How Much Does a Domain Name Cost? Pricing Guide for 2026

One of the first questions every founder, blogger, or side-project builder asks is: how much does a domain name actually cost? The honest answer is "it depends"—but not in the hand-wavy way you might expect. Domain pricing follows clear patterns, and understanding them can save you hundreds (or thousands) of dollars. This guide breaks down every cost you'll encounter, from standard registrations to premium aftermarket purchases, so you can budget accurately and avoid overpaying.

Standard Registration Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay

A brand-new, never-before-registered domain name is the most affordable option. Here's what you can expect to pay across the most popular top-level domains (TLDs) in 2026:

.com Domains

The gold standard. A .com domain typically costs between $8 and $15 per year for a standard registration. This is the wholesale price that registrars pay ICANN, plus their markup. Some registrars offer first-year discounts as low as $5.99, but watch out for renewal pricing—more on that below.

At these prices, there's no reason to delay registering a .com you like. The cost of waiting is far higher than the cost of registering. If you find a great name through a domain name generator, lock it in immediately.

Country-Code TLDs (ccTLDs)

Country-code domains vary widely in price depending on the registry:

• .co.uk — $7–$12/year. One of the most affordable ccTLDs, popular for UK businesses.
• .de — $6–$10/year. Germany's TLD, commonly used in the EU.
• .ca — $10–$15/year. Requires a Canadian presence to register.
• .com.au — $15–$25/year. Australian businesses must meet eligibility requirements.
• .eu — $8–$12/year. Available to EU residents and organizations.

New gTLDs and Tech-Focused Extensions

Newer TLDs have a much wider price range. The registry sets the wholesale price, and popular extensions command a premium:

• .io — $30–$50/year. The go-to for tech startups and SaaS products. Prices have increased steadily as demand grows.
• .ai — $50–$150/year. Exploded in popularity with the AI boom. Anguilla's registry has capitalized on demand, and prices reflect that. Two-letter .ai domains can cost $100+/year just for standard registration.
• .co — $25–$35/year. Originally Colombia's ccTLD, now marketed as a "company" extension. Used by major brands like Twitter (t.co) and Google (g.co).
• .dev — $12–$18/year. Google-operated, requires HTTPS. Great for developer tools and portfolios.
• .app — $14–$20/year. Another Google registry TLD, also requires HTTPS.
• .xyz — $10–$14/year. Affordable and memorable. Used by Alphabet (abc.xyz).
• .tech — $35–$55/year. Popular for tech companies, but the higher price makes it less attractive for side projects.

Premium Domain Pricing: The Aftermarket

If the .com you want is already registered, you're looking at the aftermarket. This is where pricing gets interesting—and potentially expensive.

Price Tiers on the Aftermarket

1. $100–$500 — Decent two-word .com domains, less common keywords, or domains with minor issues (hyphens, longer length). This is where bootstrapped startups often find good deals.
2. $500–$2,000 — Solid brandable names, shorter two-word combinations, and exact-match keywords for niche industries. Many quality names live in this range.
3. $2,000–$10,000 — Strong single-word or short two-word .coms, category-relevant names, and domains with some existing traffic or backlinks.
4. $10,000–$50,000 — Premium brandable names, short dictionary words, and domains with significant SEO value. This is where funded startups typically shop.
5. $50,000–$500,000 — One-word .com domains, industry-defining keywords, and names with major brand potential. Think names like Craft.com, Frame.com, or Bold.com.
6. $500,000–$1M+ — Ultra-premium, category-defining names. Voice.com sold for $30M. Insurance.com went for $35.6M. These are the real estate equivalents of Manhattan penthouses.

For a deeper look at whether aftermarket domains are worth the investment, check out our guide on expired domains vs. new domain registrations.

Where to Buy Aftermarket Domains

• Afternic — Owned by GoDaddy, one of the largest aftermarket platforms. Domains are listed across a network of registrar partners.
• Sedo — European-based marketplace with a strong auction system. Good for international domains.
• Dan.com — Clean, modern interface with installment payment options. Popular with indie sellers.
• Squadhelp — Combines brandable name creation with a marketplace. Curated inventory.
• Direct outreach — If a domain shows a parked page or WHOIS contact, you can negotiate directly. Expect to pay less than listed aftermarket prices, but be prepared for no response or unrealistic asking prices.

Registrar Pricing Comparison: Who Charges What

Not all registrars charge the same price for the same domain. Here's how the major players stack up for a standard .com registration:

Cloudflare Registrar

Cloudflare offers domains at cost—they charge exactly what the registry charges, with zero markup. For .com domains, that's around $9.15/year. No upsells, no tricks. The catch? You need to use Cloudflare's DNS (which is excellent anyway). This is the best deal in domain registration, period.

Namecheap

.com domains run about $9.58–$13.98/year. Namecheap includes free WHOIS privacy protection with every domain—a feature some registrars charge $10+/year for. Their interface is clean, pricing is transparent, and they don't aggressively upsell. A solid choice for most people.

