Grails is a platform for uncovering strategic domain name opportunities and creating connections between domain owners, entrepreneurs, founders, brokers, and professionals. Whether you own a strategic domain, are searching for the right name for your company, or broker introductions between parties, Grails provides the intelligence tools and networking layer to make it happen. The platform supports creative deal structures including cash, equity, advisory arrangements, and lease-to-purchase options. All negotiations and transactions happen directly between the parties involved, off-platform.
Grails uses a credit-based system for platform actions like listing domains, posting requests, contacting users, and more. You spend credits to perform actions, and each action has a transparent cost. Credits can be obtained through monthly subscriptions or one-time credit packs. Some actions, like replying within an existing conversation, are completely free.
You can get credits in three ways: (1) Monthly subscriptions at various tiers with increasing credit allowances and lower per-credit costs. (2) One-time credit packs in multiple sizes. (3) A signup bonus when you create your account. Visit the Pricing page for full details on subscription tiers and pack options.
There is no ongoing free tier, but new accounts receive a signup credit bonus to explore the platform. Domains with an Estibot-verified value of $5,000 or more can be listed and renewed for free. Many of the platform's analytical tools are free to use without spending credits, and several tools include free trial uses so you can try them before committing credits. Each subscription tier also includes free monthly domain valuations.
You can reach the Grails team through the Contact Us page. Send a message with your question or concern and the team will respond as soon as possible.
Browse the domain listings and use filters to narrow by industry, deal type, and more. You can also post a Domain Request describing exactly what you need, and domain owners will come to you. The Domain Matchmaker tool can help identify domains that fit your company profile.
Sending an initial contact message costs credits. After that, all follow-up replies within the same conversation are free for both parties.
A Domain Request is a public listing describing the type of domain you are looking for, including your industry, company stage, budget, and preferred deal structures. Posting a request costs credits. Domain owners can browse requests and reach out if they have a matching domain. If you believe your idea, case, or cause is particularly compelling, you can contact support to request a promo code.
Domain requests are active for 1 month. Renewing a request costs credits for another month.
Featuring a domain request costs credits for 30 days of prominent placement, increasing visibility to domain owners. Renewing featured status costs the same amount for another 30 days.
Grails offers several evaluation tools including the Domain ROI Calculator, Extension Risk Report, Domain vs. Marketing Cost Comparison, Strategy Quiz, and more. Each domain listing also includes an AI-generated analysis to help you understand the strategic value and fit for your business. Visit the Tools page for the full list.
The VC Directory is a searchable database of venture capital firms with information on investment focus, stage preferences, and portfolio companies. It is primarily a resource for founders seeking funding and understanding the investment landscape, but it also provides visibility for VC firms on the platform.
If your firm is listed in the VC Directory and you would like to claim, edit, or manage your profile, or if you would like to add your firm, please contact support. The team will verify your identity and give you access to update your firm's details.
Grails provides tools to assess the domain strategy of portfolio companies. You can evaluate whether a company's domain is aligned with its brand, check extension risks, and identify upgrade opportunities using the platform's analytical tools.
The Acquisition Radar helps identify domain acquisition opportunities by analyzing market trends, expiring domains, and potential matches based on your investment criteria and portfolio company needs.
Listing a domain costs credits. However, if your domain has an Estibot-verified value of $5,000 or more, listing is completely free. You can check your domain's Estibot value using the valuation tool on the platform. If you have a large portfolio, contact support for assistance.
Each domain listing is active for 30 days from the date it is listed or renewed.
Renewing a domain listing costs credits for another 30 days. Domains with an Estibot-verified value of $5,000 or more renew for free.
Yes. You can enable auto-renewal on any domain listing from your dashboard. When auto-renewal is on, your listing will automatically renew before it expires, provided you have sufficient credits (or the domain qualifies for free renewal).
Featuring a domain costs credits for 30 days of prominent placement, increasing visibility. To renew featured status, it costs the same amount for another 30 days.
No. All follow-up replies within an existing conversation are completely free for both parties. Only the initial contact message costs credits.
Domain verification uses a DNS TXT record. You add a unique verification code to your domain's DNS settings, and the platform confirms ownership. All domains listed on Grails should be verified, either through the automated DNS verification system or through admin verification. Domains with an Estibot-verified value of $5,000 or more qualify for free listing.
Grails supports multiple deal structures: cash purchases, equity arrangements, advisory roles, lease-to-purchase agreements, and creative combinations of these. You can specify which structures you are open to when listing your domain. All negotiations happen directly between the parties involved.
