How to get a premium domain
Premium domains are high-value domains that have the potential to become popular web addresses with strong branding opportunities. The corresponding label is shown for such domains at our Domain Name Search:
Usually, premium domains are short, easy-to-remember domain names with popular extensions. They may come with a significantly higher domain registration price, and in some cases, they may have a higher domain renewal and transfer cost as well.
- What is a premium domain, and how does it work?
- What happens after the purchase?
What is a premium domain, and how does it work?
There are so many domain names, and you’re probably wondering what makes some domain names "premium". Let’s dive straight in!
A premium domain is a domain name made up of dictionary words and common phrases. It is typically short in length, which makes it easily recognizable. You’ll remember namecheap.com over namesthatarereallycheapandgreat.com.
As they are recognizable, premium domains are easy to market, which gives your brand an advantage over competitors. They are a wise investment option as you’re likely to be able to sell them in the future.
So how do you get one?
1. Domains sold by their existing owners usually have a one-time purchase fee, and their maintenance cost (renew and transfer) does not differ from the regular cost for other domains with the same extension. When you purchase such a domain, we arrange a deal with the current owner and provision the domain to your account with no additional action necessary from you.
2. Registry premiums are often new domains selected as "premium" by the Registry due to their potential for high value and popularity. In many cases, Registry premiums have special pricing not only for acquisition but also for renewal and transfer. Registry premium domain names can be registered/renewed for 1 year only in one order.
The distinction between these types of premium domains often becomes blurred, as Registry premiums can easily be put for sale by their existing owners.
What happens after the purchase?
When you purchase a premium domain with Namecheap, we will first try to register or transfer the domain of choice for you:
- Registry premiums will be provisioned to your account right away.
- Domains sold by existing owners may need some time to be transferred to us since a third party is involved.
Let’s review the stages the purchase undergoes before the existing domain is added to your account.
1. Once the order is placed, the domain name is booked for you in the system of our marketplace partner. As we work with different marketplace platforms and sellers, it may take 24-72 hours to validate the legitimacy of the purchase. We may contact you during this process, so we highly recommend checking your mailbox for emails and being ready for a phone call.
2. After everything is confirmed, the status of the order changes to "purchased" and our support specialists begin to communicate with the marketplace vendor’s team on all the ways to deliver the domain name to our system.
The speed of the transfer and the process in whole depends on the so-called "fast" transfer option availability for the domain you purchased:
- If the domain name is with a Registrar that supports the "fast" transfer, the domain will be carried over to your Namecheap account within several hours after the initial 24-72 hour verification process. As soon as the transfer is complete, you will receive a corresponding notification from us.
- If the fast transfer option is not available, the regular transfer process will be followed. It may take up to 10 business days to prepare the domain for transfer on the side of the seller before we actually start the transfer. Once the transfer is initiated, the domain name will be moved to Namecheap within 5-7 days. No special action is needed from your side.
In summary, if a regular transfer process is used, the worst-case scenario in terms of transfer waiting time is up to 20 days. Upon transfer completion and domain delivery to your account, our team will always notify you via email. However, you can always check the status request with our support team. As always, we are available 24/7 for you.
PLEASE NOTE:
- If the domain you purchased was registered less than 60 days ago, we will only be able to deliver it after the 60-day period is over. It is a general restriction assigned by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) to the majority of existing top-level domains in the world. As soon as the waiting period is over, we will carry out the transfer process, as described above.
- When purchasing a .ai domain, it's important to note that the .ai Registry charges a mandatory fee for all .ai transfers and does not presuppose domain renewal. The transfer fee might not be initially included in the domain price set by the seller, which is why our team may reach out to you additionally to cover it.
This is how the process of premium domains purchase and delivery is handled, including the timing associated with each stage. If the domain name is not transferred for some reason, we will issue a full refund according to our Registration Agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Is a premium domain worth it?
Now that you’re more informed on the subject and know how to get one, you may wonder whether you should buy a premium domain name. If you’re building a brand, it’s worth it. A short domain name and uncomplicated words or phrases mean it’s easy to spell and easy to remember. The more memorable you are, the easier it is to build a brand and stand out in your chosen market.
Why are premium domains so expensive?
Premium domains come with a premium price tag because they’re highly sought after. Short domain names that use known words are what everyone would ideally choose if they had the chance. They can help improve your consumer trust; if people trust you, they’re more likely to buy from you, making them well worth the cost.
Who can own a premium domain?
