Domain guides
Plain-language, source-grounded explainers for how domains actually work — costs, transfers, the expiry lifecycle, and privacy/security. Every figure is sourced to verified pricing data or ICANN/registry documentation.
Last updated 2026-07-15Prices checked monthlyHands-on testedScored, not surveyedTransparent methodology
Domain costs & pricing
What a domain really costs, the fees behind the price, and the .com price history.
How much does a domain really cost?
First-year vs renewal, plus the registry, ICANN, and markup pieces behind the price.
The ICANN fee, explained
A mandatory ~$0.20/year charge on gTLD domains — what it funds and when it applies.
.com price increase tracker
Verisign's .com wholesale price history and the 7% annual increases, sourced.
Transferring domains
How transfers work end to end — timing, auth codes, locks, and leaving a website builder.
How domain transfers work
The full transfer process end to end — unlock, auth code, pay, approve — and what actually moves.
How long does a domain transfer take?
Most gTLD transfers take about 5–7 days — how to speed it up, and what delays it.
What is an EPP / authorization code?
The per-domain password that authorizes a transfer — its many names and how to get it.
The 60-day domain transfer lock
Why ICANN blocks transfers for 60 days after a registration or move, and how to plan around it.
Transferring a domain away from a website builder (Wix, Squarespace)
Moving a Wix or Squarespace domain to a standalone registrar — sourced steps and the gotchas.
Domain lifecycle
Registration, renewal, and what happens when a domain expires.
Privacy & security
WHOIS privacy under GDPR and what DNSSEC does.