The short answer
There are three main routes: register a name that has already dropped and is available to everyone, place a backorder with a drop-catching service before it drops, or buy the name from its owner or from an auction while it is still registered. Registering after the drop is usually the cheapest. A backorder is the way to try for a specific name, and it can end up in an auction.
The route depends on the exact stage the name is in, so it helps to know the domain life cycle first.
Need the domain first?
Runs the same live check as the front page. If it is taken we will show you when it expires.
Option 1: register a name that has already dropped
Once a name has completed its deletion process, it is available for new registration. It is first-come, first-served and you pay the registrar's normal registration price. To find these names, use a list of available expired domains, such as our expired domains list, or check any specific name with your registrar's search box.
The downside is competition. Names with value tend to be targeted by people and services that try to register them the moment they drop, so the good ones rarely sit around. For a detailed look at what happens at that point, read our guide to dropped domains.
Option 2: backorder a name that is about to drop
A backorder tells a drop-catching service to try to register a specific name for you the moment it is released. DropCatch describes it this way: you select a domain in the Pending Delete stage, and its systems attempt to register it at the instant it becomes available. Pending Delete is the last stage before release and lasts 5 days. At DropCatch, placing a backorder costs nothing and you are charged only if the service secures the domain, and it says it cannot guarantee success.
If more than one person backorders the same name, the name goes to an auction. DropCatch says it holds a public 3-day auction in that case, and Dynadot says it holds a backorder auction, with the starting bid set at the backorder price. Because the winner is whoever bids highest, a name with several backorders can end up costing far more than a normal registration fee. Rules, prices and cutoff times differ by service and by TLD, so read the service's own terms before you place an order.
Services commonly used for backorders and expired-domain auctions include DropCatch, Dynadot, NameJet, SnapNames and GoDaddy Auctions. Flippa and Sedo are mostly marketplaces for buying names or sites that are still registered. Compare fees and rules on each one's own site before using it.
Option 3: buy it before it drops
During the renewal grace period the original owner can still renew. ICANN notes that some registrars offer an Auto Renew Grace Period of 1 to 45 days, and that depending on the registrar's terms a name may be available to third parties during that time, or may be auctioned by the registrar. So an expired-domain auction run by a registrar is a way to buy a name before it ever reaches the dropping stage, and the original owner may still be able to renew and cancel the sale, depending on the terms. You can also contact the owner directly and make an offer; the WHOIS lookup shows what registration data is public for a name.
If you want to transfer a name you already own between registrars, that is a different process; our guide on transferring an expired domain covers it.
Which option should you choose?
- You want a decent name cheaply: browse names that are already available and register one at the normal price.
- You want one specific name: backorder it with one or more services, and set a maximum price you will not go above.
- The name is still registered: watch domains expiring soon and see whether it reaches an auction, or contact the owner.
Before you pay
Check what the name was used for and what links to it. Our post on why people buy expired domains covers the checks, and the full expired domains guide covers the risks. If you later want to resell a name, see how to sell a domain name.
FAQ
Is a backorder guaranteed?
No. The owner may renew, another service may catch the name first, or a competing backorder can lead to an auction.
Do I pay if a backorder fails?
At DropCatch you are charged only if it secures the domain. Other services differ, so check their terms.
Which is cheaper, backorder or registering after the drop?
Registering a name that is simply available costs the normal registration fee. A contested backorder can cost much more because it is decided by bidding.