Where to Buy and Sell Domain Names
- The domain marketplace landscape includes curated storefronts (Atom.com), general platforms (Sedo, Afternic), community forums (NamePros), and expired domain services
- For expired domain purchase, ExpiredDomains.net and GoDaddy Auctions are the top tools — filter by backlink metrics to find domains with existing SEO authority
- Atom.com (formerly Brand Bucket) is the #1 destination for premium brandable domains with included professional logo designs
- Commission structures range from 0% (NamePros peer-to-peer) to 40% (Atom.com) — factor fees into net proceeds before choosing a platform
- The best domains are often not publicly listed — a domain broker reaches off-market inventory unavailable on any marketplace
- Always use Escrow.com or verified platform escrow for any transaction exceeding $500
Whether you are searching for domain names for sale or positioning your own portfolio for the market, the platform you choose determines your reach, transaction security, and bottom line. This guide covers every major type of domain marketplace — from curated brandable platforms to expired domain purchase services — with platform profiles, fee comparisons, and guidance on when to bypass the marketplace entirely.
Types of Domain Marketplaces
| Marketplace Type | Best For | Examples | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curated brandable | Premium brandable names with logo included | Atom.com | $3,000–$150,000+ |
| General marketplace | All domain types; largest buyer pool | Sedo, Afternic, DAN.com | $100–$500,000+ |
| Registrar marketplace | Entry-level sellers; straightforward process | Namecheap, Dynadot, GoDaddy | $50–$50,000 |
| Community forum | Domain investors; peer-to-peer deals, no commission | NamePros, DNForum | Any price |
| Digital asset platform | Domains bundled with websites or traffic | Flippa, Empire Flippers | $500–$500,000+ |
| Expired domain platform | Domains with existing SEO authority and backlinks | GoDaddy Auctions, DropCatch, NameJet | $12–$50,000+ |
Atom.com: The Premium Brandable Domain Marketplace
Atom.com, formerly known as Brand Bucket, set the standard for curated domain marketplaces. Unlike general platforms where anyone can list any domain, Atom.com accepts only a fraction of submitted names based on stringent criteria: brandability, memorability, pronounceability, and commercial appeal. Every accepted listing includes a professionally designed logo — making each purchase a ready-to-launch brand package.
Prices typically range from $3,000 to $150,000+, with rare premium names priced higher. Atom.com charges sellers 30–40% commission — higher than general marketplaces, but reflecting the curated buyer audience and included branding. For startups seeking a distinctive, investment-grade domain without the complexity of off-market negotiation, Atom premium domains are the most efficient path.
Sedo and Afternic: The Volume Leaders
Sedo operates one of the world's largest domain inventories with millions of listings across all TLDs. It supports fixed-price, auction, and make-offer transaction formats, covers 17 languages, and handles escrow for every sale. Commission ranges from 10% to 20% depending on transaction type.
Afternic, operated by GoDaddy, specializes in distribution reach. Listings on Afternic are syndicated to 100+ registrar partners, meaning your domain appears as a premium option when buyers search at GoDaddy, Namecheap, Network Solutions, and dozens of others simultaneously. Standard commission is 20%, offset by unmatched breadth of exposure.
Flippa: Digital Assets Including Domains
Flippa began in 2009 and is best known for buying and selling websites, apps, and online businesses. Its domain-specific marketplace features listing tiers from $29 to $99 with a success fee. Notable Flippa domain sales include StockPhoto.com at $250,000. For domains bundled with an active website, established traffic, or revenue, Flippa's audience of digital business buyers offers better price discovery than a standalone domain marketplace.
How to Make an Expired Domain Purchase
An expired domain gives you a name with existing registration history — which may include backlinks, domain authority, and brand recognition built by the previous owner. The acquisition process:
- Search for candidates on ExpiredDomains.net — filter by TLD, keyword, domain length, Moz Domain Authority, and referring domain count
- Verify the backlink profile with Ahrefs or Moz — confirm links are from legitimate, relevant sources, not spam networks carrying a Google penalty
- Check the domain's history via the Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) — confirm the domain was not previously used for spam, malware, or content that could affect rankings
- Bid through a drop-catching service — GoDaddy Auctions, DropCatch, NameJet, and Snapnames all compete to capture expiring .com domains at the moment of drop
- Verify transfer and secure the domain — update registrant information, enable registrar lock, and point DNS to your hosting provider
Looking for a Domain Not Listed for Sale?
The domain you want may not appear on any marketplace. Name Experts specializes in locating off-market domain owners, making confidential approaches, and negotiating acquisitions — across every major TLD and price range. Over $150 million in completed transactions.
