Most domain investors profit by selling their domains on aftermarket platforms such as Afternic and Sedo. Recently, significant changes have emerged on these platforms.

Afternic, the largest player, faced notable challenges this year and implemented a new feature called Afternic Boost. This tier adds higher commission costs for sellers in exchange for better visibility for their domains. For an extra 5% commission, domains can be enhanced for specific searches, appear in various results, and be included in promotional emails. However, many sellers recognized that the overall commission rise could consume a significant portion of their additional sales revenue.

Previously, Afternic offered these promotional advantages for free. This transition prompted concerns among domain investors about diminishing visibility unless they agreed to the higher fees. As Afternic sought to balance the priorities of their aftermarket and search teams—leading to increased commissions—broader market pressures on GoDaddy’s aftermarket segment were also evident.

In a notable move, HugeDomains, Afternic’s primary customer, ended their partnership, taking over 20% of Afternic’s inventory with them. This shift likely contributed to Afternic’s rationale for the Boost program, as lower domain sales can drastically affect their top-line revenue.

In the meantime, other platforms are emerging, giving investors alternative options. In August, Saw.com launched a new sales platform, allowing sellers to manage leads more flexibly, while Domain Easy debuted later as a competitor. Atom also introduced a feature called Commission Match to address concerns regarding Afternic’s increased fees.

Despite the influx of new options, Afternic’s extensive network remains a dominant force in the market. Personal experience shows that, even while sales occurred on various new platforms, a significant percentage still originated from Afternic.

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