1. Parties and scope
This Domain Registration Agreement is between you, the person or organization that registers or manages a domain name through namebest.com, and NameBest. NameBest is a domain reseller: every domain is registered through an ICANN accredited registrar that sponsors the registration, and the name itself is recorded in the database of the registry that operates the extension.
The sponsoring registrar is shown in the public WHOIS and RDAP record of each domain. The registry is the organization that runs the extension, for example the operator of .com, .org or a country code such as .io or .co.
This agreement works together with our Terms of Service, our Privacy Policy, the Renewal Policy, the Transfer Policy, the UDRP page and the Acceptable Use Policy. If this agreement and the Terms of Service conflict on a point about domain names, this agreement applies.
By completing checkout for a domain, by transferring a domain in or by keeping a domain in your account, you accept this agreement on your own behalf and, if you register for an organization, on behalf of that organization. You confirm that you have the authority to do so.
2. Definitions
- "You" and "registrant" mean the person or organization named as the registrant of the domain. The registrant is the owner of the registration.
- "Account" means your NameBest account and the dashboard where you manage your domains.
- "Sponsoring registrar" means the ICANN accredited registrar through which NameBest registers your domain.
- "Registry" means the operator of the top level domain in which your domain is registered.
- "Registration period" means the paid term of a domain, normally one year, or longer where the registry requires it (for example .ai has a two year minimum).
- "ICANN" means the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which sets policies for generic top level domains.
3. Registration as a yearly subscription
A domain registration is not a one-time purchase. Each domain is a yearly subscription that renews automatically at the end of each registration period at the renewal price shown for that extension. The first year price and the renewal price are both shown in every search result and on the pricing page before you pay.
Auto renew is on by default for every domain. You can switch it off at any time with the auto renew switch next to the domain in your dashboard. When auto renew is off, the domain stays registered to you until the end of the period you have paid for and then expires as described in the Renewal Policy. You can switch auto renew back on at any time before the domain is deleted.
We send reminder emails 30 days and 7 days before expiry and again after expiry to the account email address. Reminders are a courtesy: keeping your payment method valid and your contact details current is your responsibility.
A registration takes effect only when the registry confirms it. Until then the name is not yours, and another party can register it first. Availability shown in search results is checked live, but it can change between the search and the moment of registration.
4. Registrant data and accuracy
At checkout you provide registrant details: name, organization if any, postal address, phone number and email address. You must give complete and accurate data and keep it current for the whole life of the registration. Update it in the dashboard within seven days of any change, as explained in our guide to updating registrant contact details.
Willfully giving inaccurate or unreliable data, failing to update it promptly, or failing to respond within 15 days to an inquiry about its accuracy is a material breach of this agreement and can lead to suspension or cancellation of the domain.
If you license the use of a domain to a third party, you remain the registrant and remain responsible for the domain, including its use, unless you disclose the contact details of that third party promptly when someone provides reasonable evidence of actionable harm.
5. ICANN email verification
ICANN requires that the registrant email address is verified. After a new registration, a transfer in or a change of the registrant email, we send a verification email with a link. Click the link to confirm the address. Our guide on how to verify your registrant email explains the steps.
If the email address is not verified within 15 days, the sponsoring registrar must suspend the domain. A suspended domain stops resolving and shows a notice page until the address is verified. Verification restores the domain, normally within a few minutes.
6. WHOIS, RDAP and the privacy service
Registries and registrars publish registration data through WHOIS and RDAP. Under current ICANN rules most personal data of individual registrants is redacted in the public record, but some fields may be shown, and law enforcement and parties with a legitimate interest can request access to the full data.
WHOIS privacy is included with every domain where the registry allows it. When privacy is active, the public record shows the details of a privacy service instead of your own, and email sent to the published address is forwarded to you. Some extensions do not allow privacy (for example .us), and some country code extensions limit it. Read more on our WHOIS privacy page.
The privacy service does not change who owns the domain. You remain the registrant. The privacy service may disclose your details, or stop the privacy service for a domain, where it is required by law, by a court or authority order, by ICANN or registry policy, under a UDRP or URS proceeding, or to respond to a well founded abuse report.
7. Registry and ICANN policies
Your registration is subject to the policies of the registry for the extension you choose and, for generic extensions, to ICANN consensus policies. These policies are incorporated into this agreement by reference and may change over time. Changes made by a registry or by ICANN apply to your domain from the date they take effect.
Some extensions have eligibility rules. For example .us requires a nexus with the United States, and .app and .dev only work over HTTPS. You confirm that you meet the eligibility rules of each extension you register.
You also agree to the ICANN Registrants' Benefits and Responsibilities and acknowledge the ICANN Registrant Educational Information. A plain language summary is on our registrant rights page.
