What is the best domain extension for a developer?

Why is .dev the best extension for developers?

Because it says software in three letters and enforces good security by default. DotAlmanac is a domain extension guide and registrar: compare every extension, then register it with no KYC and pay in crypto.

.dev is run by Google Registry and is open to anyone: you do not need to prove you write code. The whole extension sits on the HSTS preload list shipped with browsers, so every .dev site loads over HTTPS. Documentation, a library home page or a portfolio on .dev reads as a developer's work.

The price needs one look. DotAlmanac's price grid of 43 extensions shows .dev renewing 44 % above its first year, as of 29 October 2026. Budget for $12.99/year, not for the first-year price.

Which extension fits which developer project?

Match the extension to what visitors will do on the site: read, install, buy or hire. The .sh extension, popular for install scripts, is not sold by DotAlmanac.

What does HTTPS-only mean in practice?

It means a browser never loads a .dev, .app or .page site over plain HTTP, not even on the first visit. The site needs a valid TLS certificate before launch. Vercel, Netlify, GitHub Pages and Cloudflare Pages issue one when you add the domain; a bare server needs an ACME client such as Certbot.

Two habits break on these extensions:

• Local hostnames. Do not invent myapp.dev names for local testing: browsers force HTTPS on them too. Use localhost or a name ending in .test, which RFC 2606 reserves for testing.
• Plain-HTTP redirects. A redirect served over HTTP never runs. Serve every redirect from a host that holds a certificate for the domain.

Add a CAA record to choose which certificate authorities may issue for your domain.

How do you point a developer domain at your host?

Pick the host's template in the client area, or create the records yourself. The values below are the ones the templates write; for Vercel, the values shown in your Vercel project take precedence. Step-by-step guides: GitHub Pages, Vercel and Cloudflare.

Should a developer portfolio use .dev or .me?

Use .dev when your work is code, and your name in .com when you also write, teach or consult. A .dev address tells a reader the site is about code before they open it. A .com with your full name stays useful if you later move into management or start a company.

One domain can serve both roles. Put the portfolio on yourname.dev and point yourname.com at it, or the reverse. At DotAlmanac, a .com costs $11.99/year, and a .me $18.49/year with no increase at renewal. More options for a personal site: extensions for personal websites.

Is .dev cheaper at other registrars?

Slightly, yes. As of 19 October 2026, per its price list, Porkbun sold .dev at $8.75, then $12.87 to renew, and .app at $8.75, then $14.93. At DotAlmanac, .dev costs $8.99 then $12.99, and .app $8.99 then $14.99. We do not claim to be the cheapest registrar; we offer no KYC, payment in crypto and the DNS templates above. Both Google extensions are compared in .app vs .dev.