The short answer
Search Afternic first. It holds the largest set of listed names, and those names also show as for sale at GoDaddy and many other registrars. Check Sedo for international and non-English names, and Atom for invented, brandable names. For cheap names under about $100, look at Namecheap Marketplace and expiring-name auctions. If the name you want is not listed anywhere, you will need to contact the owner directly.
| If you want | Look here first |
|---|---|
| A .com that is listed for sale | Afternic (also shown through GoDaddy) |
| A name in another language or country extension | Sedo |
| An invented, brandable name with a logo | Atom |
| A cheap name, usually under $100 | Namecheap Marketplace |
| A name about to expire | GoDaddy Auctions, DropCatch |
| A name that is not listed at all | Contact the owner, or use a broker |
| A name worth $50,000 or more | A domain broker |
Afternic
Afternic, owned by GoDaddy, is the largest marketplace for listed domains. Sellers can set a buy-now price, a minimum offer or make-offer only. Because Afternic lists names across a network of registrars, the same name may show as for sale when you search at GoDaddy or another registrar. Buy-now names transfer to your account after payment, usually within a few days. On make-offer names, expect a counter-offer before you agree a price.
Sedo
Sedo is based in Germany and is strongest for European and other non-English names, and for country extensions such as .de or .co.uk. It offers buy-now listings, offers and auctions, and handles the transfer and payment itself. If the name you want is in a language other than English, check Sedo before anywhere else.
Atom
Atom (formerly Squadhelp) specialises in brandable names: short, invented or two-word names that come with a logo idea and are priced as ready-made brands. Prices are usually fixed and higher than for similar unbranded names, because you are paying for the curation. It is a good place to look when you are naming a new business and do not have a specific name in mind yet.
Namecheap Marketplace
Namecheap runs a marketplace for names held at Namecheap. Most listings are cheap, often under $100, and because the name is already at the registrar, the transfer is usually instant. Quality varies widely, so check the name's history and trademark position before you buy.
Expiring-name auctions
When an owner stops renewing, the name goes through an expiry process and may be auctioned. GoDaddy Auctions sells names expiring at GoDaddy and needs a paid membership to bid. DropCatch tries to register names the moment they are released. These are the cheapest way to get an established name, but competition for good ones is fierce, and you are bidding against professional investors. See buying expired domains for how the stages work.
Brokers, for names that are not listed or cost more
If the name is not listed, or is likely to cost more than a few thousand dollars, a broker can contact the owner for you without revealing who you are. That matters, because an owner who learns a funded company wants the name will raise the price. Brokers usually charge the buyer a fee or a percentage of the price. GoDaddy, Sedo and independent brokers all offer this.
How to avoid overpaying
Check what similar names have actually sold for on NameBio before you make an offer, because asking prices are often far above what names sell for. Run the name through our free domain appraisal to get a range. Search the trademark databases for your country, since a name that matches someone else's brand can be taken from you. For anything over a few hundred dollars, pay through the marketplace or through escrow, never by direct transfer to a stranger.
- Start with Afternic: it holds the most listed names and shows them across many registrars.
- Use Sedo for non-English names, Atom for brandables and Namecheap Marketplace for cheap names.
- Check comparable sales and trademarks before you offer.
- Pay through the marketplace or escrow, never directly to a private seller.
Work it out: Domain name generator
Value the name itself — separate from any site on it, no email required. The method and the reported sales behind the estimate are published alongside it.
Appraise a domainNamecheap runs a domain marketplace alongside the registrar, so you can list a domain for sale, park it for ad revenue, or grab the next one cheaply.
Browse Namecheap