Your mobile app needs a home on the web — a landing page for downloads, a place for documentation, and a URL you can put on business cards and marketing materials. The domain you choose shapes how users perceive your app before they ever open it.
For South African developers and startups, the main contenders are .app, .dev, .com, and .co.za. Each sends a different signal and costs a different amount. Here's how to pick the right one.
.app was built for exactly this use case. Owned by Google and launched in 2018, it's the only major TLD designed specifically for applications. When someone sees yourname.app, they immediately know they're heading to a software product.
Every .app domain enforces HTTPS automatically through the HSTS preload list. That means your landing page, download links, and API endpoints are encrypted from day one — no extra SSL configuration needed.
At R371.11 per year to register through Allanux Web, it's competitively priced against .com and comes with the added benefit of instant tech credibility.
If your app is part of a broader business — say, a restaurant chain with a loyalty app or a bank with a mobile banking tool — your app's landing page probably belongs on your main .com or .co.za domain as a subdirectory or subdomain. Users expect to find it under your company's existing web presence.
.co.za also makes sense if your app targets only South African users and you want the local trust signal. At R89 per year, it's the most affordable option by far.
If your app is open-source or developer-focused — a CLI tool, a library, or a developer utility — .dev might fit better than .app. It signals that your audience is technical. Like .app, .dev requires HTTPS and is operated by Google. It's also slightly cheaper at R296.84 per year.
| Factor | .app | .com | .co.za | .dev |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Register | R371.11/year | R299/year | R89/year | R296.84/year |
| Renew | R395.86/year | R349.84/year | R109/year | R346.36/year |
| HTTPS required | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | App landing pages, SaaS | Company + app combined | SA-only apps | Developer tools, open-source |
| User perception | Software product | Established business | Local SA presence | Developer / technical |
| Availability | Good (newer TLD) | Limited (many taken) | Good | Good (newer TLD) |
.app costs about R72 more than .com to register, but you get mandatory HTTPS and a domain that immediately communicates "this is an application." For a standalone app with its own brand, that's worth it. For an app that lives under a company umbrella, stick with .com or .co.za.
Compare all current rates on our domain pricing page.
Your app deserves a domain that matches what it does. Whether you go with .app for instant recognition, .com for business credibility, or .co.za for local trust, Allanux Web handles registration with DNS management and South African support included.
Register your .app domain from R371.11/year, or start with a .co.za from R89/year. Browse all available extensions on our domain pricing page and pick the right home for your app.