To maximize visibility: list your domain, feature it for prominent placement, verify ownership, browse founder requests to proactively reach out to interested entrepreneurs, and use the Outreach Builder tool to craft compelling messages.
If a contact message goes unviewed by the recipient, the credits spent on that message are automatically refunded to the sender after 7 days.
Yes. You can close any conversation from within the messaging interface when you are done or no longer interested. If you encounter inappropriate behavior, you can report users directly from the conversation. Reports are reviewed by the Grails team.
Lead qualification automatically classifies incoming messages to help you prioritize serious inquiries. Messages are categorized based on content analysis, so you can focus on the most promising conversations first.
Yes. Each subscription tier includes free monthly Estibot valuations. Additional valuations beyond your monthly allowance cost credits each. Valuations use Estibot automated analysis and the Relief-from-Royalty (RFR) method.
Sign up for an account, set your role to broker, and complete your profile with specialties, languages, and experience. Then activate broker visibility to appear in the professional directory where founders and domain owners can find you.
Broker visibility puts your profile in the professional directory so domain owners and founders can discover and contact you. It costs credits for 30 days of visibility.
Renewing broker visibility costs the same as activation: credits for another 30 days.
Yes. Domain owners can delegate specific conversations to their broker. When delegated, you can respond on behalf of the domain owner. The owner can reclaim the conversation at any time.
Yes. Brokers have access to the same Estibot and Relief-from-Royalty valuation tools as domain owners. Each subscription tier includes free monthly valuations, and additional valuations cost credits each.
Sign up for an account and apply for professional status through your profile. Once approved, you can set up your professional profile with your areas of expertise, credentials, and services.
Professional visibility lists your profile in the professional directory. It costs credits for 30 days.
Renewing professional visibility costs the same as activation: credits for another 30 days.
The Partner Access Program allows any registered user to generate a unique referral code they can share. When someone signs up using that code, both parties benefit: the new user receives bonus credits and the partner earns commission on the new user's credit purchases.
Any registered user on Grails can generate a Partner Access code from their dashboard. The code can be shared with clients, colleagues, portfolio companies, or anyone who might benefit from the platform.
When someone signs up using your Partner Access code, they receive a bonus on their credit purchases. This means for every credit purchase, they receive extra credits on top of their order. This applies whether they are a founder, domain owner, VC looking to onboard portfolio companies, or any other user type.
As a partner, you earn a commission in credits whenever your referred user spends credits on the platform. The commission is automatically credited to your account.
No. The referred user sees the same pricing as every other user. The bonus credits from the Partner Access code are applied on top of their purchase: they get more credits for the same price, and you earn commission when they use those credits.
Credit pricing depends on how you purchase them. Subscriptions offer the best per-credit rates, with higher tiers providing lower costs per credit. One-time packs are also available at various sizes with volume discounts. Visit the Pricing page for a full breakdown of all subscription tiers and credit packs.
Credits are used for listing domains, posting requests, featuring listings, contacting other users, renewing listings, activating directory visibility, and purchasing additional valuations. See the Pricing page for a complete breakdown of all action costs.
Credits from one-time packs do not expire. Subscription credits are added to your balance each month and carry over as long as your subscription is active.
If you send a contact message and the recipient does not view it within 7 days, the credits you spent on that message are automatically refunded to your account.
Credits cannot be converted back to cash. They are intended for use on the platform only. However, credits do not expire, so you can use them at any time.
Most analytical tools on Grails (ROI Calculator, Extension Risk Report, Domain vs. Marketing, Governance Generator, Strategy Quiz, and more) are free to use. Many tools also include free trial uses so you can try them without spending credits. Domain valuations include a free monthly allowance based on your subscription tier, with additional valuations available for credits. The Outreach Builder and other advanced features are also available at no extra credit cost.
Grails provides domain valuations using two methods: Estibot automated analysis for market-comparable pricing, and the Relief-from-Royalty (RFR) method for strategic value assessment. Each subscription includes free monthly valuations. Additional valuations are available for credits. Founders and entrepreneurs have access to different evaluation tools, including AI-generated analysis on each domain listing and tools like the ROI Calculator and Extension Risk Report.
External valuations can be used as a manual reference when evaluating domains, but there is no automated import of third-party valuation data.
The Domain ROI Calculator helps you estimate the return on investment for acquiring a strategic domain. It factors in acquisition cost, expected traffic improvements, brand value, and other metrics to project potential ROI over time.
The Extension Risk Report analyzes the risk profile of a domain's extension (TLD). It evaluates factors like extension popularity, user trust, SEO implications, and whether alternative extensions are available, helping you make informed decisions about domain investments.