Redemption Fee Schedule
Redemption Fees Are Significant
Redemption fees are substantially higher than renewal fees. Enable auto-renewal to avoid these charges. See our Domain Lifecycle Policy for details on how to prevent redemption.
What is Domain Redemption?
When a domain name expires and is not renewed during the grace period (0-30 days after expiration), it enters a redemption period (days 30-60 after expiration). During this time, the domain can still be recovered, but only by paying redemption fees in addition to the standard renewal fee.
Redemption fees are set by the domain registry operators and are significantly higher than standard renewal fees. These fees are designed to discourage domain expiration and encourage timely renewal.
Redemption Fee Structure
Redemption fees consist of two components:
- Registry Redemption Fee - Charged by the domain registry operator
- OrbitFour Service Fee - Charged by OrbitFour for processing the redemption
- Standard Renewal Fee - Standard one-year renewal cost (must also be paid)
Current Redemption Fees
Fees Subject to Change
Registry operators may change redemption fees at any time. OrbitFour will provide notice of fee changes. The fees below are current as of the last updated date shown at the bottom of this page.
Generic TLDs (.com, .net, .org, etc.)
| Fee Component | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registry Redemption Fee | $80.00 | Set by Verisign and other registry operators |
| OrbitFour Service Fee | $40.00 | Processing and administrative costs |
| Standard Renewal (1 year) | $14.99 | Varies by TLD - see pricing page |
| Total Redemption Cost | $134.99 | For typical .com domain |
Compare to Standard Renewal: $14.99
Redemption costs 9 times more than simply renewing before expiration!
Premium and New TLDs
Redemption fees for premium domains and newer TLDs may vary significantly:
- Premium Domains - May have higher redemption fees set by the registry
- New gTLDs (.app, .dev, .tech, etc.) - Redemption fees vary by registry operator
- ccTLDs (Country-code TLDs) - Some may not offer redemption at all
For specific redemption pricing for your domain, please contact our support team at [email protected] before the domain enters redemption.
Redemption Process
How to Redeem an Expired Domain
-
Contact Support Immediately
Email [email protected] with your domain name and account information. Time is critical - you only have 30 days in redemption before permanent deletion. -
Confirm Redemption Fees
We will provide the exact redemption cost for your specific domain and TLD. -
Make Payment
Pay the total redemption cost (redemption fees + renewal fee) via your account or as instructed by support. -
Redemption Request Submitted
OrbitFour submits the redemption request to the registry operator. This typically processes within 24-48 hours. -
Domain Restored
Once the registry approves redemption, your domain is restored to active status with a 1-year renewal. DNS and all services resume.
Processing Time
Redemption processing typically takes 24-48 hours but can take up to 5 business days depending on the registry operator. During this time, your domain remains non-functional.
What Redemption Includes
When you pay for domain redemption, you receive:
- Domain restoration to active status
- 1-year renewal from the date of redemption
- Restoration of all domain settings (nameservers, contacts, etc.)
- Resumption of DNS services (your website and email work again)
What Redemption Does NOT Include
- Recovery of lost data - Any data hosted on your domain during downtime
- Lost business or revenue - OrbitFour is not liable for downtime costs
- Guaranteed availability - Registry operators may refuse redemption in rare cases
- Additional renewal years - Only includes 1 year; additional years charged separately
How to Avoid Redemption Fees
✓ Best Practices
- Enable auto-renewal for all domains
- Keep payment methods current
- Monitor renewal reminder emails
- Renew 30+ days before expiration
- Set calendar reminders for expiration dates
- Consider multi-year registrations
✗ What Not To Do
- Wait until the last day to renew
- Ignore renewal reminder emails
- Use expired credit cards
- Assume domains will auto-renew without setup
- Let domains expire to "save money"
- Forget to check email for renewals
Enable Auto-Renewal Now
The easiest way to avoid redemption fees is to enable auto-renewal for your domains. You can manage auto-renewal settings in your domain dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Redemption fees are non-refundable. Once redemption is processed and paid, the fees cannot be refunded even if you later decide you don't want the domain. Make sure you want to keep the domain before paying for redemption.
Redemption fees are set by registry operators (not OrbitFour) and are intentionally high to discourage domain expiration. The high fees encourage registrants to renew domains on time rather than letting them expire. Registry operators also incur costs to process redemptions.
No. Redemption fees are non-negotiable. Registry fees are set by the registry operator and cannot be waived or reduced. OrbitFour's service fee covers our actual costs to process redemptions and cannot be waived.
If you don't redeem your domain during the 30-day redemption period, it will enter "pending delete" status (approximately days 60-75 after expiration). Once in pending delete, the domain cannot be recovered and will be permanently deleted and released for public registration. You may lose your domain forever.
No. Domains in redemption status cannot be transferred to another registrar. You must first redeem the domain with OrbitFour to restore it to active status, then wait 60 days before initiating a transfer.
No. Domains in redemption are completely non-functional. Your website will be down, email will not work, and DNS will not resolve. Services are only restored after successful redemption processing is complete.
Related Resources
- Domain Lifecycle Policy - Complete timeline from registration to deletion
- Domain Registration Agreement - Full terms and conditions
- Manage Your Domains - Enable auto-renewal and check expiration dates
- Domain Pricing - Standard renewal prices for all TLDs
Need Help with Redemption?
If your domain has expired and entered redemption, contact our support team immediately at [email protected]. Time is critical - the sooner you act, the sooner we can restore your domain.