Give yourself the best chance of catching a name

Whether you catch an expiring domain name mostly depends on how many other people are chasing it. This guide helps you pick the right approach for each name you're watching, whether it's easy or highly contested.

Overview

• InfraNest shows a Catchability verdict on every watch, so you always know what you're up against.
• Different names need different strategies — an uncontested name needs almost no effort, while a contested one needs professional help.
• You'll find the right tools for both cases right on the watch itself.

Handle an uncontested name

Most watched names — a lapsing domain of your own, a niche extension, anything nobody else wants — drop quietly and are easy to get.

1. On the watch, choose Register with my own registrar.
2. Turn on Auto-register.
3. Let InfraNest do the rest — it checks more and more often as the drop gets close, and registers the name the instant it's free.

No further setup is needed for names like this.

Add backup registrars for coverage

Adding more registrars under Registrars to use doesn't help you win a contested name on its own, but it does make your setup more reliable.

1. Open the watch and go to Registrars to use.
2. Add registrars that cover the extensions (like .com, .io, etc.) you're watching.
3. Add a second registrar as a backup in case one has a technical hiccup right at the drop.

NoteMore registrars mean broader coverage and more reliability — they won't help you beat other bidders for a popular name.

Use a backorder for a contested name

For a genuinely in-demand name — a short .com, a real word — no ordinary registration can outpace the professional catch networks. A backorder is the one reliable way to win.

1. Open the watch you want to protect.
2. Choose Use a backorder service.
3. InfraNest hands the catch attempt to a specialist partner (Dynadot), who races for the name on your behalf ahead of the drop.

TipYou only pay if the backorder actually wins the name, so there's no risk in turning it on for any name you're serious about.

Turn on parallel racing for extra edge

If you're auto-registering with your own registrars, parallel racing is a premium option that gives you a small extra edge.

1. Open the watch and find the parallel racing option.
2. Turn it on.
3. At the drop, InfraNest will fire several of your registrars at once instead of trying them one after another.

This gives a modest boost on a contested name if you're not using a backorder, but it still won't beat the professional catch networks — think of it as an edge, not a guarantee.

Handle a name that's gone to auction

Sometimes an expiring name is sent to a registrar auction instead of dropping for anyone to re-register — in that case, bidding is the only way to get it.

1. Check your watch list — InfraNest automatically detects when this happens.
2. Look for the watch's status to flip to In auction.
3. Follow the bid here link on the watch to go to the auction listing.
4. Place your bid there — waiting for a drop won't work for these names.

Tips

• Uncontested name? Use your own registrar with Auto-register — nothing more is needed.
• Want broad coverage? Add backup registrars that span all the extensions you watch.
• Contested name? A backorder is the only reliable way to win; parallel racing adds a small extra edge if you're not using one.
• In auction? Follow the bid-here link and bid — the name will never drop.