In redemption vs pending delete, the difference is simple. The owner can still restore a domain in redemption for an extra fee. Nobody can restore it in pending delete, and the name goes in a few days. Both stages come after expiry and before the drop.
Redemption vs pending delete in one table
The two stages follow each other, and the second starts when the first ends. The table lists what changes between them.
| Redemption | Pending delete | |
|---|---|---|
| Can the owner restore it? | Yes, for an extra fee | No |
| Typical length | About 30 days | About 5 days |
| Registry status | redemptionPeriod | pendingDelete |
| Does the name work? | Usually not | No |
| What comes next | Pending delete | The drop |
What happens in the redemption period
When an owner does not renew, the registrar deletes the name. It then enters the redemption period. The registry keeps it on hold for about 30 days. The owner can still bring it back, but the fee is higher than a normal renewal.
During this time, the name is not in the zone, so the website and email stop working. Nobody else can register it. The status shows as redemptionPeriod in the registry data, and ICANN explains it on its page about EPP status codes.
What happens in pending delete
If nobody restores the name in 30 days, the status changes to pending delete. Now the owner has lost the chance. The name stays in this state for several days, usually about five.
The registry cannot restore the name in this stage, even if the owner pays. It will be deleted at the end of the period, and then it is free for anyone to register.
Why redemption vs pending delete matters to buyers
For buyers, only one stage matters: the last one. A name in redemption may still come back, because the owner can restore it. A name in pending delete will drop, unless there is an error.
That makes pending delete the right moment to place a backorder. If you place one earlier, you may wait for weeks and then lose the name to a late restore. Our post on how to buy an expired domain explains the steps in order.
Redemption vs pending delete: how to tell the stage
You can read the stage from the registry data. The Domain Health Check shows the status of a name, the expiry date and the lock. A status of redemptionPeriod means the name is in the first stage, and pendingDelete means the second.
The Drop Calendar lists both stages and gives an estimated drop day. It is an estimate, because the registry shows only when the record last changed, not when each stage began. Expect an error of a few days.
A worked example
Suppose a name expires on 1 June and the owner never renews. These dates are an example only, because every registrar sets its own grace period.
The registrar keeps the name in the grace period until about mid July. Then the redemption period runs for 30 days, until about mid August. Pending delete follows for about five days. So the drop falls around 20 August, roughly 80 days after the expiry.
What owners should do
If your own name is in redemption, act now. Contact your registrar and ask to restore it. Expect an extra fee, and ask about the exact price first. Restoring is still cheaper than losing the name.
If your name is in pending delete, it is too late. The only option is to register it again on the drop day, and you will compete with others. So renew early and turn on auto-renew. For the full path from expiry to the drop, read our post on what happens when a domain expires.
What to remember
Redemption is the last chance for the owner. Pending delete is the last warning for buyers. Keep these two stages apart in your mind, and you will not waste time on a name that is not ready.
Sources
- ICANN: EPP status codes: what each status means, 30 days of redemption, purge five days later.
- ICANN: .com functional and performance specifications: the 45-day auto-renew grace period and the five-day pending delete.
Originally published at namedaemon.com/redemption-period-vs-pending-delete/. NameDaemon has 18 free tools for .com names, built on the daily zone file, and the numbers are on the State of .com page.
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