Whether you’re buying a domain outright or through an installment plan, AtomPay protects your funds and ensures the domain is safely transferred before the seller is paid.
This article walks you through the Buyer journey — from reviewing the agreement to confirming your transfer and completing your purchase.
🔹 Before You Start
Before starting your purchase, make sure you have:
The domain name and final agreed price
The secure AtomPay link or email invite from the seller
A valid payment method (Credit Card, Wire, ACH, or Crypto)
💡 You'll need create & verify an Atom.com account once you click 'start your transaction' button. — please ensure to complete all steps shown on the screen.
🧾 Step-by-Step: Buying Through AtomPay
STEP 1: Start Your Transaction
Go to AtomPay.
Select “I’m Buying” from the dropdown menu.
Enter your Domain Name (e.g., example.com).
Enter your Selling Price (USD).
Click Start Your Transaction.
AtomPay will create a unique transaction record and move you to the payment setup screen.
STEP 2: Set Your Payment Terms
Define how the buyer will pay and who covers the fees:
Payment Type: Choose between One-Time or Installments.
Transaction Fee Responsibility:
100% Buyer
75% Buyer / 25% Seller
50% Buyer / 50% Seller
25% Buyer / 75% Seller
100% Seller
If you select Installments, you’ll also enter:
Initial Down Payment amount
Payment Plan Duration (in months)
Then, add the buyer’s contact info:
Buyer’s Email (Optional)
Buyer’s Phone (Optional)
AtomPay will automatically generate and send a secure agreement link once you continue.
ℹ️ Transaction Fee Tooltip:
Shows how the fee is calculated based on your domain price tier.
Click Continue to proceed.
STEP 3: Review the Transaction Summary
Before finalizing, review the Transaction Summary section carefully:
Field | Description |
Domain Name | The domain being sold |
Selling Price | The agreed total price |
Fee Split | Allocation of the AtomPay fee |
Buyer Price | What the buyer pays (includes their share of the fee) |
Seller Proceeds | Your total after any fees |
Check the box to agree to AtomPay’s Terms & Privacy Policy, then click Confirm Transaction to generate the agreement.
STEP 4: Initiate Transaction
If you have provided the seller's contact info, your transaction will be initiated and the seller will be sent the agreement.
If no contact info is provided, the buyer can copy the transaction link shown below:
STEP 5: The Seller will receive and review the Agreement
The seller will see the following:
The Domain Name
The Selling Price
Transaction Fee Split (Buyer/Seller)
Buyer Price (your total payment)
Seller Proceeds (for transparency)
Any Installment Plan terms (if applicable)
If no changes are made to the agreement, the seller can proceed with confirming the transaction.
ℹ️ The PSA outlines the full terms of sale. Both parties must confirm the agreement before any payment is processed.
STEP 5A: Seller can Modify (If Needed) and Confirm the Agreement
Before confirming, the seller may request edits if necessary.
Sellers can modify:
Selling Price
Transaction Fee
After editing, click Save Changes and you will receive a message:
“Your changes have been successfully saved.”
The seller will "Confirm Transaction" and the updated agreement will be resent to the buyer for review and confirmation.
STEP 6: Payment
If no changes are made by the buyer, the buyer will receive a link to complete the payment as shown below:
After confirming, you’ll see the Payment Link. You can pay securely through one of the supported methods:
💳 Credit / Debit Card (3% processing fee applies)
🏦 Wire Transfer (recommended for larger payments)
🔁 ACH Transfer (U.S. buyers only)
₿ Cryptocurrency (supported for smaller transactions)
AtomPay securely holds your payment in escrow until the domain transfer is verified.
🛡️ Your payment is never released to the seller until AtomPay confirms successful transfer of the domain.
STEP 6: Domain Transfer & Verification
After payment, the Transfer Center becomes available to both parties.
Here’s what happens:
The seller unlocks the domain and provides transfer details.
AtomPay moves the domain into a secure Atom registrar holding account.
You’ll see real-time status updates (e.g., “Transfer in Progress,” “Verification Complete”).
Once the transfer is confirmed, you’ll receive a verification email.
💡 AtomPay handles verification directly with registrars — ensuring the domain is genuine and fully transferred.
STEP 7: Confirm Receipt
Once you’ve confirmed the domain is successfully in your account, click Confirm Receipt in the Transfer Center.
This action releases the seller’s payout instantly and completes your transaction.
✅ After confirmation, you’ll receive a final purchase receipt via email for your records.
💰 Understanding Your Costs
Domain Price (USD) | Transaction Fee | Payment Method |
$0 – $4,999 | 4.5% (min $25) | Credit Card, Crypto, Wire |
$5,000 – $49,999 | 4.5% | Wire |
$50,000 – $199,999 | 3.75% | Wire |
$200,000 – $499,999 | 2.9% | Wire |
$500,000 – $999,999 | 2.25% | Wire |
$1M – $2.99M | 1.9% | Wire |
$3M – $9.99M | 1.75% | Wire |
$10M+ | 1.35% | Wire |
💡 Depending on your agreement, the transaction fee may be covered by you, the seller, or split between both.
🧾 Installment (Lease-to-Own) Purchases
If you choose a payment plan, AtomPay divides your purchase into a down payment and monthly installments.
Transaction Fee: Standard fee divided evenly across all payments.
Installment Management Fee: 0.01% of each monthly payment or $75/month (whichever is greater).
Ownership: AtomPay holds the domain in a secure account until the final payment clears.
You’ll receive reminders before each due date, and you can pay manually or set up auto-pay.
🔔 Notifications You’ll Receive
Notification | Description |
Agreement Link Received | Transaction created by seller |
Seller Modified Agreement | Seller requested changes |
Payment Confirmation | Your payment received, funds held in escrow |
Domain Transfer in Progress | Seller initiated transfer |
Domain Transfer Complete | You can now confirm receipt |
Purchase Complete | Funds released, transaction closed |
All notifications are also visible in your AtomPay dashboard for easy tracking.
🧩 Common Questions
Q: When does the seller receive their payout?
A: Immediately after you confirm receipt of the domain. AtomPay releases funds within minutes of your confirmation.
Q: What if the seller doesn’t transfer the domain?
A: AtomPay will not release your funds until transfer verification is complete. If the domain can’t be transferred, you’ll receive a full refund.
Q: Can I cancel the transaction before payment?
A: Yes. Before payment, you can cancel anytime directly from your AtomPay dashboard or via the secure transaction link.
Q: What if I miss an installment payment?
A: You’ll receive a grace period notification. If not paid within that window, AtomPay may pause your transaction until payment resumes.
🧭 Summary
Buying a domain with AtomPay gives you:
Protection: Funds are only released after a successful transfer.
Clarity: Transparent breakdown of price, fees, and installments.
Flexibility: Choose from multiple payment options and installment plans.
Peace of Mind: Trusted by over 50,000 customers and backed by Atom.com’s secure infrastructure.
AtomPay ensures every transaction — big or small — is handled smoothly, securely, and transparently.