A transfer moves a domain you still own from one registrar to another — you keep ownership the whole time and it costs about one year’s registration. Redemption recovers a domain that already expired and entered the redemption grace period — ownership is at risk and you pay a punitive restore fee (often ~$80–$200+) on top of renewal. A name in redemption cannot be transferred: restore it first, then transfer once the locks clear.
The confusion is understandable. Both happen at a registrar, both involve a fee, and both end with you in control of the domain. But they answer two very different questions. A transfer answers “how do I move my domain to a different company?” Redemption answers “my domain expired — how do I get it back before it’s gone for good?” Mixing them up can cost you a name. This guide lays the two side by side; for the full step-by-step on moving a domain, see how to transfer a domain.
What is a domain transfer?
A transfer is the voluntary move of a domain you still own from one registrar to another — for example, leaving an expensive registrar for a cheaper one, or consolidating all your names in one place. You never stop owning the domain; only the company managing it changes.
Because transfers can be abused to hijack names, ICANN wraps them in rules. To move a typical gTLD you need to clear a short checklist:
- Age & lock windows. The domain must be more than 60 days old at the current registrar, and not within 60 days of a prior transfer (the ICANN 60-day locks).
- Unlock the domain and disable WHOIS privacy if your registrar requires it.
- Get the EPP / auth code — the transfer authorization code (also called the AuthInfo code) from your current registrar.
- Initiate at the new registrar and approve the confirmation email.
A transfer adds one year to the registration and typically completes in up to about five days. Crucially, you initiate it at the gaining registrar — the new one you are moving to.
The transfer authorization code (AuthInfo code) issued by your current registrar. It proves you control the domain and must be supplied to the gaining registrar to authorize a transfer between registrars.
What is domain redemption?
Redemption is the rescue of a name that already expired. After a domain lapses it enters a post-expiry grace period, and if it still isn’t renewed it falls into the redemption grace period (RGP) — a registry-mandated stage of roughly 30 days during which the original owner can still recover it, but only by paying a steep penalty.
To redeem, you contact your current registrar — the losing registrar that still holds the lapsed name — and pay a redemption / restore fee (often around $80–$200+) on top of the normal renewal price. That fee is the registry’s deliberate punishment for letting the name slide into redemption. Pay it in time and the registrar asks the registry to restore the domain to you, before it reaches pending delete and drops. For the wider picture, see what to do when a domain expires.
You cannot transfer a domain in redemption
A name in the redemption grace period is locked at the registry — you can’t move it. If your goal is both to recover it and switch registrars, you must restore it first with your current registrar, wait for the 60-day post-restore transfer lock to clear, and only then initiate the transfer.
Transfer vs redemption: side by side
The fastest way to keep them straight is to compare the two processes directly:
| Transfer | Redemption | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Voluntary move to a new registrar | Rescue of a lapsed, expired name |
| Ownership | You keep it the whole time | At risk — the name has expired |
| Where you act | The gaining (new) registrar | The losing (current) registrar |
| Typical cost | ≈ one year’s registration | Punitive restore fee (~$80–$200+) plus renewal |
| Key requirement | EPP/auth code; 60-day locks cleared | Act within the ~30-day redemption window |
| Effect on term | Adds 1 year to registration | Restores the prior registration |
One sentence to remember
You transfer at the gaining registrar a domain you still own; you redeem at the losing registrar a domain you let expire. If a name is in redemption, restore it before any transfer is even possible.
Which process do you actually need?
Decide by asking one question: did the domain expire?
- It’s active and you just want to switch companies → you need a transfer. Follow how to transfer a domain.
- It expired and you want your own name back → you need redemption. Contact your current registrar and pay the restore fee before the redemption window closes.
- It already dropped (past pending delete) → redemption is no longer possible; you would have to try to buy it back as an expired domain.
Knowing which registrar plays which role helps too — if you’re fuzzy on the difference between the company you buy from and the body that runs the extension, see registry vs registrar.
★ Key takeaways
- Transfer = move a domain you still own to a new registrar; ownership stays intact, cost ≈ one year’s registration.
- Redemption = rescue a name that expired into the ~30-day redemption grace period, for a punitive restore fee.
- You transfer at the gaining registrar but redeem at the losing (current) registrar.
- A domain in redemption can’t be transferred — restore it first, clear the locks, then transfer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a domain transfer and redemption?
A transfer moves a domain you still own from one registrar to another; you keep ownership the whole time and it costs about one year’s registration. Redemption recovers a domain that already expired and entered the redemption grace period; ownership is at risk and you pay a punitive restore fee on top of renewal. One is a voluntary move, the other a rescue.
Can you transfer a domain that is in the redemption period?
No. A domain in the redemption grace period cannot be transferred. You must first contact your current registrar and pay the redemption or restore fee to pull the name back from the registry. Only after it is restored and the usual transfer locks have cleared can you move it to another registrar.
How much does it cost to redeem an expired domain?
Redemption is deliberately expensive. The restore fee is often around $80 to $200 or more, charged on top of the normal renewal price. That punitive fee is the registry’s penalty for letting the name lapse into the redemption grace period, and it is far higher than the cost of a routine transfer.
Where do I go to transfer versus to redeem a domain?
You initiate a transfer at the gaining registrar — the new one you are moving to — using the EPP or auth code from your old registrar. You initiate a redemption at the losing registrar — the current one that still holds the lapsed name — because only it can ask the registry to restore the domain.
What do I need to transfer a domain to a new registrar?
The domain must be more than 60 days old at the current registrar and not within 60 days of a previous transfer. You unlock the domain, disable WHOIS privacy if required, get the EPP/auth code, initiate the transfer at the new registrar, and approve the confirmation email. The transfer adds one year to the registration and usually completes within about five days.
How long do I have to redeem an expired domain?
The redemption grace period lasts roughly 30 days and follows the post-expiry grace period. After it ends, the domain enters pending delete for exactly 5 days and then drops, becoming available for anyone to register. Once a name has dropped you can no longer redeem it; you would have to try to buy it back on the aftermarket.