What happens to a domain after it expires
For .com and other generic extensions, an expired name follows a set path under ICANN rules. Knowing the stages tells you when a name can be won and by whom.
| Stage | Typical length | What can happen |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renew grace period | Up to 45 days, set by the registrar | The owner can still renew at the normal price. Many registrars auction the name during or after this stage. |
| Redemption grace period | 30 days | Only the registrant can restore the name, and a restore fee applies. |
| Pending delete | 5 days | Nobody can renew or restore it. The name is about to be released. |
| Released | The moment it drops | The name can be registered again, and backorders race to catch it. |
Many valuable names never reach the drop. The registrar sells them in an expired auction first, so the backorder you placed elsewhere never gets a chance. That is why timing and venue matter as much as the name itself.
How registrar auctions and backorders compare
There are two main ways to go after an expiring name, and the right one depends on where the name sits in its lifecycle.
Registrar expired auctions
Many registrars list expiring names in their own auctions while the name is still in grace. The highest bidder wins when the auction closes, and the registrar then moves the name to the winner under its own rules. Prices depend on how many people want the name.
Backorders at drop services
A backorder asks a service to try to register the name the instant it drops. At many services, when several people backorder the same name, it goes to an auction among them. The rules and prices differ by service, so read them before you commit.
| Option | When it applies | What decides the winner |
|---|---|---|
| Registrar expired auction | During or after the grace period, before the drop | Highest bid when the auction ends |
| Backorder at a drop service | At the moment of release after pending delete | Which service catches the name, then any auction among backorders |
| Hand registration | After release, if nobody caught it | First to register |
Pick the wrong venue and you can lose a name you were ready to pay for. The Drop Agent shows you where each name is in its lifecycle so you can choose where to act.
How the Drop Agent scores expiring names
Large numbers of names expire every day, and most of them are not worth chasing. The Drop Agent filters them against watch criteria you set and gives each remaining name a score.
- Length and how easy the name is to say and spell
- Extension, with .com and your chosen extensions first
- Category words that match the niches you buy in
- Comparable sales of similar names, with prices and dates shown
- Age of the registration, as one signal among others
Every score comes with the reasons behind it, so you can see why a name ranks high. You can change the criteria at any time. Investor includes 3 watch criteria, Pro 15, Portfolio 50 and Agency 150.
For a closer look at how comps feed the value range, read about domain appraisal.
Budgets per month and per name
Drop hunting gets expensive when every name feels like a must have. The Drop Agent tracks two limits you set.
- A monthly budget for all backorders and auction bids together
- A ceiling per name, taken from its value range and your own judgment
When you log a backorder or a bid, the agent counts it against both limits and warns you before a new one would push you over. It shows what you have committed this month, what is left, and which pending names could still cost you money if they are won.
The agent does not place backorders or bids at registrars by itself. You place them where you choose, and the agent keeps the budget and the timing straight.
A daily shortlist you can read in minutes
Each day the Drop Agent builds a shortlist of names that meet your criteria and fit your budget. Each entry shows the name, its score, the value range with comps, its lifecycle stage, the expected drop date, and the ceiling it suggests.
You get alerts when a name on your watch moves to a new stage, when an auction is close to ending, or when a name you skipped comes back in a better spot. You decide which ones to chase, and the rest drop off the list the next day.
Names you win can go straight into your portfolio, where the agent keeps an eye on renewals and offers. See domain portfolio management for that part.
When the name you want will not drop
Sometimes the owner renews at the last minute, or the name is restored in redemption. That is not the end. If the name is still the right one, you can switch to a direct approach and ask the owner to sell. The Buy Agent handles that path, from appraisal to outreach and escrow, and you can read how it works on buy a domain that is taken.
Plans for drop hunting
| Plan | Yearly, per month | Drop watch criteria | Deal checks per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor | $49 | 3 | 300 |
| Pro | $149 | 15 | 2,000 |
| Portfolio | $499 | 50 | 10,000 |
| Agency | $999 | 150 | 30,000 |
Paying yearly saves 50 percent, and yearly is the default. There is no fee per name and no commission. Backorder and auction prices are set by the venue you choose and paid there.