Choosing a domain name for a modern digital venture goes far beyond a simple web address. It is an immediate psychological signal, a marketing hook, and a recurring operational expense. While the traditional .com remains the gold standard of internet real estate, its scarcity has driven founders into the arms of country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) that have been co-opted as global tech badges.
Among these, three extensions dominate the landscape: .ai, .io, and .tech. Analyzing how their pricing models and perceived market values compare reveals how much founders should expect to pay—and what kind of narrative they are buying into.
1. The Pricing Landscape: From Economy to Enterprise Premium
Domain pricing generally follows a tiered structure based on registry wholesale costs, registry-imposed rules, and demand-driven aftermarket inflation.
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