Quick answer
Can a developer register a .dev domain without KYC?
Yes. Anyone can register a .dev, with no proof of developer status. Isthmus Domains asks for a single verified email and no ID. Privacy is included, and browsers will load the site only over HTTPS. At Isthmus Domains, an offshore domain registrar in Panama, a .dev costs $8.99/year the first year and $12.99/year to renew (19 October 2026), paid in crypto with no KYC.
Search a .dev domain
Popular extensions
- .dev $8.99
The search checks .dev names live against Google Registry with RDAP.
.dev price per year
| Extension | 1st year | Renewal | Transfer | WHOIS privacy | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .dev | $8.99 | $12.99 | $12.99 | Free | HTTPS required |
A .dev costs less the first year than at renewal, and the site needs a TLS certificate to load at all.
.dev at a glance
| Registry | Google Registry (Charleston Road Registry Inc.) |
|---|---|
| Kind of extension | New generic TLD (gTLD) by Google Registry, on the HSTS preload list |
| Who can register | Anyone, developer or not |
| Without KYC at Isthmus Domains | Yes, verified email only |
| Public WHOIS / RDAP | Privacy contact, no personal data |
| Registration period | 1 to 10 years |
| Domain protection | Optional yearly extra |
Can anyone get a .dev, and what do we ask a coder for?
Anyone can. Google Registry does not ask for a GitHub profile, a portfolio or proof of employment. Students, hobbyists and companies all qualify. Our own process is short. We take an email address, send a link to confirm it as ICANN rules require, and that is the whole identity step. There is no ID scan and no selfie. Pay from a crypto balance in Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, Litecoin, USDT or USDC. This keeps a maintainer's legal name out of the registrar file, which matters for people who publish code under a handle.
Your .dev in a public lookup
Search your .dev at lookup.icann.org and you will see our privacy service in the contact fields. Your email, the only contact data we collect, is not published. What remains public is operational: nameservers, DNSSEC status, the registrar, dates and locks. Many developers already expose an email in commit history; privacy on the domain at least keeps that email off the public record. Google Registry keeps its own copy of the data under its rules.
Should a library or tool use Domain protection?
If a package manager or installer points at your .dev, a hijacked domain could reach many users. The optional Domain protection keeps the transfer lock on by default, and every transfer or DNS change needs confirmation from your account. It also registers the name in our company name, so the registry never shows you. We hold only your email. We release the data we hold only when Panamanian law requires it (a Panamanian court or prosecutor's order), or in a UDRP case. A person reviews each complaint first.
How .dev reached the public
Google's Charleston Road Registry obtained .dev in 2014 and kept it closed for years. Early access began on 19 February 2019, and general availability followed on 1 March 2019. Like .app, the whole TLD sits on the HSTS preload list. Before that, many developers used invented .dev hostnames for local test sites, through hosts files or fake DNS. The preload broke those setups, because browsers began forcing HTTPS on every .dev name. Google Registry applies the same rule to .app and .page.
What developers build on .dev
| Use | Why .dev fits |
|---|---|
| Documentation sites | Readers know at once the content is technical. |
| Personal portfolios | yourname.dev shows the job you do in four letters. |
| Open-source projects | A home for releases, changelogs and install scripts. |
| Developer APIs and sandboxes | HTTPS is already required, so test and production share one rule. |
Local hosts, certificates and renewals
Do not use .dev for local test names: browsers force HTTPS, and a real owner may hold the name. Use a reserved name such as .test or .localhost instead. Get a certificate before launch, because plain HTTP never loads. Static hosts often issue one for you. Renewals cost more than the first year at most registrars. Transfers are blocked for 60 days after registration. Malware hosted on a .dev is a strict exception and is suspended on a documented report.
.dev at Porkbun, Cloudflare and others
On 19 October 2026, Porkbun listed .dev at $8.75 for the first year and $12.87 to renew. On 8 October 2026, Cloudflare showed $8.20 and $12.20 at cost, Dynadot $12.00 and $12.50, and Namecheap $10.98 and $21.18. Offshore options cost more: Njalla €30 a year, 1984 Hosting $25.99 and OrangeWebsite €21.90.
.dev questions
Why did my local .dev test site stop working?
Browsers ship a list of names that must use HTTPS, and Google added the whole .dev TLD to it. Any .dev hostname, real or local, now loads only with a trusted certificate. Rename local sites to .test or .localhost, which are reserved for that purpose and never resolve on the public internet.
Can I host a .dev on GitHub Pages or another static host?
Yes, if the host issues HTTPS certificates for custom domains, as most do. Add the A, AAAA or CNAME records the host gives you in our DNS editor, or switch to its nameservers. Wait until the certificate is active before you share the link, or visitors will see an error.
Does .dev renew at a higher price?
At most registrars, yes. Porkbun charged $8.75 then $12.87 on 19 October 2026. Our first year is also lower than the renewal, and both prices are shown above. Turn on renewal from your crypto balance so the name does not lapse by surprise.
Will you hand my details to a company that says my .dev infringes?
Not on a complaint alone. We release the data we hold only when Panamanian law requires it (a Panamanian court or prosecutor's order), or in a UDRP case. In a UDRP case, the dispute provider receives the registrant record, as the rules require. Read complaints and court orders.
Sources (4)
- Root Zone Database: .dev — IANA (2026-10-08)
- HSTS preload and Google Registry kb.porkbun.com/article/96-hsts-preload-and-google-registry — Porkbun (2026-10-08)
- .dev — Wikipedia (checked 2026-10-19)
- Domain pricing porkbun.com/products/domains — Porkbun (checked 2026-10-19)