Ultimate Domain Name Resource Guide
A comprehensive collection of tools, services, and resources I've used and trusted throughout my domain investing journey. Everything listed here has contributed to my success or comes highly recommended by colleagues in the industry.
Note: Some links below are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend services I trust and use myself.
Browse by Category
📈Appraisal & Valuation(6)🔨Auctions(5)✍️Blogs(6)📚Books(5)🤝Brokers(6)💰Buy / Sell Domains(7)💼Business Tools(8)📅Conferences & Events(5)🔧Domain Tools(12)🔒Escrow Services(2)⏰Expired / Drops(5)💬Forums & Communities(4)🅿️Hosting & Parking(4)⚖️Legal Resources(5)🏪Marketplaces(4)📰News(4)📧Newsletters(4)🎙️Podcasts(4)📊Portfolio Management(5)🌐Registration(9)
📈 Appraisal & Valuation
More Appraisal & Valuation
Dynadot Appraisal:AI-powered tool evaluating length, keywords, TLD strength, and trends
Epik Appraisal:Free basic appraisal or $399 professional written report
GoDaddy Appraisal:Free tool using 27M+ historical sales for machine learning valuations
HumbleWorth:Free bulk valuations up to 2,000 domains using 20+ years of auction data
NameWorth:Claims 95% accuracy for English domains with detailed reports
Saw.com Appraisals:Premium appraisals with 5-7 page detailed reports from industry experts
🔨 Auctions
More Auctions
DropCatch:Highest drop-catching success rates with 1,200+ registrar accreditations. $59-60/backorder
Dynadot Auctions:7-11 day auctions with user-consigned and expired domains
GoDaddy Auctions:Huge marketplace with 10-day auction format. Integrated with largest registrar
NameJet:Pre-release auctions from Network Solutions, Register.com, Bluehost. $69 minimum bid
SnapNames:Same inventory as NameJet (both owned by Newfold). Private auctions for backorders
✍️ Blogs
More Blogs
DNJournal:The go-to source for domain industry news, featuring weekly domain sales reports, interviews with industry leaders, and comprehensive coverage of major domain events and trends.
Domain Gang:A popular domain industry blog covering news, sales, and commentary. Known for its witty writing style and coverage of domain drops, auctions, and industry drama.
Domain Name Wire:One of the most respected domain news sources, publishing daily updates on sales, industry developments, ICANN news, and expert analysis from veteran domainer Andrew Allemann.
DomainInvesting Blog:Elliot Silver's award-winning blog with daily industry coverage
OnlineDomain:A domain investing blog featuring news, tutorials, and insights for domainers of all experience levels. Covers sales data, registration tips, and strategies for building a profitable portfolio.
TheDomains Blog:Michael Berkens' domain industry blog since 2007
📚 Books
More Books
Domain Flipping 101:Art and science of buying and reselling domains by Taylor Royce
Domain Graduate:Comprehensive guidebook for your entire domaining career by Sean Stafford
Domain Names: How to Choose and Protect a Great Name:A comprehensive guide to selecting and protecting domain names. Covers trademark considerations, naming strategies, and legal aspects every domain investor should understand.
Domaining Guide:Beginner-friendly guide from a domainer since 2006 by Jerome Robertson
The Domain Game:WSJ reporter David Kesmodel's book on the domain industry's wild history
🤝 Brokers
More Brokers
GoDaddy Broker Service:Access to largest buyer network with Domain Club discounts
Grit Brokerage:Led by Brian Harbin with 60 years combined team experience. Known for fierce negotiation
MediaOptions:Highest-grossing broker since 2016 with $600M+ in sales and 82% success rate
Saw.com:Boutique brokerage with stealth acquisition services
Sedo Brokerage:Enterprise-level brokerage service from the largest domain marketplace
VPN.com Brokerage:Premium acquisitions for six-figure and enterprise-level domains
💰 Buy / Sell Domains
⭐ Featured Partner
Sedo
One of the world's largest domain marketplaces with over 19 million listings. Offers domain parking, auctions, brokerage services, and a trusted escrow system for secure transactions.
Buy and sell domains on one of the world's largest domain marketplaces.
Visit Website →More Buy / Sell Domains
Afternic:One of the largest domain marketplaces, owned by GoDaddy. Features a massive distribution network that lists your domains across 100+ partner sites, increasing exposure and sales potential.
