First-year price or renewal price? 7 things to check before you buy a domain
The first-year price doesn't decide what a domain costs you. Renewal pricing, tax, auto-renewal and how easy it is to leave do. A 7-point checklist and a simple way to compare the real 3-year cost.
Ensar Günel· updated · 4 min read
Contents
You buy a domain once, but you renew it every year. So the number that matters isn't the first-year price; it's what you pay over the years that follow.
A common pricing model is a very low first year that wins the sale, followed by a renewal at full list price. That's legitimate, but it makes it easy to compare the wrong numbers. These seven checks help you see the real cost before you pay.
1. Where is the renewal price shown?
This is the first question. The renewal price should be visible in search results, in the cart, or at least in the price list. If you see a "promo price" with no renewal price next to it, ask.
At Piyodo the renewal price sits right under the first-year price in every search result, and the price list shows both columns for every extension.
2. Compare the 3-year total
You'll probably keep the domain for years, so compare three years, not one:
3-year cost = first-year price + 2 × renewal price
An example (the numbers are purely illustrative): a domain at 3 for the first year and 18 per year to renew costs 39 over three years. One at 13.50 every year costs 40.50. The deal that looks more than four times cheaper ends up costing almost the same after three years, and more from year four on.
To run the numbers for your own domain, the savings calculator compares your current renewal price with ours.
3. Is tax included?
Many registrars show prices before tax and add VAT or sales tax at checkout. If one of the prices you're comparing includes tax and the other doesn't, the gap is bigger than it looks. Look for "incl. VAT" or "+ tax" next to the price.
4. Which currency is the cost based on?
The wholesale cost of extensions such as .com, .net and .io is set in US dollars. If you pay in another currency, your renewal price can move with the exchange rate even when the registrar's dollar price doesn't. Knowing this helps you budget for next year.
5. Is auto-renewal on by default?
Auto-renewal protects you from losing a domain by accident, which is useful. But if it's on by default and charges your card without notice, you can end up paying for a domain you no longer use.
Ask:
- Is auto-renewal on or off by default?
- Do you get a reminder, with the amount, before the charge?
- Can you turn it off in the panel, or do you need a support ticket?
6. Are Whois privacy and DNS extra?
Whois privacy hides your name, phone number and address from public records. DNS management and forwarding are basic tools for using a domain at all. Some registrars sell these as add-ons, so include them in the yearly total.
7. What happens when you want to leave?
You might be happy today and want to switch in three years. Check:
- Can you get the EPP code from the panel in one click?
- Is there a fee or an extra condition to transfer out?
- Can you remove the registrar lock yourself?
Feeling stuck with a registrar that makes leaving hard takes away your leverage when renewal prices go up. Our domain transfer guide walks through the process.
Quick checklist
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the renewal price shown? | Renewal is the real cost |
| What's the 3-year total? | Shows what the promo is worth |
| Is tax included? | Can change the comparison |
| Which currency? | Renewal moves with the exchange rate |
| Auto-renewal default? | Risk of unexpected charges |
| Privacy and DNS extra? | Hidden yearly cost |
| Easy to transfer out? | Your future leverage |
Summary
Instead of "cheapest first year", ask for "lowest 3-year total" and "easiest exit". Those two questions settle most of a price comparison on their own.
Search for a name and see its renewal price at the same time in domain search.
Have a name in mind?
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