A .ai domain is an internet domain that ends in .ai, such as yourstartup.ai. Officially, .ai is the country code of Anguilla, a small island in the Caribbean. Because the letters read as "artificial intelligence", AI companies, tools and start-ups around the world now use it. Anyone can register one, wherever they're based.
Which country does the .ai domain belong to?
The .ai domain belongs to Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory. It's Anguilla's country-code top-level domain, and the Government of Anguilla manages it. As AI has grown, .ai registrations have become one of the Anguillan government's biggest sources of revenue.
You don't need any connection to Anguilla to use one. Google treats .ai as a generic extension rather than a country-targeted one, because users and website owners often see it as more generic. So a .ai won't tie your site to one country in Google. The extension won't lift your rankings on its own either, so choose it for what it tells your customers.
Why .ai became the internet domain for AI businesses
Before visitors even open your site, a .ai address tells them your business is about artificial intelligence. For AI companies, from start-ups building chatbots to software providers and research teams, a .ai domain has become a popular choice.
You don't have to build AI yourself to use one. It also suits a tech brand that wants a modern, international address.
Why are .ai domains so expensive?
Our .ai domains cost more than most extensions, for two reasons. One is demand: so many AI businesses want a .ai address that it has become one of the pricier extensions we sell. The other is that the Government of Anguilla manages .ai, and it isn't priced to sell in volume like standard country codes are. Its price is higher as a result.
The higher price applies every year, not just in the first, and we don't offer a first-year discount on .ai. What you pay each year is the renewal price, because a domain with us is renewed once a year. You'll see the current price when you search for your name, before you commit to anything.
Is a .ai domain worth it for a start-up?
Yes, if AI is the selling point of your tool or service. A .ai isn't just for businesses that build AI, so it can suit you even when AI is only part of how you work, as long as you're happy to pay more each year than a .co.uk or a .com costs with us.
Before you decide, budget for .ai as a running cost rather than a one-off. Also make sure the name still fits if your business moves beyond AI later. If you're unsure, register the .ai and the .com, and forward one to the other, so visitors who type either address reach the same website. You set up the forwarding in your control panel once both domains are registered.
Should you choose .ai, .com, .co.uk or .io for an AI business?
Our advice: choose .ai if AI is the heart of your product and you sell internationally, and register the matching .com domain too, so nobody else can take it. If AI isn't your main selling point and you sell outside the UK, choose a .com on its own. If you mainly sell in the UK, choose a .co.uk domain, because it can show UK customers that you serve their market. If AI is the heart of a product you sell mostly in the UK, register the .ai as your brand and the .co.uk alongside it, and forward the .co.uk to your .ai website, so UK visitors find you either way. A .io domain is a strong choice for software that isn't mainly about AI.
| .ai | .com | .co.uk | .io | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it tells a visitor | A business built around AI | A business that could be based anywhere | A business that sells mainly in the UK | A software or tech product |
| What it signals to Google | A generic extension, not tied to one country | A generic extension | A site meant for the UK | A generic extension, not tied to one country |
Anyone can register any of the four, so your choice comes down to what each one tells your customers and what it costs you every year. If you're still weighing other options, compare the most popular domain extensions or read our guide to choosing the right extension.
Is a .ai domain safe to build a business on?
Yes, a .ai domain is an established country-code domain. Our .ai domains work with an SSL certificate like any other domain we sell.
If you miss a renewal and the domain expires, the website and email on it stop working, so keep your renewal up to date. Trust also comes from your website, not the extension. Clear contact details, a real business address and working email do more for your reputation than any ending.
How to choose a good .ai domain name
A good .ai domain name is one people remember after hearing it once and can type without help. The usual rules for finding the right domain name apply to .ai too. These tips help most when your first choice is taken:
- Keep it short and easy to spell. Say the address out loud, and if you'd have to spell it out on every phone call, try something simpler.
- Add a verb or a category word. If
yourstartup.aiis gone, trygetyourstartup.aioryourstartupapp.ai. - Use your product name. A name that belongs to your product works harder for you than a generic word anyone could use.
- Try an acronym. Use the initials of a longer name if people will still remember them.
- Stay clear of other brands. Never build your name around someone else's trademark.
- Keep a few alternatives ready. Don't count on getting a name that's already registered, even if nobody uses it: a name generator gives you more ideas to check.
A .ai name can be between 2 and 63 characters long. It can use letters, numbers and hyphens, but it can't start or end with a hyphen.
Other questions about .ai domains
Are there any good .ai domain names left?
Yes, there are still plenty. Short single words went early, and many are now resold by their holders. When you search with us, though, you'll often find two-word and brandable .ai names still available. Search for the name you have in mind before you settle on another.
Can I use a .ai domain for email?
Yes. A .ai domain registered with us works for email just like any other domain. You can set up an email address on your own domain, such as hello@yourstartup.ai, and send and receive as normal.
How to get a .ai domain
You get a .ai domain by searching for the name you want, registering it if it's available and then connecting it to your website and email. With us, your .ai domain is usually ready to use within minutes of registration, and in some cases it takes up to 24 hours.
With a short, memorable name ready, get your .ai domain and give your AI product an address that says what it does from day one.
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