7 Best Places to Buy .AI Domains (2026): AI Domain Guide + Hidden Costs to Avoid 

Do you want to launch a website for your AI-powered business, blog, or startup? If your brand is built around artificial intelligence, a .AI domain is the best way to showcase it! 

But what exactly is a .AI domain? And how much does it cost? Does it impact SEO and branding? Where can you buy it? Well, we will break it all down in this comprehensive guide on the Best Places to Buy AI Domains. We’ll also address the most common FAQs around .AI domains.

So, are you ready to get the perfect .AI domain for your business? Let’s jump in! 

What is a .AI Domain?

A .ai domain is a top-level domain referring to “artificial intelligence”. These domains are typically used by companies and websites related to the AI industry. 

Do you know .AI was launched in February 1995 as the official ccTLD for Anguilla? Back then, only residents of Anguilla were allowed to use this TLD. However, after the AI boom in 2022, it gained massive popularity and was adopted globally by AI brands, tech startups, ML companies, etc.

Now, businesses use it as a “domain hack” to participate in the AI wave and highlight themselves as modern and tech-focused.  

7 Best Places to Buy .AI Domains

Now that we’ve touched up on the basics, let’s get to the real deal. Where can you get .AI domains? What are the best places to purchase them? Below, I have shared the 7 best domain registrars where you can get .AI domains. Let’s dive in! 

1) Spaceship

Spaceship is a relatively new domain registrar, recently launched by Namecheap in 2023. It stands out by avoiding upsells and offering a clean, simple, and transparent experience to its customers. 

The registration and renewal pricing of .AI domains is $137.96 for 2 years, which is the lowest compared to its competitors. Along with your domain, you also receive free domain privacy, securing your contact information from the world. 

Besides AI domains, Spaceship offers 470+ TLDs, along with flexible payment options like PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, AliPay, credit cards, and cryptocurrency. Additionally, if you are a bulk buyer, the Spaceship Beast Mode will help you buy up to 1000 domains in one go! 

But being a new service, it doesn’t have an AI domain name generator yet. Overall, if you want to purchase .ai domains, Spaceship is the cheapest and most budget-friendly option to consider. 

2) Cloudflare Domains

Cloudflare is one of the most widely used CDN and web security services. Lately, it has also been gaining popularity among tech-savvy users as a domain registration service. Currently, you get 350+ TLDs on it. 

I like the fact that Cloudflare Domains is a no-markup service. So, you pay the same price for registering, renewing, and transferring your domain. There are no hidden fees or upsells involved. AI domains are priced at $140 for 2 years, and you can pay via credit cards & PayPal. 

Along with your AI domain, you also get free domain privacy protection for life, enhancing your privacy. However, the biggest downside of using Cloudflare is it restricts you to using Cloudflare’s nameservers. It also doesn’t have an AI domain name generator. 

Overall, Cloudflare Domains is a secure and reliable platform for buying AI domains if you value transparent pricing and hassle-free domain management. 

3) Porkbun

Porkbun is another well-known domain registrar that’s popular for its quirky branding and straightforward services. They have earned loyal users by providing no-markup pricing, no upsells during checkout, and freebies with domain registrations. 

Registering and renewing a .AI domain on Porkbun costs a decent $144.80 for 2 years. Along with your domain, it also offers free WHOIS privacy, SSL certificates, email and URL forwarding, and trial access to hosting and email services. 

It even supports a range of payment options, like PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, AliPay, crypto, and bank transfers. Besides AI domains, Porkbun also supports 560+ TLDs and features an AI domain generator for brainstorming domain name suggestions. 

However, its UI may feel a little outdated, and the identity verification needed during registration may also feel like an extra step for most users. Overall, if you are a creator of a startup looking to purchase AI domains, Porkbun offers a no-upsells platform with great pricing!

4) Dynadot

Dynadot is an established domain registrar that also offers web hosting services. It currently manages over 6 million domains and offers 500+ TLDs for registration. The best thing about Dynadot is its transparent checkout process with no upsells and constant pricing for most TLDs.

Talking about .AI domains, both the registration and renewal pricing are fixed at $149.80. Along with your domain purchase, you also get a solid range of freebies, like domain privacy, domain forwarding, registry lock, a website builder, email hosting, and even a logo generator.

But what makes Dynadot really stand out is its domain search tool that helps you find domain name ideas using keywords and filters. Another unique feature of Dynadot is its grace deletion which lets you test-run your domains for a few days and cancel if you’re not satisfied. 

