.app Domains: Renewal Cost, Lifecycle & HTTPS Rules
.app is Google Registry's TLD for applications, launched in 2018 after Google paid a record $25 million for the string at ICANN auction. Like its sibling .dev, the entire zone is HSTS-preloaded — every .app site must serve HTTPS or it will not load.
It is one of the few new gTLDs with genuine end-user demand, because the word maps exactly onto what millions of products call themselves.
- Registry operator
- Charleston Road Registry (Google Registry)
- Type
- New gTLD (ICANN-regulated)
- Typical annual renewal
- Typically $12-$20/yr at most registrars
- Minimum registration
- 1 year (max 10)
- Redemption / grace
- Registrar grace (0-45 days), 30-day redemption, 5-day pendingDelete
- RDAP / WHOIS
- Yes — standard gTLD RDAP
What .app is and who uses it
.app is operated by Charleston Road Registry, Google's registry arm. Registrants are overwhelmingly software products: mobile apps, SaaS tools, and landing pages for products whose brand already ends in "app" conversationally. That semantic fit is the extension's core strength — a startup called Notion-style-name can put its product at name.app and users parse it instantly.
Renewal costs
Standard names typically renew for $12-$20 per year. As with most new gTLDs, the registry maintains premium tiers where short and generic names renew at elevated recurring prices — sometimes hundreds per year. The premium price follows the name permanently, so verify the renewal rate before any aftermarket purchase.
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The HTTPS requirement
The whole .app zone ships in browsers' HSTS preload lists, so Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge refuse plain HTTP for every .app domain and subdomain. You need a valid TLS certificate before the site loads at all. With modern hosting this is automatic and invisible; with legacy setups it is the first thing to check when a .app "does not work."
What happens when a .app domain expires
.app follows the standard ICANN gTLD lifecycle exactly: a registrar auto-renew grace period of 0-45 days at normal renewal pricing, a 30-day redemptionPeriod with a restore fee (typically $70-$200), 5 days of pendingDelete, then release to the open market. Expiry auctions at large registrars and light drop-catch activity both exist for .app, concentrated on one-word names.
Transfer rules and gotchas
- •Standard EPP transfers adding one year; usual 60-day post-registration and post-transfer locks.
- •Premium renewal tiers persist across transfers and registrars.
- •HSTS applies to all subdomains with no opt-out — plan certificates for every host you publish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a .app domain cost to renew?
Typically $12-$20 per year at most registrars for standard names. Registry premium names renew at higher recurring rates — always check the renewal price, which follows the name across registrars.
What happens when a .app domain expires?
The standard gTLD lifecycle: a 0-45 day registrar grace period at normal renewal price, a 30-day redemptionPeriod with a restore fee, 5 days of pendingDelete, then the domain drops and anyone can register it.
Does a .app domain require HTTPS?
Yes. The entire .app TLD is HSTS-preloaded in major browsers, which refuse plain HTTP connections to any .app domain or subdomain. A valid TLS certificate is required before the site will load.