Private domain transactions
Buy a premium domain through escrow.
- Payment protected by escrow
- Transferability confirmed before you pay
- Funds released only once you have control
How it works
Your money moves only when the domain does
Every purchase follows the same five steps, in the same order. Payment and transfer never happen at the same moment — that single rule is what makes the transaction safe.
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Terms agreed
Price and exactly what is included, in writing, before anything moves.
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You pay Escrow.com
Not the seller. Escrow.com is a licensed, bonded and independently audited escrow provider, and it holds your funds.
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The domain is transferred
An authorization code is issued, or the name is pushed into your registrar account if you use the same registrar.
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You approve the domain
You inspect the name in your account and confirm it is under your control. This is Escrow.com's inspection period, and your funds are still held throughout it.
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Escrow releases the funds
Escrow.com pays the seller the same or next business day, once every term of the transaction has been verified.
Transactions complete through Escrow.com. Their fee is a published sliding scale based on the transaction amount, and who pays it — buyer, seller, or split — is agreed before the transaction is created: see the fee calculator.
Buyer protection
What protects a buyer
These four checks apply to any domain purchase, whether or not you buy from us. We would rather you asked for them than skipped them.
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Pay only into escrowYour funds are held by a third party, and nothing reaches the seller until you have confirmed the domain is in your account.
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Confirm transferability before you payAsk for the authorization (EPP) code, or for confirmation that a same-registrar push is ready to go.
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Match the seller to the registrar recordThe registrant named on the domain's record should be the party you are dealing with.
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Never pay an individual directlyNo bank transfer, gift card or crypto to a private party — those are the payment methods fraud depends on.
Timelines
How long each route takes
Timelines depend on the registrar, not on the size of the name.
| Route | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Same-registrar push | The domain moves between accounts at one registrar, so no authorization code is needed. | Same day |
| Registrar to registrar | The domain is unlocked and an authorization code is issued. Your current registrar can take up to five days to release it. | 1–5 days |
| Payment and release | Escrow.com receives your funds before the transfer begins, and pays the seller the same or next business day after you approve the domain. | Same or next day |
Approving the transfer at your registrar is the step that speeds it up.
Questions
Questions buyers ask
Who pays the escrow fee?
It is agreed before the transaction is created. Either side can pay it, or it can be split — if the seller agrees to cover it, Escrow.com deducts the fee from the purchase price. Fees follow a published sliding scale, so the exact amount is known in advance.
How do I know this is safe?
Nothing is ever paid to us directly. Your payment goes into escrow, and it is released only once the domain is confirmed in your account.
What is the inspection period?
Escrow.com's inspection period is the window after the domain reaches your account in which you inspect it and accept or reject it. Your funds stay in escrow for the whole period, and its length is set out in the terms before you pay.
Why are no prices listed on this site?
Pricing depends on the name and the context of the inquiry. Send us the domain you are interested in and an address to reply to, and we will come back with specifics.
Is there any obligation?
None. An inquiry costs nothing, and asking about a name does not commit you to buying it.
Inquiries
Ready to ask about a name?
Send the domain and an address to reply to. We come back with terms and the next step — there is no obligation.
Request details
No obligation. We reply to the address you provide.
Sent over HTTPS. Your details are used only to answer this inquiry.