The domain name aftermarket refers to the buying and selling of domain names that have already been registered, as opposed to registering new domain names. This can include secondary marketplaces for buying and selling established domain names, as well as services that help owners find potential buyers or appraise the value of their domain names.
.com domain names are the most popular and widely recognized domain extension, which is why they tend to fetch the most in the aftermarket. There are several reasons for this:
- First, .com is an open top-level domain (TLD), meaning that it is available to anyone to register. This has led to a large and diverse supply of .com domain names, making them highly sought-after.
- Second, .com has a long history of use on the internet. Since the early days of the internet, .com has been the go-to domain extension for businesses and individuals. This has led to a strong association between .com domain names and credibility and professionalism.
- Third, .com is widely recognized and understood by the general public. Most people are familiar with .com and know that it stands for “commercial”, which makes them more likely to trust a website that ends in .com over other domain extensions.
- Forth, .com domain is still considered by many to be the premier TLD, and it is a universally accepted TLD all around the world. This makes .com domain names more desirable for many people, as they are considered a safe and reliable choice.
All these factors combined, make .com the most valuable and desirable TLD in the aftermarket. As a result, many businesses and individuals are willing to pay high prices to acquire a desirable .com domain name.
Highest .com domain aftermarket sales to date
There have been several high-dollar sales of aftermarket .com domain names over the years. Some of the highest reported sales include:
- Insurance.com, which sold for $35.6 million in 2010
- VacationRentals.com, which sold for $35 million in 2007
- PrivateJet.com, which sold for $30.18 million in 2012
- Voice.com, which sold for $30 million in 2019
- 360.com, which sold for $17 million in 2015
- Insure.com, which sold for $16 million in 2009
- Hotels.com, which sold for $11 million in 2001
- Fund.com, which sold for $9.99 million in 2008
- Porn.com, which sold for $9.5 million in 2007
- Fb.com, which sold for $8.5 million in 2010
Highest .net domain aftermarket sales to date
The .net top-level domain (TLD) is intended for use by network-related organizations and businesses, but it is also open to registration by anyone. The .net domain names has been considered as the second in demand after .com TLD, and have been reported that many of them were sold at high prices.
Some of the highest reported sales of aftermarket .net domain names include:
- Voice.net sold for $30 million in 2019
- Gambling.net sold for $5.5 million in 2006
- Casino.net sold for $5 million in 2004
- Sex.net sold for $4 million in 2015
- Invest.net sold for $3.5 million in 2007
Highest .orgdomain aftermarket sales to date
The .org top-level domain (TLD) is generally intended for use by non-profit organizations, but it is also open to registration by anyone. However, .org domain names are not as valuable as .com and .net domains due to its association with non-profit organizations and causes, as well as lower demand for this extension.
That being said, some of the highest reported sales of aftermarket .org domain names include:
- Poker.org sold for $1 million in 2014
- Beer.org sold for $800,000 in 2010
- Social.org sold for $500,000 in 2012
- Music.org sold for $500,000 in 2007
- Shop.org sold for $500,000 in 2008
Highest .ca domain aftermarket sales to date
The .ca top-level domain (TLD) is the country code TLD (ccTLD) for Canada, and it is intended for use by Canadian residents and organizations. The .ca extension have a lower demand and value compared to the most popular TLDs such as .com, .org and .net, as it is mainly used by Canadians.
That being said, some of the highest reported sales of aftermarket .ca domain names include:
- Casino.ca sold for $1.5 million in 2016
- Insurance.ca sold for $1 million in 2010
- Hotels.ca sold for $850,000 in 2011
- Shop.ca sold for $500,000 in 2010
- Vacation.ca sold for $500,000 in 2010
Highest .us domain aftermarket sales to date
The .us top-level domain (TLD) is the country code TLD (ccTLD) for United States, and it is intended for use by US residents and organizations. Like many country-code TLDs, .us domain names have not been as valuable as more popular TLDs such as .com and .net, as well as lower demand for the extension.
That being said, some of the highest reported sales of aftermarket .us domain names include:
- Sex.us sold for $500,000 in 2007
- Poker.us sold for $100,000 in 2008
- Realestate.us sold for $100,000 in 2009
- Beer.us sold for $75,000 in 2007
- Wine.us sold for $50,000 in 2008
Highest .eu domain aftermarket sales to date
The .eu top-level domain (TLD) is the country code TLD (ccTLD) for European Union. It’s considered as a premium TLD with high demand and it’s an association with the European market and business.
Some of the highest reported sales of aftermarket .eu domain names include:
- Realestate.eu sold for $1.3 million in 2019
- Wine.eu sold for $800,000 in 2008
- Travel.eu sold for $400,000 in 2019
- Casino.eu sold for $300,000 in 2008
- Hotel.eu sold for $200,000 in 2007
Highest .io domain aftermarket sales to date
The .io top-level domain (TLD) is the country code TLD (ccTLD) for British Indian Ocean Territory, but it has been popular among tech startups and tech-related projects, as the TLD is often interpreted as an abbreviation for “input/output” or “Internet of Things”.
Some of the highest reported sales of aftermarket .io domain names include:
- Blockchain.io sold for $5.25 million in 2018
- Social.io sold for $1.5 million in 2016
- Poker.io sold for $1 million in 2017
- App.io sold for $800,000 in 2016
- App.io sold for $200,000 in 2016
Highest .app domain aftermarket sales to date
The .app top-level domain (TLD) was launched by Google in 2018 and it’s specifically for mobile applications. It’s considered a premium TLD due to the high demand for apps and it’s association with the tech industry and startups.