However, Dynadot has some downsides for Indian users. UPI payments may take up to 24 hours to get verified. It even faced multiple temporary blocks in India since 2023. Overall, beginners and budget-conscious users who want AI domains can go with Dynadot. 

5) Namecheap

Namecheap is one of the most reliable ICANN-accredited domain name registrars. It manages over 17 million domains and supports a massive 1500+ TLDs. It is well-known for its affordable pricing and hassle-free checkout experience with no upsells. 

Talking about .AI domains, you can register them for $159.96 for 2 years. Whereas, if you wish to renew them, you need to pay a slightly elevated price of $179.96. Along with your domain, it offers generous freebies like Whois privacy, an AI social media assistant, email forwarding, and limited-time trials of business email and SEO tools. 

If you’ve still not decided on a name for your website, you can use Namecheap’s AI Domain Name Generator. It offers creative ideas that can be filtered by TLDs, price range, etc to find the perfect domain name. You can even visualize your domain name as a website logo or mobile app logo! 

It also features Beast Mode for buying domains in bulk and security features like 2FA support and DDoS protection. However, you can only make payments in USD. Overall, if you want to invest in AI domains long-term or want to manage multiple AI domains, Namecheap is a great pick! 

6) Hostinger

Hostinger is a popular web hosting service that also offers domain registration services. It manages over 5 million domains globally and offers 300+ TLDs. Talking about .AI domains, you can register them for $179.98 and renew them for $199.98 for 2 years. This is slightly more expensive compared to others. 

You can pay for your domain using UPI, credit/debit cards, net banking, and international options like PayPal, Apple Pay, and AliPay. Along with your domain, you get free privacy protection to secure your contact details. 

It stands out by offering a powerful AI domain name generator that helps you brainstorm creative name ideas for your .AI domain. The good news for Indian users is that you also get UPI Payments support and GST invoices. 

Overall, if you are a beginner, small business owner, or an existing user of Hostinger, you can register your .ai domain with them. Using the coupon code KPDOMAIN at checkout will get you an additional 10% off on your purchase! 

7) GoDaddy

GoDaddy is the most renowned domain registration service that manages over 82 million domains today. But along with domain registrations, it also doubles up as a web host, email provider, and offers security and marketing tools. 

The interesting thing about GoDaddy is its initial discounts for new users on most domains. However, for .ai domains, you won’t get to see any discounts. You can register a .AI domain for $194.98 and renew it for $289.98 for 2 years. Along with your domain, it offers free Whois privacy. 

GoDaddy also features helpful tools like an AI Domain Generator, which suggests ideas and checks TLD availability. If you want to buy multiple domains, GoDaddy also offers Domain Auctions to bid on expired domains. For Indian users, GoDaddy also supports UPI payments and Hindi call support. 

But unfortunately, the renewal prices of .AI domains on GoDaddy are quite expensive, making it a less desirable option. You’ll also notice aggressive upsells for add-ons at checkout. So, if you need a .AI domain at affordable prices, GoDaddy may not be the best option for you. 

Why Should You Choose a .AI Domain?

Now that we have understood what .AI domains are, you must be wondering how they may benefit you and your business. Why should you choose a .AI domain for your website? Let’s explore its key benefits below. 

1) Highlights AI-Centric Branding

By using a .AI domain extension, you can highlight the core industry of your website. You can showcase your website is related to artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, etc. 

2) More Availability than .Com

The .com TLD has been around since 1985. In the last 40 years, most of the popular domain names have already been registered. A .ai domain comes across as a fresh choice with significantly more availability. 

3) Viewed as Modern

In general, websites using the .AI domain extension are seen as modern and tech-savvy. These companies reflect fast growth, and the .AI extension adds an edge to their name. 

4) No SEO Penalties

Another major benefit of using .AI domains is their SEO neutrality. Google doesn’t treat them as ccTLDs of Anguilla but as generic domains. So, you don’t incur any SEO penalties, and your site can rank just like other sites. 

Why Are .AI Domains So Expensive?

When you compare the price of .AI domains to other popular TLDs, you may notice a huge difference. For the price of 1 AI domain, you could roughly buy 6 .com domains! But why are these domains so expensive? Let’s find out!

The biggest reason is the boom in AI. This industry is rapidly growing, and everyone wants to be a part of it. This amps up the demand for .ai domains, as every business, startup, and brand wants to look relevant and updated. The increasing demand elevates its prices. 