Google Domains (now Squarespace Domains)

After Google sold its domain business to Squarespace in 2023, pricing has remained competitive at around $12–$14/year for .com domains. WHOIS privacy is included. The integration with Google Workspace is seamless if that's your email provider.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy advertises .com domains starting at $9.99/year for the first year, but renewal prices jump to $22.99/year. They also aggressively upsell privacy protection ($9.99/year), email hosting, and website builders during checkout. The total cost of ownership is significantly higher than competitors. Read the fine print carefully.

Porkbun

An increasingly popular registrar offering .com domains at $9.73/year with free WHOIS privacy. Porkbun has a fun brand and competitive pricing across most TLDs, making them a favorite among developers and indie makers.

Renewal vs. Registration: The Pricing Traps to Avoid

The biggest pricing trap in the domain industry is the gap between registration and renewal pricing. Here's what to watch for:

• Introductory pricing — Many registrars offer a steep discount for the first year, then double or triple the price on renewal. GoDaddy is notorious for this: $9.99 year one, $22.99 on renewal.
• Auto-renewal at higher rates — If you don't watch your renewal date, you might be charged at the new (higher) rate automatically. Set calendar reminders 30 days before renewal.
• Multi-year lock-in — Some registrars offer discounts for 2-5 year registrations. This can be a good deal IF the per-year price is genuinely lower. Do the math—don't assume the "bundle" saves money.
• Transfer fees — Moving a domain to a cheaper registrar usually costs one year's registration fee at the new registrar, and adds a year to your registration. Cloudflare charges at-cost for transfers, making it the cheapest destination.
• Redemption fees — If you let a domain expire and want it back during the redemption period (typically 30-45 days after expiration), registrars charge $80-$200 to restore it. Never let a domain you care about expire accidentally.

For a complete walkthrough of the purchasing process and how to avoid these traps, see our guide on how to buy a domain name.

Hidden Costs: What Else You'll Pay For

The domain registration fee is just the starting point. Here are the additional costs many new buyers don't anticipate:

WHOIS Privacy Protection

When you register a domain, your name, address, phone number, and email are publicly visible in the WHOIS database. Privacy protection masks this information. Some registrars include it free (Cloudflare, Namecheap, Porkbun); others charge $8–$15/year (GoDaddy, Network Solutions). Always choose a registrar that includes privacy for free.

DNS Hosting

Most registrars include basic DNS hosting for free, but if you need advanced features (DNSSEC, geo-routing, failover), you might need a premium DNS provider. Cloudflare offers enterprise-grade DNS for free. Otherwise, expect to pay $5–$25/month for services like AWS Route 53 or DNSimple.

Email Hosting

A professional email address ([email protected]) requires separate email hosting:

• Google Workspace — $7.20/user/month. The most popular option for businesses.
• Microsoft 365 — $6/user/month. Best if your team uses Office tools.
• Zoho Mail — Free for up to 5 users (1 domain). Great for bootstrapped startups.
• Fastmail — $5/user/month. Privacy-focused, excellent for individuals.
• Email forwarding — Free via Cloudflare or ImprovMX. Forwards emails to your personal inbox. Perfect for side projects and MVPs.

SSL Certificates

In 2026, SSL is non-negotiable—browsers flag non-HTTPS sites as insecure. The good news: you shouldn't pay for SSL. Let's Encrypt provides free certificates, and hosting platforms like Vercel, Netlify, and Cloudflare Pages include SSL automatically. If a hosting provider charges extra for SSL, switch providers.

Budget Recommendations for Startups

Here's what to budget for your domain and web presence based on your stage:

Side Project or MVP ($10–$25/year)

• .com domain via Cloudflare: ~$10/year
• Free DNS (Cloudflare)
• Free SSL (Let's Encrypt or hosting platform)
• Email forwarding (free via Cloudflare)
• Total: approximately $10/year

Bootstrapped Startup ($50–$200/year)

• .com domain: $10–$15/year
• Maybe a secondary TLD (.io, .co): $25–$50/year
• Google Workspace for email: $86/year per user
• Free DNS and SSL
• Total: $100–$150/year for one person

Funded Startup ($500–$10,000+)

• Premium .com domain: $500–$10,000 (one-time)
• Defensive registrations (common misspellings, other TLDs): $50–$200/year
• Google Workspace: $86/year per user
• Trademark registration: $250–$350 per class (one-time via USPTO)
• Total: $1,000–$11,000 first year, $200–$500/year ongoing

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Making the Right Investment

Domain pricing isn't complicated once you understand the landscape. For most people, the right move is simple: find a great available .com name, register it through Cloudflare or Porkbun for under $15/year, and use free tools for DNS, SSL, and email forwarding. Your total first-year cost should be under $25.

If you're building something serious and the perfect .com is taken, you have two good options: get creative with naming (compound words, invented names, and prefix/suffix strategies can uncover amazing available .coms) or budget $500–$5,000 for an aftermarket purchase that will serve your brand for years to come.

The one thing you should never do? Overpay for a domain because you didn't shop around, or lose a great name because you hesitated on a $10 registration. In the world of domains, speed and research are your two best friends.