Comparison

Milodomain vs Solidnames: public auction or brand broker?

Milo, the Milodomain mascot, alongside the Solidnames corporate broker, public auction vs brand broker

Solidnames is a recognised French player in the domain name market, but it does not play in the same category as Milodomain. Where Milodomain is a self-service public auction platform, Solidnames is above all a broker specialising in brand protection and domain recovery for corporate clients, based in Bordeaux. Comparing the two means clarifying two different needs rather than opposing two competitors.

This article explains precisely what Solidnames does, what Milodomain does, and how to know which one suits your situation.

Who is Solidnames in 2026?

Solidnames is a French company based in Bordeaux (67, rue Paul-Louis Lande, 33000), active in the management, protection and repurchase of domain names. Its historical core business is brand defence: supporting companies that want to monitor, protect or recover domain names linked to their identity. Solidnames also covers an explicit Web3 / .ETH dimension, atypical on this segment.

On the drop-catching side, Solidnames operates as a multi-service broker. Rather than relying solely on its own infrastructure, Solidnames mobilises several operator partners (without public list) to multiply capture channels and maximise chances of recovering a specific domain requested by a client. Solidnames is also an AFNIC-accredited registrar for .fr.

Solidnames' positioning is therefore clearly corporate and service-oriented: you turn to Solidnames when you have a specific domain to recover or a brand to defend, and you entrust the mission to their experts. It is not a marketplace where you browse a catalogue and bid yourself. The interface is sober, corporate B2B / large-account IT style, and the main CTA is "Contact us" rather than "Sign up".

The strengths of Solidnames

1. The multi-channel capture approach

By mobilising several operators in parallel, Solidnames mechanically increases the probability of capturing a targeted domain. For a company absolutely wanting to recover a specific domain, for example a brand variation fallen into the wrong hands, this redundancy is a real asset.

2. Legal expertise and brand defence

This is Solidnames' real business. The company knows dispute resolution procedures (SYRELI, PARL Expert), trademark law, monitoring mechanisms (Brand Alert, SecURL, subdomain monitoring, expiration alerts). For a brand holder facing cybersquatting or wanting to secure their domain portfolio, this expertise far exceeds what a simple auction platform offers.

3. Bespoke support

Solidnames works case by case. A client states a need, Solidnames builds a mission: monitoring, capture attempt, amicable repurchase negotiation, or legal procedure. For a legal department or a brand manager who has neither the time nor the desire to technically manage a drop, full delegation is comfortable.

4. A Web3 / .ETH positioning

Solidnames explicitly mentions Web3 and .ETH in its offer, which is atypical in the classic .fr drop-catching market. For a company anticipating a decentralised domain strategy alongside its traditional portfolio, it is a differentiating point.

The limits of Solidnames, for those not large brands

1. It is not a self-service platform

Solidnames does not offer a public catalogue you browse freely, nor an open auction you participate in autonomously. The model is delegated service: a mission is entrusted. For a domainer or SEO agency wanting to actively hunt, compare opportunities and bid themselves, this model does not fit.

2. Pricing on quote, not transparent

The broker model implies case-by-case pricing. The cost of a recovery mission is not displayed publicly: it depends on difficulty, channels mobilised, support level. For a buyer wanting to know in advance how much they will pay, and for an agency wanting a clear and predictable grid, this pricing opacity is a friction.

3. A model designed for large accounts

Solidnames' offer is calibrated for enterprises, legal departments, brand holders. The individual domainer, the independent SEO or the small agency wanting to acquire a few expired domains per month is not the core target. Entry ticket and operating mode are not designed for regular autonomous usage.

4. No opportunity discovery

Solidnames serves to recover a domain you have already identified. The platform is not designed to make you discover interesting expired domains you didn't know. For a domainer whose business is precisely uncovering gems, this lack of exploratory catalogue is prohibitive.

Milodomain versus Solidnames: two needs, two tools

It must be said clearly: Milodomain and Solidnames are not really competitors. They answer two distinct needs.

Solidnames answers: "I want to recover THIS specific domain / defend MY brand"

It is a one-off need, often defensive, with high legal stakes. A company has lost a domain, or wants to recover a brand variation, or must handle a cybersquatting case. They delegate the mission to an expert. Solidnames is built for this.

Milodomain answers: "I want to acquire expired domains, regularly, autonomously"

It is an active recurring need, oriented toward acquisition and investment. A domainer, SEO agency or project bearer wants to browse a catalogue, compare metrics, bid, and repeat the following month. Milodomain is a self-service platform designed for this use: catalogue of several thousand .fr visible, transparent public ascending auctions, €30 excl. VAT starting bid, 3-minute anti-snipe, payment only on win, standard French invoice.

Transparency as the dividing line

On Milodomain, everything is visible and priced in advance: the catalogue, ongoing auctions, number of bidders, bid, fees (zero at signup, zero at participation, zero on failure). You know exactly what you do and what you pay. Solidnames' broker model, by nature, runs on quote and support, a different relationship to price and autonomy.