Another important reason is that these domains are managed by a small country, Anguilla. Their government sets high prices for .ai domains and makes it mandatory to be purchased for at least 2 years at a time. This naturally doubles up your initial cost. 

Finally, there are no discounts offered on these domains, like you find on other TLDs during sale seasons. All of these reasons are why .ai domains are so expensive. 

Can I Register a .ai Domain that Matches an Existing .com Domain?

Technically, you can. But there are two sides to this situation. If the .com domain belongs to a popular brand with a registered trademark (like amazon.com), using the same domain name with a .ai extension can put you in trouble. 

It may lead to trademark infringement, domain disputes, and legal issues. You may even be forced to give up your domain. However, if the .com domain isn’t linked to a famous or trademarked brand, you can safely register it under .ai domain extension. 

If you are planning to build a business around your .ai domain, it is recommended to cross-check trademark databases to ensure you are not accidentally using someone’s brand name. 

Things to Consider Before Buying a .AI Domain

Similar to other domains, you can also register a .AI domain from a domain registrar. However, make sure you have the following factors in mind before making your decision. 

1) Term of Domain Registration

Typically, AI domains need to be registered for a minimum of 2 years at a time. This is enforced by the registry that controls AI domains. Thus, most registrars offer a clubbed 2-year registration. So, make sure you are ready for that kind of investment.

2) Registrar’s Reputation

You won’t find .AI domains on all domain registrars. For the registrar that offers .ai domains, always check if it’s ICANN-accredited, has transparent pricing, free Whois protection, and easy DNS management features. 

3) Registration and Renewal Pricing

Registration and renewal costs of .AI domains are quite expensive. For example, a .AI domain may cost anywhere from $130 to $200 for a 2-year term. 

4) Privacy Protection 

WHOIS privacy is a service that hides and protects a domain owner’s contact information in the WHOIS database. However, not all registrars offer free privacy protection for .AI domains. Thus, before registering your domain, always check if free Whois privacy is included. 

5) Brand Alignment

Getting a .AI domain only makes sense when your website is related to AI, robotics, ML, or technology in some way. Otherwise, getting this TLD may confuse and mislead your audience. 

6) Country-Code Origin

Even though Google doesn’t treat .AI domains differently, they are still technically the ccTLD for Anguilla. Thus, the registry of .AI remains under the control and jurisdiction of Anguilla. They can make any policy changes to it, and all users holding the .AI domain have to comply.

7) Legal Trademarks

Before registering your .AI domain, make sure it does not infringe any existing trademarks. AI domains are vulnerable to being targeted because of their high value. 

Best Alternatives to .AI Domains

Unable to get the .AI domain of your choice? You can use the following extensions as alternatives!

1) .IO

.IO actually refers to the Indian Ocean, and it’s the ccTLD for British Indian Ocean Territory. However, it is popular among the tech community due to it’s similar to the term “Input/Output”. It is best to be used for tech startups, developer tools, computing businesses, & SaaS products. 

2) .TECH

The .tech domain refers to technology. It is perfect for startups, blogs, businesses, and individuals belonging to the technology domain. Tech bloggers, IT or online security services, hardware or software companies, and tech education platforms can use it. 

3) .DEV

The .dev TLD stands for developers. This TLD is owned by Google and is secured with HTTPS by default. It is ideal for software and app developers, developer portfolio sites, development environments, app dashboards, etc. 

4) .COM

The .com is the most well-known TLD, which is short for “Commercial”. Initially, it was used by commercial businesses, but now it has become the most widely used TLD for a global appeal. You can use it for all types of businesses, brands, startups, personal blogs, portfolios, etc.

Why Should You Trust Me?

I’ve been working full-time in the digital industry since 2015. In all these years, I have used, tested, and reviewed hundreds of digital and AI tools. I’ve also used dozens of domain registrars to create multiple client websites and personal sites. 

You can check out the detailed reviews in my Best Domain Name Registrars article. I use Namecheap and Hostinger to manage most of my personal websites. Working with a range of domain registrars has given me the authority to recommend the best ones for your needs. 

Conclusion

In this guide, we discovered what .AI domains are, why they are so popular and expensive, how they benefit you, and key factors to consider before choosing them. We also explored the best places to buy .AI domains. I prefer Hostinger and Namecheap for purchasing domains. 

Anyway, I hope this comprehensive guide helped you clarify all your doubts about AI domains and find reliable platforms to register them. Are you planning to get a .AI domain? Are you building a business, blog, portfolio, or online store? Let me know in the comments.

This is Kripesh, taking your leave. Cheers, and keep learning! 

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