# Is a .dev domain the right home for my code, docs or portfolio?

> Who .dev suits: developers, docs, open-source libraries and portfolios. Forced HTTPS, renewal gap, rival prices. Get one with no KYC, paying in crypto.

- URL: https://dotalmanac.com/tld/dev/
- Last updated: 2026-10-29
- Publisher: DotAlmanac (https://dotalmanac.com)

A .dev tells readers that code lives here. Google Registry backs it with forced HTTPS, a rule that also ended the old habit of using .dev for local test sites.

**Quick answer — Is a .dev domain a good choice for developers?**

Yes, for developer portfolios, documentation, libraries and dev tools. Browsers force HTTPS on every .dev site, and the renewal sits well above the first-year price, so budget on the second figure. At **DotAlmanac**, a domain extension guide and registrar, a .dev costs **$8.99/year** the first year and $12.99/year to renew (29 October 2026), paid in crypto with no KYC.

## Search a .dev domain

Search a domain name: https://dotalmanac.com/app/domains/?q=yourname.dev

Popular extensions: .dev ($8.99)

A .dev search queries Google Registry's RDAP server, so “available” means the registry holds no record of the name when you search.

## .dev at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Registry | Google Registry (Charleston Road Registry Inc.) |
| Kind of extension | New generic TLD from Google Registry, opened in 2019 |
| Best for | Developer portfolios, docs, open-source libraries and dev tools |
| Who can register | Anyone; no proof of being a developer |
| Public WHOIS / RDAP | Privacy allowed by Google Registry; included at no cost |
| Registration period | 1 to 10 years |
| Watch out for | Forced HTTPS; never use .dev for local test sites |

## .dev price per year

| Extension | 1st year | Renewal | Transfer | WHOIS privacy | Restrictions |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| .dev | $8.99 | $12.99 | $12.99 | Free | HTTPS required |

*1 extensions · prices per year in USD*

The .dev renewal costs noticeably more than year one, and HTTPS is mandatory on every .dev website.

## Who gets the most out of .dev?

Individual developers get the most out of .dev. A short yourname.dev is often still free when yourname.com is not, and it says exactly what the site holds. Documentation sites, open-source libraries, command-line tools and engineering blogs fit just as well. Teams on Vercel, Netlify, GitHub Pages or Cloudflare Pages meet the HTTPS rule without any work. A .dev is the wrong choice for a consumer product, for a firm selling to non-technical buyers, and for anything served over plain HTTP. DotAlmanac's price grid of 29 October 2026 puts the .dev renewal 44% over the first year, behind only .app and .io.

## Where a .dev address works

| Project | Verdict for .dev |
| --- | --- |
| Developer portfolio or CV site | Strong fit: short, personal and clearly technical. |
| Documentation for an API or SDK | Strong fit: the ending tells readers what to expect. |
| Open-source library homepage | Good fit: pair it with a .org if a foundation backs the project. |
| Local test environment | Poor fit: use .test or .localhost, which are reserved for that. |
| Online store | Poor fit: buyers do not connect .dev with shopping. |

## .dev against .app and .io

The [.app vs .dev comparison](https://dotalmanac.com/app-vs-dev/ "Should I use .app or .dev for my project?") covers the two Google endings in detail: same registry, same HTTPS rule, different readers. A .dev addresses people who write code; a .app addresses people who use software. Against [.io](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/io/ "Is a .io domain a safe and sensible choice for my tech project?"), a .dev costs far less to renew and avoids the Chagos question. A .io still suits a startup that wants a company feel rather than a personal or documentation feel. Many projects hold both: the product on one, the docs on the other. For a full ranking, see the [best domain extension for developers](https://dotalmanac.com/best-domain-extension-for-developers/ "What is the best domain extension for a developer?").

## From local test ending to public TLD

Google's Charleston Road Registry runs .dev and opened it to the public in February 2019. Before that, many developers used made-up .dev hostnames for local test sites. Google then added the whole .dev zone to the HSTS preload list. Browsers began to force HTTPS on those local names too, and many test setups broke. Today the registry has no eligibility rule, permits WHOIS privacy, supports DNSSEC and IDN, and sells terms between 1 and 10 years. The same rules apply to .app, its sister ending.

