.dev

.dev is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) operated by Google Registry. Google secured the extension through ICANN’s new gTLD program in 2014 and used it internally for years before opening it to the public on February 28, 2019, after an Early Access period that began on February 19. What makes this domain unusual is that the entire TLD is built into the HSTS preload list shipped with modern browsers, so every .dev address is required to load over secure HTTPS with no per-site setup. Before that enforcement, developers widely used .dev as a local testing suffix on their own machines; once browsers started forcing encryption those setups broke, which pushed the extension toward its present role as a public, secure home for developer projects.

For anyone in software, a .dev domain name signals instantly what a site is about, positioning a portfolio, tool or documentation site inside the developer community without explanation. Two benefits stand out. Security is built in: because HTTPS is mandatory across the whole extension, every domain ships with the encryption that users and search engines now expect. Availability is the other: short, memorable names that vanished from .com years ago are often still open here at standard registration prices. For a developer or technology brand, that mix of a relevant name, automatic security and real availability is hard to find elsewhere.

The extension is used across technology for projects aimed at a technical audience. Typical uses include personal developer portfolios and résumé sites, open-source project and library homepages, API and product documentation, internal tools and dashboards, technical blogs, and showcase or demo pages for new code. Google’s own web.dev, flutter.dev, and dart.dev are well-known examples of large documentation and best-practices resources on the extension. Because every domain is secure by default, it is also a sound choice for anything handling logins or user data, from a side project to a production tool.

.dev is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) operated by Google Registry and aimed at the developer and technology community. It works like any other domain for a public website, with one difference: every .dev domain must use HTTPS, because the whole extension is on the browser HSTS preload list. It became publicly available in 2019 and is widely used for developer portfolios, documentation and software projects.

Yes — security is the defining feature. The entire .dev extension is on the HSTS preload list built into modern browsers, so every site must be served over HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate; there is no unencrypted version. That protects visitors by default and removes a setup step, but it does mean you need a certificate in place (free options like Let’s Encrypt work fine) before the domain will load.

Anyone. There are no eligibility requirements and you do not need to be a professional developer or a company. The extension is designed for the technology community, but registration is open to any individual, business or organization through the registrars listed above.

A .dev domain has no inherent SEO disadvantage. Google treats it as a standard generic TLD, so rankings depend on content, links and technical health like any other extension. The mandatory HTTPS protects visitors and builds trust, since most browsers show a "Not Secure" warning when loading HTTP pages, negatively influencing page experience and hence negatively influencing browsing signals that Google algorithms take into account. If you are concerned about SEO, the main consideration when choosing .dev should be audience recognition: developers read .dev as relevant and trustworthy, while a general consumer audience may be less familiar with it than .com.

Across the 46 registrars we track, a .dev domain starts at US$6.84 for the first year (Spaceship), with renewals from US$10.18. Some short or premium names cost more, set by the registry. Compare current prices for every registrar in the table above.

A .dev domain name can be registered through any of the providers in the Registrars list, where you can compare live registration, renewal and transfer prices.