Domains · 7 min read · Updated 25 September 2026
Domain renewal prices explained, and how to stop overpaying
Written by Serverlinx research team · Reviewed by Jason Washington on
Drafted with AI assistance from our research notes; checked by Jason Washington. How we use AI
Prices checked · How we check prices
That bargain first-year domain didn't stay a bargain for long. Here's what really sets the price you pay each year, why .com is getting dearer, and the simple habits that keep your renewals fair.
Why does my domain cost more to renew?
Because the first year was a special offer. Registrars often sell the first year cheaply to win your business, and many people then renew without checking the price. From year two you pay the standard price, and that can be a lot more than the offer.
It's the same trick as hosting intro prices, and the fix is the same too: look at the renewal price before you buy, and compare what you'll pay over three years, not just today.
The sum is simple: first-year price + two years of renewals + any extras you'll pay for. Work it out for each registrar you're considering. The one with the flashiest first-year offer often isn't the cheapest by year three, and a registrar with a plain, fair renewal price can save you money every year you own the domain.
What it costs to keep a domain: cheapest registrar by ending
Prices checked · How we check prices
| Ending | Cheapest over 3 years | First year | Renews at | 3-year cost | Go to registrar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .com1 registrar compared | Krystal | €14.37 | €14.37 | €43.64! Estimate: a price isn't publishedconverted from £ | Go to registrar: KrystalPaid link |
| .co.uk2 registrars compared | 123 Reg | €4.78 | Not published | €14.34! Estimate: a price isn't publishedconverted from £ | Go to registrar: 123 Reg |
| .uk2 registrars compared | 123 Reg | €5.98 | Not published | €17.94! Estimate: a price isn't publishedconverted from £ | Go to registrar: 123 Reg |
| .net1 registrar compared | Krystal | €14.37 | €14.37 | €43.64! Estimate: a price isn't publishedconverted from £ | Go to registrar: KrystalPaid link |
| .org1 registrar compared | Krystal | €15.56 | €15.56 | €47.23! Estimate: a price isn't publishedconverted from £ | Go to registrar: KrystalPaid link |
| .io1 registrar compared | Krystal | €55.10 | €55.10 | €165.31converted from £ | Go to registrar: KrystalPaid link |
All prices are shown in euros (€), ex VAT. Where a host charges in another currency, we convert at today's European Central Bank rate, so what you pay may differ slightly.
Some registrars pay us when you buy through our links. That never changes the order, which is always the true 3-year cost. How we make money
What goes into a domain price?
| Part | Who sets it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Registry fee | The company that runs the ending (e.g. Verisign for .com) | The wholesale cost every registrar pays. For .com it can rise under its contract with ICANN [1]. |
| ICANN fee | ICANN, the body that oversees generic domains | Registrars pay ICANN fees under their accreditation agreement [2]. Some show it as a separate line at checkout. |
| Registrar margin | Your registrar | The part that varies most between registrars, and the part competition keeps in check. |
| Tax | Your government | VAT in the UK and EU; sales tax may apply in the US. Check whether the price you see includes it. |
| Extras | Your registrar | Privacy, DNS, email forwarding, SSL. Free at some registrars, charged at others. |
.com prices are going up: what it means for you
Verisign runs the .com registry. Its agreement with ICANN lets it raise the wholesale price by up to 7% a year in the final four years of each six-year period; the current period began on 26 October 2024 [1][3].
| From | Wholesale price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2024 | $10.26 | Up from $9.59 [1] |
| 1 November 2026 | $10.97 | Up $0.71, about 7% [1] |
That's the registry's price to registrars, before their margin and tax. Each registrar decides how much of the rise to pass on and when. If yours hasn't raised its price yet, renewing for more than one year now means you pay today's price for those years.
Other endings change too
Every domain ending has its own registry and its own prices. If you own a .net, .org, .io or country domain, check your registrar's renewal price each year rather than assuming it's the same as last time.
Do you need to pay for WHOIS privacy?
WHOIS (now often called registration data) is the public record of who owns a domain. Paid "privacy" hides your name, address and phone number from it.
