--- title: "Where to Sell Domain Names: Marketplaces, Brokers, Escrow" description: "Where to sell domain names: marketplaces, for-sale landing pages, brokers and auctions, how pricing and escrow work and how the transfer happens." url: https://hunter.domains/blog/where-to-sell-domain-names language: en --- # Where to Sell Domain Names: Marketplaces, Brokers, Escrow Where to sell domain names: marketplaces, for-sale landing pages, brokers and auctions, how pricing and escrow work and how the transfer happens. 3 October 2026 8 min read Where to sell domain names depends on what the domain is worth, how fast you want to move, and whether you want to do the work yourself or hand it off to a broker. The main channels are online marketplaces, landing pages, direct outreach, and auctions. Each has different commissions, speed and buyer pools. ## Channels: marketplace, landing page, outbound, auction A domain marketplace is a site where buyers browse and offer on domains for sale. The major ones are Sedo, GoDaddy Auctions, NameJet and Afternic. You list a domain, set a price, and the marketplace takes a commission if it sells. Commission rates and any listing fees differ by marketplace, so check each one's fee page. The upside is a large built-in buyer pool. The downside is that commission reduces your proceeds, and your domain sits alongside thousands of others competing for attention. A landing page is a simple website you create for the domain itself, showing the asking price and contact details for serious buyers. The buyer comes to the domain, sees a price, and reaches out to negotiate. This approach costs nothing if you already own the domain and keep it pointed at a landing page. The downside is that you get very few visitors unless the domain name itself is very attractive or you run ads. Outbound is direct contact. You research who might want the domain (a company in that space, a startup, a personal brand user) and reach out to them with a proposal. This takes time, but it sidesteps marketplace fees and can reach qualified buyers who are not browsing marketplaces. Many domain flippers and brokers use this approach because the return per sale is higher even though deals take longer. An auction is a time-limited sale on a marketplace or through a broker. Auctions create urgency and can drive prices higher if multiple bidders are interested. GoDaddy Auctions and broker-managed auctions are among the options. Auctions are fast but the outcome is unpredictable. You might get a great price or sell for less than you hoped, depending on bidder interest. ## Setting a price Price the domain based on its fundamentals, not your wishful thinking. Look up recent sales of similar domains, look at [domain appraisal](https://hunter.domains/blog/domain-appraisal-tools) tools for a range, and run a manual [domain value](https://hunter.domains/blog/how-much-is-my-domain-worth) estimate. A domain with 15 years of history, Domain Rating of 40, and clean backlinks is worth more than a newly registered domain of the same name. If you have [aged domain](https://hunter.domains/expired-domains/aged-15-years) with traffic or referring domains, mention that prominently in the listing. If it has been [parked](https://hunter.domains/blog/parked-domain-and-archive-gaps) or sat unused for years, price it lower. If there is a [trademark risk](https://hunter.domains/blog/expired-domain-trademark-risk-udrp), disclose it, or the buyer will discover it and the deal will blow up. For an aggressive asking price, use a landing page or outbound. For a fair-market price, use a marketplace auction. Marketplaces tend to find equilibrium because there is competition. Landing pages attract buyers willing to negotiate, which can work either way: they might pay more if they really want it, or they might lowball you. ## How the big marketplaces work Sedo is one of the best-known domain marketplaces. You list a domain, set a price or accept offers, and Sedo's buyers browse it. Sedo takes a commission on the sale, so check its current fee page before you list. Check too how payment and transfer are handled. GoDaddy Auctions lets you list a domain for auction and the highest bidder wins. GoDaddy runs the auction engine and takes a commission. For sellers, the value is that auctions can drive higher prices if multiple bidders are interested. The downside is that you have no control over the final price if only one person bids. NameJet and Afternic are other marketplaces with active buyer pools. NameJet is owned by Newfold Digital, which also owns SnapNames, and is known for expired inventory. Both charge commission on sale. Some marketplaces let you list a domain on several platforms at once, while others have their own conditions, so read the terms before you list. Multiple listings increase visibility but also multiply the work of managing offers. ## Safe payment: escrow Always use escrow when selling a domain to someone you do not know. Escrow is a neutral third party that holds the buyer's money while you transfer the domain. Once the domain is transferred and the buyer confirms it is in their account, escrow releases the money to you. Escrow.com is a well-known independent escrow service, and some marketplaces offer escrow of their own. Without escrow, you transfer the domain and the buyer refuses to pay, or the buyer sends payment and you do not transfer. Escrow costs money (the fee and who pays it vary by service, so check before you agree), but it is cheap insurance for both sides. Never transfer a domain without payment already in escrow unless the buyer is a friend or a business you trust. Some marketplaces include escrow, and others require you to use an external