What Is a Premium Domain?

You may have noticed that some unregistered domains are priced at a higher rate than what's listed on our Domains page. These higher-priced domains are known as premium domains (or “registry premium” domains). Registry premium domains are displayed in the search results with the phrase “premium registration” shown underneath the price.

What Are Premium Domains vs General Availability?

The vast majority of domains are considered non-premium (sometimes called "GA" or General Availability), so the price listed on our Porkbun Domain Pricing page is what you can expect to pay at checkout. 

However, most registries (the companies that own a domain extension) maintain a list of high-value keywords they’ve classified as premium terms. This means that when you register, transfer, or renew a domain containing one of those terms, the registry charges us a higher-than-usual cost that we must pass on to you. These make up premium domains and are often highly-competitive for branding, SEO, and other purposes.

Note: Keep in mind that domain registration prices are subject to change at any time and may be part of a special first-year sale. See our guide for how to check domain renewal prices for continuing ownership of your domain.

What Terms are Considered Premium?

Premium domain terms vary by registry. Common first and last names, short words, and short numbers are more likely to be flagged as premium by a registry. Combinations of first and last names, less-common words, word combinations, and larger numbers more frequently fall under non-premium, or GA.

For example, the domain names “smith.example” and “jessica.example” may both be considered premium, whereas “jessicasmith.example” would probably be non-premium. Additionally, “30.example” might be flagged as premium, whereas “30001.example” likely would not as it’s a less commonly-used number.

How Much Do Premium Domains Cost?

Depending on the perceived value of a given term, a registry may charge more or less. You may end up paying anywhere from a few extra bucks per year to thousands of dollars for certain desirable domain names. This is at the discretion of the registry.

Please note that some premium domains have a high initial price but renew at a low, non-premium ("GA") price, while others renew at a higher price on an ongoing basis. Be sure to check the projected renewal price (displayed at checkout) before you register a premium domain name.