The Short Answer
A standard domain name costs somewhere between $0.99 and $70 for the first year, depending on the extension, with most mainstream TLDs settling into a $9.99–$24.99 annual renewal rate after any promotional period ends. Premium or aftermarket domains are a completely different pricing category, ranging from a few hundred dollars into six or seven figures for highly sought-after names. The honest number for most new businesses registering a standard, non-premium name: expect to pay under $15 in year one and under $20 per year after that.
First-Year vs. Renewal Pricing (The Catch)
The single most important thing to understand about domain pricing is that the advertised price and the price you'll actually pay long-term are often different numbers. Registrars frequently offer aggressive first-year discounts — $0.99 or $1.99 for a .com — to win the initial sale, then renew at a much higher standard rate in year two and beyond. This isn't necessarily dishonest, but it does mean you need to check the renewal price before registering, not just the checkout total.
A transparent registrar shows both numbers clearly at checkout. If a registrar only shows the promotional price and buries the renewal rate, treat that as a red flag about their overall pricing practices.
Price by Extension
Rough 2026 market pricing across popular extensions (see live, exact pricing on our cheap domain names page):
- ›.com — $9.99–$15/yr standard, frequently discounted to under $1 for the first year
- ›.net / .org — $9.99–$12/yr, similar promotional patterns to .com
- ›.io — $30–$50/yr; rarely discounted due to sustained startup demand
- ›.co — $20–$30/yr
- ›.ai — $70–$120/yr, among the most expensive mainstream extensions due to demand outpacing supply
- ›.app / .dev — $12–$20/yr, Google-operated and HSTS-preloaded
- ›.store / .online / .site / .shop — often $0.99–$5 first year, $9.99–$40/yr renewal
- ›.club — one of the cheapest options at roughly $4.99/yr with minimal promotional gimmicks
For a full comparison of what each extension signals to visitors, see our domain extensions guide.
What "Premium Domain" Pricing Actually Means
Some domains are excluded from standard pricing entirely. Registries designate certain names — typically short, dictionary-word, or high-traffic-history domains — as "premium," with registration prices set by the registry itself rather than the standard rate card. A premium domain might cost $500, $5,000, or considerably more for a single word in a valuable category, even though it's technically a brand-new registration rather than a resale.
Separately, the aftermarket (domains already registered and being resold by their current owner) operates on its own economics entirely, with brokered sales for the most valuable domain names historically reaching into the tens of millions for single-word .com domains. For nearly every new business, this market is irrelevant — but it's worth knowing it exists so an unusually high quote for a "simple" domain doesn't come as a surprise.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
- ›WHOIS privacy add-ons. Some registrars charge $5–$15/yr for something that should be free. Check before you commit — see our domain privacy guide for what's at stake if you skip it.
- ›SSL certificate upsells. Free SSL via Let's Encrypt is standard at good hosts; paying extra for it at the registrar level is usually unnecessary.
- ›Domain lock or "advanced security" fees. Registrar (transfer) lock should be included free, not sold as a premium feature.
- ›Restoration fees. If a domain lapses into the redemption period after expiring, restoring it can cost $80–$200 — far more than a normal renewal. Auto-renewal avoids this entirely.
What's Actually Included at a Good Registrar
At a transparent, well-run registrar, your annual price should already include WHOIS privacy, a free SSL certificate, DNS management, and registrar lock — with no additional charges to access any of them. If you're being upsold on any of these individually, you're likely paying more overall than a registrar that bundles them by default.
How to Budget for a Domain Long-Term
For a brand-critical domain, budget for the standard renewal price, not the first-year promo — and consider registering for two to five years upfront if cash flow allows. Multi-year registration removes renewal risk entirely and, as a minor secondary benefit, is sometimes read as a longevity signal by search engines evaluating overall site trust.
Cheapest Ways to Get a Good Domain
- Use first-year promotional pricing on alternative extensions (.store, .online, .site) if your budget is tight and the .com isn't essential
- Compare renewal rates before registering, not just sticker price
- Avoid premium/aftermarket names unless the specific name has clear, quantifiable business value
- Run your shortlist through our domain availability checker to see live pricing across all 16 extensions in one search before deciding