The evolution of .COM domain prices: History, current events and future prospects

• .COM Domain Price History (2021-2024)

In recent years, .COM domain prices have steadily increased, mainly due to decisions by Verisign, the registry that manages .COM domains. After a long period of stability, the wholesale price of a .COM domain, which had been frozen at $7.85 since 2012, began to increase starting in 2021.

September 2021 Price increased from $7.85 to $8.39.

September 2022 New increase to $8.97.

September 2023 A further increase to $9.59.

September 2024 The price will rise to $10.26.

These increases were the result of an agreement between Verisign and ICANN, which allowed Verisign to increase the price by up to 7% annually for four consecutive years, from 2021 to 2024. This cycle of increases reflects inflation and Verisign's business strategies to keep revenues high, despite a slight decrease in the number of registered domains.

Future implications and the market after September 2024.

From September 2024, the wholesale price of $10.26 will remain stable for at least a couple of years, barring government intervention or new negotiations. However, Verisign could be authorized for further increases from 2027 to 2030, with annual increases similar to those seen from 2021.

For customers, this means that the cost of maintaining .COM domains will continue to grow over time, making it crucial to lock in prices with multi-year renewals where possible to avoid higher costs in the future.

In fact, in recent weeks, many Italian providers have communicated price increases starting from September 2024, the average price is in fact around 12 euros + VAT/year for registrations and renewals, net of specific and temporary promotions.

Host.it will not increase prices.

Despite the .COM domain price increases imposed by Verisign starting in September 2024, Host.it is committed to keeping its renewal price unchanged at €10 + VAT throughout 2024. This decision reflects our commitment to providing value and stability to our customers, at a time when many other providers are increasing their prices. While other registrars may follow the trend of wholesale costs, Host.it stands out for its transparency and willingness to support its customers by offering competitive rates, without surprises.