.tech Domains: Renewal Cost, Lifecycle & Drop Rules
.tech is Radix's startup-facing TLD, marketed hard at hackathons, accelerators, and student programs. It is a standard ICANN gTLD with the same promotional pricing model as its sibling .online: cheap to try, specialty-priced to keep.
The word is self-explanatory across markets, and enough real companies use it that the extension reads as legitimate rather than exotic.
- Registry operator
- Radix
- Type
- New gTLD (ICANN-regulated)
- Typical annual renewal
- Typically $25-$50/yr at most registrars; first years often heavily discounted
- 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 .tech is and who uses it
.tech is operated by Radix and positioned squarely at technology companies: startups, hardware brands, developer events, and university tech programs. The registry invested in flagship adoptions early — consumer electronics shows and high-profile startups — to establish that the extension was for real products, and that positioning has largely held. It is one of the few new gTLDs where an end user pitching their company does not have to explain the domain.
Renewal costs
Standard renewals typically run $25-$50 per year at most registrars, with first-year promotions frequently under $10. Radix maintains registry premium tiers on short and generic names — one-word .tech names often carry elevated renewal prices that recur every year and follow the name across registrars. As with all promo-driven TLDs, evaluate at the renewal rate.
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What happens when a .tech domain expires
.tech follows the standard ICANN gTLD lifecycle with no registry-specific quirks: a registrar auto-renew grace period of 0-45 days at the normal renewal price, a 30-day redemptionPeriod where recovery requires a restore fee (typically $70-$200 retail), a 5-day pendingDelete, then release. Registrar expiry auctions pick up the occasional strong one-word name; the long tail drops quietly.
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 — a bargain aftermarket purchase can hide a $200/yr renewal.
- •Registrar spread on .tech renewals is wide; a portfolio consolidation can meaningfully cut carry cost.
Investor notes
.tech aftermarket demand exists for one-word technology terms and short brandables, with startups as the buyer pool. But the same buyers can hand-register adjacent alternatives cheaply, which anchors offers low. Hold .tech selectively — the renewal math at $25-$50 per year punishes maybe-someday names quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a .tech domain cost to renew?
Typically $25-$50 per year at most registrars for standard names, even when the first year was promotionally priced. Registry premium names renew at elevated recurring rates that follow the name across registrars.
What happens when a .tech domain expires?
The standard gTLD lifecycle applies: a registrar grace period of 0-45 days at the normal renewal price, a 30-day redemptionPeriod with a restore fee, 5 days of pendingDelete, then the domain drops and becomes publicly available.
Is .tech taken seriously for startups?
Increasingly yes, within the technology niche. Enough funded companies and major events use .tech that it reads as intentional branding rather than a fallback — though for a company expecting mainstream consumer traffic, the .com still carries less friction.