Introduction
In 2025, prices for .COM domains experienced a significant increase at the wholesale level, a change driven by Verisign, the company in charge of managing these domains. This adjustment, which has a direct impact on registrars and ultimately consumers, has generated a lot of interest about the possible implications for 2026. In this blog, we will explore the history behind the .COM price increases, Verisign's reasons for implementing these increases and what we can expect in the coming years.
Who is Verisign and what is its role in .COM domains?
Verisign is a global company that plays a key role in the Internet infrastructure, especially in the management of .COM domains. As a wholesale registry, Verisign does not sell domains directly to the public, but provides these domains to registrars who, in turn, sell them to end consumers.
The .COM domain is one of the most popular and widely used domains on the web, with millions of registrations worldwide. Verisign has exclusivity in the management of this domain, which means that any change in their wholesale pricing has a direct impact on the prices consumers pay for their .COM domain.
.COM wholesale price increase in 2025 v
In 2025, Verisign implemented an increase in the wholesale price of .COM domains. This adjustment generated great concern among registrars and end users, as it affected the cost of renewing and registering domains. The price increases were part of an agreement between Verisign and the U.S. Department of Commerce, which allowed the company to increase prices for .COM domains by a certain percentage each year.
Why did prices increase?
The increase was justified for several reasons, primarily related to Verisign's need to maintain and improve the infrastructure of its domain system. In addition, Verisign noted that these increases were necessary to remain competitive in a global marketplace that is constantly evolving, with new domains and new technologies continually emerging.
What can we expect in 2026?
With prices increasing in 2025, the question is: What does the future hold for 2026? While Verisign has had the ability to increase prices annually under its agreement with the Department of Commerce, it is expected that the price of .COM domains will continue to rise in the coming years. This is due to the structure of their agreement, which allows for periodic increases.
Some of the factors that could influence future increases include:
- Demand for .COM domains: Although there are other TLDs available, .COM remains the most popular and widely used domain. As more individuals and businesses seek to establish an online presence, the demand for .COM domains could continue to increase, justifying further price increases.
- Operating costs: Maintaining a reliable and secure domain registration infrastructure requires ongoing investment. Verisign may need to increase prices to cover its operating costs and continue to improve its services.
- Competition from new TLDs: With the increased availability of new TLDs (such as .io, .tech, .online), .COM prices may remain high due to its brand recognition and market value. However, competition could moderate some of the increases if consumers choose alternative TLDs because of their lower cost.
Impact for registrars and consumers
The .COM wholesale price increases primarily affect registrars, who are responsible for reselling the domains to end consumers. These price increases may lead registrars to adjust their fees, which could be reflected in the cost consumers pay to register or renew their .COM domains.
For end consumers, this could mean an increase in the cost of maintaining their online presence. While some users may opt to switch to cheaper TLDs, many will continue to prefer .COM due to its familiarity and prestige.
Tips for adapting to price increases:
- Register for a longer period of time: If the price goes up, one option is to register your .COM domain for several years to ensure a fixed rate for a longer period of time.
- Search for discounts and offers: Some registrars offer long-term discounts or promotions to offset price increases.
- Explore other TLDs: If the price of .COM continues to rise, you might consider cheaper alternatives, such as .co, .io, or .net.
Conclusion
Verisign's increase in wholesale prices for .COM domains is a reminder of how changes to the Internet infrastructure can affect consumers and businesses. While these increases are unavoidable under the current agreement, there are alternatives and strategies that users can adopt to minimize the impact on their budgets.
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