Beyond the base registration fee, several factors can increase your total bill:
If someone already owns the name you want, buying it from them (the "aftermarket") can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000+ .
Many registrars offer an introductory price of $0.99 or $1.99, but renew at $20+ the following year. Always check the "fine print" for renewal rates before buying.
The "extension" (Top-Level Domain or TLD) is the biggest factor in your annual price. Below are common ranges for 2026: First-Year Cost Annual Renewal $8 β $15 $12 β $18 Standard businesses/personal sites .org $9 β $16 $12 β $20 Non-profits and communities .net $10 β $17 $14 β $20 Tech or networking projects .io $40 β $70 $40 β $70 Tech startups and SaaS .ai $50 β $100 $60 β $114 Artificial intelligence companies .xyz $0.99 β $12 $8 β $15 Creative or general use Hidden Costs & Extras
A standard website name (domain name) typically costs between . While you can often find first-year deals for under $1, the long-term cost is driven by renewal rates, your chosen extension (like .com vs .ai), and any added security features. π·οΈ Estimated Costs by Extension