How Much Does a Domain Name Cost? Complete Pricing Guide (2025)

Quick Answer

Table of Contents

Domain Pricing at a Glance

Quick Price Ranges (December 2025)

What's Included (Should Be Free)

At reputable registrars, these features should be included at no extra cost:

• WHOIS/Domain privacy protection
• DNS management
• Email forwarding (basic)
• URL forwarding
• Domain locking
• Basic SSL certificate (via Let's Encrypt)

Standard Registration Costs by TLD

Popular Generic TLDs (gTLDs)

These are the most commonly registered domain extensions:

.COM - The Default Choice

Wholesale cost: Verisign charges registrars $10.26 (2025), with planned 7% annual increases starting 2026.

.ORG - Nonprofits and Organizations

.org is managed by Public Interest Registry (PIR). Prices are generally lower than .com.

.NET - Network and Tech

.net is managed by Verisign, same as .com.

Tech-Focused TLDs

These extensions are popular with startups, developers, and tech companies:

.IO - Tech Startups Favorite

Why expensive: .io is the country code for British Indian Ocean Territory but has been adopted by tech companies. The registry raised wholesale prices ~30% in 2021.

Typical cost: $30-60 per year depending on registrar.

.AI - Artificial Intelligence Boom

Key facts:

• Minimum 2-year registration required
• Wholesale cost: Anguilla (the country) sets a base fee of ~$140 for 2 years
• Registrations grew from 50,000 (2018) to 600,000+ (2025)
• Now managed by Identity Digital as of January 2025

Total minimum investment: $120-$180 for 2 years

.DEV and .APP - Google Registry

Note: Both require HTTPS (SSL) for websites - built-in security requirement.

Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs)

Country code domains vary widely in pricing and registration requirements:

Popular ccTLDs

Premium ccTLDs (High Cost)

Budget-Friendly TLDs

For personal projects or testing, these TLDs offer low costs:

Warning: These ultra-cheap first-year domains often have high renewal costs and are associated with spam, which may affect email deliverability and SEO perception.

The First-Year vs Renewal Price Trap

How the Trap Works

Many registrars advertise extremely low first-year prices to acquire customers, then charge significantly more at renewal:

Marketing: "Domains from just $0.99!"
Reality:  Year 1: $0.99 | Year 2+: $18.99

Real Examples (December 2025)

.COM Renewal Shock

*GoDaddy's $0.01 requires multi-year commitment

.XYZ - The Extreme Example

How to Avoid This Trap

1. Always check renewal price before registration
2. Calculate 3-5 year total cost, not just first year
3. Choose registrars with consistent pricing (Cloudflare, Dynadot)
4. Read the fine print on promotional offers
5. Set calendar reminders 60+ days before renewal to evaluate transfer options

Premium Domain Pricing

What Makes a Domain "Premium"?

Premium domains are high-value domains that cost more than standard registration fees. There are two distinct types:

Registry Premium Domains

Set by the central registry based on perceived value. Non-negotiable pricing.

Characteristics:

• Short domains (2-3 characters)
• Dictionary words
• Common names
• Numeric patterns
• Category keywords

Examples:

Important: Some registry premiums have ongoing elevated renewal costs. Always verify renewal pricing before purchase.

Which TLDs Have Registry Premiums?

Aftermarket Premium Domains

Previously registered domains being resold by investors or businesses.

Characteristics:

• Already owned by someone else
• Price set by current owner
• Often negotiable
• One-time purchase (renews at standard rate)

Price factors:

• Domain age and history
• Existing traffic/backlinks
• Keyword value
• Brandability
• Comparable sales

Example price ranges:

Aftermarket Domain Costs

Where to Buy Aftermarket Domains

Understanding Aftermarket Pricing

Expired Domain Auctions

When domains expire and aren't renewed, they become available through auction platforms:

Platforms: NameJet, SnapNames, DropCatch, GoDaddy Auctions

Private Sale Negotiations

When buying directly from an owner:

