.io domains
Short, technical and recognised by developers everywhere. Search a name for your app, API or startup, with free WHOIS privacy and DNS.
$70.99$36.99 first year, offer until Dec 31, 2026 · renews $74.99
Search .io names
$ whois yourapp.io
No match for "YOURAPP.IO".
$ dig +short NS io
a0.nic.io.
a2.nic.io.
→ yourapp.io is available · $36.99 first year
What is a .io domain?
.io is the country-code top-level domain of the British Indian Ocean Territory. Internet Computer Bureau, part of Identity Digital, runs the registry. Anyone can register one, anywhere, and because developers read "io" as input/output it became the extension of tech products. Google treats .io as generic, not tied to a country.
- ccTLD, used as generic
- Open to anyone
- 1 to 10 years
- Free WHOIS privacy
- No local presence needed
Use cases
Who picks .io
When the .com is long gone, .io is the name technical buyers expect.
Developer tools and APIs
Docs, dashboards and API endpoints on one short name.
docs.yourapi.io
SaaS products
A product name that's free on .io when the .com was taken years ago.
yourapp.io
Startups
Launch on the name you want now; add the .com later if it comes up.
yourstartup.io
Browser games
A whole genre of multiplayer browser games is known by the extension.
yourgame.io
Budget for the renewal
The first year is an offer. From the second year you pay the renewal price, so here's what three years cost today.
Renewals aren't automatic: we email reminders before the domain expires, and the price is shown before you pay.
| Year | You pay | Total so far |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1first-year offer | $36.99 | $36.99 |
| Year 2renewal | $74.99 | $111.98 |
| Year 3renewal | $74.99 | $186.97 |
Compare
.io, .dev, .ai or .com?
The usual choices for a tech product, at today's prices.
| Extension | Best for | First year | Renews |
|---|---|---|---|
| .io | Apps, APIs, developer toolsWidely recognised in tech; renewals cost more than the first year | $36.99 | $74.99 |
| .dev | Developers and portfoliosHTTPS-only: browsers won't load a .dev site over plain http | $15.99 | $18.99 |
| .ai | AI productsThe registry sells at least 2 years at a time | $110.992-year minimum | $117.99 |
| .com | Any businessThe default everywhere; short names are mostly taken | $14.99 | $14.99 |
Per year
FAQ
.io questions
What founders and developers ask before registering.
What does .io stand for?
Officially, the British Indian Ocean Territory: .io is its country code. Developers read it as input/output, which is why software companies adopted it.
Can anyone register a .io domain?
Yes. You don't need to live in or have a business in the territory. Register it like any other name, in your own or your company's details.
Is a .io domain good for SEO?
It doesn't hold you back. Google treats .io as a generic extension, like .com, so a .io site isn't tied to one country and can rank anywhere. What ranks is the content on the site.
Why does .io renew for more than the first year?
The first year is an offer ($36.99); renewing costs $74.99 a year. The renewal price is shown before you pay, and the table above shows three years in full.
Is WHOIS privacy available on .io?
Yes, and it's free. It keeps the owner's name, address, email and phone out of public WHOIS lookups.
Can I move my .io to HostMentor?
Yes. Unlock it at your current registrar, get the transfer (auth) code and start the transfer from your dashboard. A transfer costs $70.99.
Find your .io name.
Check it now, with .dev, .ai and .com alternatives alongside.
Search a .io nameAlso see .com and every extension we sell.