.ai vs .io: Which Domain Is Better for a Tech Startup?
.io was the startup domain of the 2010s; .ai is the startup domain of the AI era. Both are country codes used as tech brands. Here is how they compare.
Updated
What they signal
.io reads as "input/output" and became a general developer and SaaS ending. .ai says one thing clearly: artificial intelligence. If AI is central to your product, .ai is the more specific signal.
Whose country codes are they?
.ai belongs to Anguilla. .io belongs to the British Indian Ocean Territory, and the 2024 agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has raised questions about the long-term future of .io. .ai has no comparable uncertainty and is backed by a government that depends on its revenue.
Price and availability
Both cost more than .com per year, and .ai has a two-year minimum term. Good short names are rare on both; .ai names have seen the stronger price growth recently (see the .ai sales records).
Which to choose
Building an AI product, agent or model? Choose .ai. Building a general developer tool with no AI angle? .io or .com may fit. Either way, the name matters more than the ending. See AI & tech .ai domains for sale.
More guides: .ai domain value guide · .ai vs .com · Transfer a .ai domain · Short .ai domains · Where to buy .ai domains · .ai domain price · Is .ai worth it? · Who owns .ai? · What is a .ai domain?
Ask your AI about this page: ChatGPT Claude Perplexity