What is a .dev domain used for?

Developer projects: personal sites, documentation, open-source tools, APIs and products aimed at programmers. Google runs the registry and opened it to the public in February 2019. Anyone can register one, with no eligibility rules.

How much does a .dev domain cost?

Renewals run from $12.20 a year at Cloudflare to $21.18 at Namecheap, and first-year offers start at $8.00. Over 10 years a .dev costs $118.00 at the cheapest registrar here.

Why are .dev domains so expensive?

A standard .dev is not: the registry charges about $12 a year, and Cloudflare sells it at cost for $12.20. Higher prices come from registrar markup (up to $21.18 at Namecheap) or from premium names, which the registry prices well above the standard fee.

Do .dev domains require HTTPS?

Browsers will only load .dev sites over HTTPS, because the extension is on the HSTS preload list, and registrars must warn you before you buy. Set up a TLS certificate before pointing the domain at a site; most hosts and Let's Encrypt issue one free.

Where is the cheapest place to buy a .dev domain?

For a domain you plan to keep, Cloudflare: $118.00 over 10 years. The cheapest first year is $8.00 at Dynadot, and the cheapest transfer is $11.99 at Dynadot.

LAST UPDATED: OCTOBER 20, 2026

.dev Domain Price Comparison: Register, Renew and Transfer

What a .dev domain costs at Cloudflare, Porkbun, Namecheap, Dynadot and Route 53, from the first-year offer to the renewal you pay every year after.

Compare Before You Buy FAQ

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Pricing TLDR

• Cheapest .dev renewal: $12.20/year at Cloudflare; most expensive: $21.18 at Namecheap
• First-year offers from $8.00 at Dynadot, renewing at $12.50
• Browsers load .dev sites only over HTTPS, so you need a certificate before the site works
• Google runs the registry; the wholesale price rose to $12 a year in August 2024

.dev Domain Price by Registrar

Years

Registrar

Dynadotcheapest

First year

$8.00

Renewal / year

$12.50

Transfer

$11.99

1-year total

$8.00

Registrar

Cloudflare

First year

$8.20

Renewal / year

$12.20

Transfer

$12.20

1-year total

$8.20

Registrar

Porkbun

First year

$8.75

Renewal / year

$12.87

Transfer

$12.87

1-year total

$8.75

Registrar

Namecheap

First year

$11.18

Renewal / year

$21.18

Transfer

$16.18

1-year total

$11.18

Registrar

Route 53

First year

$17.00

Renewal / year

$17.00

Transfer

$17.00

1-year total

$17.00

USD. The total assumes the whole term is paid at registration. Namecheap bills those years at its registration price; the others charge their renewal price. A transfer adds one year to the domain. Prices checked Cloudflare October 20, 2026; Porkbun October 20, 2026; Namecheap October 20, 2026; Dynadot October 20, 2026; Route 53 October 20, 2026.

Sources:

.dev registration policy

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.dev pricing policy

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.dev registry agreement

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Before You Buy a .dev Domain

HTTPS is required

The whole .dev extension is on the HSTS preload list built into Chrome, Firefox and Safari, so browsers refuse to load any .dev site over plain HTTP. Every subdomain needs a certificate too (Let's Encrypt works). For local development hostnames, use .localhost or .test instead.

Compare the renewal, not the first year

4 of the 5 registrars charge less for the first year. Cloudflare sells at cost: $8.20 for a new .dev, then $12.20 to renew. Over 10 years a .dev costs $118.00 at Cloudflare and $170.00 at Route 53.

Premium names cost more

Google's registry sets aside premium .dev names, mostly short or common words, priced above the standard fee. Check the price shown at checkout and the renewal price before you buy one.

Transfers add a year

Moving a .dev costs from $11.99 at Dynadot, and the year is added to the current expiration date. A registrar can refuse a transfer within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer.