Quick answer
Is .app or .dev better?
.app vs .dev: choose .app for a product people open or install, and .dev for developer docs, tools and portfolios. Both belong to Google Registry and require HTTPS. As of 29 October 2026, DotAlmanac sells .app at $8.99/year, renewing at $14.99/year, and .dev at $8.99/year, renewing at $12.99/year. No KYC, paid in crypto.
Key facts
| Registry | Google Registry (Charleston Road Registry Inc.), for both |
|---|---|
| HTTPS | Required for both: each whole extension is on the browsers' HSTS preload list |
| Who can register | Anyone, for both; no developer status needed for .dev |
| .app at DotAlmanac | $8.99/year first year, $14.99/year to renew |
| .dev at DotAlmanac | $8.99/year first year, $12.99/year to renew |
| Works as on any domain; the HTTPS rule applies to web browsers only |
How do .app and .dev compare side by side?
| .app | .dev | |
|---|---|---|
| First year at DotAlmanac | $8.99/year | $8.99/year |
| Renewal | $14.99/year (+67 %) | $12.99/year (+44 %) |
| Cost over 5 years | $8.99 + 4 × $14.99 = $68.95 as of 29 October 2026 | $8.99 + 4 × $12.99 = $60.95 as of 29 October 2026 |
| Registry | Google Registry | Google Registry |
| HTTPS required | ✓ | ✓ |
| Who can register | Anyone | Anyone |
| WHOIS privacy | Allowed; free here | Allowed; free here |
| Longest term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Non-Latin names (IDN) | ✓ | ✓ |
| How people read it | An app or online service for end users | Code, documentation, developer tools |
| Main risk | Largest renewal jump in our grid | Reads as technical to a general audience |
Last checked on ; older figures carry their own date
Percentages compare each renewal with its first year, at DotAlmanac's prices of 29 October 2026.
Which is better, .app or .dev?
Pick by audience: .app for users, .dev for developers. A .app tells a visitor there is a product to open, install or sign into. A .dev tells a developer there is code, documentation or a tool behind the name.
DotAlmanac is a domain extension guide and registrar: compare every extension, then register it with no KYC and pay in crypto. Google Registry runs both under the same rules, so audience and renewal price are the only real differences. Both prices sit in our price list.
What does the HTTPS requirement mean for .app and .dev?
A .app or .dev site opens only over HTTPS. Google Registry placed both whole extensions on the HSTS preload list, which browsers ship with. A browser refuses any plain HTTP connection to a name under them, and offers no way past a certificate error.
In practice, no certificate means no website on these extensions. Vercel, Netlify, GitHub Pages and Cloudflare Pages create one for your custom domain after its DNS records point to them. Our DNS templates set those records in one click; see connect a domain to Vercel or to GitHub Pages.
Why does .app cost more to renew than .dev?
Both start with a low first year and renew higher, and the .app jump is the larger one. According to DotAlmanac's price grid, .app renews 67 % above its first year and .dev 44 %, as of 29 October 2026. .app has the largest gap of the 43 extensions we sell in the customer's name.
Over 5 years, .dev therefore costs less than .app; the sums are in the table above. Other registrars show the same pattern. Porkbun renews .app at $14.93 and .dev at $12.87 (19 October 2026). Our guide on why renewals cost more explains the mechanism.
Can you use .dev names for local development?
No: browsers force HTTPS on every .dev name, including names that exist only on your own machine. A local setup that maps project.dev to your computer fails without a trusted certificate. Use .test or .localhost for local work; both are reserved for that purpose and are never sold.
The same applies to .app. Register a real name only for what the public will reach.
Which one fits your project?
| Project | Pick | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile app landing page | .app | Says there is something to install |
| Web app or SaaS dashboard | .app, or .com if it is free | Users read it as a product |
| API reference or SDK docs | .dev | Developers expect technical content there |
| Developer portfolio or blog | .dev | Yourname.dev reads as a programmer's site |
| Open-source library | .dev | Lower renewal; .org is the other option, see .com vs .net vs .org |
| Shop or consumer brand | Neither | Use .com; see the best extension for online stores |
Where are .app and .dev cheaper than at DotAlmanac?
Cloudflare and Porkbun sell both for less, in the first year and at renewal. Dynadot renews slightly below us but charges more for the first year, so over 5 years it ends up above us on both: $72.00 for .app and $62.00 for .dev.
If total cost is your only criterion, Cloudflare is the place to look. DotAlmanac prints the renewal up front, asks for no ID and takes BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC, XMR.
What do other registrars charge for .app and .dev?
First year / renewal in US dollars per year; Dynadot and Cloudflare were read on 8 October, Porkbun on 19 October.
| Registrar (date read) | .app | .dev |
|---|---|---|
| DotAlmanac (29 Oct 2026) | $8.99 / $14.99 | $8.99 / $12.99 |
| Porkbun (19 Oct 2026) | $8.75 / $14.93 | $8.75 / $12.87 |
| Cloudflare Registrar (8 Oct 2026) | $8.20 / $14.20 | $8.20 / $12.20 |
| Dynadot (8 Oct 2026) | $14.00 / $14.50 | $12.00 / $12.50 |
Last checked on ; older figures carry their own date
Cloudflare charges registry cost with no markup, lists no crypto payment option, and only works with its own nameservers.
.app vs .dev: FAQ
Who owns the .app and .dev extensions?
Google Registry runs both, under the company name Charleston Road Registry Inc. It put both extensions on the HSTS preload list, so HTTPS is required on every name. Anyone can register either one.
Does the HTTPS rule affect email on a .dev domain?
No. HSTS tells browsers how to load websites; it does not touch MX records or mail delivery. Our DNS templates connect a .dev or .app domain to Proton Mail, Fastmail, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 or Zoho Mail.
Can I host a .app site on GitHub Pages?
Yes. Point the domain to GitHub Pages and let it issue the certificate for your custom domain. Until the certificate is ready, browsers will not open the site, because the HTTPS rule allows no exception.
Is .dev only for developers?
No. There is no eligibility rule, so anyone can register a .dev. Both sit among the 176 of 225 extensions in DotAlmanac's table that have no registrant restriction. The name simply reads as technical.
Can I pay for .app or .dev in crypto?
Yes: BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC, XMR. Top up a balance (minimum $1), then register from it. Use the network shown on the order page, send the exact sum, and the credit arrives once that network confirms the transfer.
Sources (9)
- Delegation record for .APP — IANA (checked 2026-10-29)
- Delegation record for .DEV — IANA (checked 2026-10-29)
- HSTS preload and Google Registry kb.porkbun.com/article/96-hsts-preload-and-google-registry — Porkbun (checked 2026-10-29)
- HSTS Preload List Submission — hstspreload.org (checked 2026-10-29)
- RFC 6761: Special-Use Domain Names — IETF (February 2013)
- Domain pricing porkbun.com/products/domains — Porkbun (checked 2026-10-19)
- Cloudflare domain pricing — cfdomainpricing.com (checked 2026-10-08)
- Registrar FAQ — Cloudflare (checked 2026-10-08)
- Domain prices by TLD dynadot.com/domain/tlds — Dynadot (checked 2026-10-08)
Search your name in .app and .dev
Both need HTTPS from day one. One-click DNS records for Vercel, Netlify, GitHub Pages and Cloudflare Pages come free with every domain.