## Gotchas specific to .dev

Never use .dev for local development any more: a public owner can hold the name, and browsers force HTTPS on it. The reserved names .test and .localhost exist for that job. On a public .dev, get the certificate in place before you switch DNS, or visitors see a browser error. Watch the renewal step: at Porkbun the second year costs about 1.5 times the first, and our own grid shows a similar step. Last, an expired .dev that hosted docs breaks every link in other people's code, so keep auto-renew on.

## What sellers charge for .dev

For a .dev, Porkbun charges $8.75 in year one and $12.87 to renew, as of 19 October 2026, per its price list. Njalla's list showed €30 per year on 8 October 2026. The [domain renewal price index](https://dotalmanac.com/data/domain-renewal-price-index-2026/ "How much does it cost to renew a domain in 2026?") sets these figures against other popular endings, year one and renewal side by side.

## .dev questions

### Why did my local .dev test site stop working?

Because .dev is a real public ending on the HSTS preload list. Browsers force HTTPS on every .dev name, including ones that only exist on your machine. Move local projects to names under .test or .localhost; both are reserved and never delegated in the public DNS.

### Do I need to be a developer to register a .dev?

No. Google Registry sets no eligibility test, and anyone in any country can hold one. The ending simply signals a technical site. A designer, a writer or a company can register a .dev, as long as the website serves HTTPS.

### How do I put a .dev on GitHub Pages?

Apply the GitHub Pages template in the client area. It adds four A records and four AAAA records at the apex, plus a CNAME for www pointing to your github.io address. GitHub then issues the certificate. The full walk-through is in [how to connect a domain to GitHub Pages](https://dotalmanac.com/how-to-connect-a-domain-to-github-pages/ "How do I connect my domain to GitHub Pages?").

### Does the HTTPS rule affect APIs on a .dev?

Yes, for any client that follows the HSTS preload list, such as a browser. An API called from a web page must answer over HTTPS. Server-to-server calls from your own code do not read that list, but serving HTTPS everywhere avoids any mismatch.

## Sources

1. [Root Zone Database: .dev](https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/dev.html) — IANA (checked 2026-10-08)
2. [HSTS preload and Google Registry](https://kb.porkbun.com/article/96-hsts-preload-and-google-registry) — Porkbun Knowledge Base (checked 2026-10-08)
3. [Domains that you can register with Amazon Route 53: .dev](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/Route53/latest/DeveloperGuide/dev.md) — Amazon Web Services (checked 2026-10-08)
4. [Domain pricing](https://porkbun.com/products/domains) — Porkbun (checked 2026-10-19)
5. [Pricing](https://njal.la/pricing/) — Njalla (checked 2026-10-08)

## Other extension guides

- [.com](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/com/ "Is a .com domain still the right choice for my project in 2026?")
- [.net](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/net/ "Should I register a .net domain, or keep looking for a .com?")
- [.org](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/org/ "Is a .org domain only for nonprofits, and is it right for my project?")
- [.io](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/io/ "Is a .io domain a safe and sensible choice for my tech project?")
- [.ai](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/ai/ "Should my AI company register a .ai domain despite the 2-year minimum?")
- [.co](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/co/ "Is a .co domain a good substitute when the .com is taken?")
- [.app](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/app/ "Should I put my mobile or web app on a .app domain?")
- [.dev](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/dev/ "Is a .dev domain the right home for my code, docs or portfolio?")
- [.xyz](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/xyz/ "Is .xyz a good domain for a real project, or only for experiments?")
- [.me](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/me/ "Is a .me domain a good choice for my personal website or portfolio?")
- [.shop](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/shop/ "Should my online store use a .shop domain instead of a .com?")
- [.tech](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/tech/ "Is a .tech domain a credible address for my technology company?")
- [.gg](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/gg/ "Is a .gg domain a good choice for my gaming community or esports team?")
- [.blog](https://dotalmanac.com/tld/blog/ "Should I register a .blog domain for my blog or newsletter?")

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DotAlmanac: DotAlmanac is a domain extension guide and registrar: compare every extension, then register it with no KYC and pay in crypto. A .com costs $11.99/year.