Dan.com has disrupted the domain marketplace with its 9% seller commission (lowest major platform), instant transfers, and buyer-friendly payment plans. Since its 2020 launch, it's become the go-to platform for sellers who want maximum profit and buyers who want flexible payment options.
Why Dan.com Stands Out
Instant Transfers
Domains transfer to buyers within hours, not days. Integrated with major registrars for seamless handoffs.
Payment Plans
Buyers can pay in up to 12 monthly installments. Domain held by Dan until fully paid.
Lowest Fees
9% seller commission (free tier) vs. 15-20% on competitors. More profit in your pocket.
Modern UX
Clean, mobile-friendly interface. Easy setup for sellers, smooth checkout for buyers.
Dan.com Fee Structure
| Plan | Commission | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 9% | Basic listings, payment plans, instant transfer |
| Starter ($5/mo) | 5% | + Landing pages, analytics |
| Pro ($15/mo) | 2% | + Custom branding, priority support |
| Business ($50/mo) | 0% | + White-label, API access |
Fee Comparison
On a $10,000 sale: Dan.com (Free) = $900 fee. GoDaddy = $2,000 fee. Sedo = $1,500 fee. Dan saves you $600-1,100 per sale!
Selling on Dan.com
Listing Setup
- Connect your domain via DNS or registrar integration
- Set Buy Now price and/or enable Make Offer
- Enable payment plans (increases buyer pool)
- Customize your landing page (paid plans)
Payment Plan Options
Dan holds the domain until buyers complete all payments. Options include:
- 2-12 monthly installments
- Minimum down payment: 10-25%
- Interest-free for buyers
- Seller receives payments as collected (minus fee)
Buying on Dan.com
- Search or browse domains by category
- Pay full price or choose payment plan
- Receive domain instantly (full payment) or upon completion
- Built-in escrow—no external service needed
Dan.com vs. Competitors
| Feature | Dan.com | Sedo | Afternic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seller Fee (Basic) | 9% | 15% | 20% |
| Payment Plans | Yes (built-in) | No | No |
| Instant Transfer | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes | No |
| Best For | Maximum profit | International | Fast transfers |
Dan.com Landing Pages: A Deep Dive
Dan.com's landing pages are one of its most underutilized features. When a buyer types your domain into their browser, they land on a professional "For Sale" page hosted by Dan. On the free plan, this is a generic Dan-branded page. On paid plans, you unlock customization that can significantly increase conversion rates.
What Good Dan Landers Include
- Domain name in large, clear typography — buyers need to immediately confirm they're on the right page.
- Buy Now price prominently displayed — don't hide the price. Buyers who see no price assume it's unaffordable and leave.
- Payment plan option highlighted — "As low as $XXX/month" dramatically increases buyer pool for domains above $5,000.
- Trust indicators — "Secure Escrow", "Instant Transfer", Dan's SSL badge. These reduce purchase anxiety.
- Make Offer option — even with a BIN price, a Make Offer fallback captures buyers who would otherwise leave without engaging.
Conversion Rate Data
Domain investor community data consistently shows Dan.com landers convert at 2–4% of unique visitors — meaning for every 100 people who type in your domain, 2–4 complete a purchase or inquiry. This is substantially higher than competing platforms, attributed to Dan's clean, distraction-free design and fast checkout process.
Dan.com vs Afternic: Which Should You Use?
This is the most common question domain sellers face. The honest answer is: use both. But when you must prioritize, here's the decision framework:
Choose Dan.com when:
- Your domain is a brandable (invented word, short, distinctive)
- You want to maximize net proceeds — Dan's 9% is the lowest major platform rate
- Your buyer profile is a startup founder or small business (not a domain investor)
- You need payment plan support to expand your buyer pool
- You have a domain priced $2,000–$25,000 (sweet spot for Dan's payment plan buyers)
Choose Afternic when:
- Your domain is a keyword domain or exact-match that people actively search for
- You want maximum passive exposure without driving traffic to a lander
- Your domain is at GoDaddy or a Network-enabled registrar (enables fast transfer)
- You're selling domains priced under $2,000 or over $50,000
- You don't have time to manage lander pages and buyer inquiries actively
Setting Up Dan.com: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Create Your Account
Go to Dan.com and register with a business email. Use your company email, not personal — Dan processes significant financial transactions and you want a professional footprint. Enable 2FA immediately after account creation.
Step 2: Verify Your Identity
Dan requires identity verification before you can receive payouts. This is a KYC (Know Your Customer) process standard for financial services. Have your government ID and proof of address ready. Verification typically takes 1–3 business days.
Step 3: Add Your Domain
Two methods: (1) DNS method — add a Dan-specific TXT record to prove ownership; (2) Direct integration — if your domain is at a Dan-integrated registrar, you can connect it directly without DNS changes. The direct integration method enables instant transfer on sale.
Step 4: Set Your Pricing Strategy
Research comparable domain sales on NameBio.com before setting prices. Common mistakes: pricing too high (domain sits forever) or too low (leaving money on the table). Dan's Make Offer feature is valuable for premium domains where you're unsure of market price — you get buyer interest and can gauge demand before committing to a BIN price.
Step 5: Enable Payment Plans
For any domain priced above $2,000, enable payment plans. Set the minimum down payment at 20% minimum. Dan's default settings are generally sensible — don't overthink the configuration. Enable payment plans and let Dan's system handle the rest.
Real Domain Sales on Dan.com: Case Studies
Case Study 1: $8,500 Brandable Sale with Payment Plan
A domain investor listed a 7-letter invented-word .com at $8,500 BIN with payment plans enabled ($850 down, $250/month for 30 months). The buyer — a startup founder — couldn't afford $8,500 upfront but completed all payments over 30 months. Total proceeds: $8,500 minus 9% = $7,735. Without payment plans, this sale would not have happened.
Case Study 2: Same-Day Sale via BIN
A 2-word tech domain listed at $3,200 BIN sold within 6 hours of listing. The buyer later revealed they were launching a product the next day and needed the domain immediately. Dan's instant transfer system completed the handover within 2 hours of payment. Afternic's 5–7 day standard transfer would have missed the buyer's deadline.
FAQ
Is Dan.com safe to use?
Yes. Dan.com has processed millions in transactions with built-in escrow. They hold funds securely until transfers complete. Owned by GoDaddy since 2022, Dan operates under GoDaddy's financial controls and compliance framework.
Can I list domains from any registrar?
Yes. You can connect domains via DNS TXT record regardless of registrar. Some registrars have direct integrations (Namecheap, Porkbun, Dynadot) that enable faster setup and instant transfers without auth code delays.
What happens if a buyer defaults on payment plan?
If a buyer misses payments after Dan's grace period, the transaction is cancelled. The domain stays with you (Dan never transferred it during an ongoing payment plan), and you keep all installments received to that point. Dan handles the communication and cancellation process automatically.
How long does Dan.com take to pay sellers?
After the domain transfer is confirmed by the buyer, Dan releases funds within 5–7 business days. For payment plan domains, each installment is released to the seller within 5 business days of receipt. Payment methods: bank transfer (wire), PayPal, and in some regions, local payment methods.
Should I list on Dan.com and Afternic simultaneously?
Yes — there's no exclusivity requirement. Most experienced domain sellers list on both platforms. If a sale happens on one platform, immediately remove the domain from all others. Use a portfolio management spreadsheet to track listing status across platforms.