--- title: ".io vs .dev Domains: Prices, Rules & Verdict | GlobalHostia" url: "https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/io-vs-dev" description: ".io vs .dev: $34.67 vs $15.41 first year, renewing at $64.20 vs $15.00. Three-year cost, rules, SEO facts and a verdict per use case." source: "GlobalHostia; prices are synced from the billing system and exclude any taxes shown at checkout" --- Compare extensions # .io vs .dev: which domain should you choose? Startup favourite against the developer extension that requires HTTPS. .dev is cheaper in the first year, and over three years ($45.41 against $163.07). ## .io and .dev prices From our current price list, in USD. +VAT 5% where applicable. The order form always shows the price before you pay. .io and .dev prices in USD; the lower price in each row is marked. | Price | [.io](https://globalhostia.com/domains/io) | [.dev](https://globalhostia.com/domains/dev) | | --- | --- | --- | | First year | $34.67 | $15.41Lower | | Renews at (per year) | $64.20 | $15.00Lower | | Transfer inUsually adds a year to the registration. | $64.20 | $14.39Lower | | 3 years in totalFirst year plus two renewals. | $163.07 | $45.41Lower | | Price rise after year one | +85% | None | ## Is your name free in .io or .dev? [Search multiple domains](https://globalhostia.com/domains/bulk-search) Extension to add when you type a name without one**.io**$34.67**.dev**$15.41 Type a name without an extension and pick .io or .dev; we check availability live. First-year prices in USD. ## Who each one suits ### .ioCountry code A country code adopted worldwide by tech startups, developer tools and SaaS. Run by The registry of the British Indian Ocean Territory Who can register Anyone, with no local presence needed. Best for startup or SaaS product, tech or developer project Costs $34.67 first year, then $64.20 a year [.io details and search](https://globalhostia.com/domains/io) ### .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 [.dev details and search](https://globalhostia.com/domains/dev) ## Registry rules and restrictions What applies before and after you register. We confirm anything special before you pay. ### .io - Anyone, with no local presence needed. - The territory’s status is changing after the 2024 UK–Mauritius agreement on the Chagos Islands; .io registrations continue to work normally today, but some owners keep a second extension as a fallback. - No HTTPS requirement from the registry, but every site should still use SSL. ### .dev - Anyone. - On browsers’ HSTS preload list: a .dev site only loads over HTTPS, so it needs an SSL certificate from day one. .dev is HTTPS-only: browsers refuse plain http:// for every name in the extension. Every GlobalHostia hosting plan includes free SSL, or [add a certificate](https://globalhostia.com/ssl-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. ### .io A country code that Google treats as generic, like .com: it is not tied to one country in search results and gives no ranking boost on its own. ### .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**.io**.io reads as a product brand to investors and users worldwide; .dev is a weaker match for a startup name. - Local business**Either**Neither is a natural fit; a broader extension such as .com usually reads better for this. - Tech or developer project**.dev**Both fit equally well; .dev costs less over three years at today’s prices. - Online shop**.io**.io 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; .io reads as more commercial or technical. - Personal brand or portfolio**.dev**.dev reads naturally as a personal name or portfolio; .io is less personal. ## .io vs .dev: questions and answers ### .dev is cheaper in the first year (.io $34.67, .dev $15.41). Renewals are $64.20 and $15.00 a year, so three years cost $163.07 for .io and $45.41 for .dev, in USD before VAT where it applies. ### ### ### ### ### ## More on these extensions [All about .io](https://globalhostia.com/domains/io)[All about .dev](https://globalhostia.com/domains/dev)[.com vs .io](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-io)[.io vs .ai](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/io-vs-ai)[.io vs .co](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/io-vs-co)[.io vs .tech](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/io-vs-tech)[.com vs .dev](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-dev)[.app vs .dev](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/app-vs-dev)[All comparisons](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare) ## Got the name? Register it in .io or .dev Search now and see the live price before you pay. [Search names](#tc-q)[Every extension and price](https://globalhostia.com/domains/all)