Register a .io domain
.io domains cost $69.95 for the first year at Serverlys and renew at $69.95. Tech start-ups, developer tools and software products.
.io pricing
| Register, first year | $69.95/yr |
|---|---|
| Renew, every year after | $69.95/yr |
| Transfer in (adds a year) | $69.95/yr |
Store prices as of 2026-10-26. Premium names are priced by the registry and marked as premium at checkout.
The renewal rate is the first-year rate. Many registrars discount the first year and charge more from the second; here the price you pay to register .io is the price you pay every year after, so the second invoice holds no surprise.
What .io is for
Technically the country code of the British Indian Ocean Territory, adopted by the tech industry because I/O reads as input/output. It is open to registrants anywhere, with no residency requirement. It costs several times what a .com does every year, which is worth weighing before you commit a brand to it.
- In Google search
- .io is a country code, but Google treats it as a generic extension, so it does not tie your site to the British Indian Ocean Territory in search results.
- Privacy
- WHOIS privacy is included free where the .io registry supports it. Country-code registries set their own rules on what registrant data is published.
- Moving it here
- Unlock the domain at your current registrar and get its authorisation code. .io is a country-code extension, so the transfer rules of the registry for the British Indian Ocean Territory apply; we confirm them before you pay.
Who uses .io
- Start-ups and software products.
- Developer tools, APIs and open-source projects.
- Games and game studios.
- Documentation or status pages for a tech brand.
Choosing a .io name
- Brevity is the reason people choose .io, so a long name loses the point.
- Budget for the renewal, not just the first year: the yearly rate stays the same and it is well above generic extensions.
- Register the .com of the name as well if you can; people type .com out of habit.
- Keep it short and easy to spell: no hyphens, no numbers, nothing that has to be explained over the phone.
What comes with a .io domain
Renewal, privacy and DNS live in one place, so pointing the name at a website or an inbox takes minutes.
Editable DNS. Point .io at Serverlys hosting, your own nameservers, or another provider. A, CNAME, MX and TXT records stay editable either way.
Privacy. WHOIS privacy is included free where the .io registry supports it. Country-code registries set their own rules on what registrant data is published.
Auto-renewal. Turn it on and the domain renews before it expires, rather than waiting for someone to remember.
One price, every year. $69.95 a year to renew, shown before you pay the first time.
People to ask. Live chat or email, around the clock, with a person who reads the whole conversation.
How to get a .io domain
Register a new name, or move one you already own.
Register a new .io name
- 1
Search the name
Type the name you want with .io. The search asks the registry directly, and the Serverlys cart is the final word on availability and premium pricing.
- 2
Pick the exact spelling
.io has no residency or purpose requirement, so the only question is the name. Check the spelling and that it is not someone else’s trademark.
- 3
Enter the registrant details
Use the details of the person or organisation that should own the domain, and an email address you read: renewal notices and any registry checks go there.
- 4
Pay for the first year
Checkout shows $69.95 for the first year and the $69.95 renewal rate before you pay. Registration is usually instant.
- 5
Point it at your site and inbox
Use Serverlys hosting and email, or add DNS records for any other provider. Changes usually show up within minutes to a few hours.
- 6
Turn on auto-renewal
A lapsed domain can be re-registered by anyone. Auto-renewal is the cheapest insurance there is.
Transfer an existing .io domain
- 1
Unlock it
Turn off the registrar lock at your current provider. Transfers fail while it is on.
- 2
Get the auth code
Your current registrar must give you the authorisation (EPP) code on request.
- 3
Check the registry’s rules
Make sure the domain is active and the registrant details are current. The registry for the British Indian Ocean Territory sets its own transfer rules, and we confirm them before you pay.
- 4
Start the transfer here
Enter the name and the auth code in the Serverlys cart. Your DNS keeps resolving while the transfer runs, so copy the records across before it completes.
More detail in the domain transfer guide and what happens when a domain expires.
Put your .io domain to work
A domain on its own is an address. These are the things people usually connect to it.
Alternatives to .io
Extensions people compare it with, at their store prices.
- .cloud$26.95/yrSaaS products, cloud services and software companies.
- .com$14.95/yrAny business that wants the address customers type by default.
- .net$16.95/yrTech, network and internet businesses, or a fallback when the .com is taken.
- .xyz$16.95/yrSide projects, new brands and anyone who wants a short, available name.
Before you buy
The things people actually ask us, answered plainly.
How much does a .io domain cost?
$69.95 for the first year at Serverlys, and $69.95 a year to renew. Transferring an existing .io domain in costs $69.95, which adds a year to its registration.
Who can register a .io domain?
Anyone. .io has no residency or purpose requirement, so individuals and businesses anywhere can register one.
Does the .io price go up after the first year?
No. The renewal rate is the same $69.95 as the first year, so there is no introductory discount to lose.
Which names can I register as a .io domain?
Letters a–z, digits 0–9 and hyphens, up to 63 characters before the dot, not starting or ending with a hyphen. Capitals make no difference, so YourName.io and yourname.io are the same domain. Registries can reserve particular names or set a longer minimum; the search tells you if a name cannot be registered.
How long can I register a .io domain for?
The minimum term at Serverlys is one year. Longer terms, where the .io registry allows them, are shown at checkout, and you can renew every year after that for as long as you want the name.
Is WHOIS privacy included with .io?
WHOIS privacy is included free where the .io registry supports it. Country-code registries set their own rules on what registrant data is published.
Is .io good for SEO?
.io is a country code, but Google treats it as a generic extension, so it does not tie your site to the British Indian Ocean Territory in search results.
Can I use a .io domain for email?
Yes. Email at a .io address works through the domain’s MX records, which you set in DNS. Serverlys business email sets them for you, or you can point them at any other email provider; the domain and the inbox do not have to be with the same company.
Do I need Serverlys hosting to register .io?
No. You can register .io on its own and point it at Serverlys hosting, at your own nameservers, or at another provider entirely. The DNS records stay editable either way.
What happens if my .io domain expires?
Renew before the expiry date and nothing changes. After expiry, most registries hold the name for a grace period, and many add a redemption period with a restore fee, before releasing it for anyone to register; the length of each is set by the .io registry. Turning on auto-renewal avoids the question.
How do I transfer a .io domain to Serverlys?
Unlock the domain at your current registrar and get its authorisation code. .io is a country-code extension, so the transfer rules of the registry for the British Indian Ocean Territory apply; we confirm them before you pay.
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