5 Best Registrars to Buy .AI Domain Names (November 2026)

A .AI domain is a natural fit for an artificial intelligence business, research project, or developer tool. Originally assigned to Anguilla, the extension is now available internationally without a local-presence requirement. Once you have a name in mind, the registrar you choose determines what you pay to keep it and how easily you can manage it.

We independently evaluated all five registrars for pricing, privacy, domain management, and support options. Namecheap is our overall recommendation for straightforward registration and management. The other choices offer different advantages, from keeping a domain alongside your hosting to buying at cost through Cloudflare.

Budget for at least two years upfront: that is the minimum registration term for .AI. A low first-year price can look less attractive once the second year and future renewals are included. All five registrars offer free privacy or public-data redaction for eligible domains; paid ownership protection adds other safeguards.

Best .AI Domain Registrars Compared

Prices are in U.S. dollars, before taxes and optional extras, for standard available names. GoDaddy’s total covers its advertised two-year introductory offer. Check the full-term quote at Hostinger and Cloudflare. Buying a name from an existing owner can cost considerably more.

5 Best Registrars for .AI Domains

1. Namecheap

Namecheap is a good starting point if you want to register a .AI name, connect it to a website, and manage it without much fuss. Its public price table lists $179.96 for a two-year registration and $229.96 for a two-year renewal. That works out to $89.98 and $114.98 per year, respectively, although you pay for at least two years at a time.

Free lifetime domain privacy is included with .AI registrations. You also get DNS and domain-management tools, while hosting and email are available separately. This is useful if you are securing a name before the rest of your project is ready: you can keep the domain at Namecheap and point it to whichever hosting service you eventually choose. There is no need to move everything into one account.

The higher renewal rate is the main cost to keep in mind. Namecheap is an easy recommendation for convenience and clear term pricing, but Porkbun’s published renewal rate is lower. Hosting, email, and other additions have their own bills, so choose them because you need them. For a domain-only purchase, the registration fee and the next renewal total give you a useful starting point for comparison.

2. Hostinger

Hostinger is worth considering if you would like to manage your domain and website in the same place. It offers .AI registrations from two to ten years, with free domain privacy. Having domain settings alongside hosting and website services can make a first launch easier to organize, especially if you are already using Hostinger. You can also register a domain there and connect it to hosting elsewhere.

Its free-domain hosting offer does not include .AI, so you will need to pay for this extension separately. Hostinger’s .AI FAQ advertises $50 for the first year and a $109.99 annual renewal rate. Since .AI requires a two-year registration, look at the full cart total before comparing it with another registrar. The first-year offer alone does not tell you what the initial purchase will cost.

Hostinger’s strongest appeal here is convenience. If you already plan to use its website or hosting tools, keeping the domain there gives you fewer accounts to manage. If you only need a domain, compare its standalone quote with Namecheap and Porkbun. Hosting, email, and optional premium protection are separate purchases, and each can renew on its own schedule. The included privacy service does not require a protection upgrade.

3. GoDaddy

GoDaddy offers domain search and management alongside services for finding and buying names that are already owned. Its advertised U.S. .AI deal is $49.99 for the first year and $159.99 for the second, with a two-year purchase required. The initial payment therefore comes to $209.98 before taxes and extras. When budgeting beyond that first term, use the renewal quote shown for your domain.

WHOIS privacy is free for eligible GoDaddy domains, including supported .AI registrations. It hides your personal contact information from public lookups by displaying substitute details. The optional Domain Ownership Protection upgrade adds verification for high-risk actions, alerts, and an activity log. These features help you keep track of changes and protect the account; the free privacy service is already included.

GoDaddy lets you register or renew .AI domains in two-year increments, up to ten years. Transfers are supported, but backorders are not. Its .AI help page also lists DNSSEC as unsupported, so another registrar may be a better fit if you need signed DNS. We would choose GoDaddy for its range of domain services, while weighing the initial payment and renewal costs against the simpler options on this list.

4. Porkbun

Porkbun stands out for its clearly published .AI pricing: $82.70 per year for both standard registration and renewal. With the two-year minimum, either purchase currently costs $165.40. That makes it easier to plan beyond the first term, without a large gap between the introductory and renewal rates. Future prices can still change, but today’s figures give you a straightforward comparison with the other registrars.

Free WHOIS privacy, DNS management, URL forwarding, email forwarding, and SSL certificates for supported domains are included. Those tools are useful if you want to forward the name to an existing website or set up a simple landing page while a project is taking shape. Email forwarding sends messages to another inbox; you will need a separate mailbox service if you want a full hosted email account.

