You can use it for a mobile app’s website, a browser-based service, a software launch page or a customer support portal. Its defining technical requirement is HTTPS: a live .app website needs a valid SSL/TLS certificate to load correctly in modern browsers.
Check .app domain availability with NiceNIC to find a name for your product and review registration and renewal pricing.
What can you use an .app domain for?
An .app domain gives your product an address you can use across releases, marketing campaigns and customer communications.
Useful applications include:
- Mobile app websites: Explain features, show screenshots and link to official download pages.
- Web applications and SaaS products: Provide product information, account access and subscription options.
- Software launch pages: Introduce an upcoming product and collect early-access enquiries.
- Documentation and support: Publish setup instructions, release notes and troubleshooting guides.
- Developer projects: Give an independent tool or software experiment a recognisable home.
The name can stay consistent while your hosting provider, product features or distribution channels change. Registering the domain does not build the application or publish it in an app store.
What are the .app registration rules?
Individuals and organisations can register
.app is open for general registration. You do not need a published mobile application or professional developer certification to apply. Available names are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, subject to registry policies and rights-protection mechanisms. Google Registry's .app registration framework
Use accurate registrant information and an email address you actively monitor. For a business product, keep the domain account under the organisation’s control so access does not depend on one contractor or former employee.
Check the exact name and its availability
For standard ASCII names, use letters, digits and permitted hyphens, with no spaces or hyphens at either end. The label before .app can be up to 63 characters.
Short names require an individual availability check. There is no universal three-character minimum across the namespace: Google Registry's policy explicitly covers two-letter ASCII registrations, with a condition against falsely implying government or country-code registry affiliation. Google Registry's .app registration policy
Choose a name that matches your product, reads clearly and avoids confusion with another brand.
HTTPS is required for websites
The entire .app extension is included on the HSTS preload list. Browsers that enforce this list use HTTPS when connecting to .app websites, including on the first visit. Google Registry's .app overview
In practice, you need:
- A hosting service or website platform that supports your custom domain.
- A valid SSL/TLS certificate covering each hostname you use.
- Correct DNS settings and a working HTTPS configuration.
Registration and website activation are separate steps. You can secure the domain before your website is ready, but visitors will need a working HTTPS destination when you launch.
Your hosting platform may include certificate issuance and renewal. If you need a separate certificate, review NiceNIC SSL certificates and confirm compatibility with your hosting setup.
HTTPS protects the connection between visitors and your website. Application security still depends on how the software is built and maintained.
Review renewal and premium pricing
Check the initial registration price, renewal price and selected registration period before paying.
Some .app names carry premium annual pricing. A higher purchase price should not be assumed to be a one-time charge; review the renewal amount for the exact name. Google Registry's .app pricing policy
NiceNIC lists .app registration periods of one to ten years. Confirm the available term and final order total on the .app registration page.
How to register and launch an .app domain with NiceNIC
1. Search for your product name
Enter your preferred name in NiceNIC’s .app search.
If it is unavailable, consider a concise variation that still identifies the product. Avoid adding several unrelated keywords simply to find an available address.
Read the full domain aloud and double-check the spelling before ordering.
2. Complete the registration
Review the price and renewal terms, provide the correct holder information and complete payment.
Confirm that registration has succeeded in your account before announcing the address. Set up renewal reminders or review the available auto-renew settings, and keep the payment method or account balance ready for future renewals.
3. Connect the domain to your platform
Add the custom domain through your hosting or application platform and follow its DNS instructions.
If you use NiceNIC's nameservers, the NiceNIC DNS management guide explains where to add records. If your nameservers belong to another provider, update DNS there.
Allow the platform to complete any domain verification and certificate provisioning before directing customers to the site.
4. Test the complete customer journey
Check the main address, any www version you use and relevant subdomains over HTTPS.
Then test the actions that matter to your product: downloading the app, joining a waitlist, creating an account, starting a trial or completing a purchase. Confirm that forms and confirmation messages work on both mobile and desktop.
Make the website useful from the first visit
Your domain introduces the product. The page must explain why someone should use it.
A useful app website should quickly answer:
- What does the application do?
- Who is it designed for?
- Which devices or operating systems does it support?
- What does it cost, and what is included?
- How can someone try it or download it?
- Where can customers get help?
Show real product screenshots and specific use cases. Choose a clear primary action, such as “Try the Web App” or “Download for Android,” and send visitors to the appropriate destination.
A matching support address through NiceNIC Business Email can keep customer communication consistent with your product's domain.
Does .app receive special treatment in Google Search?
Using .app does not provide a special ranking advantage because Google operates the registry. Google explains that it generally treats new generic extensions like other generic extensions, and keywords in the extension do not create a ranking advantage. Google's guidance on new top-level domains
Give search engines useful public pages to discover: feature descriptions, pricing, documentation and answers to common product questions. Use descriptive page titles and clear internal links. These practices help explain your product without promising indexing or rankings. Google SEO Starter Guide
Frequently asked questions
Can I redirect an .app domain to an app store?
Yes, but the .app address must support HTTPS before it can deliver the redirect. A secure destination alone is insufficient because the browser connects to the .app address first. Choose a forwarding service that supports HTTPS for your custom domain. This follows from how HSTS preloading works.
Do I need to buy a separate SSL certificate?
Not necessarily. Your hosting or website platform may provide one. What matters is that the correct certificate is installed, trusted by browsers and kept valid.
Can I transfer an existing .app domain to NiceNIC?
Yes, subject to transfer eligibility. Obtain the Auth Code from your current registrar, check any transfer restrictions and begin through NiceNIC's domain transfer service. Review your DNS and hosting arrangements before making changes.
Find your .app domain with NiceNIC and give your application a consistent address for launch, customer support and future growth.
