How .AI Prices are Calculated

.AI domains must be registered for a minimum of 2 years. This is a registry requirement, not a registrar policy.

On tldes.com, all prices are shown per year for consistency. Since .AI requires 2 years minimum, multiply the table price by 2 to see what you'll actually pay.

Example: If the "New" price is $70.00, the total cost will be $70.00 × 2 = $140.00 for 2 years.

Why .AI prices on tldes.com may differ from registrar websites

Registrars use two different methods to calculate the 2-year registration cost:

Method 1: Standard pricing (most registrars)

These registrars charge their registration price for both years of the initial 2-year period.

2-year cost = Registration price × 2

Examples: Dynadot, Spaceship, Namecheap, Porkbun, NameSilo

Example with typical prices:

  • Registration price: $70.00
  • Renewal price: $90.00
  • Initial 2-year cost: $70.00 × 2 = $140.00
  • Per year average: $70.00 ← this is what tldes.com shows

Method 2: Promotional pricing trick (some registrars)

These registrars apply their renewal price to the second year of your initial registration, even though you're not actually renewing yet.

2-year cost = Registration price + Renewal price

Examples: GoDaddy, 123 Reg, OVHcloud, whc.ca, CrazyDomains

Real example from GoDaddy (as of November 10, 2025):

  • Registration price: $49.99 (only for year 1)
  • Renewal price: $144.99 (applied already in year 2!)
  • Initial 2-year cost: $49.99 + $144.99 = $194.98
  • Per year average: $97.49 ← this is what tldes.com shows

For registrars using Method 2, tldes.com shows the average real cost per year calculated by adding registration and renewal prices, then dividing by 2. This provides a more accurate comparison.

Why this matters

The second method creates an illusion of lower prices by advertising a low "registration price" that only applies to the first year. By showing the real average cost, tldes.com helps you compare registrars fairly and avoid surprises when you see the total charge.

Transfer pricing note

Some registrars quote registration and renewal prices for 1 year, but quote transfer prices for 2 years. As a result, transfer prices may be less accurate for some registrars.