Quick answer
How much does a .ai domain cost?
In November 2026 registrars charge about $80 to $100 a year for a .ai, and the registry sells it for at least 2 years, so one order covers two years. It is the country code of Anguilla and open to anyone. At Pearlcay, a .ai costs $86.99/year the first year and $86.99/year to renew (2 November 2026), paid in crypto with no KYC.
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- .ai $86.99
Type a name to see if it is free. If the name is taken before we register it, or the registry refuses it, the full amount goes back to your balance.
.ai at a glance
| Country code of | Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the eastern Caribbean |
|---|---|
| Registry | Government of Anguilla |
| Technical operator | Identity Digital, under a five-year agreement with the Government of Anguilla (live since January 2025) |
| Who can register | Anyone, anywhere. No presence in Anguilla is required. |
| Registration term | 2 to 10 years (2 years minimum) |
| Public WHOIS / RDAP | Registrant privacy is allowed; free at Pearlcay |
| Known for | AI companies and tools; passed one million registrations in January 2026 |
.ai price per year
| Extension | 1st year | Renewal | Transfer | WHOIS privacy | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .ai | $86.99 | $86.99 | $86.99 | Free | min. 2 years |
Registration and renewal cover at least 2 years, so the first order charges two years at once. At the registry, a transfer in also renews the domain for the 2-year minimum; see our .ai transfer guide for what that costs here. The registry's wholesale price rose from $70 to $80 a year on 5 March 2026 (Domain Name Wire, 2 February 2026).
Anguilla, the island behind .ai
Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory in the eastern Caribbean, a small island whose capital is The Valley. The code .ai is the territory's two-letter ISO 3166 code, AI.
For years .ai was a quiet extension. Then artificial intelligence made "ai" a brand word, and the money followed. In 2025 the Anguilla government collected EC$230 million (about US$85 million) from .ai, more than twice the year before, according to Ministry of Finance monthly figures reported by Anguilla Focus. In September 2025 a government minister told the BBC that .ai was expected to supply nearly half of public revenue that year. The premier says the income has helped pay for airport expansion, roads, tax relief and health services.
IANA lists the Government of Anguilla as the manager of .ai. In October 2024 the government signed a five-year agreement with Identity Digital to run the extension, and .ai moved to Identity Digital's platform in January 2025. Domain Name Wire reported that Anguilla keeps the majority of the revenue and that Identity Digital promises it a minimum income.
For a buyer this has a practical meaning. The registry's wholesale price is $80 a year, and registrar prices sit close to it: from about $80 to $100 a year at the registrars with a verified price in our 2 November 2026 survey. Promotions are small, so the comparison that matters is how you pay and how long you commit.
Who uses .ai, and why?
The letters "ai" mean artificial intelligence in almost every language, so AI companies took the ending. Claude's own site is claude.ai, Mistral AI is at mistral.ai, and Perplexity is at perplexity.ai. A .ai name tells a visitor what you do before they read a word.
It also attracts projects around AI: tools, agents, models, newsletters and developer communities. Because demand is high, short and dictionary names are often taken or sold as registry premium names. Our guide on why some .ai names cost more explains how the registry prices them.
Budget for the commitment. The registry requires at least 2 years, so every order and every renewal is two years at the yearly price. The 10-year cost guide adds it up, and the page on the 2-year minimum explains the rule. If you only want a name for a short test, an extension with 1-year terms may suit you better.
.ai at other registrars, 2 November 2026
All prices are per year in US dollars, but a .ai is bought for at least 2 years, so a first order costs twice the figure shown. Namecheap sells .ai for 2 to 10 years; its yearly figure is our reading of its price list.
| Registrar | First year | Renewal | Pays in crypto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearlcay | $86.99 | $86.99 | Yes, only crypto |
| Namecheap | $89.98 | $114.98 | Yes (deposit to account funds first) |
| Spaceship | $79.98 | $79.98 | Yes (Bitcoin; other coins not documented) |
| Cloudflare | $80.00 | $80.00 | No |
| Porkbun | $82.70 | $82.70 | Yes (USDC via Coinbase) |
| Dynadot | $85.60 | $85.60 | Yes (BTC, USDT, USDC and more) |
Last checked on ; older figures carry their own date
Prices per year in US dollars, from each registrar's public price list on 2 November 2026 (sources below). They change often: check before you buy.
.ai rules: 2-year terms, transfers and privacy
Terms. Registration and renewal cover at least 2 years, up to 10 years. Registrars including Porkbun, Dynadot, Spaceship and Cloudflare apply the same rule on 2 November 2026, and we found no sign that the technical operator changed it between 2024 and 2026.
Who can register. Anyone. The registry asks for no local presence in Anguilla.
Transfers. A transfer in bundles a 2-year renewal, so at several registrars the first transfer costs about twice the yearly price. Our transfer guide explains the steps and the cost.
Privacy. The registry allows privacy. At Pearlcay it is free, and what stays public still depends on the registry.
Content. The sources we checked list no content rule specific to .ai. Our acceptable use policy applies, as for every extension.
Premium names. The registry fixes a higher price for some names. See why some .ai names cost more.
Risks. Price is the main one. The wholesale cost rose 14%, from $70 to $80 a year, on 5 March 2026, and the Identity Digital agreement covers five years from October 2024. Read the renewal price and its date before you buy.
.ai questions
Why is there a 2-year minimum on .ai?
It is a registry rule, not a registrar choice. Registration and renewal both cover at least 2 years. The page on the 2-year minimum goes through it.
Can I register a .ai without living in Anguilla?
Yes. The registry asks for no local presence, and Pearlcay sells .ai to anyone with no ID check. We collect one verified email address per domain, as ICANN rules require.
Do I pay for one year or two when I order?
Two. The price shown is per year, and the order charges the 2-year minimum at once. Longer terms, up to 10 years, come for at least 2 years.
Can I pay for a .ai with Bitcoin or USDT?
Yes. Pearlcay takes crypto only, from a prepaid balance. The step-by-step guide shows the order.
Will the .ai price change?
It can. The registry raised its wholesale price from $70 to $80 a year on 5 March 2026. Check the renewal price and the date on this page before you buy.
Can I move a .ai away from Pearlcay later?
Yes. The transfer code is free from the client area and there is no exit fee. The transfer guide explains how the 2-year bundle works at the new registrar.
Sources (5)
- Delegation record for .ai — IANA (checked 2026-11-02)
- .ai surge brings EC$230m windfall to Anguilla in 2025 (25 March 2026) — Anguilla Focus (checked 2026-11-02)
- Identity Digital inks .ai domain deal with Anguilla (15 October 2024) — Domain Name Wire (checked 2026-11-02)
- .AI domain name prices going up $20 (2 February 2026) — Domain Name Wire (checked 2026-11-02)
- Registrar price lists read on 2 November 2026 (Namecheap shown; Spaceship, Porkbun, Dynadot, Cloudflare read the same day) namecheap.com/domains/full-tld-list — Namecheap and the other registrars named (checked 2026-11-02)