For an existing .AI domain, Porkbun lists a $165.09 transfer that includes a two-year extension. This is a separate price from the $165.40 two-year registration total. We like Porkbun for buyers who want affordable domain basics and are happy to arrange hosting elsewhere. Its pricing is easy to follow, and the included extras cover several common tasks without requiring a larger website package. Allow time to complete a transfer before your domain expires.

5. Cloudflare Registrar

Cloudflare Registrar is a strong choice for developers and teams already using Cloudflare DNS. It sells supported .AI registrations and renewals at cost, passing on registry and applicable ICANN charges without adding a registrar markup. You can check the price for your chosen name and term before buying. The underlying registry rate can change, but Cloudflare does not add a higher retail margin when the domain renews.

The main restriction is nameservers: a domain registered at Cloudflare must use Cloudflare DNS. Your website can still be hosted elsewhere, with DNS records pointing to that service. However, if your setup requires another provider’s authoritative nameservers, you will need a different registrar. This is worth deciding early, particularly if your hosting service expects to manage DNS for you.

Cloudflare includes public WHOIS redaction where permitted and one-click DNSSEC activation. Its wider platform also offers CDN, proxy, and SSL services, with configuration and plan requirements of their own. Registering the name is only the first step in setting those up. We recommend Cloudflare when you are comfortable managing DNS or already have a working setup there. Someone looking for a guided domain-and-website package may find Hostinger or another consumer-focused provider easier to use.

How to Compare the Real Cost of a .AI Domain

Compare the initial payment with the next renewal bill, making sure both cover the same number of years. If you are moving an existing domain, check the transfer fee and how much time it adds. These totals are more useful than a first-year promotion on its own.

Look at what you actually need beyond the name. Privacy keeps personal contact details out of public lookups. Ownership protection adds safeguards around changes to the domain. Hosting runs your website, while email needs a mailbox or forwarding service. Buying them together can be convenient, but it is worth knowing which charges will recur.

A name already owned by someone else is a different purchase from a new registration. Aftermarket .AI sales can reach far beyond ordinary registration fees. If you choose one of those names, budget for the acquisition and then for the regular cost of keeping it registered.

Which .AI Registrar Should You Choose?

Namecheap is our overall pick for straightforward registration and domain management. Hostinger makes sense if you also want its hosting or website tools in the same account. Just budget for the .AI name separately, since it is excluded from the free-domain offer.

Choose GoDaddy if its broader domain services are useful to you, Porkbun for its attractive published registration and renewal rates, or Cloudflare Registrar for at-cost pricing when you are happy to use Cloudflare DNS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does GoDaddy charge extra for WHOIS privacy?

No. WHOIS privacy is included free with eligible GoDaddy domains, including supported .AI registrations. Domain Ownership Protection is an optional upgrade for additional safeguards, such as verification before high-risk changes.

How much does a .AI domain cost?

Current published two-year registration totals include $179.96 at Namecheap and $165.40 at Porkbun. GoDaddy’s advertised U.S. introductory offer totals $209.98 for two years. Your final price depends on the name, term, promotion, taxes, and any extras. Check the renewal amount as well as the initial payment.

Why is there a two-year minimum?

The .AI extension requires at least two years of registration. Available renewal terms vary by provider, with GoDaddy offering two-year increments. Annual prices help you compare rates, but do not mean you can buy a one-year .AI registration.

Can anyone register a .AI domain?

You do not need to live in Anguilla to register a .AI domain. Registration is open internationally, as long as the name is available and meets the registry’s rules. You will need to provide accurate contact information even if privacy keeps those details out of public lookups.

Does free privacy make the domain anonymous?

No. Your registrar still holds your registration details. Privacy services or redaction limit what is displayed publicly, subject to the applicable policies. All five registrars here offer free privacy or redaction for eligible domains.

Can I transfer my .AI domain later?

Yes. Before starting, check that the domain is eligible to transfer and follow both registrars’ instructions for unlocking it and supplying authorization. Namecheap lists a $199.96 .AI transfer with two years included; Porkbun lists $165.09 with a two-year extension. Start well before expiration so there is time to resolve any delays.

Is a .AI domain free with Hostinger hosting?

No. Hostinger excludes .AI and .IO from its free-domain hosting offer. You can register a .AI name there and use it with hosting, but the domain is a separate purchase.