Marketplaces for Domain Sellers: Afternic vs Sedo

In today’s digital age, domain names play a crucial role in establishing a strong online presence. As a domain seller, choosing the right marketplace to sell your domain can significantly impact your success. As of May 2023, two most popular marketplaces for domain sellers are Afternic and Sedo. Since I was using both for years (and still using :), would describe each & other.

Afternic

Afternic is a domain marketplace owned by GoDaddy that specializes in selling domain names. Established in 1999, it is considered the world’s premier domain marketplace. As a full-service domain marketplace, Afternic offers an all-in-one platform for domain buyers and sellers, with over 75 million domain searches conducted each month. The platform provides features such as a vast partner network, Fast Transfer technology for secure transactions, domain appraisal services, and dedicated support for sellers.

Features of Afternic

  1. Global Reach: Afternic boasts a large network of over 100 partners, including popular registrars such as GoDaddy, Network Solutions, and Tucows. This extensive network allows your domain to reach millions of potential buyers worldwide.
  2. Fast Transfer Technology: Afternic’s Fast Transfer technology enables a secure and seamless transfer of domains between the seller and the buyer. This feature not only simplifies the transaction process but also helps build trust with potential buyers.
  3. Domain Appraisal: Afternic offers a domain appraisal service, which provides an estimated value of your domain based on various factors, including comparable sales, keyword popularity, and market trends. This can help you set a competitive price for your domain.
  4. Dedicated Support: Afternic provides dedicated support to domain sellers through phone and email, ensuring that any issues or concerns are addressed promptly.

Pros of Afternic

  • Large partner network, increasing the visibility of your domain
  • Fast Transfer technology for secure and hassle-free transactions
  • Domain appraisal service to help set competitive prices
  • Dedicated support for sellers

Cons of Afternic

  • Listing fees and commission rates may be higher compared to other marketplaces – especially after 2023 update, when charging 25%.
  • The user interface may not be as intuitive as some competitors

Sedo

Sedo might be called as is a leading domain name marketplace and monetization provider too. Established in 2000, with over 2 million registered users and more than 19 million domain names listed for sale, Sedo offers a comprehensive platform for domain buyers and sellers to connect and conduct transactions. The platform provides various features, including a large user base for increased exposure, domain parking for monetizing unused domains, domain appraisal services to help determine the right value for a domain, and a secure transfer service to ensure safe and seamless transactions between buyers and sellers. Sedo caters to a global audience, supporting multiple languages and currencies, making it an attractive choice for domain sellers and buyers worldwide.

Features of Sedo

  1. Large User Base: Sedo has a vast user base, which increases the chances of finding a potential buyer for your domain.
  2. Domain Parking: Sedo provides a domain parking feature that allows you to monetize your domain while it’s listed for sale. This can generate additional revenue through pay-per-click advertising.
  3. Domain Appraisal: Similar to Afternic, Sedo offers a domain appraisal service to help you determine the appropriate value of your domain.
  4. Secure Transfer Service: Sedo’s secure transfer service ensures a safe and seamless transaction between the seller and the buyer, providing peace of mind for both parties.

Pros of Sedo

  • Large user base for increased exposure
  • Domain parking feature for additional revenue
  • Domain appraisal service to help set competitive prices
  • Secure transfer service for safe transactions

Cons of Sedo

  • Some users may find the platform less user-friendly compared to competitors
  • Commission rates may be higher for lower-priced domains

Both Afternic and Sedo offer unique features and benefits for domain sellers. Afternic’s extensive partner network and Fast Transfer technology make it an attractive option for sellers looking for increased visibility and a streamlined transaction process. On the other hand, Sedo’s large user base and domain parking feature can help sellers maximize their revenue potential.

Personal Recommendation

If possible, use both.