8. Domain disputes, UDRP and URS
You agree to submit to proceedings under the ICANN Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and, where it applies, the Uniform Rapid Suspension System (URS), and to any dispute policy a registry adopts for its extension. These proceedings can lead to the cancellation or transfer of your domain, or to its suspension under the URS.
When a proceeding is filed, the domain is locked and cannot be transferred or have its registrant changed until the proceeding ends. We implement decisions as described on our UDRP page.
You represent that, to the best of your knowledge, the registration of the domain and the way you use it do not infringe the rights of any third party.
9. Transfers
You can transfer a domain to another registrar with the EPP authorization code, which you can see in the dashboard, as explained in our guide on how to get an EPP code. Transferring a domain out of NameBest has no fee.
Transfers follow the ICANN Transfer Policy. A domain cannot be transferred to another registrar within 60 days of its registration or of a previous transfer, and a change of registrant can trigger a 60 day lock unless you opted out where allowed. Full rules are in the Transfer Policy.
10. Renewals and expiry
With auto renew on, we attempt to renew the domain before its expiry date by charging the payment method in your account. If the charge fails, we retry and email you. If the domain is not renewed by its expiry date, it stops resolving and enters the renewal grace period, then the redemption period, and is then released. Recovery may cost a restore fee set by the registry. The Renewal Policy sets out the reminders, periods and fees in detail.
11. Fees and taxes
Prices are shown in US dollars in search results, in the cart and at checkout before you pay. Taxes such as VAT or sales tax are added where the law requires it and are shown before payment. Registries can change their wholesale prices; if a renewal price changes, the new price applies to renewals after the change, and we show it in the dashboard and in reminder emails before the renewal date.
Premium domains are priced individually by the registry. Their first year and renewal prices are shown in the search result before you add them to the cart.
12. Refunds
A completed registration is recorded at the registry and cannot be returned to it, so a completed registration, renewal or transfer in is not refundable. If a registration fails, for example because the name was registered by someone else between your search and the payment or because of a registry error, you receive a full refund for that domain to the original payment method. See our domain refund policy. Mandatory consumer rights in your country are not affected.
13. Suspension, lock and cancellation
We, the sponsoring registrar or the registry may suspend, lock, transfer or cancel a registration, or place it on hold, where this is reasonably necessary:
- to correct mistakes made by us, the sponsoring registrar or the registry in registering the domain;
- if the registration fee or a renewal fee is not paid;
- if the registrant data is false, inaccurate or not verified, or if you do not respond to an inquiry about it within 15 days;
- to comply with a court order, an order of a competent authority, applicable law, or ICANN and registry policy;
- to implement a UDRP, URS or registry dispute decision;
- to stop or prevent abuse, including malware, phishing, botnets, spam, fraud and child sexual abuse material, as set out in the Acceptable Use Policy;
- to protect the integrity and stability of the registry or of the domain name system;
- to avoid liability of NameBest, the sponsoring registrar or the registry.
Where it is lawful and practical, we tell you about the action and the reason by email and give you a chance to fix the problem.
14. Abuse
You must not use a domain for any purpose listed in the Acceptable Use Policy. Anyone can report abuse to [email protected] with the subject "Abuse report", as described on our abuse reporting page. We review reports and act on them as that policy explains.
15. Account security
You are responsible for your account credentials and for every action taken through your account. Keep the transfer lock on unless you are moving a domain, keep your account email address current, and tell us at once if you suspect unauthorized access. Our guide to domain account security lists the steps that protect your domains.
16. Limitation of liability
The services are provided as they are. NameBest, the sponsoring registrar and the registry do not guarantee that a particular name is available, that the services are uninterrupted, or that a domain will rank in search engines or be free from claims by third parties.
To the extent the law allows, NameBest is not liable for indirect or consequential losses, lost profits, lost data or loss of business arising from the registration or use of a domain, from a registry or registrar outage, or from the suspension or cancellation of a domain under this agreement. Our total liability for any claim connected with a domain is limited to the fees you paid for that domain in the twelve months before the claim. Nothing in this agreement limits liability that cannot be limited by law, such as liability for intent or gross negligence, or mandatory consumer rights.
17. Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless NameBest, the sponsoring registrar and the registry, and their directors, employees and agents, against claims, losses, costs and reasonable legal fees arising from your registration or use of a domain, including claims that the domain or its content infringes the rights of a third party. This obligation survives the end of the registration.
18. Changes to this agreement
We may change this agreement to reflect changes in law, in ICANN or registry policies, or in our services. We publish the new version on this page with a new effective date and email you about material changes at least 30 days before they apply, unless a change is required sooner by law or policy. If you do not agree, you can switch auto renew off or transfer your domains out at no charge from us before the change applies.
19. Governing law
Disputes about this agreement are governed by the law and heard by the courts stated in our Terms of Service, without prejudice to the dispute policies described in section 8 and to mandatory consumer protections of your country of residence.
20. Contact
Questions about this agreement go to [email protected]. You can also use our contact page.