You need to move a domain to a friend, business partner, or buyer, but the process varies dramatically depending on where that person maintains their domains. Moving a domain between two users at the same registrar works completely differently than transferring between different registrars, with significant differences in timeline, cost, and complexity. Understanding which type of transfer you need prevents unnecessary delays and expenses when changing domain ownership.
Defining the Two Transfer Types
An "account push" (also called an internal transfer or change of registrant) moves domain ownership between two users at the same registrar. This process happens entirely within the registrar's system without involving external registries or the formal transfer protocol. Account pushes complete instantly, cost nothing, and require no waiting periods.
A "registrar transfer" (also called an external transfer or inter-registrar transfer) moves a domain from one registrar to a completely different registrar. This process involves EPP authorization codes, registry coordination, verification emails, and typically takes five to seven days to complete. Registrar transfers include a one-year renewal extension and cost the receiving registrar's transfer fee.
The critical distinction: if both parties have accounts at the same registrar, use an account push. If the receiving party maintains their domains at a different registrar, you must use the formal transfer process. You cannot mix these methods, account pushes only work within the same registrar, and external transfers only work between different registrars.
Internal Account Push at NameSilo
Transferring domain ownership between two NameSilo users requires just a few clicks and completes immediately. The recipient must have an existing NameSilo account before you can push a domain to them. If they don't have an account yet, they need to create one first, account creation is free and takes minutes.
To push a domain at NameSilo:
- Navigate to your Domain Manager page
- Select the checkbox beside the domain you want to transfer
- Click the "Push Domains" option
- Enter the recipient's NameSilo username
- Confirm the action with your account password
The domain transfers to the recipient's account instantly. They receive notification that the domain has been pushed to their account and can immediately manage all domain settings, renewals, and configurations. The recipient assumes full ownership and responsibility for the domain, you no longer have any control or access to it after the push completes.
Account pushes at NameSilo are completely free with no fees for either party. The domain's existing registration period remains unchanged, if the domain was set to expire in eight months before the push, it still expires in eight months after the push. No renewal extension occurs because this isn't a formal transfer between registrars.
Critical advantage: Internal pushes do NOT trigger the 60-day transfer lock that normally prevents domains from being transferred after registration or contact changes. You can push a domain to another NameSilo user immediately after registering it, immediately after receiving it in a previous push, or immediately after updating contact information. This flexibility makes account pushes ideal for domain sales, portfolio reorganization, or business entity changes where you need immediate ownership transfer without waiting periods.
The original owner should update WHOIS contact information after the push if the recipient wants their own contact details associated with the domain. A DomainPushe transfers ownership within the registrar's system but does not automatically update WHOIS records, the recipient should manually update registrant information to reflect their ownership.
External Registrar Transfer
Transferring a domain from one registrar to another follows the formal ICANN transfer process with multiple verification steps and a multi-day timeline. This process applies when moving domains from GoDaddy to NameSilo, from Namecheap to NameSilo, or from NameSilo to any other registrar.
External transfers require several prerequisites:
Domain unlocked: Remove the ClientTransferProhibited (Domain Lock) status at your current registrar
EPP code obtained: Request the authorization code from your current registrar
60-day lock expired: Verify the domain isn't within 60 days of registration or contact changes
Email access: Ensure you can access the administrative email in your WHOIS record
The recipient initiates the transfer at their chosen registrar (NameSilo, in most cases) by entering the domain name and EPP authorization code. They pay the transfer fee at this point. The receiving registrar sends a transfer request to the current registrar, which then has up to five days to approve or deny the request.
Both the current owner and the receiving party receive verification emails during the transfer process. Responding to these emails or using manual approval options at the losing registrar accelerates transfer completion. Without manual intervention, transfers typically complete within five to seven days through automatic approval.
External transfers automatically extend the domain's registration period by one year. If your domain was set to expire in three months and you transfer it today, it will expire in fifteen months after the transfer completes (three months remaining plus twelve months added). This extension ensures you don't lose registration time when moving between registrars.
The Cost Difference
Account pushes within NameSilo are free. Neither party pays fees for internal ownership transfers. The only cost is the domain's normal annual renewal fee when its expiration date approaches, which would exist regardless of any ownership changes.
External transfers between registrars cost the receiving registrar's transfer fee, which includes the mandatory one-year registration extension. At NameSilo, transfer pricing equals standard registration pricing for the domain's extension, typically $10-15 for common TLDs like .com, .net, or .org. This fee pays for both the transfer process and the one-year renewal extension.
Premium domains cost significantly more to transfer because the one-year extension uses premium pricing rather than standard rates. If a premium .com domain costs $500 annually, transferring it requires paying $500 for the included renewal extension, even though the actual transfer process costs the same administratively as transferring a standard domain.
Some registrars charge transfer fees that exceed their standard registration pricing, essentially adding a premium for the transfer service itself. NameSilo's transfer pricing is competitive and usually lower or equal to the registration price, with the transfer including the one-year extension as added value.
What This Means for You
Use account pushes when selling domains to buyers who already use or are willing to use the same registrar. This approach eliminates transfer costs and waiting periods, allowing instant ownership transfer. Many domain investors maintain accounts at multiple major registrars specifically to facilitate free internal pushes when selling domains.
For domain sales, communicate clearly with buyers about which transfer method you'll use and who bears associated costs. If you're pushing internally at NameSilo, the transaction costs nothing beyond the agreed sale price. If transferring externally, either the buyer pays the transfer fee at their registrar or you negotiate who covers this cost.
When reorganizing domain portfolios between business entities or personal accounts, internal pushes save money and time compared to external transfers. If you operate multiple NameSilo accounts for different business ventures and need to move domains between them, pushes accomplish this instantly without fees or waiting periods.
External transfers make sense when the receiving party strongly prefers a specific registrar or already manages a large portfolio elsewhere. The one-year renewal extension included in transfer fees partially offsets the cost, though you could achieve the same result through an internal push followed by a standard renewal if both parties used the same registrar.
Moving Forward
Understanding the distinction between internal account pushes and external registrar transfers helps you choose the most efficient method for changing domain ownership. Pushes provide instant, free ownership transfer within the same registrar, while external transfers follow the formal multi-day process with associated costs and waiting periods.
For external transfers to NameSilo, use our domain transfer tool to initiate the process. For internal pushes between NameSilo accounts, use the push function in your Domain Manager, no external tools or verification processes required beyond confirming the recipient's username and your password. .png&w=3840&q=75)
.png&w=2048&q=75)
.png&w=3840&q=75)