Typical costs:

• Domain price (negotiated)
• Escrow fees (3-5% of transaction)
• Transfer fees (if applicable)
• Legal fees (for large transactions)

Example transaction:

Domain price: $10,000
Escrow fee (3%): $300
Total: $10,300
Annual renewal: $10.46 (standard)

Factors Affecting Aftermarket Prices

Add-On Costs and Hidden Fees

What Should Be Free

These features are included free at reputable registrars but charged by others:

Legitimate Add-On Costs

Some features genuinely cost extra:

Hidden Fees to Watch For

ICANN Fee

Amount: $0.20 per domain per year (increased July 2025)

This fee goes to ICANN for domain oversight. Most registrars include it in their quoted price, but some add it at checkout.

Redemption/Recovery Fees

If your domain expires and enters the redemption period:

How to avoid: Enable auto-renewal and keep payment methods current.

Transfer Fees

Transfers typically cost one year of registration (added to your expiration date):

Note: Transfer fees include one year of registration - it's essentially a renewal at the new registrar.

Why Prices Vary Between Registrars

The Domain Cost Stack

Every domain price consists of these components:

Your Price = Registry Fee + ICANN Fee + Registrar Markup + Extras

Breaking Down .COM Pricing

Registry fee (Verisign): $10.26 (wholesale, 2025)

ICANN fee: $0.20 per year

Total wholesale cost: $10.46

Now, how different registrars price it:

Why Registrars Have Different Models

At-cost (Cloudflare):

• Makes money from other services
• Domains attract CDN/security customers
• Zero markup builds goodwill

Low margin (Dynadot, NameSilo):

• High volume, low margin approach
• Focus on domain investors
• Revenue from bulk and premium domains

High margin (GoDaddy, Namecheap):

• Heavy marketing costs to recover
• Subsidize first year, profit on renewals
• Additional services and upsells

Registry Price Increases

Registries can and do increase wholesale prices:

Verisign (.com) schedule:

• 2024-2025: $10.26 (frozen)
• 2026-2029: 7% increases allowed annually
• Potential 2029 price: ~$13.50 wholesale

Impact on your costs: When wholesale prices increase, all registrar prices increase.

True Cost Breakdown

1-Year vs 5-Year Total Costs

Here's what you'll actually pay over time for a .com domain:

Scenario 1: Cloudflare (At-Cost)

Scenario 2: GoDaddy (Promo + Renewal)

Scenario 3: GoDaddy with Privacy

5-Year Difference: $85.60 more at GoDaddy with privacy vs Cloudflare

Cost Per Domain Type

Realistic annual budgets for different domain types:

Money-Saving Strategies

Immediate Savings

1. Choose the Right Registrar

Annual savings on 10 .com domains:

2. Transfer Expensive Domains

Transferring is often cheaper than renewing at high-cost registrars:

Example: GoDaddy renewal is $18.99, Cloudflare transfer is $10.46

Process:

1. Unlock domain at GoDaddy
2. Get authorization code
3. Initiate transfer at Cloudflare
4. Pay $10.46 (includes 1-year extension)
5. Save $8.53 while extending registration

3. Skip Unnecessary Add-Ons

Don't pay for:

• WHOIS privacy (free everywhere except GoDaddy)
• Basic SSL (Let's Encrypt is free)
• Email forwarding (free at most registrars)
• "Premium" DNS (unnecessary for most sites)

Strategic Savings

4. Multi-Year Registration Before Price Increases

When registry increases are announced, lock in current rates:

Example: If Verisign announces 7% increase:

• Register/renew for maximum years (usually 10)
• Lock in $10.46 rate before it becomes $11.19

5. Use Coupon Codes

Namecheap and others frequently offer discount codes:

• Check registrar's blog for current promotions
• Search "[registrar name] promo code [month year]"
• Transfer promotions often offer best value

6. Consolidate Registrars

Benefits of using one registrar:

