Unstoppable Pay lets you close deals you've already sourced yourself at a fraction of standard marketplace commissions. If you've found a buyer through cold outreach, inbound inquiries on your own landing pages, social media, or direct negotiation, you can generate a private checkout link, collect payment securely, and deliver the domain through escrow. All for a flat 3% fee.
This article walks through what Pay is, when to use it, how to create a checkout link, how delivery works, and answers the questions we hear most often from sellers.
What is Unstoppable Pay?
Pay is a private checkout and settlement service for sellers who already have a buyer lined up. Instead of listing publicly on the marketplace and paying higher commissions, you configure a one-off checkout link tailored to a specific deal, share it with your buyer, and let Unstoppable handle the risky parts: payment processing, fraud protection, funds holding, and domain delivery confirmation.
At a high level, the flow looks like this:
- You negotiate a price and terms with a buyer off-platform.
- You create a private checkout link on the escrow page with the domain(s), price, and sale type (Buy It Now or Lease-to-Own).
- You send the link to your buyer.
- The buyer pays using their preferred method (card, PayPal, crypto, etc.).
- Unstoppable holds the funds in escrow while the domain is delivered, either by transfer into the buyer's account at any registrar or by push if the domain is already held at Unstoppable.
- Once delivery is confirmed, funds are released to you, minus the 3% fee.
Pay is ideal any time trust is the bottleneck. Neither side has to take the other at their word: the buyer knows their money is protected until the domain moves, and you know you'll get paid as soon as delivery clears.
When should I use Pay vs listing on the marketplace?
Use Pay when:
- You already have a buyer and a price (or are close to one).
- You sourced the lead yourself such as outbound sales, landing page inquiries, broker referrals, social DMs, in-person conversations.
- You want to minimize fees on a deal you did the work to find.
- You want flexibility on payment terms, including long Lease-to-Own schedules.
Use a standard marketplace listing when:
- You want passive exposure across Unstoppable, Afternic, Sedo, and 650+ SedoMLS resellers.
- You don't have a specific buyer yet and want the distribution network to find one for you.
- You're comfortable with standard marketplace commissions in exchange for that reach.
The two aren't mutually exclusive. You can list a domain on the marketplace and still generate a Pay checkout link if a direct buyer comes along before the listing sells.
How to create a Pay checkout link
- Go to the escrow page while signed in to your Unstoppable account.
- Add your domains. You can paste them separated by new lines, spaces, or commas. You can also upload a CSV or download the template if you're setting up a bulk deal. Optional prices can be added after each domain name in the same line.
- Set your sale type for each domain:
- Buy It Now (BIN): a single lump-sum purchase.
- Lease-to-Own (LTO): the buyer pays in installments over a term you choose, up to 10 years. You receive payouts as installments clear; the buyer takes full ownership once the plan is complete.
- Confirm delivery method. If the domain is already at Unstoppable, delivery will happen via internal push (fastest). If it's at another registrar, you'll deliver via standard transfer after the buyer pays.
- Generate the link and send it to your buyer through whatever channel you've been using. Email, chat, a reply on your landing page, etc.
The checkout page the buyer sees is private. It isn't indexed, surfaced on the marketplace, or shared with third parties. Only people with the link can complete the purchase.
Payment methods your buyer can use
Pay supports all major payment methods so your buyer can pick whatever they're most comfortable with:
- Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and other major networks via Stripe)
- PayPal
- Coinbase
- Cryptocurrency directly
- Lease-to-Own installment plans of up to 10 years (for LTO deals)
Offering multiple payment options matters more than it might seem. Buyers who hit friction at checkout frequently abandon the deal, and the flexibility here is a big part of why Pay closes more of the leads you bring in.
How delivery works
Once the buyer pays, the domain needs to move to them.
There are two paths:
Push (fastest)
If the domain is already held in your Unstoppable account, delivery is a simple internal push from your account to the buyer's. This typically completes in minutes once payment clears, and funds are released to you shortly after.
Transfer
If the domain is held at another registrar, you'll initiate a standard outbound transfer to the buyer's registrar after payment is secured in escrow. Funds remain in escrow during the transfer window and are released to you once the transfer is confirmed complete.
You don't need to move a domain to Unstoppable before using Pay. Delivering from an external registrar works fine it just takes a little longer to settle than an internal push.
Fees, payouts, and the money-back guarantee
- Commission is a flat 3% of the sale price on Buy It Now deals. For Lease-to-Own, the 3% applies to each installment as it clears.
- Payouts are fast. For push deliveries, you typically see funds released within hours of delivery confirmation. For transfers, payout follows transfer completion.
- Money-back guarantee. If something goes wrong on the delivery side. For example, a transfer can't be completed for reasons outside the buyer's control then the buyers are protected and refunded, and the domain stays with you. You're never in a position where you've lost the domain and the money.
- Customer support is available throughout the process if either party has questions or runs into issues.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to transfer my domain to Unstoppable first?
No. You can deliver the domain from any registrar. Internal pushes are faster, but external transfers work and are fully supported by the escrow flow.
What happens if the buyer pays but the transfer fails?
Funds stay in escrow until delivery is resolved. If the transfer ultimately can't be completed, the buyer is refunded under the money-back guarantee and the domain remains with you. You won't be stuck having lost both.
Can I use Pay for multiple domains in one deal?
Yes. Add multiple domains when you create the checkout link then paste them in, or upload a CSV using the provided template. This is useful for portfolio sales or bundle deals.
How long can Lease-to-Own terms run?
Up to 10 years. You choose the schedule when you configure the checkout link. Longer terms often help close deals with buyers who can't or don't want to pay a large lump sum up front.
Is the checkout link public?
No. Pay checkout links are private and intended to be shared directly with the buyer you've negotiated with. They aren't indexed on the marketplace or surfaced in public listings.
What if my buyer wants to pay in crypto?
That's supported. Pay accepts direct cryptocurrency payments as well as Coinbase, in addition to traditional card and PayPal options.
How does the 3% compare to standard marketplace commissions?
3% is significantly below standard aftermarket commission rates, which often run 10–20% or more depending on the venue. The tradeoff is that you bring the lead. Pay is built for sellers who've already done the sourcing work and don't need the marketplace to find a buyer.
Can I still use Pay if my domain is also listed on Afternic or Sedo?
Yes. Pay is for closing a specific direct deal, so it runs in parallel with any public listings you have. Just make sure to pull the domain from other venues once the Pay sale closes to avoid a double-sale situation.
What happens during a Lease-to-Own plan — does the buyer get the domain right away?
No. Under LTO, you retain ownership of the domain while the buyer makes installment payments. The buyer typically gets to use the domain (e.g., point it at their content) during the plan, and full ownership transfers once all installments are paid. If the buyer defaults, the domain returns to you and any installments already paid are handled according to the plan terms.
Who do I contact if something goes wrong mid-deal?
Reach out to Unstoppable support through the normal help channels. Escrow transactions are covered by live support, and we can investigate payment, transfer, or delivery issues on either side of the deal.
Getting Started
If you've got a buyer waiting, head to the Pay page, add your domain(s), configure the sale, and share the link. The whole setup usually takes just a few minutes, and you'll keep 97% of what you negotiated.
If you have questions before you list about fees on a specific deal, delivery logistics from a particular registrar, or structuring an LTO plan contact support here and we'll walk you through it.