Top Expired Domain Search Tools
| Tool | Best For | Cost | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpiredDomains.net | Broad expired domain search | Free (basic); paid tiers | Filter by TLD, length, Moz DA, Majestic Trust Flow, keywords |
| GoDaddy Auctions | Competitive bidding for expired domains | $4.99/yr membership | Largest expired auction pool; GoDaddy network drops |
| DropCatch | High-value .com drops | Pay per acquisition | Specialized in competing for valuable .com drop-catch opportunities |
| NameJet | Network Solutions / Register.com drops | Pay per acquisition | Backorder system; active auction community |
| Snapnames | General backorder service | $69 minimum | First-come-first-served backorder; auction if multiple bidders |
Marketplace Commission Structures Compared
| Platform | Seller Commission | Listing Fee | Escrow Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| NamePros | 0% | Free | No — use Escrow.com independently |
| Namecheap Marketplace | 10% | Free | Yes — auto-transfer included |
| Sedo (fixed-price) | 10% | Free | Yes — built-in |
| Afternic (standard) | 20% | Free | Yes — GoDaddy escrow |
| GoDaddy Auctions | 20% | $4.99/yr membership | Yes — GoDaddy handled |
| Flippa | 5–10% | $29–$99 | Yes — Flippa handled |
| Atom.com | 30–40% | Free to apply | Yes — Atom handled |
For domains valued at $10,000 or more, a professional broker's 10–20% commission often produces a higher net sale price than a marketplace's 20–40% commission, because brokers actively find qualified buyers and negotiate maximum value rather than passively listing and waiting. For a side-by-side comparison of each marketplace's fee structure and buyer traffic, see our Best Domain Marketplaces guide.
How to Price Your Domain for Sale
The most common seller mistake is pricing based on what you paid, not what the market will bear. Effective pricing steps:
- Research comparable sales on NameBio — filter by TLD, length, and keywords to find domains that have actually sold
- Cross-reference automated appraisal tools (GoDaddy, EstiBot, Dynadot) as a rough reference baseline
- Price at retail value with room to negotiate — most domain sales close at 60–80% of the initial asking price
- Set a firm floor below which you will not sell — and be willing to hold until the right end-user buyer arrives
- Consider both fixed-price and make-an-offer formats simultaneously to capture the widest range of buyer intent
Need Expert Guidance Navigating Domain Marketplaces?
With over $150 million in facilitated transactions, Name Experts helps buyers and sellers navigate every major domain marketplace with professional negotiation, fair-market valuations, and secure transfers. Whether you are buying or selling, we make sure you get the best deal.
Talk to a Domain Expert
Frequently Asked Questions
The best domain marketplace depends on your needs and budget. Sedo is ideal for buyers who want access to millions of listings across every category, while Atom.com is the top choice for curated, brandable premium domains with included logo designs. For community-driven deals with more negotiation flexibility, NamePros offers direct peer-to-peer transactions. Using an escrow service is essential regardless of which platform you choose.
Atom.com, formerly known as Brand Bucket, specializes in atom premium domains that are hand-selected for their brandability, memorability, and marketing potential. Unlike general-purpose marketplaces, each domain listed on Atom.com comes with a professionally designed logo, and prices typically range from five to six figures. This curated approach saves buyers time and provides a turnkey brand package rather than just a raw domain name.
Buying domain names for sale on NamePros can be safe if you take the right precautions. Always use a reputable escrow service such as Escrow.com to protect your payment until the domain transfer is verified. Check the seller's forum reputation, transaction history, and feedback from previous buyers before committing. For transactions exceeding five figures, consider hiring a domain broker to manage the deal on your behalf.
To make a successful expired domain purchase, start by using tools like ExpiredDomains.net to filter domains by metrics such as backlinks, domain authority, and age. Cross-reference the domain's backlink profile using Ahrefs or Moz to ensure the links are from legitimate sources and not spam networks. GoDaddy Auctions and Namecheap also list expiring and expired domains, often with auction-style bidding that lets you compete for the most valuable names.
Commission structures vary significantly across platforms. Namecheap charges a straightforward 10-percent commission with automatic domain transfers included. Sedo's commission ranges from 10 to 20 percent depending on the sale type and whether the domain was brokered. Flippa charges listing fees from $29 to $99 plus a success fee upon sale. Understanding the full fee structure of each domain name marketplace helps you maximize your net proceeds when selling.
Auctions work best when you have a domain with clear demand and want competitive bidding to drive the price up, as seen on platforms like GoDaddy Auctions and Sedo. Fixed-price listings are more effective when you have a specific valuation in mind and want to avoid the uncertainty of bidding. Many experienced sellers list domain names for sale using a combination of both approaches — setting a buy-it-now price while also accepting offers — to capture the widest range of potential buyers.
