.al Domain Names
15 registrars compared — cheapest from $13.99 at Regery
Delegated in 1992, .al is the country-code top-level domain for Albania, but its two-letter brevity has made it a global curiosity — from Albanians to Americans in Alabama.
| # | Registrar | Registration | Renewal | Transfer | 5-Year Cost | 10-Year Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regery Cheapest | $13.99 | $13.99 | $1.99 | $69.95 | $139.90 | Visit |
| 2 | Netim | $19.00 | $19.00 | $19.00 | $95.00 | $190.00 | Visit |
| 3 | INWX | $24.00 | $24.00 | $24.00 | $120.00 | $240.00 | Visit |
| 4 | DreamHost | $24.96 | $24.96 | $24.96 | $124.80 | $249.60 | Visit |
| 5 | Epik | $27.95 | $27.95 | $27.95 | $139.75 | $279.50 | Visit |
| 6 | 101domain | $41.99 | $49.99 | $41.99 | $241.95 | $491.90 | Visit |
| 7 | Cosmotown | $41.99 | $49.99 | $41.99 | $241.95 | $491.90 | Visit |
| 8 | Directnic | $41.99 | $49.99 | $41.99 | $241.95 | $491.90 | Visit |
| 9 | Sav | $45.06 | $45.06 | $45.06 | $225.30 | $450.60 | Visit |
| 10 | Regtons | $48.09 | $48.09 | $48.09 | $240.45 | $480.90 | Visit |
| 11 | Marcaria | $58.00 | $58.00 | $58.00 | $290.00 | $580.00 | Visit |
| 12 | MrDomain | $76.53 | $76.53 | $76.53 | $382.65 | $765.30 | Visit |
| 13 | Blacknight | $80.46 | $80.46 | $80.46 | $402.30 | $804.60 | Visit |
| 14 | EuroDNS | $117.41 | $117.41 | $117.41 | $587.05 | $1174.10 | Visit |
| 15 | Gandi | $395.00 | $663.98 | $395.00 | $3050.92 | $6370.82 | Visit |
Prices updated daily. Some registrars show promotional first-year prices. Always verify the final price on the registrar's website before purchasing.
Albania's Domain, Spelled in Two Letters
When the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority - AKEP took over the registry, .al became more than a national suffix. It was delegated back in 1992, making it one of the earlier European ccTLDs. The domain is officially intended for "entities connected with Albania," but reality is looser. Wikipedia's entry on .al notes it's also used in the US state of Alabama, a classic case of a country-code finding a second life as a geographic hack. The registration rules reflect this split: second-level domains like .com.al are tightly restricted to Albanian citizens and businesses, while the bare .al is open to anyone. That's an unusual balance — strict control at one level, laissez-faire at the other.
The Price Spread That Tells a Story
You won't find a uniform price for .al. Registrars vary wildly, with the cheapest option coming in at a tenth of the most expensive. That extreme spread suggests a market still finding its footing. At the low end, Regery makes .al an impulse buy; at the high end, it's priced like a premium property. The reality is that most registrants don't need .al — they want it for branding or a clever hack. That means price sensitivity is high, and the market reflects it. 15 registrars now carry .al, giving buyers real choice. But the gap between budget and premium suggests you should shop around, not just settle for the first registrar you see.
Dispute Policy: Buyer Beware
Here's where .al parts ways with many other ccTLDs. The dispute policy doesn't offer much shelter: disputes must be handled directly between the registrant and the complaining party, with the NIC explicitly disclaiming all legal responsibilities. That's a stark contrast to the UDRP-style processes common elsewhere. For someone registering a defensive .al domain, this is a caveat worth noting — if a name is challenged, you're largely on your own. The policy is documented in the .al Wikipedia article, and it hasn't stopped the domain from growing. But it does mean that .al is not for the faint-hearted when it comes to trademark protection. Registering a .al name for a brand demands confidence in your claim.
Beyond Albania: A Land of Domain Hacks
Albania's official language is Albanian, and the country sits in Southeast Europe, but .al's real appeal now transcends geography. The "al" string is a natural fit for names like "Portal," "Global," or "Digital" — where "al" forms a meaningful ending. This has fueled interest far beyond the Balkans, as Wikipedia's entry notes that .al is used "elsewhere" in addition to Albania. For Albanians, it's a point of national pride — a short, memorable suffix that ties them to their homeland. For everyone else, it's a clever way to craft a domain that reads as a word. The tension between these two audiences shapes everything from pricing to policy, and it's why .al remains a fascinating niche in the domain world.