The Domain Price Stack
Registry fee (Verisign for .com)
$9.59
ICANN fee
$0.18
Registrar margin
$0 - $15+
Your price
$10 - $25+
Cloudflare charges at-cost (~$10.44). GoDaddy can charge $23.99 renewal. Same domain.
Why TLD Prices Vary
| TLD | Registry Fee | Why |
|---|---|---|
| .com | ~$9.59 | Verisign contract with ICANN, regulated |
| .io | ~$35-40 | ccTLD with small registry, high demand |
| .xyz | ~$1-10 | New gTLD, competing for adoption |
| .ai | ~$75 | ccTLD (Anguilla), AI hype, small supply |
The Renewal Trap
How It Works
- Registrar advertises ".com for $6.99!"
- You register, thinking you got a deal
- Year 2: Renewal is $23.99
- Plus $9.99 for WHOIS privacy
- You're now paying 4x the "deal" price
Always check renewal price, not just first-year price.
Premium Domains Explained
"Premium" domains are registry-reserved names priced higher:
- Registry premium: Short words, popular terms. Registry (not registrar) sets high price.
- Aftermarket premium: Already registered, owner wants high price.
A "premium" .club domain might cost $2,000/year at the registry level. It's not a registrar markup—it's how that TLD is priced.
Finding the Best Prices
✓ Best Value Registrars
- Cloudflare: At-cost, no markup
- Porkbun: Consistently low
- Namecheap: Good value + features
✗ Overpriced Registrars
- GoDaddy: High renewals
- Network Solutions: Very expensive
- 1&1 IONOS: Hidden costs
Price Comparison Tips
- ✓ Compare RENEWAL prices, not first-year promos
- ✓ Check if WHOIS privacy is included or extra
- ✓ Use TLD-List.com to compare across registrars
- ✓ Consider 5-year total cost, not just year 1
- ✓ Transfer existing domains to cheaper registrars