Built for products that ship

Register a .io Domain From 42.23 USD

Q: Does the first-year price continue every year?

Not necessarily. The registration figure is [th_price tld="io"]; the separate renewal figure is [th_price tld="io" type="renew"]. Plan ongoing costs from the renewal amount and review the payable total before each order.

Technical. Concise. Recognised.

A Domain That Signals Software and Shipping.

Developers and product teams often treat .io as shorthand for input/output and for tools that actually run. A name such as nova.io can become the single place where docs, sign-ups and status updates live without needing a longer corporate suffix.

Lead with the product name. Keep the label short and memorable so it works on slides, terminal prompts and README badges.
Signal a technical audience. .io is widely recognised among founders, engineers and early adopters.
Grow without renaming. Start with a landing page; add docs, dashboards or a status subdomain later under the same root.

Illustrative product identity: Nova uses .io across its public site and contact address.

See the full ownership cost

.io Domain Pricing

First-year pricing is only one number. Check what you pay to claim an available name, keep it for another year, or move an existing registration into your Truehost account.

Start here

Claim the Name

42.23 USD / first year

Lock in the product address before you print cards or launch a waitlist.

Check .io availability

Renew

Keep It Live

TSh 234,546 / year

Users and documentation links should still resolve next year. Budget this ongoing cost early.

Explore registration costs

Transfer

Bring Existing Registration

TSh 180,804 / transfer

Keep the same address while moving day-to-day management into your Truehost account.

Move your existing .io

Before paying: figures shown here come from the live pricing system. Review the order summary for taxes, premium-name pricing and any extras.

Match the ending to the audience

.io, .com or .dev?

Who will type the name most often? A developer tool, a consumer product and a general brand may prefer different suffixes. Weigh audience against availability and renewal cost.

Compare tech and general registration options
Align the Ending with Your Product	.ioTech / product	.comGeneral	.devDeveloper
Typical Audience	Founders, engineers & early adopters	Broad consumer and business reach	Developers and technical projects
Impression	Product-oriented and concise	Universal and familiar	Explicitly developer-focused
New Registration	42.23 USD	8.24 USD	11.43 USD
Annual Extension	TSh 234,546	TSh 30,888	TSh 48,646

Other endings may fit

.io Domain Alternatives

If your preferred .io name is taken, explore these related extensions and compare their registration terms before committing to a different path.

Practical ways the name works

A .io Domain for the Product You Are Shipping

A domain earns its place when people actually use it. These examples show how one address can support a product site, documentation or a status page.

Find Your .io

SaaS & Tools

Give the Product a Direct Address

One short name for marketing pages, sign-up and support without a longer corporate suffix.

Developer Platforms

Put Docs and Status in One Place

Point the domain at documentation, changelogs and a status page that teams can bookmark.

APIs & Infrastructure

Keep Endpoints and Branding Aligned

Use the same root for public docs, dashboard and support so users never hunt for the right URL.

Brand Coverage

Protect Both Ways People Search

When both spellings are free, register .io and a matching .com, then point one to the other.

After the name is yours

.io Domain Management, Made Clear

Once registered, the address needs instructions for where visitors and messages should go. Use the account tools to keep those connections current, monitor the registration and prepare for any future move.

TRUEHOSTAccount example

Registered addressnova.ioDemonstration only

Website routingA / CNAME

Mail deliveryMX / TXT

NameserversExternal DNS

Keep product destinations organised here.

DNS management

Enter the records supplied by your hosting or CDN. Confirm the target carefully before overwriting an existing entry.

Nameserver control

Prefer another provider’s DNS? Apply its nameservers so that provider answers queries for the address.

Renewal management

Note the registration end date early enough to arrange payment and keep the public-facing name active.

Transfer support

Request guidance on shifting registrar responsibility, including the steps the registry expects.

Day-to-day control

Why Manage Your .io Domain with Truehost?

Buying the name is the first step. These account features help you connect services, handle messages and keep reliable access to the address your users rely on.

One-click Cloudflare push

Use the Cloudflare push option to reduce manual DNS entry when linking that service to your registration.

