July 4, 2026 · By Rishav Mukherjee
Best .IO Domain Registrars in 2026 — Prices Compared
.IO has been the go-to domain for tech startups and developer tools for over a decade. Prices vary significantly — here is where to get one cheapest.
Why .IO Domains Are Expensive
.IO is a country code TLD belonging to the British Indian Ocean Territory. The registry charges high wholesale prices, so registrar prices start around $25–35/year and renewal prices at less competitive registrars can hit $65+. The gap between cheapest and most expensive is larger for .io than almost any other TLD.
.IO Prices Compared (2026)
| Registrar | Register/yr | Renew/yr | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | $25.16 | $25.16 | $125.80 |
| Porkbun | $28.12 | $51.80 | $235.32 |
| NameSilo | ~$32.95 | ~$32.95 | ~$164.75 |
| Namecheap | $32.98 | $39.98 | $192.90 |
| GoDaddy | $44.99 | $64.99 | $304.95 |
5-year total: registration price year 1, renewal years 2–5.
The Verdict: Cloudflare by a Wide Margin
Cloudflare charges $25.16/year flat. GoDaddy's 5-year total of $305 is $179 more than Cloudflare's $126. Even Porkbun's renewal jump to $51.80 makes it an expensive long-term choice for .io. If you plan to hold a .io domain for more than a couple of years, Cloudflare is clearly the best option.
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