Atom.com:Specializes in brandable domains. Low 7.5% commission with white label option
Atom.com:A curated premium domain marketplace focused on high-quality, brandable names. Known for its clean interface and focus on domains that are ready for businesses to build upon.
BrandBucket:Specializes in creative, brandable domain names with professionally designed logos included. Perfect for startups looking for a complete brand package with memorable, unique names.
DomainNameSales (DNS):A professional domain brokerage service that handles high-value domain transactions. Their experienced brokers negotiate on your behalf to maximize sale prices for premium domains.
Flippa:The leading marketplace for buying and selling online businesses, websites, and domains. Great for domains with existing traffic or development potential, with auction and fixed-price options.
💼 Business Tools
More Business Tools
DNTaxGuide:Tax guidance specifically for domain investors
Escrow.com:The leading online escrow service for domain transactions, providing secure payment processing for buyers and sellers. Licensed and regulated, ensuring safe transfers for high-value domains.
FreshBooks:Easy invoicing, time tracking, and expense management
QuickBooks:Industry-leading small business accounting with invoicing
Squadhelp:A creative naming platform connecting businesses with naming experts and domain sellers. Offers naming contests, audience testing, and a curated marketplace of brandable domains.
Stripe:Payment processing for domain sales with checkout pages
Wave:Free accounting and invoicing. Great for small domain businesses
Wise:Low-cost international transfers for global domain sales
📅 Conferences & Events
More Conferences & Events
Domain Days Dubai:Middle East focused domain industry networking event
DomainFest:A premier domain industry conference bringing together investors, brokers, and service providers. Features networking opportunities, educational sessions, and live domain auctions.
DomainX:India's premier domain conference. Connects consultants, entrepreneurs, and investors
NamesCon:The world's largest domain industry conference, held annually in Austin, TX. Offers unparalleled networking, educational tracks, live auctions, and connections with the biggest names in domaining.
NamesCon Global:#1 domaining event. Miami, Nov 5-6, 2025. Co-located with CloudFest USA
🔧 Domain Tools
More Domain Tools
BuiltWith:Technology lookup showing what websites are built with
DNPric.es:A domain sales aggregator tracking prices across multiple marketplaces. Essential for researching comparable sales and understanding current market values for different domain types.
DNSlytics:Investigation tool with reverse IP, historical DNS, and provider data
DomainTools:The industry-leading domain research platform offering comprehensive WHOIS history, DNS records, and domain intelligence. Used by professionals for due diligence and competitive analysis.
EstiBot:An automated domain appraisal tool providing instant valuations based on comparable sales and market data. Useful for quick estimates, though manual research is recommended for important decisions.
Lean Domain Search:A free tool for finding available domain names by combining your keywords with common modifiers. Great for brainstorming brandable names and discovering hidden gems.
MxToolbox:DNS lookup, email testing, and network diagnostics
NameBio:The most comprehensive domain sales database tracking over 1 million historical sales. Invaluable for researching comps, understanding market trends, and pricing your domains accurately.
Namecheckr:Check domain and social media username availability across platforms
Wayback Machine:Internet Archive for viewing historical website snapshots
Who.is:WHOIS lookup with RDAP support and comprehensive domain data
WhoisXML API:Provides programmatic access to WHOIS, DNS, and IP data through powerful APIs. Essential for developers building domain tools or investors needing bulk research capabilities.
🔒 Escrow Services
More Escrow Services
AtomPay:Low 4.5% commission. Supports Wise.com payments
Escrow.com:Industry standard. Handled uber.com, instagram.com, twitter.com. Fees: 3.25% up to $5K
⏰ Expired / Drops
More Expired / Drops
DomCop:Premium tool with 10M+ domains and 90+ metrics including Majestic/Moz data
ExpiredDomains.net:Largest free expired domain database with powerful filters for age, backlinks, and metrics
Gname Backorder:Backorder service for .com/.net with 500+ ICANN-accredited registrars
Odys Global:Pre-vetted expired domains with guaranteed quality and clean history
SpamZilla:Expired domain finder focused on SEO metrics and spam detection. $37/month
💬 Forums & Communities
More Forums & Communities
DN Forum:One of the earliest forums (est. 2001). Recently acquired by Digital Candy
DNForum:One of the oldest and most established domain discussion forums. A great place to buy, sell, and discuss domains with experienced investors and newcomers alike.