Transparent First-Year Cost

42.23 USD / first year

See the live first-year figure before finalising a product name or launching a waitlist.

Clear Renewal Pricing

TSh 234,546 / year

Renewal cost appears separately, so you can plan beyond any introductory registration rate.

Free DNS management

Update website targets and verification records without purchasing a separate DNS-management product.

Free email forwarding

A forwarder sends incoming messages to an inbox you already use; it does not replace a full hosted mailbox.

2FA and domain lock

Enable two-factor authentication and available domain locks to reduce the chance of unauthorised account or transfer activity.

Coming soon

Free business email

A no-cost mailbox option is planned. Until it arrives, choose a suitable paid service if your team needs one now.

Coming soon

Free website builder

A free builder is also on the roadmap; do not treat it as available when budgeting for a site you need today.

Not available yet: the roadmap items above form no part of the current purchase. They should not be counted as included email hosting or an included website-building plan.

Connect the product journey

How to Put Your .io Domain to Work

A user may first land on the product page, open the docs and later check status. Each step can share the same identity. Apply each service’s DNS requirements; different providers can still operate behind one domain.

Invite people to the product at nova.io.
Receive support via [email protected].
Offer dedicated spaces such as docs.nova.io and status.nova.io.

Check .io availability

nova.ioAn illustrative connected product

A practical address layout

Organise Around One Memorable Name

Decide which destination sits at the main address and which deserves its own prefix. The examples below are illustrative only and do not claim these names are free.

User Task	Illustrative Destination	What People Encounter
Discover the product	`nova.io`	Overview, features and sign-up
Read documentation	`docs.nova.io`	Guides, API reference and examples
Check system status	`status.nova.io`	Uptime, incidents and maintenance
Send a message	`[email protected]`	A branded contact address routed to your chosen mailbox

Website Builder →Online Shop →Web Design →

Select the tools you actually need

Add More Around Your .io Domain

Registration alone does not create a website or a hosted mailbox. Choose the products your team requires; each carries its own subscription and billing terms.

See hosting options

Web hosting

Cloud Hosting

From TSh 33,800 / month

Select a place to store the site’s files and database, then point the new address at it when the pages are ready.

Explore web hosting →

No-code website

AI Website Builder

From TSh 7,935 / month

Use a website-building tool if you prefer to assemble pages without writing the underlying code yourself.

Build your site →

Cloud server

VPS Hosting

From TSh 17,602 / month

Choose a virtual server when your software needs more control over its environment than a shared account supplies.

Choose server resources →

Site security

SSL Certificates

From TSh 7,800 / year

Apply a suitable certificate with your hosting setup so browsers can establish encrypted connections to the site.

Explore SSL options →

Confirm the spelling first

.io Domain Name Rules

Write the exact spelling before you search. The label to the left of .io must follow the registry’s format rules, and a correctly formed spelling can still be reserved or already held by someone else.

Accepted in a .io name

Plain English letters without accent marks
Digits, including any that form part of your product name
A hyphen between words, never at the start or end
Combinations such as nova-stack24

Not accepted

Beginning or ending the label with a hyphen
Spaces, underscores or other symbols
Characters that require internationalised-domain encoding in restricted contexts
Reserved spellings and names already held by others

Check Sample Spellings

Candidate	Format Check	Explanation
`nova.io`	Valid spelling	Uses only permitted characters
`nova-stack24.io`	Valid spelling	Combines letters, a middle hyphen and digits
`-nova.io`	Invalid spelling	A leading hyphen breaks the format rule
`nova_stack.io`	Invalid spelling	The underscore falls outside the allowed character set

Gather the details you will need

Your .io Registration Checklist

Individuals and organisations may apply for .io. No local presence or special documentation is required for second-level registrations. Provide accurate details for the person or body that will hold the registration.

