike their price based on what they know about you and preventing rivals from snooping on your business strategies.
- Selling ultra-premium domains. We help you sell your premium domain name at your desired price. Name Experts has built an unbeatable network over the past decade that enables us to find the best buyer for your domain.
- Domain name appraisals. We accurately appraise domains based on market comparisons, previous experience, and private databases, giving you the best valuation for your domain.
Name Experts is a veteran domain broker with over a decade of experience. Our notable deals include brokering the biggest .net sale ever ($750,000 for Poker.net) and other premium domains like 20.com, Link.com, and Connect.com. Joe is regularly featured on Escrow.com’s top domain broker lists and appeared on DNPost’s list of top 10 brokers in 2024.
If you’d like a free consultation, don’t hesitate to reach out to Name Experts. We’d love to hear from you.
Domain Holdings
Domain Holdings – Founded in 2010, Domain Holdings is a team of four domain brokers, including the two founders, John Ferber and Chad Folkening.
Domain Holdings helps companies secure domain names, websites, and other digital property. They specialize in managing all aspects of a domain’s life-cycle, from acquisition to divestment.
They provide:
- Representation of High Valued Domains
- Stealth Acquisitions
- Social Media Handle Acquisitions
- Website Sales
- Domain Portfolio Management
- Domain Auction Management
- Domain Name Valuations
In addition to their domain broker services, they developed a platform for monetization and parking solutions for domains.
Although they still operate as a separate entity, Flippa.com acquired Domain Holdings in 2015.
Name Ninja
Name Ninja has been brokering domains since 1994. As one of the oldest domain brokers in the industry, they come with years of experience to help their clients buy and sell domains.
Companies can acquire, manage and protect their domain names through Name Ninja.
Name Ninja specializes in:
Domain name consulting services for entrepreneurs, startups, and marketers:
- Domain Name Acquisition
- Social Media Handle Acquisition
Consulting services for domain name owners, both individuals and corporations:
- Domain Name Brokering
- Domain Name Rescue
- Domain Name Protection
- Corporate Domain Name Strategy
- Domain Name Portfolio Management
Name Arena
Name Arena provides a wide range of services to help businesses and consumers buy and sell domain names, trademarks, and social media accounts.
Founded in 2018 by Steve Miholovich, Name Arena is a boutique domain broker, focused on clients first.
Name Arena offers a wide range of services that businesses or consumers can use to buy or sell domains, trademarks, or social media accounts. They provide customized services to meet your needs and enable you to buy or sell a property.
They will be able to assist you with their knowledge and experience so that you can focus on other important issues with your business.
Name Arena will manage all aspects of the contract execution, including escrow management and transferring domain ownership to the buyer.
Dan.com
Dan.com – Best marketplace for buying & selling domain names (when you don’t need a broker).
You don’t always need a domain broker, particularly if you are looking for a domain in the 4 and low 5 figures. There are several marketplaces for searching and purchasing premium domains.
Dan.com is a domain marketplace and one of the easiest places to buy or sell a premium domain. You can search by popular domains, 3-letter domains and premium domains. This marketplace was founded in 2013 and remained independent until GoDaddy, the world’s largest domain registrar, acquired it in 2022.
Dan.com is filled with domains going for $1K+, but it also has many with $100K+, making premium domains available for different budgets.
All Dan.com transactions are secure. Their buyer protection program uses an escrow service, meaning no money changes hands until the domain is transferred.
Tips for Working with a Domain Broker
These are the main factors to consider when choosing a domain broker to help you buy or sell premium domains:
Do your research
Due diligence is the first critical step in choosing the best domain broker. Many domain brokers are out there, including some bad actors who are inexperienced or fraudulent. Domain brokerage isn’t a licensed profession, so it takes due diligence to sift the experts from the non-experts.
If you identify an ideal broker, search the web for information about that broker. Read customer reviews and testimonials to know what others have to say. Seek unbiased, third-party information instead of unquestioningly trusting what you see on the broker’s website.
For example, Joe Uddeme of Name Experts has been featured in many top broker lists, including Escrow.com and DNPost, as recently as 2024, assuring businesses they are in good hands with us.
Ask questions
Don’t be afraid to ask brokers difficult questions about their services. You’re about to enter a valuable business transaction with them, so you need as much information as possible. Relevant questions to ask include:
- What’s your role in the transaction? Do you represent both the buyer and the seller? This question is essential because a broker’s relationship with the seller may constitute a conflict of interest– everything must be transparent.
- Can you provide any references? What do previous customers say about your service? Not having customer references is not a good sign for a broker.How recently did you close a domain deal? This information helps you determine how active the broker is and the caliber of transactions they work on.
- How recently did you close a domain deal? This information helps you determine how active the broker is and the caliber of transactions they work on.
- What’s your process like? Do I get hands-on support to guide me throughout the acquisition journey?
- Can you handle complex transactions and coordinate with lawyers if needed? Any domain broker facilitating six or seven-figure deals must have this ability.
Know their fee structure
You must be sure of a domain broker’s fee structure before entering a formal transaction. Most brokers charge commissions ranging from 5% to 20% and have exclusivity terms of 30 to 120 days.
At Name Experts, we don’t take fees unless we successfully acquire your desired domain. This fee structure makes us an excellent choice because your interests align perfectly with ours—we’ll work as hard and smart as possible to clinch your desired deal. Contact us today to see how we can help.
