What Is a .app Domain? The Extension Built for Applications

Everything you need to know about the .app domain extension — who uses it, why Google built it with mandatory HTTPS, and whether it's the right choice for your app or SaaS product.

.app is a top-level domain owned and operated by Google Registry, designed specifically for applications — mobile apps, web apps, SaaS products, and software platforms. It launched in May 2018 and quickly became one of the most popular new TLDs in the tech space.

Like its sibling .dev, .app enforces HTTPS at the registry level through HSTS preloading. Every .app domain requires a valid SSL certificate before it will load in a browser. For app developers, that's a feature — your users get encrypted connections from the start.

At Allanux Web, you can register a .app domain from R371.11/yr. Here's who uses .app and whether it's the right fit for your project.

Who Uses .app Domains?

Mobile App Developers

If you've built an iOS or Android app, a .app domain is the most intuitive landing page address. yourapp.app immediately communicates what the site is about. It's where users go to learn about your app before downloading it, and it's clean enough to print on marketing materials or say in a podcast ad.

SaaS Products

Cloud-based software products use .app to signal that they're application-first businesses. Project management tools, invoicing platforms, CRM systems — any subscription software benefits from the .app association.

Web Applications

Progressive web apps (PWAs), browser-based tools, and web platforms that feel more like software than websites. If users "use" your site rather than "read" it, .app makes sense.

Startup Landing Pages

Many startups register a .app domain for their pre-launch landing page while they build the product. It's cheaper than buying a premium .com name and signals exactly what they're building.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

Content sites, blogs, e-commerce stores, and traditional business websites. If people visit your site to read, browse, or shop rather than to use a tool, .com or .co.za is a better fit. The word "app" carries specific expectations.

.app Domain Pricing in South Africa

Here's how .app compares to other tech-focused extensions at Allanux Web, all prices in ZAR.

.app is slightly more expensive than .com and .dev, but not by much — R371.11/yr vs R299/yr for .com. Both .app and .dev are Google Registry products with mandatory HTTPS. The choice between them comes down to branding: .app for consumer-facing applications, .dev for developer-facing tools.

.app vs .dev: Which Google TLD Should You Choose?

Both are owned by Google, both enforce HTTPS, and both cost roughly the same. The difference is audience.

Choose .app When:

• Your product is a consumer-facing mobile or web application
• Non-technical users will visit your site (investors, customers, press)
• You want the URL to immediately communicate "this is an app"
• You're building a landing page for an App Store or Play Store listing

Choose .dev When:

• Your product is a developer tool, API, or SDK
• Your audience is primarily technical (engineers, sysadmins, DevOps)
• You're hosting documentation, a developer portal, or an open-source project
• You want to signal "this is built by developers, for developers"

Many teams register both: .app for the product and .dev for the documentation or API reference. At Allanux Web, that's R371.11 + R296.84 = R667.95/yr for the pair.