In 2014, new top-level domain extensions (the letters to the right the “dot” in a domain name) were introduced, providing website-owners with fresh alternatives to traditional extensions, like .COM or .ORG. Not only did more domain names become available, but the way we bought and sold them also changed. One notable shift was that ICANN, the not-for-profit organization that oversees the domain name system, decided that the registry organizations that operate these new domain extensions would be allowed to set different prices for different domains in the same top-level domain (TLD) category.
This was a pretty significant departure from how things worked before the advent of these new TLDs, when all domains within the same extension were priced the exact same. For example, the initial purchase price for apple.com or chicago.com would have been the same as a less desirable domain, like hjhsdi678hg.com. These domains also renew at the same price. But ICANN’s decision to introduce variable pricing gave registries that operate new TLDs the ability to set a unique price for any domain name, often well above (or in some cases, below), the regular price for that TLD.
Millions of additional options for Hover users
So what does this mean for you? These tiered price names haven’t been available through Hover, until now. We are all about helping you find the best domain name for your passion, so we’re excited to be able to offer you these additional options!
Tiered price domains now appear in Hover search results, adding millions of great names to choose from when you’re finding the perfect fit for your passion project!
The facts on tiered pricing
Spotting a tiered price domain on Hover
We’re all about transparency. Before upgrading our offering, we made sure that our search results would continue to provide you with all the info you need to make an informed choice. Here are four additional pieces of info that accompany any tiered domain that pops up in our search results:
- A blue star indicator identifying the name as a tiered price domain
- An “i” icon that displays general information about tiered price domains
- The registration price
- The renewal price
You can see an example of how these domains show up in search results here.
Registration pricing
In most cases, the registry perceives a tiered price domain to be more desirable, and this is reflected in a higher price tag. For example, the registry for .SHOP has decided that cycling.shop is inherently more valuable than something like bobscycling.shop. Currently, cycling.shop costs $6,199.99 to register at Hover while a regular .shop domain is about $40. This isn’t to say that all tiered price domains will break the bank. There are lots of great options priced below $150!
Renewal pricing
Another critical thing to point out is that it isn’t just a tiered domain’s registration price that can be higher- the renewal price might be as well. Take a look at the examples below.
We see that cycle.design has a premium registration price ($2,599.99), as well as a premium renewal price ($2,599.99):
However, cycle.club has a premium registration price ($1,899.99) and a regular renewal price ($13.99):
It’s all about choice
Our goal is to help you find the best domain name for whatever you’re looking to accomplish. Now, you have millions of more memorable and impactful options to choose from. There are definitely benefits in registering a premium domain name (memorability and SEO potential, to name a few). For us, it’s all about providing you with as many options as possible, so you find the right one. You can always find more info in our Help Centre, or by chatting with our experienced support team.
Now that you have millions of additional options to choose from, what will you search for next?
