How backorders work

Everything you need before placing your first order: how domains drop, what a backorder does, how channels differ, and what happens after.

How a domain drops

When an owner stops renewing a domain, it passes through fixed stages before it's released to the public. Only in the final stages is it on the drop list — and only then can it be backordered.

ExpiredDay 0

The owner didn’t renew by the expiry date. The domain stops working but still belongs to them.

Grace period~30–45 days

The owner can still renew at the normal price.

Redemption30 days

The owner can restore it for a fee. Domains often join the drop list here.

Pending delete5 days

Locked. No one can renew or restore it. Release is scheduled.

DropRelease moment

The registry releases it to the public. Whoever registers first gets it — this is when we try to catch it.

What a backorder does

A backorder reserves our capture resources for a domain before it drops, so we can try to register it for you the second it's released.

YOUSearch the exact domainIf it’s on the drop list, you’ll see its order page with the drop date and channels.

YOUChoose a channel and payYou’re charged upfront. Orders close the evening before the drop, and the channel can’t change later.

NAME.AIReserve resourcesWe lock in 1X–20X capture capacity for your domain, based on your channel.

NAME.AICatch it at the dropThe second it’s released, we try to register it for you.

Channels

You choose a channel when you order. Resources is the capture capacity we commit at the drop, relative to Tier 4. Success rate is how often orders at that tier have caught their domain.

Tier 1 · ExclusiveOnly one customer can order at this tier.

20X99.99%$24,888

Tier 2 · PriorityGoes to auction if others order too.

10X95%$12,888

Tier 3 · AdvancedGoes to auction if others order too.

5X90%$8,888

Tier 4 · StandardGoes to auction if others order too.

1X80%$2,888

Tier 1 is exclusive. Only the first enterprise to order at Tier 1 gets it — once it's taken, no one else can order that domain at Tier 1. At Tiers 2–4, several enterprises can order the same domain.

After the drop

We catch it and you're the only order

It moves into your enterprise account. Nothing more to pay.

We catch it and others ordered too

Tiers 2–4 only. It goes to a private auction between the enterprises that ordered.

We don't catch it

You get the full channel price back to your original payment method.

When a domain isn't on the drop list

It can't be backordered yet. Usually that's because:

It's actively renewed

The owner keeps paying for it. It will only drop if they stop.

It's still in grace or redemption

The owner can still renew or restore it, so it isn't scheduled to drop yet.

Someone holds it exclusively, or orders closed

A Tier 1 order locks a domain, and orders close the evening before the drop.

You can still hire a broker to approach the owner.

Questions

Search a domainExact domains only — we check today's drop list.