How to Buy a Domain on NameKnow
No account, no auction wars, no hidden fees. Pick a name, buy it now or make an offer, and we transfer the registration to you. This page walks through the whole process — payment, offers, transfer, and refunds — in plain English.
The short version
Find a name
Browse the catalog or a category, and open any listing to see its valuation, price, and rationale.
Buy now or offer
Pay the listed price via secure checkout, or submit an offer starting at $1,000.
We transfer it
Once payment clears, we start the transfer within about 24 hours and email you the next steps.
Own it
The registration moves into your registrar account and the name is yours to build on.
Buy Now vs. Make an Offer
Every listing offers both paths. Which one fits depends on how you like to buy.
| Buy Now | Make an Offer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | The listed price, paid immediately. | Your amount — from $1,000 up. |
| Speed | Instant checkout via Stripe. | We reply within 24–48 hours. |
| Negotiation | None — the price is the price. | We may accept, decline, or counter. |
| When it's final | When your payment is confirmed. | Only when we accept and you pay. |
Payment, transfer & refunds
Payment. Purchases are paid by card through Stripe's hosted checkout, in U.S. dollars. NameKnow doesn't handle your card details — Stripe does. You're responsible for any taxes that apply to your purchase; where required, we or Stripe collect them at checkout.
Transfer. After payment is confirmed we begin the domain transfer, typically within 24 hours, and email you what you need to complete it. Registrars and registries move at their own pace, so transfers are usually done within a few days. Until then the domain stays in the seller's registrar account; once it's complete, the registration is under your control.
Refunds. Sales are final once the transfer is completed or has begun at your direction. If we can't complete a transfer for a reason within our control, you receive a full refund.
Leasing. Where a listing shows a monthly lease price, lease terms are agreed separately and ownership stays with the current holder for the lease period (see Terms §4). Most of our catalog is sold outright — ask us if you'd like to discuss a lease arrangement for a specific name.
Full details are in the Terms of Service — buying (§3), leasing (§4), offers (§5), transfers (§7), and refunds (§8).
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to buy a domain on NameKnow?
Yes. Payment is taken through Stripe's hosted checkout over an HTTPS connection; we never process or store your card details on our own servers. After payment is confirmed we begin the domain transfer, typically within 24 hours, and you receive instructions by email. If we are unable to complete a transfer for a reason within our control, you get a full refund.
Do I need an account to buy a domain?
No. You can buy any listed domain without creating an account. If you make an offer we ask for valid contact information so we can respond to you.
What does Buy Now actually do?
Buy Now takes you to a secure Stripe checkout for the exact price shown on the listing. When your payment is confirmed the sale is placed, and we start the domain transfer and email you the next steps.
Why is the Buy-Now price different from the Retail Range?
The Retail Range is the appraisal model's estimate of the band an end buyer might reasonably pay. The Buy-Now price is the price we are asking today; we set it inside that published range, sometimes near the lower end to move a name quickly.
Can I negotiate the price?
Yes. Use Make an Offer (offers start at $1,000). Submitting an offer is an invitation to negotiate, not a purchase: we review it and respond, typically within 24–48 hours, and we may accept, decline, or counter. No sale is formed until we confirm acceptance and your payment is received.
How is the domain transferred to me?
After your payment is confirmed we initiate the transfer, typically within 24 hours, and email you the information needed to complete it. Transfers depend on the registrars and registry involved, so timing varies, but they are usually completed within a few days. Until the transfer completes, the domain stays in the seller's registrar account; afterwards, the registration is under your control.
When is the sale final, and can I get a refund?
Sales are final once the transfer has been completed or initiated at your direction. If we are unable to complete a transfer for a reason within our control, we refund the purchase price in full.
What if the domain sells before I finish checkout?
A listing reflects that a domain is offered for sale at the moment you view it. Because names can sell or be reserved at any time, a listing does not guarantee availability by the time you complete checkout. If a domain you want is gone, we're happy to help you find an alternative.
How do I know a valuation is current?
Every listing shows the date its appraisal was generated. If you are considering a name whose appraisal looks dated, ask us to run a fresh one before you buy.
Domain-buying glossary
- Buy-Now price
- The fixed price you can pay immediately for a listing, set inside its appraised retail range.
- Retail Range
- The appraisal's estimate of what an end buyer might reasonably pay — the band shown on every listing.
- Verdict
- The appraisal's overall grade for a name: strong, moderate, or weak.
- Brandability score
- A 0–10 score for how easily the name works as a brand — pronounceable, memorable, and fit for a business.
- Generated date
- When the listing's appraisal was produced. Older dates mean the valuation may not reflect the current market — ask us to refresh it.
- Domain transfer
- Moving the domain's registration from the seller's registrar account into the buyer's, per registrar and registry rules.
Ready to find your domain?
Questions first? Email us and we'll walk you through it.