Information you need

The legal holder’s full personal or organisational identity
An inbox that will receive registration notices
Correct contact and postal information for the holder
Your chosen spelling, already checked against the permitted format

What registration does not supply

Exclusive legal rights to a brand or product name
Hosted mailboxes or web hosting as part of the name alone
A permanent registration with no future payments
Automatic ownership of matching names under other endings

Before you register

Check related endings

Think about how someone who hears your product name might type it. Search any important variation before printing an address you may later want to change.

Review existing rights

A successful availability check is not a trade-mark clearance. Look at existing products and relevant rights before adopting a name for public use.

Use a lasting email address

Select an inbox you can still reach even if this domain later becomes unavailable. That simplifies registration queries and urgent account notices.

Know the namespace

.io Domain Facts

A brief overview of the .io extension. Although assigned as a country-code domain, it is widely used as a technical and product namespace.

Open: Registration policy; Available worldwide with no local presence required
1–10 yrs: Registration term; Confirm available periods at checkout
Identity Digital: Registry operator; Internet Computer Bureau

Registry operated by Identity Digital (Internet Computer Bureau). Open second-level registration with no local-presence requirement. Checked against current public registry information, October 2026.

.io Registry and Registration Specifications

Expand the relevant topic for practical notes on registration, DNS and recovery. These are registry requirements, not a guarantee that every possible term or feature appears in your order.

Visit Identity Digital

Registry IdentityWhere .io sits in the domain family

Namespace reference
Property	.io requirement
Example registration	Second-level .io name: `nova.io`
Position in DNS	The registered label sits directly under .io; .io is a country-code top-level domain.
Namespace type	Country-code top-level domain (ccTLD), widely used generically
Registry organisation	Identity Digital (Internet Computer Bureau)
Delegation	Introduced 1997
Intended / actual use	Originally for the British Indian Ocean Territory; widely used by tech products, startups and developer tools.

Registration RulesApplicant and spelling requirements

Application reference
Property	.io requirement
Eligible applicants	Individuals and organisations may apply; no local presence required for second-level registrations.
How names are assigned	An available spelling is awarded to the first successful application; reserved and premium names remain excluded or priced separately.
Permitted duration	The registry accepts periods of one through ten years. Confirm which options Truehost offers for the selected order.
Label length	Typically 1–63 characters for the portion before .io, subject to registry technical limits.
Character set	Basic Latin letters, decimal digits and permitted hyphens; leading or trailing hyphens are excluded.
IDN support	Supported where offered by the registry and registrar; confirm availability at the time of order.
Capitalisation	Changing letter case does not create a different registration.
Other suffixes	A purchase covers this ending only; matching names under other endings require additional orders.

DNS & Registry ServicesTechnical configuration and disclosure

DNS configuration reference
Property	.io requirement
DNSSEC	Your DNS host must support signing and the necessary DS records for DNSSEC to be configured.
Nameserver allowance	Multiple nameserver entries are permitted within registry technical limits.
Registrant disclosure	Subject to applicable privacy and registry policies; many registrars offer WHOIS privacy where available.
Registration lookup	Query technical registration details through RDAP or WHOIS services provided by the registry and registrars.

Lifecycle & ProtectionDeadlines and complaint handling

Recovery reference
Property	.io requirement
Renewal deadline	Renew before expiry. Grace and redemption periods follow standard registry rules; exact windows are confirmed by the registrar.
Disputed registrations	Allegations of abusive registration may be handled under the applicable dispute policy.

Protect a working address

What Happens If .io Expires?

An expired address can interrupt more than a website: documentation links, status pages and support email may all depend on it. Arrange renewal before the end date. The registry’s recovery window is a final chance, not a planned renewal method.

01Resolving

Active

Confirm that payment arrangements and contact details remain usable while the registration is current.

02Action due

Renewal Due

The displayed renewal charge is TSh 234,546. Complete payment early, especially if approval from another person is required.

03Grace period

Expired

During the initial grace window after expiry the address may still resolve. Act at once rather than treating continued service as proof of renewal.

04Redemption

Recovery window

Once suspension begins, connected services stop. Recovery may still be possible for a limited time and can involve extra fees.

05Released

Cancelled

After the recovery window closes the unrenewed name is scheduled for release. Another party may then register it; recovery is no longer assured.

