01
Search
You type a name. We ask the registries live which extensions are free and show each result as Available, Taken or Premium, with the first year price and the renewal price. See domain search results explained.
01
How domain registration works from search to renewal
Domain registration works through three parties: the registry that runs an extension, the registrar that sells and manages registrations, and you, the registrant who holds the name. At NameBest you search a name, add it to your cart, pay for a year and manage it in your dashboard, and it renews every year until you switch auto renew off.
02
Who does what in domain registration
| Party | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ICANN | Sets the rules for generic extensions and accredits registrars | Transfer policy, registrant verification |
| Registry | Runs one extension and keeps its master database | The operator of .com or .io |
| Registrar | Files registrations with the registry and manages them for you | NameBest, through the ICANN accredited registrar that sponsors each registration |
| Registrant | Holds the registration and controls the domain | You or your company |
The sponsoring registrar of every domain is shown in its public WHOIS record.
03
The registration process step by step
02
Cart
You add one or several domains. The cart shows today's total, the renewal price of each domain and that auto renew is on. Before payment the cart checks availability again.
03
Account
At checkout you create an account in two short steps: email and password, then a 6 digit code from your email. Your cart stays saved.
04
Registrant details and payment
You enter the person or company that will own the domain and pay for the first year. We then file the registration with the registry, usually within a minute or two.
05
Verification
ICANN requires every registrant to confirm their email address. We send a link right away. Click it before the deadline in the email so the domain keeps resolving.
06
Setup
The domain appears in your dashboard with WHOIS privacy on where the registry allows it, the transfer lock on and auto renew on. You add DNS records, set nameservers or a redirect. Our help article on how to point a domain to a website covers the usual records.
07
Renewal
Every domain is a yearly subscription. We email you 30 and 7 days before expiry, and the domain renews automatically at the renewal price you saw at purchase, unless the registry has since changed its price. Read more on domain renewal.
04
What happens if a domain is not renewed
If auto renew is off or a payment fails, the domain expires and stops resolving. A grace period follows, usually up to 30 days, in which you renew at the normal price. Then comes a redemption period, usually 30 days, with a registry restore fee. After that the name is deleted and released to the public. The renewal policy lists the exact periods per registry, and the expired domains page explains each stage.
05
How moving a domain in or out works
To bring a domain to NameBest, unlock it at your current registrar, copy its EPP code and start a domain transfer. The transfer adds one year to the registration and most finish within 5 days. To leave, you switch off the transfer lock and copy the EPP code from your dashboard yourself. A 60 day lock applies after a new registration or a registrant change.
06
Payments and refunds
A completed registration cannot be returned to the registry, so it is not refundable. If a registration fails, for example because someone registered the name a moment before your order, the amount for that domain goes back to your card. See the domain refund policy.