Best for… / Side Projects & Experiments

Best TLDs for Side Projects & Experiments

For a side project, optimize for delight per dollar — and read the renewal price before the intro price. .xyz gets you in for about $2, .wtf is unbeatable for viral one-offs with attitude, and .today makes any noun feel like a product. The responsible pick is .page (~$12/yr, HTTPS-enforced, zero drama).

Side projects deserve domains with personality — this is where the weird TLDs earn their existence. Optimize for delight per dollar, and read the renewal price before the intro price.

1
.xyz ★★★★★~$2–14/yr (first year often $1–2)
$2 gets you in the game. The default scratchpad TLD of the internet.
2
.wtf ★★★★★~$3–30/yr
Pure attitude for tools with a sense of humor. Unbeatable for viral one-offs.
3
.today ★★★★★~$15–25/yr
Makes any noun feel like a product (we speak from repeated experience).
4
.space ★★★★★~$2 first yr, ~$25 renewal
Cheap with actual charm — a rarity in the bargain bin.
5
.page ★★★★★~$10–14/yr
The responsible choice: ~$12/yr, HTTPS-enforced, zero drama.

Skip these

.site — if the project has personality, the domain shouldn't have none.

Common questions

What's the cheapest good domain for a side project?

.xyz is the default scratchpad TLD at around $2 to start — but check the renewal, since many cheap TLDs spike after year one. For something you'll keep, .page (~$12/yr, forced HTTPS) is the steady choice; for a viral one-off, .wtf delivers pure attitude.

Should I worry about renewal prices on cheap TLDs?

Absolutely. The 'renewal trap' is real: some TLDs cost a dollar or two in year one and 5–10x that to renew. Always look up the renewal price before registering — the first year is a teaser, the renewal is the true cost of ownership.

Related

Best TLDs for StartupsBest TLDs for AI ProductsBest TLDs for Developer ToolsBest TLDs for SaaS ProductsBest TLDs for E-commerce StoresBest TLDs for Portfolios & Personal Sites