.appGeneric
A 2018 extension for mobile and web applications.
- Run by
- Google Registry
- Who can register
- Anyone.
- Best for
- startup or SaaS product, tech or developer project
- Costs
- $17.98 first year, then $17.40 a year
Compare extensions
.app vs .dev: which domain should you choose?
Google Registry’s two HTTPS-only extensions: products against people who build them. .dev is cheaper in the first year, and over three years ($45.41 against $52.78).
.app and .dev prices
From our current price list, in USD. +VAT 5% where applicable. The order form always shows the price before you pay.
| Price | .app | .dev |
|---|---|---|
| First year | $17.98 | $15.41Lower |
| Renews at (per year) | $17.40 | $15.00Lower |
| Transfer inUsually adds a year to the registration. | $16.79 | $14.39Lower |
| 3 years in totalFirst year plus two renewals. | $52.78 | $45.41Lower |
| Price rise after year one | None | None |
Is your name free in .app or .dev?
Search multiple domainsType a name without an extension and pick .app or .dev; we check availability live. First-year prices in USD.
Who each one suits
.devGeneric
A 2019 extension for developers, engineering teams and documentation.
- Run by
- Google Registry
- Who can register
- Anyone.
- Best for
- tech or developer project, personal brand or portfolio
- Costs
- $15.41 first year, then $15.00 a year
Registry rules and restrictions
What applies before and after you register. We confirm anything special before you pay.
.app
- Anyone.
- On browsers’ HSTS preload list: a .app site only loads over HTTPS, so it needs an SSL certificate from day one.
.dev
- Anyone.
- On browsers’ HSTS preload list: a .dev site only loads over HTTPS, so it needs an SSL certificate from day one.
.app and .dev are HTTPS-only: browsers refuse plain http:// for every name in the extension. Every GlobalHostia hosting plan includes free SSL, or add a certificate.
SEO: does the extension matter?
Short answer: not for rankings. Content, links and site speed decide where you rank; the extension mostly affects trust, memorability and which country search engines assume you serve.
.app
A generic extension: no ranking advantage or penalty on its own. Search engines rank the content and the links, and let you target any country.
.dev
A generic extension: no ranking advantage or penalty on its own. Search engines rank the content and the links, and let you target any country.
Myth check: no extension gets a hidden ranking bonus, and keyword extensions (like .shop or .tech) do not rank better for that keyword. Switching an established site to a new extension costs time while search engines re-learn it, so choose well up front.
Our verdict, by kind of site
Based on what each extension signals to visitors and its three-year cost at today’s prices.
- Startup or SaaS product.app.app reads as a product brand to investors and users; .dev is a weaker match for a startup name.
- Local businessEitherNeither is a natural fit; a broader extension such as .com usually reads better for this.
- Tech or developer project.devBoth fit equally well; .dev costs less over three years at today’s prices.
- Online shop.app.app tells shoppers they can buy here or is the address they trust most; .dev fits a shop less naturally.
- Non-profit or community.dev.dev is the better fit for an organisation or community; .app reads as more commercial or technical.
- Personal brand or portfolio.dev.dev reads naturally as a personal name or portfolio; .app is less personal.
.app vs .dev: questions and answers
.dev is cheaper in the first year (.app $17.98, .dev $15.41). Renewals are $17.40 and $15.00 a year, so three years cost $52.78 for .app and $45.41 for .dev, in USD before VAT where it applies.
No extension ranks better on its own. Pick the one your visitors will remember and trust.
.app: Anyone. .dev: Anyone.
If the name is your brand, yes: register your main extension and point the other to it. It stops look-alike sites and catches visitors who type the other one. Both together cost $33.39 for the first year.
Yes. A transfer costs $16.79 for .app and $14.39 for .dev, and usually adds a year to the registration. Unlock the domain, get the transfer code from your current registrar and start from our domain transfer page.
Yes. The extension is on browsers’ HSTS preload list, so pages only load over HTTPS. Every GlobalHostia hosting plan includes free SSL.
More on these extensions
All about .appAll about .dev.io vs .dev.com vs .app.com vs .devAll comparisons
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