Select a registration period

Plan Beyond the First Year

Compare the full price for each available term. Search for your name, then choose the registration period during checkout.

Current catalogue prices. Savings compare the total with one year of registration plus annual renewals at today’s rates. Future renewal rates may change. Only available priced terms are listed.

Term	Total price	Savings vs annual renewal	Action
1 year	TSh 109,798	No saving	Search domains
2 years	TSh 344,344	No saving	Search domains
3 years	TSh 578,890	No saving	Search domains
4 years	TSh 813,436	No saving	Search domains
5 years	TSh 1,047,982	No saving	Search domains

Select your term in checkout. Domain availability, applicable promotions, premium-name pricing and taxes are confirmed there.

Change registrar without renaming

Already Hold a .io Domain?

You can switch the registrar without selecting a new product address. Prepare account access and DNS details first, then follow the standard transfer process. Registrar transfer and website migration remain separate tasks.

Transfer — TSh 180,804

01
Prepare account access
Locate the current registrar login and confirm who is authorised to request changes. Keep a record of the working DNS configuration.
02
Start the receiving order
Begin a Truehost transfer for the exact .io spelling and obtain the instructions for accepting it.
03
Finish the transfer steps
Follow the authorisation process from the current registrar and Truehost. Confirm that existing website and mail destinations remain correct after the handover.

Questions before you decide

.io Domain FAQs

Practical answers for product teams and founders choosing an address, connecting services or moving an existing registration.

Is .io restricted to companies in a specific territory?

No. Second-level .io registrations are open to individuals and organisations worldwide. No local presence is required. The applicant must still supply accurate details and meet the registry’s terms.

Does the first-year price continue every year?

Not necessarily. The registration figure is 42.23 USD; the separate renewal figure is TSh 234,546. Plan ongoing costs from the renewal amount and review the payable total before each order.

Does .io improve search rankings?

No ending guarantees a ranking position. Choose an address that fits your product, then focus on useful content, a usable website and clear documentation. The domain should support that work, not replace it.

Can I register the name before the product is live?

Yes. You can secure an available registration while the site or product is still being built. Keep contact details and renewal arrangements up to date, and connect hosting when you have pages ready to publish.

Does registration include a working email inbox?

No hosted mailbox is created simply by registering an address. Choose a mailbox product if you need to send and receive product email; a forwarding feature serves a different purpose and routes messages into an existing inbox.

Must website and email use the same provider?

No. Your website can use one compatible platform and your mail another. Apply each provider’s DNS instructions carefully so a website change does not unintentionally interrupt incoming messages.

Can I keep .io indefinitely?

You can retain the registration by renewing it while eligible and complying with the applicable terms. It is not a one-time permanent purchase. The registry allows durations up to ten years; the options offered in your order appear at checkout.

What if my preferred product name is already taken?

Try a clear, relevant variation that people can remember, or consider a different ending. Avoid a confusing imitation of another product. Do not assume that an inactive-looking website means the registration is available to buy.

Should a matching .com point to the same website?

If you control both registrations, you can choose a primary address and configure the other to redirect there. Buying .io does not automatically give you .com; check and acquire the matching registration separately if it matters to your product.

Why must registration details stay accurate?

The registry or registrar may need to contact you about the registration. Outdated details can make validation, account recovery and urgent notices harder to handle. Update them when your organisation moves, changes leadership or replaces its contact inbox.

Is transferring a .io domain the same as moving hosting?

No. A registrar transfer changes who administers the registration. Website files, databases and mailboxes may remain where they are. If you also want new hosting, plan that migration separately and coordinate any DNS changes.

Can I recover a .io after services stop?

Possibly, if the registration is still inside the registry’s recovery window. Contact the registrar promptly once expiry is noticed; once the name is fully released, recovery is no longer guaranteed and another party may register it.

Choose the address your product will use

Ready for Your .io Domain?

Search your preferred spelling now. Review availability, the registration charge and your chosen term before placing the order.

Check .io availability →Move your existing .io

Product-ready endingClear renewal costsFlexible connections

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