BuyDomains is an American domain registrar based in Burlington, Massachusetts. An entrepreneur named Mike Mann started BuyDomains in 1999 to give people an easy way to purchase domain names. The company has been extremely successful and now has over 1,5 million registered domains in its portfolio. It specializes in premium and expensive domains.
BuyDomains is a subsidiary of Newfold Digital (formerly Endurance International Group), which bought it for €77 million in 2014. Newfold is a collection of various domain name registrars and web hosting companies. It is one of the largest companies in its sector.
We have tested BuyDomains extensively to give you a detailed and unbiased review. We rate the domain name registrar based on specific factors including price, ease of use, customer support, and more.
packages and prices
BuyDomains is not your average domain name registrar and does not charge as such. It specializes in premium and high-value domains that cost anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. The specialty limits the scope of domain names BuyDomains can sell, but the company has perfected that strategy.
The amount charged by BuyDomains depends on the customer's demand for the domain name. A domain name from BuyDomains would cost between €500 and €1,000 at the low end and between €1,000 and €10,000 at the high end. Interestingly, BuyDomains sticker prices are not final. There is the option to make your offer and negotiate with the company. If you play your cards right, you can get a domain name that is significantly lower than the listed price.
BuyDomains does not offer refunds after purchase, a drawback compared to the competition.
Features
The main feature of BuyDomains is domain registration. The company specializes in premium domains that you will hardly find anywhere else. You can search for any available domain name and buy it immediately or make a counter offer. The trade assignment is a great advantage, given the high prices that BuyDomains usually charges. You can negotiate directly with the representatives of the company before the final conditions of purchase.
BuyDomains only supports 21 domain name extensions; .COM, .NET, .ORG, .INFO, .BIZ, .US, .ME, .CO, .DE, .TV, .LIVE, .CLUB, .ONLINE, .STORE, .DISEÑO, .SPACE, .TECH , .TEL, .WORLD and .WS. It is limited by design, as BuyDomains focuses on expensive domain names. Other domain registrars without this goal support hundreds of extensions.
BuyDomains also allows you to transfer domain names you own elsewhere to their associated registrar, Domain.com. The transfer process is quick and easy. Any domain you wish to transfer must be at least 60 days old after your initial registration. BuyDomains charges a one-time fee of at least €10 for domain transfers.
BuyDomains accepts all major credit cards for payment, including Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, and Discover. It also accepts bank transfers or PayPal. BuyDomains does not provide additional web hosting services, but you can access them through their partner platform, Domain.com.
Interface and in use
BuyDomains has a pretty good and clear user interface. Buying a domain name through the registrar is a simple process. Simply search for the desired domain name to check its availability. You can buy it immediately at the indicated price or make a counter offer if it is available. You can buy it right away at the listed price, but making a counter offer takes time because you'll have to negotiate with company representatives.
We recommend that you make a counter offer if the domain name is not urgently needed because BuyDomains offers quite high prices at first. If the domain name you choose is not available, BuyDomains suggests similar domains for you to purchase. Up to you.
Customer Service
BuyDomains offers customer support via email, live chat, and phone. Their support is limited to business hours (9am to 6pm EST) Monday through Friday. The company's support staff is reliable and helpful, but sometimes slow.
BuyDomains also offers articles, webinars, and video tutorials to familiarize customers with their platform.
Competition
BuyDomains' main competitors are Google Domains, 101domain and Hover. BuyDomains differentiates itself from the competition by focusing on high priced premium domains. Due to its relatively high prices, BuyDomains allows clients to counteroffers and negotiate before reaching a final agreement. Most domain name registrars do not allow you to do this.
final verdict
BuyDomains is a convenient registry for premium and high-value domain names. The platform is easy to use and secure. Their domain name prices are considerably high, but this allows potential customers to negotiate lower rates.
However, many customers accuse BuyDomains of questionable practices, such as the advance sale of domain names and squatting of domain names, although the company frequently denies these accusations. BuyDomains also does not offer refunds after purchase, which is a disadvantage compared to its competitors.