Drop catching is trying to register a domain name the instant the registry deletes it and makes it available again.
Drop catching is the race to register a domain the moment it becomes available after its previous owner let it lapse. When a domain finally drops, it's released on a first come, first served basis. Specialist services send huge numbers of registration requests at exactly that moment, hoping theirs is the one the registry accepts.
For example, if a short, memorable .com expires and its owner never renews it, it may be caught within a second of deletion and then offered for sale or auction. That's why you rarely see good names appear for normal registration once they've expired.
How drop catching works
A domain doesn't disappear the day it expires. For a typical generic extension like .com, it passes through stages:
- Grace period: the owner can still renew at the normal price.
- Redemption period: usually 30 days, when the owner can recover it for a higher fee.
- Pending delete: about five days when nobody can renew or register it.
- Drop: the registry deletes the name and it can be registered again.
Drop catching services watch for names entering pending delete, then compete at the moment of release. Many work with several registrars to send more requests at once. If more than one person has ordered the same name, the service often runs an auction.
Drop catching vs backorders
A backorder is how you, as a buyer, ask a service to try to catch a domain for you. Drop catching is the technical process behind it. A backorder doesn't guarantee success. If several services are chasing the same name, only one can win, and the original owner can still renew it before it drops.
Why drop catching matters to domain owners
If you rely on a domain, drop catching is a reason never to let it lapse. Someone else can catch it, put up their own content or ask you for a large sum to buy it back. Expired domains with existing traffic and backlinks are especially attractive.
To protect your names:
- Keep auto-renew switched on and your payment details current.
- Make sure your registrant email address works, so you get renewal reminders.
- Renew important domains for several years at a time.
- Check expiration dates on all your domains at least once a year.
Is drop catching legal?
Generally, yes. Registering a deleted name is allowed. Problems start when someone catches a domain to profit from another person's trademark, which can count as cybersquatting and may be challenged through the UDRP.