When you buy a domain from a private owner, you're often sending money to a stranger, possibly in another country. Escrow removes that risk for both sides.
How domain escrow works
- Agree the deal: price, who pays the escrow fee, and how the domain will be transferred.
- Open the transaction with a licensed escrow service such as Escrow.com. Both parties accept the terms.
- You pay escrow, not the seller. The escrow service confirms the funds.
- The seller transfers the domain to your registrar account, or moves it to your account at the same registrar.
- You confirm the domain is under your control.
- Escrow pays the seller.
Red flags
- A seller who insists on direct payment, crypto only, or gift cards.
- An "escrow service" you've never heard of, suggested by the seller. Check the web address carefully; fake escrow sites are a known scam.
- Pressure to pay before the escrow transaction is set up.
Transfer tips
- Have an account ready at your registrar before the deal closes.
- Domains can't always move to a new registrar right after a recent change. A "push" within the same registrar is often faster.
- Once it's yours, turn on registrar lock, two-factor login and auto-renew.
Questions
Who pays the escrow fee?
It's negotiable. Buyer, seller, or split. Agree it before you open the transaction.
How long does escrow take?
Often a few days to a week, depending on payment method and how quickly the seller transfers the domain.
More guides
- How to buy a domain name that's already taken
- How to find out who owns a domain, even when WHOIS is private
- How much does it cost to buy a domain that's already registered?
- Exact-match domains and SEO: do they still help you rank?
- Domain broker vs. doing it yourself
- How to approach a domain owner to buy their domain
- How to upgrade from .io or .ai to the .com
- How to buy a domain from a private owner
- What to do when a domain owner won't reply
- How to buy a domain anonymously
- How to hire a domain broker to buy a domain