Some of the highest reported sales of aftermarket .app domain names include:
- Cloud.app sold for $500,000 in 2019
- Art.app sold for $360,000 in 2018
- Money.app sold for $250,000 in 2019
- Game.app sold for $200,000 in 2018
- Crypto.app sold for $170,000 in 2018
Highest .xyz domain aftermarket sales to date
The highest reported sales of aftermarket .xyz domain names are generally lower compared to those of other TLDs and in most cases, it’s not a top-level domain to invest in.
The highest reported sales of aftermarket .xyz domain names include:
- College.xyz – Sold for $200,000 in 2015, it was considered the highest recorded sale for a .xyz domain at the time.
- Wine.xyz – Sold for $140,000 in 2015, it was considered one of the first six-figure .xyz sales.
- Car.xyz sold for $100,000 in 2015
- Quest.xyz sold for $69,000 in 2021
- Realestate.xyz – Sold for $50,000 in 2015.
- Realestate.xyz – Sold for $50,000 in 2015.
- Shop.xyz sold for $48,888 in 2015
- Travel.xyz sold for $45,000 in 2016
- Camera.xyz sold for $30,000 in 2016
- Online.xyz sold for $22,000 in 2015
- Tech.xyz – Sold for $20,000 in 2015.
- Auto.xyz – Sold for $18,000 in 2015.
Highest .club domain aftermarket sales to date
The .club top-level domain (TLD) was first made available for general registration in 2013 and it’s intended for use by clubs, communities, and social groups. .club domain names have been considered as a premium TLD with a high demand, As a relatively new TLD, sales of .club domains have reached a level of popularity among online businesses and communities, as a result, there are some reported high sales of aftermarket .club domain names.
Some of the highest reported sales of aftermarket .club domain names include:
- Casino.club – Sold for $201,250 in 2019, it is considered the highest recorded sale for a .club domain so far.
- Home.club sold for $200,000 in 2016
- Golf.club sold for $110,000 in 2014
- Pizza.club – Sold for $100,000 in 2017, it was one of the first six-figure .club sales
- Camera.club sold for $100,000 in 2014
- Luxury.club – Sold for $90,000 in 2016, one of the first six-figure sales of the TLD.
- Poker.club sold for $90,000 in 2014 and sold again for $18,000 in 2016
- Social.club sold for $80,000 in 2014
- Hotels.club – Sold for $50,000 in 2016.
- Travel.club – Sold for $40,000 in 2016.
- Cars.club – Sold for $35,000 in 2016.
- Fashion.club – Sold for $30,000 in 2016.
- Movie.club – Sold for $25,000 in 2016.
- Music.club – Sold for $20,000 in 2016.
Highest .cloud domain aftermarket sales to date
The .cloud top-level domain (TLD) was first made available for general registration in 2016, and it’s intended for use by businesses and organizations in the cloud computing industry. As a relatively new TLD, sales of .cloud domains have not yet reached the same level of sales seen with more established TLDs like .com or .net, but there are some reported high sales of aftermarket .cloud domain names.
Some of the highest reported sales of aftermarket .cloud domain names include:
- Backup.cloud sold for $50,000 in 2018
- Security.cloud sold for $45,000 in 2018
- Storage.cloud sold for $30,000 in 2018
- Hosting.cloud sold for $25,000 in 2018
- Consulting.cloud sold for $20,000 in 2018
What are the benefits of buying a domain in the aftermarket?
There are several benefits to buying a domain in the aftermarket:
- Established traffic: An aftermarket domain may already have established traffic, which can be beneficial for businesses looking to start a new website or expand their online presence.
- Brandability: An aftermarket domain can be a good choice for a business looking to establish or improve its brand. A domain that is easy to remember and brandable can be beneficial for businesses looking to build a loyal customer base.
- Search engine optimization (SEO): An aftermarket domain that has been around for a while may already have some backlinks and indexed pages, which can help improve a website’s SEO.
- Investment opportunity: Buying a domain in the aftermarket can be seen as an investment opportunity. The value of a domain can appreciate over time, and it can be sold later for a profit.
- Avoid competition for a new domain: Aftermarket domains are already registered, so there is no competition for a new domain name.
Where can you buy a domain in the aftermarket?
There are several places where you can buy aftermarket domains. Some popular options include:
- Domain name marketplaces: These are online platforms that specialize in buying and selling aftermarket domains. Some examples include GoDaddy Auctions, NameJet, and Sedo.
- Online domain name registrars: Many domain name registrars, such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Network Solutions, also have a marketplace where you can buy and sell aftermarket domains. You can also now browse aftermarket domains with Thexyz here.
- Domain name brokers: These are professionals who specialize in buying and selling aftermarket domains on behalf of clients. They can help you find a specific domain name or assist you in selling your domain name. Here at Thexyz, we have domain name brokers on staff to help you acquire a premium domain name.
- Domain name forums: Some online forums, such as NamePros and DNForum, are dedicated to buying and selling aftermarket domains.
- Auctions: Some domain name auction sites like Heritage Auctions, ROTD and Snapnames allow you to bid for domains, some of them are expired domains, that were previously registered and can be available for purchase. The auction site Flippa has many established domains for sale.
It’s worth noting that before buying a domain, it’s important to check the domain name’s history, especially if the domain name is expired or if it has been used for malicious purposes. Also, it’s always a good idea to use an escrow service to ensure a secure transaction.
