Quick answer
What is the best domain extension for an AI company?
The best domain extension for AI companies is .ai: it names the category, anyone can register it, and its renewal does not rise. At DotAlmanac it costs $84.49/year, sold 2 years at a time, as of 29 October 2026. If the .ai is taken or over budget, use .com, then .io.
.ai at DotAlmanac (29 October 2026)
| Price | $84.49/year, the same at renewal |
|---|---|
| Minimum term | 2 years, at registration and at renewal |
| First payment | 2 years: 2 × $84.49 |
| Transfer in | Billed 2 years (the transfer plus 1 renewal) |
| Maximum term | 10 years |
| Registry | Government of Anguilla (country code) |
| Who can register | Anyone; no presence in Anguilla needed |
| WHOIS privacy | Free at DotAlmanac; the registry allows privacy services |
Why is .ai the best extension for an AI company?
Because the extension itself says what the product does, and no other extension does that for artificial intelligence. DotAlmanac is a domain extension guide and registrar: compare every extension, then register it with no KYC and pay in crypto.
.ai is the country code of Anguilla, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean. Its registry accepts registrants from anywhere, with no local presence. A model, an agent or an AI tool on a .ai address needs no tagline to explain its category.
The extension also has one rule that sets it apart. According to DotAlmanac's table of 225 extensions, .ai is the only one with a 2-year minimum term.
How does the 2-year minimum change the cost?
It doubles the first payment, not the yearly price. A new .ai at DotAlmanac costs 2 × $84.49 on the day you order. Each renewal is also a 2-year block, so the balance must cover two years before the renewal date.
Transfers follow the same logic. Moving a .ai to DotAlmanac is billed 2 years: the transfer plus one renewal. In return, the price does not climb: .ai renews at $84.49/year, while .io renews 54 % above its first year.
| Extension | First payment | 1st year / renewal | Registry | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .ai | 2 × $84.49 | $84.49 / $84.49 | Government of Anguilla | AI models, agents, AI-first products |
| .com | $11.99 | $11.99 / $11.99 | Verisign | AI features inside a wider product |
| .io | $33.99 | $33.99 / $52.49 | Internet Computer Bureau | AI developer tools and APIs |
| .tech | $47.49 | $47.49 / $51.49 | Radix | AI hardware and deep tech |
| .app | $8.99 | $8.99 / $14.99 | Google Registry | Consumer AI apps (HTTPS required) |
| .dev | $8.99 | $8.99 / $12.99 | Google Registry | Open-source models and SDKs |
Where is .ai cheaper, and by how much?
Cloudflare Registrar and Porkbun sold .ai for a few dollars less per year in October 2026. Cloudflare sells at cost ($80.00 a year, 8 October 2026) but takes no crypto. Porkbun listed $82.70 a year on 19 October 2026, per its price list, and $165.09 for a 2-year transfer.
Namecheap shows the opposite pattern: $84.18 the first year, then $92.18 to renew. At DotAlmanac, .ai costs $84.49/year at registration and at renewal. Our case rests on no KYC and payment in crypto, not on price.
| Registrar | .ai per year | Renewal per year | Pays in crypto | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DotAlmanac | $84.49 | $84.49 | BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Cloudflare Registrar | $80.00 | $80.00 | None documented | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Porkbun | $82.70 | $82.70 | USDC via Coinbase Business | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Namecheap | $84.18 | $92.18 | BTC, as an account top-up | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Dynadot | $85.60 | $85.60 | BTC, USDT, USDC | 8 Oct 2026 |
Last checked on ; older figures carry their own date
Price per year; every registrar bills .ai in 2-year blocks. Sources: each registrar's price list, cfdomainpricing.com (Cloudflare), domainoffer.net (Namecheap).
When should an AI company skip .ai?
Skip .ai when AI is a feature rather than the product. A CRM with an AI assistant still sells a CRM: a .com at $11.99/year describes it better and costs far less each year.
- Open-source model or SDK: .dev, read by developers as code. HTTPS is enforced by every browser.
- Consumer AI app: .app, which tells people there is something to install or open.
- Research lab or nonprofit: .org, which signals a mission rather than a sale.
- Product likely to pivot: .com, because a .ai address keeps the old category in every link.
Comparing the two most common picks in detail: .ai vs .io.
What should you check before you register a .ai name?
Check the budget for two years, the renewal date and the name itself.
- Budget: the first order is 2 × $84.49. A plan priced on one year falls short.
- Renewal: DotAlmanac offers automatic renewal from your balance, switched on or off for each domain. For .ai, keep two years of renewal on the balance.
- The name: a .ai name that copies a known model or company brand can be lost through a UDRP complaint. Search trademark registers first.
- Long terms: .ai accepts up to 10 years in one order. Weigh it with should you register a domain for 10 years.
Domains for AI companies: FAQ
Why must a .ai be bought two years at a time?
Anguilla's registry requires it: both registration and renewal cover at least 2 years, at every registrar. At DotAlmanac, the first payment is 2 × $84.49.
Is .ai a country domain?
Yes, it is the country code of Anguilla, run by the Government of Anguilla. Anyone can register it, from any country, and it is used worldwide for artificial intelligence.
Is .ai worth the price compared with .io?
Yes, when AI is the product: the address explains the company. If AI is one feature, .io or .com cost less. At DotAlmanac, .io renews at $52.49/year and .ai at $84.49/year.
Can I transfer my .ai domain to DotAlmanac?
Yes. A .ai transfer is billed 2 years: the transfer plus one renewal. Ask your current registrar for the transfer code first.
Does a .ai domain come with WHOIS privacy?
Yes, at DotAlmanac it is free: the registry allows privacy services. Not every registrar offers it for .ai, so check before you buy elsewhere.
Search your AI product name
Popular extensions
Sources (6)
- .ai delegation record — IANA (checked 2026-10-29)
- .ai registration terms — Amazon Route 53 (checked 2026-10-29)
- Domain pricing porkbun.com/products/domains — Porkbun (2026-10-19)
- Cloudflare domain pricing — cfdomainpricing.com (2026-10-08)
- Domain extension pricing dynadot.com/domain/tlds — Dynadot (2026-10-08)
- .ai prices across registrars — domainoffer.net (2026-10-08)
Check your .ai name
Check .ai, .com and .io in one search; the first .ai order covers two years.