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Register a domain name: where it is cheapest to keep
The first year is the bait; the renewal is the real price. For a .com, the cheapest place to keep it long-term is usually a registrar that sells at cost or close to it - the table below shows first-year and renewal prices side by side.
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 → |
| Dynadot | $10.88Renewal: $10.88 | $85.60Renewal: $85.60 | $28.89Renewal: $53.50 | $12.52Renewal: $12.52 | $8.00Renewal: $12.50 | See plan → |
| Porkbun | $11.08Renewal: $11.08 | $82.70Renewal: $82.70 | $28.12Renewal: $51.80 | $12.52Renewal: $12.52 | $8.75Renewal: $12.87 | See plan → |
| OVHcloud Domains | $9.20Renewal: $14.69 | - | $35.82Renewal: $62.69 | - | $9.91Renewal: $17.19 | See plan → |
| Name.com | $12.99Renewal: $17.99 | - | $53.99Renewal: $79.99 | $16.49Renewal: $19.99 | - | See plan → |
| Namecheap | $11.28Renewal: $18.48 | $89.98Renewal: $115 | $34.98Renewal: $75.98 | $12.48Renewal: $18.58 | $10.98Renewal: $20.98 | See plan → |
| Hostinger Domains | -Renewal: $19.99 | $89.99Renewal: - | $31.99Renewal: $74.99 | - | $9.99Renewal: - | See plan → |
| IONOS Domains | $1.00Renewal: $20.00 | $80.00Renewal: $120 | $40.99Renewal: $90.00 | $1.00Renewal: $20.00 | - | See plan → |
1st year / Renewal · yr · USD
Three things that matter more than the first-year price
Renewal price, free WHOIS privacy and easy transfer out. A registrar that is cheap for one year and expensive after, or that charges for privacy, costs more over five years.
Which ending to choose
.com is still the default people type. .ai and .io are popular for tech and AI projects but cost several times more, and .ai usually requires two years at once. A local ending (.pl, .nl, .com.br) builds trust in one country.
Questions people ask
Why do .ai domains cost so much?
The registry for .ai sets a high wholesale price and many registrars sell it in two-year blocks. Check the renewal price before you fall in love with the name.
Should I buy the domain from my hosting company?
It is convenient, but keeping domains at a separate registrar makes it easier to move hosting later. Many people do both: domain at a registrar, server anywhere.
What is WHOIS privacy?
It hides your name and address from the public domain record. Most good registrars include it for free.
Sources
Prices come from each provider’s own pricing page on the date shown. Providers change prices often - the checkout has the final word.