Anyone can own a premium domain! All you need to do is search for a domain name, or keep an eye on your inbox — at Namecheap, we often let you know when there’s a premium domain opportunity on the horizon.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Domain Transfers 24/7 Support Team.
FAQs
Premium Domains — At GoDaddy, Premium Domains are names that someone purchased, and then put up for auction on the aftermarket. You pay the seller's price, and then the Premium Domain is yours to register at its normal yearly fee.
How to negotiate a premium domain? ›
How to Negotiate the Price of a Premium Domain
- Research the Domain Name You Want to Buy. ...
- Check for Trademarks on the Name. ...
- Do Your SEO Homework. ...
- Contact the Owner to Begin Negotiations. ...
- Negotiate a Lower Price. ...
- Use a Broker to Negotiate a Premium Domain Purchase. ...
- Use an Escrow Service for Payment.
Usually, premium domains are short, easy-to-remember domain names with popular extensions. They may come with a significantly higher domain registration price, and in some cases, they may have a higher domain renewal and transfer cost as well.
How do I enable premium DNS on Namecheap? ›
To enable PremiumDNS protection, use the toggle button Protection: If you switch the status of the subscription to On, the nameservers will be updated automatically to Namecheap PremiumDNS: The corresponding message will notify you that it usually takes 48 hours for the DNS changes to be accepted globally.
Is it worth paying for a premium domain? ›
Since premium domains are pricier than standard ones, you might be wondering if they're worth it. Well, long-term investment in premium domains can yield positive results. These domains can offer a lot of value for businesses that want to drive organic traffic.
Who decides premium domains? ›
Registry premium domains: When a domain registry identifies a domain likely to attract many buyers, they label the domain as premium. And this designation leads to a higher price that reflects the higher demand.
How much can a premium domain cost? ›
The cost of premium domain names can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. It all depends on the name's uniqueness, domain length, and overall brand potential. Some premium domains may even cost hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.
Can I make an offer on a premium domain? ›
Some of the search results will include premium Domain names that are available for negotiation. To purchase these domains, you can click Make an offer to begin the negotiation process.
How does a domain become a premium domain? ›
Premium domain names are domains already registered by a third party and offered for sale by the current owner. They are considered high quality because they are shorter, closely associated with the actual industry or service, and often use a TLD such as .com, . net, or . org.
Who prices premium domains? ›
Registry premium domain names are unique names for purchase at a non-standard price set by the registry.
“The shorter the name, the better” is the rule of thumb governing domain names. Most two or three-letter domains are considered premium because they're easy to imprint on customers' minds. These short names are also usually abbreviations adopted by various companies, so there's intense competition for them.
Why is Namecheap domain so cheap? ›
Why is NameCheap so cheap? NameCheap is known worldwide for offering domains and web hosting at a fraction of the price other companies sell the same product for. NameCheap is operating in an oversaturated, busy market where companies need to do something to be noticed, which is what NameCheap did.
What is the difference between Namecheap Premium DNS and Basic? ›
Compared with a more basic DNS service, Premium DNS ensures faster performance, maximum site availability, and better security. Namecheap PremiumDNS operates from redundant Anycast locations, and works with any domain name from any registrar worldwide.
Is PremiumDNS worth it? ›
Premium DNS providers have a larger pool of resources. Compared to a free or a regular DNS, a paid DNS usually comes with more domains, DNS zones, DNS records, and the number of DNS queries per month. With a large number of resources, websites with a paid DNS can handle high levels of traffic without any problems.
Is Namecheap better than GoDaddy? ›
If your priority in choosing a domain registrar is getting the best deal, then Namecheap is easily the better option. Not only is domain registration much less expensive than with GoDaddy, but all of their add-on services are far cheaper as well.
How much does a premium domain cost? ›
The cost of premium domain names can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. It all depends on the name's uniqueness, domain length, and overall brand potential. Some premium domains may even cost hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.
What makes a domain premium? ›
Premium domain names are domains already registered by a third party and offered for sale by the current owner. They are considered high quality because they are shorter, closely associated with the actual industry or service, and often use a TLD such as .com, . net, or . org.
What is the difference between a domain and a premium domain? ›
A premium domain is priced differently by a registrar, and is generally found in the new gTLDs space. They're typically more expensive than a normal domain, with prices going into the thousands of dollars in some cases.
How do I get a premium domain from GoDaddy? ›
To purchase a premium domain, add it to your shopping cart and complete checkout. You'll have to pay a transfer fee and a registration fee. You can access the domain name in your account after we complete the transfer process.