service. Before you list, confirm who handles the payment and transfer process. ## Transfer steps The transfer process is similar at most registrars, though the screens differ. You unlock the domain at your registrar, request an authorization code (sometimes called an EPP code), and send it to the buyer. The buyer enters the auth code at their registrar and initiates the transfer. How long it takes to complete depends on the registrars involved, so ask both sides what to expect. During the transfer, the WHOIS contact and the registrar change. Make sure the buyer has all the information they need to complete their side. If the transfer fails (wrong auth code, domain locked, billing account issues), the buyer will come back and you will have to troubleshoot. Clear communication before and during the transfer prevents headaches. A newly registered or newly transferred gTLD domain is typically locked against transfer to another registrar for 60 days. If your domain is locked, you cannot transfer it until the lock ends, no matter who wants to buy it. Check the domain status codes before you list, and let buyers know if there is a lock, so they understand the timeline. ## Selling faster Speed depends on price, marketing and channel. A domain priced below market value on Sedo will usually sell faster than one priced above it. An [aged domain](https://hunter.domains/expired-domains/aged-15-years) with [Domain Rating](https://hunter.domains/blog/what-is-a-good-domain-rating) of 50 will attract serious buyers quickly. A domain with poor fundamentals can sit for months. To move a domain quickly, price it fairly, highlight the strengths (age, referring domains, traffic if any), and list on a high-traffic marketplace like Sedo or GoDaddy Auctions. Auctions in particular create urgency. If you go the landing page route, buy ads targeting people in the niche the domain fits. For outbound, speed depends on response rate and negotiation speed. A well-targeted message to a company that has a real use for the name can move quickly, while cold emails to a broad list may bring few replies and take months. [Hunter.domains](https://hunter.domains/domains) helps you find domains worth selling in the first place. The service screens archive history and [spam](https://hunter.domains/blog/expired-domain-spam-history) signs and shows a [trademark](https://hunter.domains/blog/expired-domain-trademark-risk-udrp) risk flag (it does not run a trademark search), so you waste less time listing poor-quality domains. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much can I sell my domain name for? It depends on the domain's age, [Domain Rating](https://hunter.domains/blog/what-is-a-good-domain-rating), referring domains, traffic, and the buyer's interest. A newly registered domain with no history may sell for little more than its registration fee, if it sells at all. An aged domain with clean history, some backlinks and a memorable name can sell for much more, but the range is wide. Use a [domain appraisal](https://hunter.domains/blog/domain-appraisal-tools) tool and research comparable sales to get a realistic range. For a high-value name, it is worth getting a broker's opinion. ### What commission do domain marketplaces charge? Commissions vary by marketplace and by which service you are using, and they change over time. Sedo, GoDaddy Auctions, NameJet and Afternic all charge a commission when a domain sells, and an external escrow service may charge a separate fee. Always check the marketplace's fee page before you list. As an illustration, suppose a 10000 dollar sale carries a 10 percent commission: you would receive 9000 dollars, not 10000. ### What is domain escrow? Domain escrow is a service where a neutral third party holds the buyer's payment until the domain transfer is complete and confirmed. The buyer sends money to the escrow company, you receive the authorization code and transfer the domain, the buyer confirms they have it in their account, and escrow releases the money to you. This protects both sides: the buyer does not pay until they have the domain, and you do not transfer until the money is secured. Escrow costs money (the fee and who pays it vary by service), but it is the usual safeguard for a sale to someone you do not know. Escrow.com is a well-known independent service, and some marketplaces also offer built-in escrow. ## We find domains that meet these criteria every day Expired domains with a clean history and real authority, listed with a score; the ones matching your rule land in your inbox the moment they appear. [See today's catch](https://hunter.domains/domains) ## Related articles Auctions ### [Domain Auction Sites Compared: Where Expired Domains Sell](https://hunter.domains/blog/domain-auction-sites) Domain auction sites compared: what GoDaddy Auctions, DropCatch, SnapNames, Sedo and others sell, how their auctions run and what to expect. 3 October 2026 8 min read Investing ### [Domain Flipping for Beginners: Is It Still Profitable?](https://hunter.domains/blog/domain-flipping-for-beginners) Is domain flipping still profitable? How buying and selling domains works, realistic sell-through rates, holding costs and where expired domains fit. 3 October 2026 9 min read Investing ### [How Much Is My Domain Worth? Three Ways to Estimate](https://hunter.domains/blog/how-much-is-my-domain-worth) How much is my domain worth? Three ways to estimate a domain’s value, from comparable sales to SEO metrics, and why automated appraisals disagree. 3 October 2026 9 min read ## Don't miss the next good domain. Set your rule and leave the rest to us. You hear the moment a matching domain is found. [Get started free](https://hunter.domains/register)