.app Domains in Price Comparison

What's behind the .app extension?

The top-level domain .app is primarily aimed at users of mobile applications for smartphones and tablet PCs, but is by no means limited to these applications. There are no fixed or mandatory regulations, making the extension suitable for both private and commercial purposes or for open-source projects. After a multi-stage auction, Google acquired the rights to manage .app and officially serves as the authority for registration and allocation. Although the introduction within the new TLD framework was decided in 2013, it will not take place until the end of 2017 due to a limited number of releases.

What are the costs for a .app domain?

Since a definitive reservation of the .app domain is not yet possible, there is no fixed price range for registration. Given the potentially high demand, the cost is expected to be at a level similar to popular extensions like .net or .info. Monthly costs for these start at around 1 Euro without additional hosting. Prominent addresses are likely to be traded on the open market and may not be available at all or only at significant transfer sums. Auctions of relevant URLs are to be expected.

What makes .app particularly interesting?

For many companies, the development of mobile applications is now the core business in software development. While the .app extension is not subject to specific restrictions and can be used for commercial, private, or educational purposes, it is primarily aimed at developers for smartphones, tablet PCs, and embedded devices such as HTPCs, smart home applications, or process automation and control. The demand in this area is constantly increasing and now exceeds that of conventional software for desktop PCs or servers.

Does the .app extension have its own advantages and disadvantages?

Advantages:

• High availability with many international providers
• Designed for the development of mobile applications
• Late release increases chances of available domains
• Clear association with an industry
• No restrictions on content or registration

Disadvantages:

• High demand for relevant names
• Lack of clear association with operating systems
• Low level of familiarity

Is .app more suitable as a primary TLD or as a secondary address?

Without a doubt, the .app extension is a valuable addition to the existing top-level domains and should be used by companies within the IT industry whenever possible. However, the limited level of familiarity and the specific association with mobile applications currently speak against its use for a primary online presence. In this context, prominent domains such as .com, .org, or .biz are sensible additions that should not be neglected.

Alternatives to the .app Domain

There are a variety of interesting domain extensions that can be used as alternatives to the .app domain. The .online Domain, for example, is generally suitable for all internet applications, while more specific domain extensions like the .stream Domain or the .cloud Domain can be used for certain online services.