Using your .ai
A .ai tells people you build with AI. It is also one of the costliest endings to keep, so plan for the renewals.
Basics
Is a .ai domain worth it?
It is if you want to signal AI work and can budget $165.40 every 2 years; officially, .ai is still Anguilla's country ending. Identity Digital, which runs .ai, calls it "synonymous with innovation and credibility in the AI space," and counted over 600,000 names in June 2025. If the .com is available too, get both; check them together.[1, 2, 3, 4]
How much does a .ai cost over time?
$82.70 a year at Porkbun, the same at renewal, but paid 2 years at a time: $165.40 per bill. That is more than 7 times the price of a .com, at $11.08.
| Years | .ai at Porkbun | .com at Porkbun |
|---|---|---|
| First 2 | $165.40 | $22.16 |
| 10 | $827.00 | $110.80 |
Compare every ending's renewal price in Which domain ending should I pick?[3, 4]
What rules apply to how you use a .ai?
Abusive use is banned: malware, phishing, spam, DNS hijacking, denial-of-service attacks and copyright or trademark infringement. The Government of Anguilla can deny, suspend, cancel, redirect or transfer a name at any time.[5]
Advanced
How do you set up email, DNS and HTTPS on a .ai?
The same way as on a .com. The full steps are on Using your .com.
| Step | What to know |
|---|---|
| Nameservers | Turn off DNSSEC at your registrar first; the switch can take up to 24 hours |
| Set up SPF or DKIM before you send; over 5,000 a day to Gmail needs both, plus DMARC | |
| HTTPS | Cloudflare issues free certificates to every domain active on its service, on any plan |
Sources (8)
- PrimaryIdentity Digital: AI's new address
- Primarynic.ai: .ai official registry operator website ("the country code top-level domain for Anguilla")
- PrimaryPorkbun: domain name pricing, the public price list our checker reads daily
- PrimaryPorkbun: .ai domain (2-year minimum term)
- Primarynic.ai: FAQ ("What are the rules for using .ai domains?")
- PrimaryCloudflare docs: Full setup
- PrimaryGoogle Workspace Admin Help: Email sender guidelines
- PrimaryCloudflare docs: Universal SSL