Atom.com Domain Auction Terms & Conditions

Published Jun 18, 2026 · Updated Aug 23, 2026

Overview

Welcome to the Atom.com Domain Auction Platform. By participating in an auction, you agree to follow the terms outlined below, along with Atom.com’s general Platform Terms & Conditions.

These terms apply to all users, including both buyers (bidders) and sellers, and govern participation in auctions on the platform.

Definitions

Auction: A timed event (5-7 days) where a domain is offered for sale to the highest bidder or through a price-drop system
Forward Auction: A traditional auction where bids increase from a starting price
Reserve Price: The minimum price at which a seller is willing to sell
Bid: A monetary offer placed in an auction
Bidder: A user who places a bid
Seller: The domain owner listing the domain for auction
Proxy Bid: An automated bid that increases incrementally on your behalf up to your maximum limit

Eligibility and Approval

To participate in auctions, users must:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a verified Atom account in good standing
Be approved by Atom (approval is at Atom’s discretion)

Domains submitted to auctions must also meet the following requirements:

The domain must be seller-owned and verified
The domain’s nameservers must remain pointed to Atom while it is listed in an auction and until the sale is completed
Any change to the domain’s nameservers will automatically remove the domain from the auction

Additional requirements may include:

Providing an advance deposit before bidding
Completing identity verification through a third-party service

Auction Types and Process

Auction Types

Forward Auction

Bidding increases from a starting price
The domain remains unsold if the reserve price is not met

Bidding Rules

Placing a Bid

Bids must meet the minimum increment to be valid
Bids placed in the final 10 minutes extend the auction by 60 minutes
All bids are binding and cannot be withdrawn
Atom may remove or disqualify bids that violate platform policies

Important Note: Before placing a bid, bidders will be informed of applicable renewal fees for the domain if they win. The renewal fee includes a full one-year renewal at the time of purchase, helping to avoid near-term renewals. By placing a bid, you agree to pay these renewal fees if you win the auction. Winning bidders are required to complete payment; refusal to pay violates Atom.com’s terms and may result in penalties or suspension. Payment must be completed within 72 hours of auction close.

Proxy Bidding

Proxy bidding automatically increases your bid up to your set maximum
It follows minimum bid increments and reserve price rules
If your max bid meets or exceeds the reserve price:
- The bid will automatically increase to the reserve price
If your max bid is below the reserve price:
- The bid will increase to your maximum amount

Prohibited Activity (Shill Bidding)

Creating multiple accounts or colluding to inflate prices is strictly prohibited
Violations may result in:
- Permanent account suspension
- Legal action

Atom monitors bidding activity and may take action without prior notice if violations are suspected.

Seller Bidding on Their Own Domains

For Atom-registered domains, sellers may bid on their own domains
If the seller wins:
- Ownership is transferred to them
- They may still receive commission based on eligibility

Domain Transfer Process

Atom-Processed Domains

Domains with supported TLDs are processed through Atom
Transfer is handled automatically and added to the buyer’s Atom account

View supported TLDs: https://www.atom.com/tlds-pricing

Seller Responsibilities

Abide by the auction marketplace terms & conditions
Provide a valid auth code promptly after payment is confirmed
Ensure the domain is ready for transfer
Domain Auctions cannot be cancelled after you agree to terms & conditions
Domains cannot be listed in external auction marketplaces at the same time
Domains must be seller-owned, verified domains and have their nameserves pointed to Atom.com.

Buyer Ownership

Once transferred, buyers can:

Keep the domain in Atom, or
Transfer it to another registrar

Buyers will be notified when the transfer is complete.

Unsupported TLDs

For unsupported TLDs:

Domains are not transferred into Atom
No renewal fees apply

Transfer options include:

Push method: Seller transfers directly to buyer’s registrar account
Auth code method: Buyer initiates transfer using provided auth code
After completion, the buyer must click “Transfer Complete” to finalize the transaction

Transfer Timeline

Transfers begin once the auth code is provided or the transfer is initiated
Typical timeframe: 5–7 days
Progress can be tracked in the Transfer Manager

Failure to complete a transfer may result in penalties or suspension.

Fees, Commissions, and Refunds

Auction Fees

There are no listing fees for auctions

Domain Renewal Fee

Review fees before bidding: All applicable fees, including any renewal fee, will be clearly displayed before you confirm your bid.
Winning auction domains: Winning domains are transferred to AtomRegistrar, and any applicable renewal fee will be included in the total winning bid amount.
Domains already registered with AtomRegistrar: No renewal fee will be charged for domains that are already registered with AtomRegistrar.

Commissions

Atom charges a 10% commission on the final sale price (minimum $3)
For Atom-registered domains:
- Sellers receive commission based on their existing commission rate.
- For example, if a seller is eligible for a 25% commission and the auction closes at $100, the seller will receive $25, and the domain ownership will be transferred to the auction winner.

Refunds

All sales are final
Refunds are only issued in the event the seller is unable to transfer the domain to the auction winner (which is against our Auction Terms).

Auction Termination

Termination Rights

Atom may cancel or terminate an auction at its discretion, including in cases of:

Suspected fraud
Policy violations
Technical issues
The domain being sold through the retail marketplace
Atom.com reserves the right to cancel or terminate any auction at its discretion, especially in cases of suspected fraud, technical malfunctions, or violations of these terms or Atom.com’s Platform Terms & Conditions.
Additionally, Atom.com may cancel an auction if the domain being auctioned is sold to a retail buyer through the retail marketplace