Since 21 August 2025, ICANN's Registration Data Policy requires registrars to redact personal data where the law demands it, and allows them to redact it in other cases too [4]. In practice, many registrars now hide personal details as standard, and many include privacy at no charge.
Before you pay for privacy
Look up your own domain in a WHOIS or RDAP tool. If your name and address are already hidden, a paid privacy add-on may not give you much. If they're showing, compare registrars that include privacy free.
What happens if your domain expires?
Missing a renewal is the most expensive mistake you can make with a domain. For .com and other generic domains, ICANN's rules set out what happens [5][6]:
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| About a month and a week before expiry | Your registrar must send you renewal reminders [5]. |
| Just after expiry | Your website and email may stop working. You can usually still renew, sometimes at a higher "late renewal" price. |
| Redemption period (30 days) | If the domain is deleted, you can still get it back, but usually with a restore (redemption) fee on top of the renewal [5][6]. |
| Pending delete (5 days) | The domain can no longer be recovered, then it's released for anyone to register [6]. |
Registrars must publish their renewal, late-renewal and restore fees on their website [5]. Check them when you compare, especially if you have domains you rarely think about. Country endings such as .uk and .eu have their own timelines, so check your registrar's terms.
How to avoid overpaying for your domain
- Check the renewal price before you buyIt should be on the registrar's pricing page. If it's hard to find, that tells you something.
- Compare the 3-year costFirst year + two renewals + any extras you need. A slightly dearer first year can be much cheaper overall.
- Watch "free domain" hosting dealsA free first year with hosting is a real saving, but the domain then renews at that host's price. Find out what it is.
- Keep auto-renew on, and check the price each yearAuto-renew protects you from expiry. A diary reminder a month before protects your wallet. Renewal Radar can do both jobs for you.
- Move to a cheaper registrar before renewalYou keep the same domain and it usually gains a year. See how domain transfers work.
- Keep your contact email up to dateRenewal reminders only help if they reach you.
Bundle hosting, email and domain, and see the real cost
Compare plans ranked on what you'll pay over three years, renewals included. Switch through us and we'll move your website, email and domain for free.* *Worth up to £100 ($125 / €115) when you buy through our link from a host we recommend. Terms apply.
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Get a reminder before your hosting renews
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Questions people ask
Why is my domain renewal so much more than the first year?
The first year was a discount to win your business. From year two you pay the registrar's standard renewal price, which includes the registry's wholesale fee, ICANN fees and the registrar's margin.
Is it cheaper to register a domain for several years?
It can be, because you pay today's price for every year you buy, which protects you from price rises. But you pay it all upfront, and you'll need to transfer out if a better deal comes along.
What is the ICANN fee on my domain invoice?
Registrars pay fees to ICANN, the body that oversees generic domains such as .com. Some registrars include this in their price and some show it as a separate line.
How much will .com cost from November 2026?
Verisign's wholesale price rises from $10.26 to $10.97 a year on 1 November 2026. What you pay depends on your registrar's margin and tax, so check its renewal price.
Can I move my domain to get a cheaper renewal?
Yes. You can transfer to another registrar and keep the same domain. For .com and most generic domains the transfer adds a year to your registration, so it works best a few weeks before your renewal date. You can't usually transfer within 60 days of registering or a previous transfer.
What is a redemption or restore fee?
A charge for recovering a domain after it has expired and been deleted, during the 30-day redemption period. It comes on top of the normal renewal price, so it's much cheaper never to let a domain lapse.
See what you'd really pay
Compare hosting on the true 3-year cost, renewal prices included, and we'll move you for free.*
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Related
How this guide was checked: every fact is checked against the sources below before it's published. Editorial policy · Methodology
Written by Serverlinx research team · Reviewed by Jason Washington on
Sources
- Verisign, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 (US SEC filing)
- ICANN: 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement (section 3.9, fees)
- ICANN: .com Registry Agreement
- ICANN: Registration Data Policy
- ICANN: Expired Registration Recovery Policy
- ICANN: FAQs for registrants, domain name renewals and expiration