• Easier management
• Potential volume discounts (Dynadot, NameSilo)
• Single renewal date to track
• One 2FA to manage

For Domain Investors

7. Volume Discount Programs

8. Use Account Funds

Some registrars offer discounts for using pre-loaded account funds:

• NameSilo: $11.95 with account funds vs $13.95 standard
• Dynadot: Various discounts for bulk accounts

What NOT to Do

Avoid these costly mistakes:

1. Don't let domains expire - Redemption fees ($80+) far exceed renewal costs
2. Don't pay for WHOIS privacy - It's free everywhere respectable
3. Don't register at premium registrars for convenience - The convenience isn't worth 80%+ markup
4. Don't ignore renewal pricing - That $0.99 domain costs $18.99 next year
5. Don't buy domains you won't use - Even cheap domains cost money to maintain

Cost Comparison by Use Case

Personal Website/Blog

Budget option:

• Domain: $10.46/year (Cloudflare)
• Total annual: $10.46

Comfortable option:

• Domain: $11.08/year (Porkbun)
• Total annual: $11.08

Small Business

Essentials:

• Primary .com domain: $10.46
• Alternate extensions (.net, .org): $20.00
• Email (Google Workspace): $72/year
• Total annual: ~$102

Complete coverage:

• Primary .com: $10.46
• 3 defensive registrations: $31.38
• Premium email: $144/year
• SSL (included free)
• Total annual: ~$186

Tech Startup

MVP budget:

• .io or .dev domain: $30-45
• Total annual: $30-45

Funded startup:

• Premium .com or .io: $500-$10,000 (one-time)
• Defensive .net, .org, common misspellings: $50-$100/year
• Annual ongoing: ~$100-150

Domain Investor Portfolio

Starter (50 domains):

• Registration/renewal: $550/year (at $11 average)
• Registrar: NameSilo or Dynadot

Professional (500 domains):

• Registration/renewal: $5,000-$6,000/year
• Bulk discount available
• API automation recommended

Domain Investment Costs

Startup Costs for Domain Investing

Ongoing Annual Costs

ROI Considerations

Break-even calculation:

Annual renewal cost: $11
Commission on sale (20%): Sale price * 0.20
Break-even sale price: $11 / 0.80 = $13.75

To profit on a $11/year domain, you need to sell for at least $55 (after 5 years of holding at $11/year = $55 cost).

Frequently Asked Questions

Basic Questions

How much does a .com domain cost?

A .com domain costs $10-20 per year at most registrars. The cheapest option is Cloudflare at $10.46/year (at-cost). GoDaddy advertises low first-year rates but charges $18.99+ at renewal. Always check renewal pricing, not just initial registration cost.

Why are some domains so expensive?

Expensive domains fall into two categories: Registry premiums (short domains, dictionary words set at high prices by registries) and aftermarket domains (previously registered domains being resold). A one-word .com might sell for $100,000+ because there's only one Insurance.com, and demand exceeds supply.

Is domain registration a one-time cost?

No. Domain registration is an annual (or multi-year) license. You must renew your domain regularly or lose it. If you stop paying, the domain eventually becomes available for others to register. Think of it as leasing, not purchasing.

Can I get a domain for free?

Yes, but with significant catches. Free domain providers like Freenom (.tk, .ml) have unreliable service and may reclaim domains. Some web hosting packages include a "free" domain, but it's factored into hosting costs and may have transfer restrictions.

Pricing Questions

Why do renewal prices cost more than registration?

Registrars use low first-year prices as customer acquisition tools, subsidizing the loss with higher renewal prices. It's similar to "introductory rate" pricing in other industries. Registrars like Cloudflare and Dynadot are exceptions, charging the same for registration and renewal.

What's the cheapest domain extension?

The cheapest extensions are often new gTLDs like .xyz (from $0.99). However, these typically have much higher renewal costs ($12-15) and may be associated with spam, affecting deliverability and perception. For long-term value, .com at $10-11/year from at-cost registrars is often the best deal.

