.app vs .dev
Which domain extension should you choose? Here's how the two compare — and when each one is the better pick.
Side by side
| .app | .dev | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Generic TLD, since 2015 | Generic TLD, since 2014 |
| Runs the registry | Charleston Road Registry Inc. | Charleston Road Registry Inc. |
| In the root zone since | July 2, 2015 | December 18, 2014 |
| Popular meaning | — | — |
| Search geotargeting | Generic — not tied to a country | Generic — not tied to a country |
| DNSSEC-signed | Yes | Yes |
| Name servers (IPv6) | 5 (5) | 5 (5) |
Choose .app if…
- Mobile and web apps
- Product landing pages and download links
- Developers who want security on by default
Watch out for
- Sites must be served over HTTPS — plain HTTP won't load in modern browsers
- Popular one-word names are often premium-priced
A clean, modern ending for apps and software products. The built-in HTTPS requirement is a feature, not a hurdle.
Choose .dev if…
- Developer portfolios and blogs
- Documentation, SDKs and open-source projects
- Staging and tooling sites that still need real certificates
Watch out for
- HTTPS is mandatory — local-style plain HTTP setups won't work on public .dev names
- Before 2019 many developers used .dev for local testing; those setups break now
The obvious pick for developer portfolios, docs and tools. Just set up HTTPS before you point the domain anywhere.
.app vs .dev FAQ
Is .app better than .dev?
Neither is better across the board. A clean, modern ending for apps and software products. The built-in HTTPS requirement is a feature, not a hurdle. The obvious pick for developer portfolios, docs and tools. Just set up HTTPS before you point the domain anywhere.
Does .app or .dev rank better on Google?
Google doesn't give either ending a ranking bonus. What differs is geotargeting: .app is generic — not tied to a country, and .dev is generic — not tied to a country. Content and links matter far more than the TLD.
Can I use both .app and .dev?
Yes, and many brands do: register both, pick one as the main site, and redirect the other to it so links and email never go astray.