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Register an .ai domain: rules, costs and alternatives
You can register an .ai domain at most big registrars, but expect to pay for two years up front and a much higher yearly price than .com - and the renewal price matters more than the first-year deal. Search your name, compare the renewal column in the table below, and check trademarks before you pay.
What .ai actually is
.ai is the country-code domain of Anguilla, a small Caribbean territory. Like .io or .tv, it became popular for a reason that has nothing to do with the country: the letters happen to match a hot industry. Today it is the default ending for AI startups, tools and side projects.
Because it is a country-code domain, the registry sets its own rules rather than following the generic rules that apply to .com. Anyone can register one - you do not need to live in Anguilla - but pricing and registration terms are set by the registry and passed on by registrars.
How to register an ai domain, step by step
The process is the same as for any other domain, with one twist: most registrars sell .ai in a minimum two-year registration, so the first invoice covers two years.
- Search the exact name in our domain search or at a registrar.
- Compare the first-year and renewal prices in the table below - for .ai they are often close, but not everywhere.
- Check the registration period at checkout; it is usually two years minimum.
- Make sure WHOIS privacy is included and turn on auto-renew so you do not lose the name.
- Point the domain's DNS to your host, or move DNS to a provider you already use.
Registrar prices
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| Provider | .com 1st year / Renewal | .ai 1st year / Renewal | .io 1st year / Renewal | .net 1st year / Renewal | .dev 1st year / Renewal | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spaceship | $8.88Renewal: $9.98 | $79.98Renewal: $79.98 | $31.98Renewal: $51.75 | $11.20Renewal: $11.20 | $8.28Renewal: $12.42 | See plan โ |
| Dynadot | $10.88Renewal: $10.88 | $85.60Renewal: $85.60 | $28.89Renewal: $53.50 | $12.52Renewal: $12.52 | $8.00Renewal: $12.50 | See plan โ |
| Porkbun | $11.08Renewal: $11.08 | $82.70Renewal: $82.70 | $28.12Renewal: $51.80 | $12.52Renewal: $12.52 | $8.75Renewal: $12.87 | See plan โ |
| OVHcloud Domains | $9.20Renewal: $14.69 | - | $35.82Renewal: $62.69 | - | $9.91Renewal: $17.19 | See plan โ |
| Name.com | $12.99Renewal: $17.99 | - | $53.99Renewal: $79.99 | $16.49Renewal: $19.99 | - | See plan โ |
| Namecheap | $11.28Renewal: $18.48 | $89.98Renewal: $115 | $34.98Renewal: $75.98 | $12.48Renewal: $18.58 | $10.98Renewal: $20.98 | See plan โ |
| Hostinger Domains | -Renewal: $19.99 | $89.99Renewal: - | $31.99Renewal: $74.99 | - | $9.99Renewal: - | See plan โ |
| IONOS Domains | $1.00Renewal: $20.00 | $80.00Renewal: $120 | $40.99Renewal: $90.00 | $1.00Renewal: $20.00 | - | See plan โ |
1st year / Renewal ยท yr ยท USD
What an .ai domain costs to keep
A .ai name costs several times more per year than a .com, and that price repeats every year you keep it. The table below lists current first-year and renewal prices across registrars - sort by renewal, because that is what you will pay for as long as the project lives.
Watch out for bundles. Some registrars show a low first-year price only with a hosting plan or a long prepayment. If you just need the name, buy it on its own at a registrar with a fair renewal price and keep hosting separate; you can move either one later without touching the other.
Premium .ai names - short words, common terms - are priced far above the standard fee, sometimes with a premium renewal as well. The registrar shows this at checkout; read it before you click buy.
Is .ai worth it, or is .com better?
An .ai domain makes sense when the product really is about AI and the matching .com is taken or too expensive. It signals the category instantly and the good names are easier to find than on .com.
It is a worse choice for a local business, a blog that might change topic, or anything where people will type the address from memory - many still add .com by habit. And if the AI label ever stops fitting your product, you are paying a premium for a name that no longer describes you.
- .com - still the safest default and usually cheaper to renew.
- .io - popular with developer tools, but also a country-code domain with a higher renewal than .com.
- .dev and .app - cheaper, and both require HTTPS, which you want anyway.
- Your country's domain - often the best choice if you only sell locally.
Check trademarks before you buy
An available domain is not the same as a name you are allowed to use. Search the trademark databases of the markets you sell in (the USPTO in the US, EUIPO in the EU) for the brand you have in mind. Registering a name that copies a known brand plus "ai" can lead to a dispute you will lose, along with the domain.
If the name you want is taken, you can try a backorder or contact the owner through the registrar, but for most projects a slightly different name is cheaper and faster.
Check .com, .ai, .io and more in one goTry the tool โ
Questions people ask
How do I buy an ai domain?
Search the name at a registrar that sells .ai, pay for the registration period (usually two years minimum), turn on WHOIS privacy and auto-renew, then point the DNS to your host. Our domain search checks availability in one go.
Why is an .ai domain so expensive?
The price is set by the registry that runs Anguilla's country-code domain, and registrars add their margin on top. High demand from AI companies keeps it well above a .com. The table shows current register and renewal prices.
Can I register an .ai domain for just one year?
Most registrars require a two-year minimum for the first registration. Check the period at checkout; renewals can often be shorter, depending on the registrar.
Do I need to live in Anguilla to own a .ai domain?
No. .ai is open to anyone in the world. You just register it through a registrar like any other domain.