Domain Boardroom:Invitation-only private community for serious investors. Founded by Donna Mahony
NamePros:The largest and most active domain community forum with over 200,000 members. Features marketplace sections, educational resources, industry news, and vibrant discussions on all things domains.
🅿️ Hosting & Parking
More Hosting & Parking
Bodis:Top parking service with dynamic ad optimization and detailed reporting
ParkingCrew:Aggressive optimization algorithms. Great for large portfolios
ParkLogic:Premium parking optimization with algorithmic traffic routing
Sedo Parking:Integrated with marketplace. Automatic activation when domains listed for sale
⚖️ Legal Resources
More Legal Resources
ESQwire:Ari Goldberger's firm specializing in UDRP. Hundreds of cases handled
Lewis & Lin LLC:UDRP and ACPA specialists representing both trademark owners and registrants
UDRP:ICANN's Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy provides a framework for resolving domain disputes. Essential reading for understanding trademark rights and avoiding potential legal issues.
WIPO Arbitration:World Intellectual Property Organization for UDRP decisions and filings
WIPO Domain Name Services:The World Intellectual Property Organization handles international domain disputes. Their case database and resources are invaluable for understanding domain law and trademark conflicts.
🏪 Marketplaces
More Marketplaces
Afternic Marketplace:GoDaddy-owned. Largest inventory with Fast Lane to 100+ registrars. 15-25% commission
NamePros Marketplace:0% commission on classified listings. Active community
Sedo Marketplace:18M+ domains listed. 10-15% commission. Strong globally
Spaceship Marketplace:New marketplace with only 5% commission
📰 News
More News
Domaining.com:News and views about making money with domain names
DomainInvesting.com:News, strategy, and tips by Elliot Silver. Award-winning coverage
DomainNameWire:Leading industry trade publication since 2005. Cited by WSJ, NYT, NPR
TheDomains:Industry news since 2007 by Michael Berkens
🎙️ Podcasts
More Podcasts
DNAcademy Podcast:Michael Cyger's educational podcast for domain investors
DNW Podcast:Domain Name Wire's podcast covering weekly industry news and interviews
DomainSherpa:The premier domain investing podcast featuring in-depth interviews with successful domainers, industry experts, and thought leaders. Covers strategies, sales analysis, and market trends.
DomainSherpa Review:Weekly domain portfolio reviews with industry Sherpas like Andrew Rosener
📊 Portfolio Management
More Portfolio Management
DomainIQ:Powerful domain research and portfolio analytics platform. Track historical WHOIS data, monitor competitors, analyze domain metrics, and make data-driven investment decisions.
DomainPunch:Desktop software syncing with multiple registrars for large portfolio tracking
Efty:A comprehensive domain portfolio management platform with landing pages, payment processing, and sales tracking. Integrates with major marketplaces and registrars for seamless management.
Sawcom:Domain portfolio management software designed for serious investors. Features bulk management tools, automated renewals tracking, and detailed portfolio analytics.
WhoisXML API:23.8B+ WHOIS records with Domain Research Suite for monitoring and analysis
🌐 Registration
Sponsored
GoDaddy
The world's largest domain registrar managing over 80 million domains. Offers comprehensive services including hosting, website builders, and access to the Afternic marketplace.
Visit GoDaddy →More Registration
Cloudflare Registrar:At-cost pricing with zero markup. Best for active websites
Dynadot:A popular registrar among domain investors offering competitive pricing and a built-in marketplace. Known for excellent customer service, free WHOIS privacy, and useful bulk management tools.
Google Domains:Google's straightforward domain registration service with transparent pricing and free WHOIS privacy. Recently acquired by Squarespace but maintains its simple, no-upsell approach.
Hover:A clean, simple domain registrar focused on ease of use. Known for transparent pricing, excellent customer support, and a no-nonsense approach without aggressive upselling.
Namecheap:A budget-friendly registrar popular with domain investors for its competitive renewal prices and free WHOIS privacy. Offers reliable hosting and a user-friendly management interface.
NameSilo:Low, stable pricing with free WHOIS privacy for life. Great for bulk purchases
Porkbun:Known for lowest prices on many TLDs with free WHOIS privacy
Spaceship:New registrar from Namecheap team with clean interface and low fees