Register .io Domain — Price Comparison 2026
The .io TLD has become the domain of choice for tech startups and developer tools worldwide. Compare registration and renewal prices across all major registrars before you buy.
| Registrar | Registration | Renewal | Transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$14.98 $31.98 IO85 | $51.75 |
$38.88 $51.75 | Get Deal | |
|
$14.99 | $38.95 |
$38.95 | Get Deal | |
|
$28.89 | $47.70 |
$47.70 | Get Deal | |
|
$28.99 | $52.99 |
$52.99 | Get Deal |
What is a .io domain?
.io is the country-code top-level domain assigned to the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). But in practice, it's been adopted almost universally as a tech-industry domain — the "io" abbreviation resonating with programmers who think in input/output terms.
The .io gold rush started around 2012–2014 as .com domains became increasingly scarce for tech-related names. Today it's one of the most recognisable TLDs in the startup world.
Who uses .io?
Some notable .io users:
- GitHub Pages — username.github.io
- Itch.io — indie game marketplace
- Codepen.io — frontend code editor
- Replit.com (repl.it previously) — cloud coding environment
- Hundreds of YC-backed and VC-funded startups
Is .io worth the price?
At $30–60/year, .io costs 3–10× more than a .com. Whether it's worth it depends on your context. If you're building a B2D (business-to-developer) product or a startup that will be pitching to investors, .io sends the right signal. If you're building a consumer product or ecommerce store, .com is usually the better long-term investment.
.io price tips
- Renewal prices for .io are similar to registration — no surprise jumps
- Fewer promotional discounts exist compared to .com or .org
- Cloudflare Registrar offers competitive .io pricing at near-wholesale cost
- Always compare the 3-year total cost, not just year one
Frequently Asked Questions
- .io is officially the country-code TLD for the British Indian Ocean Territory. In tech, it became associated with 'input/output' — a term deeply embedded in programming — which is why it took off among developers and tech startups in the 2010s.
- .io is a strong signal that a product is tech-focused. It's been used by companies like GitHub (github.io for Pages), Itch.io, Figma (early on), and hundreds of well-funded startups. The downside is price — .io domains are significantly more expensive than .com or .net.
- .io is a ccTLD (country-code TLD), and the registry charges registrars more than a standard generic TLD. There's also high demand from tech startups, which keeps prices elevated. Expect to pay $30–60/year for registration and renewal.
- There's ongoing discussion about what happens to .io as the UK and Mauritius have agreed on the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. ICANN has a process for retiring ccTLDs, but any transition would have a multi-year notice period. For now, .io is fully operational.