Can You Buy a Domain Name Forever?

A domain name not only serves as your website’s identity but also defines your online presence to your audience. It is, but natural, that you would want to retain this asset for as long as possible. But if your domain name is catchy, memorable, and popular, it may attract interest from other entities. This is why buying a domain name forever can be a challenge.

Is it Possible to Buy a Domain Name Forever?

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, governs and regulates domain name ownership on the web. This regulatory body ensures that domain registration operates on a lease system rather than ownership. By doing this, ICANN prevents site owners from hoarding and controlling too many domain names at the same time.

Forever ownership leads to outdated information. So, regular renewals keep domain records relevant and accurate. The system is specifically designed to make sure that domain owners actually use their domains actively instead of keeping them dormant and inaccessible to anybody else online.

For this reason, buying a domain name forever is not quite possible.

How Long Can You Have a Domain Name?

Domain names are leased, which means they cannot be owned permanently. But if you want to hold onto one for a long period of time (a maximum of 10 years), you will have to know how to manage the registration and renewal process of domains. Learning how domain ownership works can help maintain control of your domain as long as you need it.

Domain Ownership is Like Renting

Owning a domain is similar to renting an apartment. As long as you keep making your payments on time, your ownership continues. But when you stop, it is open for others to register. Likewise, your registrar renews the agreement and prolongs your possession of the domain name.

Under ICANN regulations, you can register a domain name for anywhere from 1 to 10 years at a time. Many domain registrars also offer auto-renewal options to help ensure the name remains registered, safe, and active.

Cost

The price of buying and renewing a domain name varies based on the extension (like .com, .in, or .net) and the registrar’s pricing structure. Generally, a 10-year registration ranges anywhere between $100 and $200. However, the cost may increase for premium domains.

Read more: How Much Does a Domain Name Cost

Renewal Matters

If the lease period of your domain name expires, it becomes available for registration. Anyone—including your competitors— can claim it and take ownership.

In a unique case, Google almost lost its domain due to a technical lapse. Thanks to its former employee, who, in the nick of time, managed to purchase it using Google’s own domain registration service. The company quickly spotted the issue, cancelled the transaction, and reclaimed the domain. They also rewarded the ex-employee with $6,000 for discovering the glitch. But when he mentioned his intent to donate the amount to charity, Google doubled the amount to $12,000. This incident was widely publicized and acted as a wake-up call to established companies regarding their domain names, renewals, security, and technical glitches.

To avoid losing your domain name, you can opt for automatic renewal options, choose longer registration periods, or set calendar reminders for renewal dates.

How to Register a Domain Name for As Long As Possible?

While buying a domain name forever may not be possible, there are a few ways that you can keep it for longer periods. Organizations like Google, Forbes, and Microsoft maintain domain control for decades using smart tactics.

Register for the Maximum Period

Many registrars allow you to register a domain name for 1 to 10 years. While you cannot go beyond that in a single transaction, you can continually renew your domain each year and add any number of years to maintain a rolling 10-year registration period.

Opting for long-term registration somehow limits the risk of missing auto-renewals and renewal dates or defaulting on payments.

Enable Auto-Renewal

Auto-renewal is a safeguard feature. When enabled, your domain provider will automatically charge your connected payment method and renew your domain name before it expires. As the process is automated, it instantly reduces the possibility of missed renewal deadlines and payment failures.

Though rare, it’s possible for the bank to reject the payment, or for the auto-renewal feature to malfunction. To avoid these issues, opting for a long-term registration and extending your registration agreement for multiple years can help mitigate potential problems.

Use Expiration Protection

Some domain registrars offer additional expiration protection plans that involve:

• Extension of the grace period for renewal
• Sending multiple renewal reminder emails
• Providing a range of tools (protection from domain theft) to help you secure your ownership

Are there Risks to Buying Domain Names for the Long Term?

Long-term domain ownership offers stability, but it comes with certain drawbacks.

Rising Demand for Your Domain Name

The longer a domain name exists—especially with strong SEO value and brand recognition—the more appealing it becomes to others. This is an unavoidable risk that even the largest companies face. As seen with the Google incident, losing a domain even for a short period can lead to significant brand damage and financial loss. Reclaiming domain names often involves hefty compensations and strong legal support.

Increasing Maintenance Costs

Owning and constantly renewing your domain ownership leads to steep expenses, especially when there are multiple domains and premium extensions involved. Renewal fees, privacy protection, security tools, and domain registrar services can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars over time. So, to lower the maintenance costs, set a budget for multi-year renewals to lock in lower rates, and plan your finances accordingly to eliminate paying for unused assets.

FAQs

Why can’t you buy a domain name permanently?

As per ICANN regulations, domain names are leased and not sold for permanent ownership. This prevents the possibility of monopoly and ensures the system remains fair and accessible to all.

Can you get a free domain name forever?

Permanent ownership of a domain name is not feasible. While some registrars may provide free domain options for a period under a package deal, maintaining them long-term does come with renewal fees.

How long can a domain name last?

Typically, a domain name can be registered for up to 10 years at a time. If required, you can continue to renew it before its expiration date.

Is it safer to renew a domain annually instead of long-term?

Long-term renewal prevents the possibility of other entities exploiting expiration periods, which can lead you to lose your domain. It also provides protection against issues like payment failures or forgetting to renew the lease. Plus, long-term renewals may cost significantly less than annual renewals.