SnapNames

What SnapNames does

SnapNames Group, Inc. operates a domain name aftermarket marketplace headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and has functioned as a subsidiary of Newfold Digital (formerly Web.com Group) since the early 2000s. The platform enables buyers to acquire already-registered, expired, or expiring domain names through four primary mechanisms: competitive auctions, fixed-price Buy It Now listings, backorders on names not yet released, and Bid or Buy dual-option listings. SnapNames' differentiation rests on its patented "Snapper" technology, which identifies and captures high-quality deleting domain names on a daily basis across 277 supported TLDs, supplemented by exclusive inventory pipelines from major registrar partners including Network Solutions, Bluehost, Automattic, 1&1 Internet SE (IONOS), and Register.com. The company holds a multi-jurisdictional patent portfolio spanning the United States (7 patents), Canada, and China covering domain auction and backorder mechanics.

The platform monetizes via transaction-based fees: commissions on auction wins, backorder fees charged only upon successful acquisition, and fixed-price purchases on Buy It Now listings. Pricing ranges from $69 for standard Hotpicks domains to $16,500+ for premium names such as shay.com, with EstiBot valuations and proprietary Domain Score analytics supporting buyer decisioning. Power-user features include Bulk Tools (up to 500 domains per submission), CSV/text auction list downloads, saved-search email alerts, proxy bidding, SMS notifications (US-only), and a Verified Bidder program that removes bidding limits for identity-verified high-volume investors. The business operates a self-serve, product-led growth model supplemented by a sales-assisted verification flow for premium buyers. SnapNames' customer base spans professional domain investors and portfolio managers (primary), business branders seeking memorable or protective URLs (primary), and industry-specific buyers across verticals such as finance, health, technology, and entertainment.

Name

SnapNames

Legal name

SnapNames Group, Inc.

Website

https://snapnames.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SnapNames operates a self-serve domain name aftermarket marketplace where businesses, entrepreneurs, and professional investors bid on, backorder, or directly purchase expired and expiring domains. A subsidiary of Newfold Digital, it monetizes via auction commissions and backorder fees across 277 TLDs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domain Name Aftermarket Marketplace

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929)

akta.pro primary industry

Omnichannel Commerce & Click-and-Collect Platforms (BPAMAGAL)

Keywords

• Domain name auctions
• Expired domain marketplace
• Domain backorder services
• Aftermarket domain trading
• Domain name acquisition

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Domain Auction Commissions: Revenue from auctioning expiring and deleting domain names. Customers place bids or buy now at fixed prices. SnapNames takes a commission on successful transactions.
2. Backorder Fees: Backorder placement allows customers to reserve interest in domains before they become available. Customers only charged if SnapNames successfully acquires the domain.
3. Buy It Now Purchases: Fixed-price domain name purchases for immediate acquisition without auction participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SnapNames operates an online marketplace where buyers acquire already-registered, expired, and expiring domain names through competitive auctions, backorders, and Buy It Now fixed-price purchases. The platform aggregates exclusive inventory from partner registrars (Network Solutions, Bluehost, Automattic, Register.com, 1&1 Internet SE) and applies patented Snapper technology to capture dropping and deleting domain names daily. Revenue is generated through commissions on successful auction transactions, backorder fees charged only upon successful acquisition, and direct fixed-price sales.

Product overview

SnapNames operates as a unified domain name aftermarket marketplace offering a comprehensive platform for acquiring expired and expiring domain names. The core offering centers on domain name auctions with multiple acquisition methods (backorders, competitive bidding, Buy It Now, and Bid or Buy options), supported by inventory categories including exclusive expired domains and pending-delete domains across major TLDs (.com, .net, .org, .info, .uk, .us, .biz, .tv). Power-user features include Bulk Tools for batch operations (up to 500 domains), downloadable auction lists in CSV format, and saved search email alerts. The Verified Bidder Program provides full auction access with unlimited bidding. Additional services include domain valuation (via EstiBot integration), proprietary Domain Score analytics, proxy bidding automation, SMS notifications, and registrar account linking for automatic fulfillment. The platform distinguishes itself through patented Snapper technology for capturing dropping domains.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Domain Name Auctions

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 million domain names offered annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Network SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork Solutions is a priority partner registrar providing exclusive expiring domain inventory to SnapNames auctions. Domains from Network Solutions are available as part of SnapNames' exclusive aftermarket inventory.
• BluehostmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBluehost.com provides expiring domain names from its registrar services to SnapNames auctions. Part of the top registrar domains download list.
• Automattic Inc.majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutomattic Inc. (parent company of WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and other web services) provides expiring domain inventory to SnapNames for exclusive auction.
• 1&1 Internet SEmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor1&1 Internet SE (IONOS) provides expiring domain names from its registrar portfolio to SnapNames auctions as part of the top registrar domains program.
• Register.commajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegister.com is a partner registrar whose expiring domains are offered exclusively through SnapNames auctions, such as ngl.net.
• Newfold DigitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationNewfold Digital (parent company) provides infrastructure including abuse reporting, cookie policy, privacy center, terms of use, and careers pages. SnapNames copyright shows ownership by SnapNames Group, Inc.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sedo: Sedo operates the world's largest domain name marketplace with global inventory and a similar mix of auction, buy-now, and make-an-offer formats. It directly competes with SnapNames for premium and expired domain buyers across all major TLDs.
• GoDaddy Auctions: GoDaddy Auctions is the largest US registrar's aftermarket, offering expired, pending-delete, and user-listed domains through auction and Buy It Now formats. It competes head-to-head with SnapNames for the same buyer segments including domain investors and brand-protection buyers.
• NameJet: NameJet is a direct backorder and expired-domain marketplace historically tied to Web.com/eNom registrar inventory, overlapping SnapNames' core backorder mechanics and buyer base. It is the closest functional mirror to SnapNames in drop-catching workflows.
• Afternic: Afternic is GoDaddy's premium domain aftermarket focused on high-value listed domains with lander pages and brokerage support. It competes with SnapNames for premium listings and brand-protection buyers seeking acquisition assistance.
• Dan.com: Dan.com (formerly Undeveloped) is a modern domain marketplace emphasizing Buy It Now transactions and buyer financing/installment plans. It targets the same SMB brand-protection and indie buyer segments as SnapNames with a more streamlined UX.
• DropCatch: DropCatch specializes in capturing high-value pending-delete .com domains through pooled backorders, overlapping SnapNames' drop-catching and Snapper technology capabilities. It is a primary competitor for premium short and brandable .com inventory.

Broad incumbents

• Dynadot: Dynadot is an ICANN-accredited registrar that also offers a domain marketplace and aftermarket listings. As a broader web services platform it overlaps SnapNames' marketplace functionality but with a wider portfolio of registration and hosting services.
• Porkbun: Porkbun is a low-cost registrar that has expanded into domain aftermarket and marketplace features. It competes for SMB buyers seeking budget-friendly domain acquisition, partially overlapping SnapNames' lower-priced Hot Picks tier.

Emerging players

• Squadhelp: Squadhelp is a naming marketplace that includes premium domains alongside brand contests and naming services. It overlaps with SnapNames in the premium brandable domain segment and competes for startup founders and brand-protection buyers.
• Undeveloped: Undeveloped is a curated domain marketplace focused on brandable and short premium domains with a modern minimalist UX. It competes with SnapNames' premium and Hot Picks inventory for startup and SMB brand-building buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/snapnamesdotcom
• Facebookfacebook.com/1431487940430509
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/snapnames

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SnapNames