Know who owns it
Buy from the registered owner, or from someone who can prove they control the name. On NameHippo every name is registered to NameHippo, so the seller you talk to is the owner.
How it works
How to buy a domain safely.
The short answer: buy from the owner, pay a licensed escrow service instead of the seller, and let the money go only when the domain is in your own registrar account. On NameHippo that is built in: you pay Escrow.com (we pay its fee), we start the transfer within 1 business day, and Escrow.com pays us only after you confirm the name is yours.
- Owned, not brokeredEvery name is registered to NameHippo, the seller you talk to.
- Paid through Escrow.comNameHippo pays the escrow fee. The money is released only once the domain is yours.
- Full price upfrontIn US dollars, or make an offer a person reads.
- Transfer starts within 1 business dayTo the registrar of your choice, anywhere in the world.
Buying on NameHippo
Four steps. No surprises.
You never pay NameHippo directly. Escrow.com holds your money while we move the name into your registrar account, and releases it only once you confirm the domain is yours.
Escrow.com is a licensed escrow service. If the transfer does not complete, your money is returned.
Choose your name
Buy at the listed price, or make an offer. Every listing shows the full price in US dollars before you start, and a person reads every offer.
Pay into escrow, not to us
Confirm your email, agree to the transaction and pay on Escrow.com, a licensed escrow service. Your money is held there, not paid to NameHippo, and NameHippo pays the Escrow.com fee.
Receive the domain
We start the transfer within 1 business day of payment and guide you through each step. Most transfers finish within 1–7 business days, depending on the registrars involved.
Confirm, and the money is released
Once the domain is in your registrar account you confirm it, and only then does Escrow.com pay the seller. If the transfer does not complete, your money is returned.
Before you buy any domain
Six checks worth five minutes.
These apply wherever you buy, not only here. They are good practice, not legal advice.
Never pay a stranger directly
Use a licensed escrow service, so the seller is paid only after the domain is yours. Type escrow.com into your browser yourself rather than following a link sent by email.
Search trademarks first
Check the name in the trademark databases for the countries and classes you will trade in (for example USPTO, EUIPO or WIPO’s Global Brand Database). A clear domain is not a clear trademark.
Look at its history
See how the domain was used before in the Wayback Machine (web.archive.org), and test it on email and spam blocklists if you will send email from it.
Say it out loud
Read the name to five people and ask them to spell it back. Check that the social handles you need are free or close enough.
Confirm before you release money
The domain should be in your own registrar account, with your details as the registrant, before you approve payment. Keep the invoice and the escrow receipt.
Red flags
When to walk away.
The seller wants a bank transfer, crypto or a gift card instead of escrow. A legitimate seller has no reason to refuse a licensed escrow service.
The escrow link came in an email. Fake escrow sites are a common scam. Open escrow.com yourself and find the transaction there.
The seller cannot show they control the name. Ask them to change something you can check, such as a DNS record, before you pay.
You are asked to release payment before the domain is in your account. Wait until you can log in to your registrar and see the name under your details.
Questions buyers ask
Straight answers.
01How do I buy a domain safely?
Buy from the owner, pay through a licensed escrow service such as Escrow.com instead of paying the seller directly, and release the money only when the domain is in your own registrar account. Before you buy, search trademarks for your market and check how the domain was used before.
02Who pays the escrow fee?
NameHippo pays the Escrow.com fee, so the listed price is what you pay for the domain. If you pay by card or PayPal, Escrow.com may add its own payment-processing charge, shown before you confirm.
03Do I pay NameHippo directly?
No. You pay Escrow.com, which holds the money and releases it to NameHippo only after you confirm the domain is in your account. If the transfer does not complete, your money is returned.
04How long does a domain transfer take?
NameHippo starts the transfer within 1 business day of payment. Most transfers finish within 1–7 business days, depending on how quickly the registrars involved release and accept the name.
05Do I need my own registrar account?
Yes. The domain is moved into an account you control at a registrar of your choice. If you do not have one yet, open one before the transfer starts; we guide you through each step.
06Can I make an offer below the listed price?
Yes. Every listing has a Make an offer button. A person reads every offer and replies, usually within one business day.
07Does buying the domain give me the trademark?
No. Owning a domain and owning a trademark are separate. Search the trademark databases for the countries and classes you will trade in, and speak to a trademark attorney if the name is central to your brand.
Ready when you are