How much does a premium domain cost?

Premium domains range from $100 to millions. Registry premiums (set by domain registries) start around $100-500 for desirable terms. Aftermarket domains (owned and resold by investors) range from $50 for low-quality domains to millions for category-defining terms like Voice.com ($30 million in 2019).

Are expensive domains worth it?

It depends on your use case. For established businesses, a premium .com can provide instant credibility, better memorability, and SEO advantages that justify costs. For personal projects or startups testing ideas, expensive domains rarely make sense initially.

Technical Questions

What fees are hidden in domain pricing?

Common hidden fees include:

• ICANN fee ($0.20/year) - sometimes added at checkout
• WHOIS privacy ($10-15/year at GoDaddy)
• Redemption fee ($80+ if domain expires)
• "Premium" DNS ($5-50/year, usually unnecessary)

Do different registrars charge different prices for the same domain?

Yes. All registrars pay the same wholesale price to registries ($10.26 for .com), but they add different markups. Cloudflare charges $0 markup, while GoDaddy adds $8+ markup on renewals. This is why the same domain costs $10.46 at Cloudflare and $18.99 at GoDaddy.

Can I transfer a domain to a cheaper registrar?

Yes. After 60 days of ownership, you can transfer to any registrar. The transfer fee typically equals one year of registration at the new registrar (and extends your expiration by one year). Transferring from GoDaddy ($18.99 renewal) to Cloudflare ($10.46 transfer) saves money while extending your registration.

Key Takeaways

1. Standard .com domains cost $10-15/year at reputable registrars. Any price significantly higher includes excessive markup.

2. Cloudflare offers at-cost pricing ($10.46 for .com) with zero markup - the cheapest legitimate option.

3. First-year prices are often misleading - Always check renewal pricing. A $0.99 domain might cost $18.99 to renew.

4. WHOIS privacy should be free - Don't pay $10-15/year for privacy that's included free at Porkbun, Cloudflare, Namecheap, etc.

5. Premium TLDs cost more: .io ($30-60/year), .ai ($80-160/year for 2-year minimum), .tv ($30-40/year).

6. Aftermarket domains range from $50 to millions based on length, keywords, and demand.

7. Calculate 5-year costs to understand true pricing: GoDaddy with privacy costs $137.90 vs Cloudflare at $52.30 for 5 years.

8. Transfer to save money - Moving from high-renewal registrars to at-cost options saves $8+ per domain annually.

Next Steps

Immediate Actions

1. Audit your current domains - List all domains, registrars, renewal dates, and annual costs
2. Identify expensive renewals - Flag any domains costing $15+ per year
3. Calculate transfer savings - Determine if moving to Cloudflare/Dynadot makes sense
4. Enable auto-renewal - Avoid $80+ redemption fees from expired domains

Related Resources

• Best Domain Registrars Compared - Detailed registrar comparison
• Premium Domains Explained - Understanding premium pricing
• Domain Registration Guide - Step-by-step registration
• Free Domain Names: The Truth - What "free" really means
• How to Transfer Your Domain - Transfer guide

Use DomainDetails for Research

Before purchasing any domain:

• Check domain history using our WHOIS/RDAP lookup to avoid problematic domains
• Monitor domain changes with DomainDetails Pro for brand protection
• Research aftermarket domains with our Aftermarket Search feature

Research Sources

This pricing guide was compiled using verified data from:

• Cloudflare Registrar - At-cost pricing reference
• Cloudflare Domain Pricing Database - Wholesale cost data
• Porkbun Domain Pricing
• Namecheap Domain Registration
• Dynadot Domain Prices
• NameSilo Pricing
• GoDaddy Domain Pricing
• Squarespace Domains
• ICANN .COM Fee Schedule
• TLD-List Price Comparison
• Name.com Domain Cost Guide
• Elementor Domain Pricing Guide

All pricing verified December 2025. Prices are subject to change; always verify current rates at registrar websites before purchasing.