Milodomain vs Solidnames: a summary comparison

CriterionMilodomain.comSolidnames (Bordeaux)
NatureSelf-service auction platformBroker / brand protection service
CountryFrance (Paris, Horizon Investissement)France (Bordeaux, 67 rue Paul-Louis Lande)
UsageAcquire domains, regularly, yourselfDelegate the recovery of a specific domain
Browseable public catalogueYes, several thousand .fr visibleNo
Opportunity discoveryYes, that's the principleNo, you bring your target
PricingPublic: €30 excl. VAT min bid, 0 hidden feesOn quote, case by case
AuctionsPublic, transparent, autonomousManaged by the broker
Brand defence / legal expertiseEducational content (SYRELI, etc.)Core business, expert support
Web3 / .ETHNot coveredExplicitly mentioned
TargetDomainers, SEO agencies, project bearersEnterprises, legal departments, brands
ModelRecurring self-serviceOne-off delegated mission

When to choose one, when to choose the other

Choose Solidnames if

  • You are an enterprise or a brand, and you want to recover a specific already-identified domain.
  • Your need has a legal dimension: cybersquatting, brand defence, potential dispute.
  • You prefer to fully delegate the mission to experts rather than acting yourself.
  • The need is one-off and the stake justifies bespoke pricing.
  • You also have Web3 / .ETH or brand monitoring needs.

Choose Milodomain if

  • You want to acquire expired domains regularly, autonomously, without intermediary.
  • You want to browse a catalogue, discover opportunities, compare metrics.
  • You want public, clear, predictable pricing, and a clean French invoice.
  • You are a domainer, an SEO, an SEO agency or a project bearer, not a legal department.

Both can coexist in the same organisation

An enterprise may well use Solidnames for the defensive side, monitor and protect its brand, and Milodomain for the offensive side: acquire SEO-valuable expired domains for its editorial projects or those of its clients. These are not tools that replace each other but that add up according to need.

FAQ, Milodomain vs Solidnames

Is Solidnames an auction platform like Milodomain?

No. Solidnames is a broker based in Bordeaux, specialising in brand protection and domain recovery. The model is that of a delegated service: a mission is entrusted to experts. Milodomain is a self-service public auction platform, where you browse a catalogue and bid yourself. Both meet distinct needs.

Why doesn't Solidnames publish its rates?

Because its model is bespoke service. The cost of a recovery mission depends on domain difficulty, channels mobilised and level of support. It is consistent with a corporate broker positioning. Milodomain, conversely, displays public pricing: €30 excl. VAT minimum bid, zero registration, participation or transfer fees.

I want to recover a specific domain: Milodomain or Solidnames?

It depends on the domain's situation. If it is about to expire and drop back into the public domain, you can track it in the Milodomain catalogue and bid. If it is still held by a third party, or if the situation has a legal dimension (registered trademark, cybersquatting), a broker like Solidnames, with its expertise in negotiation and procedures, is more suitable.

Does an SEO agency benefit from going through Solidnames?

Rarely for routine activity. An SEO agency acquires expired domains at volume, regularly, for SEO strategies. This active recurring need corresponds to a self-service platform like Milodomain, catalogue, auctions, clean re-billable invoice. Solidnames intervenes only on ad-hoc cases with strong legal stakes.

Does Solidnames mobilise other operators for its captures?

Solidnames mobilises several operator partners to multiply capture channels on a precise target. The exact list of these partners is not published publicly by Solidnames. Solidnames is also an AFNIC-accredited registrar, which also gives it direct access to the registry pipeline for .fr.

Conclusion

Comparing Milodomain and Solidnames mainly means clarifying two needs. Solidnames is a French corporate broker based in Bordeaux: you turn to it to defend a brand or recover a specific domain, by delegating the mission to experts, on quote. Milodomain is a self-service platform: you sign up to acquire expired domains regularly, autonomously, with an open catalogue and transparent pricing.

The right question is therefore not "which is best" but "what is my need". Recover one-off, with a legal stake, by delegating: Solidnames. Acquire actively, regularly, piloting yourself: Milodomain. And for an organisation with both needs, the two tools complement each other without competing.

Key takeaways

  • Solidnames is a French player based in Bordeaux, specialising in brand protection and domain repurchase. It operates as a broker mobilising several operator partners (without public list) and also operates as an AFNIC-accredited registrar for .fr.
  • Solidnames is not a self-service auction platform: no public catalogue, pricing on quote, corporate model oriented toward large accounts and legal departments.
  • Milodomain is a self-service public auction platform: catalogue of several thousand .fr visible, transparent ascending auctions, €30 excl. VAT min bid, public pricing, French invoice.
  • The two are not really competitors: Solidnames answers "recover THIS domain / defend MY brand" (one-off, legal, delegated); Milodomain "acquire domains regularly, yourself" (active, recurring, autonomous).
  • An organisation can use both: Solidnames for the defensive (protect its brand), Milodomain for the offensive (acquire SEO-valuable domains).

To go further: complete guide to .fr drop-catching, SYRELI procedure explained, Milodomain vs Nicsell comparison, Milodomain vs Catched comparison, complete guide to expired .fr domain names.