Directory >> Namecatchers >> gTLD Snap
Recovering domain names with COM, NET or ORG extensions is rather simple. All one has to do is place a backorder with Dropcatch and Snapnames. With a probability of over 90%, one of the two will obtain the domain name and allocate it to the person who reserved it or will organise an auction if at least two people have backordered the domain. Until 2023, this rate was above 99%, but Singapore's Gname, with its 500 ICANN-accredited offices, can now beat Snapnames and Dropcatch.
Dropcatch is the leader for the three historical gTLDs (.COM, .NET, .ORG). To achieve this performance, the company owns over 1200 ICANN registrars, amounting to about 45 % of the total. With two identical snap services, Snapnames and Namejet, part of the Newfold Digital group, is number two in the sector. Its performance is based on a network of several hundred ICANN registrars, created or acquired solely for this purpose.
Gname is both a namecatcher and a Snapnames reseller. It has created 200 more ICANN-accredited offices in mid-2025, bringing the total to about 500.
Catches.io is a Snapnames reseller which can beat all other namecatchers, provided that no backorder has been placed with Snapnames.
There are many other services such as Dynadot, SAV, Catched and Park.io. These are only effective for recovering domain names in less-used extensions such as .INFO, .IO or .WS, as these are not processed by Dropcatch and Snapnames/Namejet and Gname tend to neglect them.
Given the sometimes-considerable sums spent on auctioning expired domain names, the largest US registrars have come up with the idea of putting domain names not renewed by their customers up for sale just before the end of the grace period, a process known as 'prerelease'. Thanks to its customers, Godaddy earns hundreds of thousands of dollars every day by selling domain names that do not belong to it. Networksolutions (via Snapnames and Namejet), Namecheap, Dynadot, Namebright, Namesilo and other large registrars also offer this service whether via their own platforms or via Godaddy or another partner.
The prerelease principle does not exist for European ccTLDs and is rare for other ccTLDs.