Best Domain Marketplaces and Auction Platforms

## The Domain Aftermarket Landscape The Domain Aftermarket is a fragmented ecosystem of specialized platforms, general marketplaces, Domain Auction houses, and broker networks. Knowing which platform to use — and when — is one of the most practical skills a domain investor can develop. Unlike stock exchanges where all trades for a given security occur on a centralized market with transparent pricing, domain sales happen across dozens of platforms simultaneously, with widely varying fee structures, buyer audiences, and listing quality. A domain listed on Afternic might sell for a different price than the same domain listed on Sedo, simply because the buyer communities differ. ## Afternic (GoDaddy Network) Afternic is the largest domain sales network in the world by transaction volume, owned by GoDaddy since 2013. Its key advantage is distribution: Afternic listings appear across 100+ Domain Registrar partner sites, meaning when someone searches for a domain at GoDaddy, Namecheap, Network Solutions, or dozens of other registrars, your Afternic listing appears as a "buy now" option. **Fees**: 20% commission on sales up to $25,000; 15% above $25,000. No listing fee. **Best for**: .com domains with broad commercial appeal. The mass-market distribution is unmatched. **Pricing options**: Buy Now (fixed price), Make Offer, or Auction. The "Fast Transfer" feature allows instant domain delivery once payment clears. **Minimum listing price**: Effectively $1, though experienced sellers rarely list below $500 for domains with actual value. Use WHOIS Lookup Tool to verify a domain's transfer eligibility before listing — domains must be unlocked and not within 60 days of registration or transfer. ## Sedo Sedo (Search Engine for Domain Offers) is the leading European domain marketplace, with strong global reach. Founded in Germany in 2001, Sedo has over 18 million domains listed and a large international buyer base. **Fees**: 15% commission. Broker-assisted sales have different fee structures. **Best for**: Premium and international domains. Sedo's buyer base is more global than Afternic's, making it particularly useful for domains targeting European or non-English markets. **Features**: Sedo operates its own escrow service (via escrow.com partnership), runs regular Domain Auction events, and has a brokerage team for premium domains. **Domain Parking**: Sedo operates one of the largest Domain Parking networks. Parked domains earn pay-per-click revenue while listed for sale. ## GoDaddy Auctions GoDaddy Auctions is the largest platform for Expired Domain auctions. When a domain expires and enters the deletion process, it often passes through GoDaddy Auctions where registered users can bid. **Fees**: $4.99/year membership fee for participation. GoDaddy takes a percentage of sale proceeds (varies). **Best for**: Drop catching strategy (see Drop Catching: How to Snag Expiring Domains), backorder services, and buying expired domains with traffic or backlink history. **Key feature**: GoDaddy's Closeout section features domains that didn't sell at auction, available at fixed low prices ($10–$30). These can be genuine bargains for patient searchers. **Volume**: GoDaddy processes thousands of expired domain auctions daily, making it by far the highest-volume Domain Auction platform. ## Dan.com (formerly Undeveloped) Dan.com, acquired by GoDaddy in 2021, operates as a more streamlined marketplace focused on the buy-now experience. It has a clean, consumer-friendly interface and handles payment and transfer logistics automatically. **Fees**: 9% commission (lowest of major platforms for standard sales). **Best for**: Mid-market domains ($500–$10,000) where fast, frictionless transactions matter. **Features**: Dan handles payment processing, Domain Escrow, and transfer. Sellers receive payment after the domain is transferred. Dan also supports Domain Leasing arrangements. **Integration**: Dan has registrar partnerships that push listings into search results, similar to Afternic but with different coverage. ## Flippa Flippa is primarily known as a marketplace for buying and selling online businesses, but it has a significant domain section. Unlike pure domain marketplaces, Flippa attracts buyers interested in domains with existing traffic, revenue, or development potential. **Fees**: Listing fees ($49–$99) plus success fees (5–10%). **Best for**: Developed domains or domains with documented traffic history. Pure domain-name-only listings tend to perform poorly on Flippa compared to platforms with domain-specialist audiences. ## NamePros Marketplace NamePros.com is the largest domain investor forum, and its marketplace section sees active trading — particularly for lower-priced domains and bulk portfolio sales. Unlike commercial platforms, NamePros is a community space where investor-to-investor deals happen. **Fees**: Free for basic listings; small fee for featured placement. **Best for**: Selling to other domain investors at investor prices (which are lower than end-user prices). Portfolio bulk sales. Getting feedback on domains before committing to a commercial listing strategy. **Limitation**: Buyers are predominantly investors seeking bargains, not end-users willing to pay retail prices. Don't expect end-user multiples from NamePros buyers. ## Broker-Assisted Sales For Premium Domain (Registry Premium) names — broadly, domains likely worth $10,000 or more — a professional Domain Broker often achieves better outcomes than marketplace self-listing. Brokers have relationships with corporate brand managers, marketing agencies, and startup founders who buy premium domains. Leading domain brokerage firms include: - **Media Options**: Specializes in premium .com sales, handles $1M+ transactions - **Grit Brokerage**: Strong track record with mid-to-upper tier domains - **Igloo.com**: Boutique firm with strong corporate buyer relationships - **Domain Holdings**: Large brokerage with auction capabilities Broker commissions typically run 10–20%. For a $100,000 domain, that $10,000–$20,000 fee is usually well-justified if the broker delivers a buyer you couldn't have reached yourself. ## Comparing Platforms: Quick Reference | Platform | Best For | Commission | Buyer Audience | |----------|----------|------------|----------------| | Afternic | Broad .com inventory | 15–20% | Global, registrar integration | | Sedo | International/premium | 15% | European-heavy, global | | GoDaddy Auctions | Expired domains | Variable | Investors + businesses | | Dan.com | Mid-market fast sales | 9% | Businesses + investors | | Flippa | Traffic/revenue domains | 5–10% + listing | Online business buyers | | NamePros | Investor-to-investor | Free | Domain investors | | Broker | Premium domains | 10–20% | Corporate buyers | ## Multi-Platform Strategy Experienced investors don't pick one platform — they list domains on multiple marketplaces simultaneously. Afternic and Sedo both support this without exclusivity requirements. Dan.com can run alongside either. The key risk to manage: if a domain sells on one platform before you update others, you'll need to cancel the other listings promptly. Automated listing management tools like DomainIQ or registrar-native tools help. Use TLD Comparison Tool to research which extensions have the strongest market presence on each platform before committing your listing strategy. Drop Catching: How to Snag Expiring Domains Domain Flipping: Buy Low, Sell High Exit Strategy: When and How to Sell Domains