How to Register a .IN Domain Name in 2026 (India’s Domain Extension)

India’s .in domain opened to everyone on 16 February 2005, after a sunrise period for trademark holders, and we wrote about it as it launched. Twenty years on, .in is one of the most popular country domains, used by startups, shops and big brands targeting Indian audiences. Here’s how to register one in 2026.

Quick answer: Anyone, in India or abroad, can register a .in domain through a NIXI-accredited registrar such as GoDaddy, Hostinger, BigRock or Namecheap. Search for your name, choose .in (or .co.in, .net.in, .org.in), complete your contact details and pay. Turn on auto-renew and domain privacy where available.

Types of .in domains

• .in: open to anyone, the most popular choice.
• .co.in, .net.in, .org.in, .firm.in, .gen.in, .ind.in: second-level options, often cheaper.
• .gov.in: government bodies only, via NIC.
• .ac.in, .edu.in, .res.in: academic and research institutions, via ERNET.
• .भारत: domains in Indian scripts (Hindi and other languages).

How to register a .in domain

1. Pick a short, memorable name and check availability with a registrar’s search.
2. Compare first-year and renewal prices; renewals are often higher than intro offers.
3. Enter accurate registrant details (required by NIXI rules).
4. Pay and enable auto-renew so you don’t lose it.
5. Point it to your hosting or website builder with DNS records.

The registry, run by NIXI, lists accredited registrars on registry.in.

.in vs .com

• Choose .in if your audience is mainly in India; it signals local relevance.
• Choose .com for a global audience, and consider owning both.
• Google treats .in as a country-code domain targeted at India.

Weighing extensions? Read why .com domains are often better and how to secure your domain name.

FAQ

Can foreigners buy a .in domain?

Yes, there’s no residency requirement.

How much does a .in domain cost?

Prices vary by registrar; first-year deals can be low, with renewals typically a few hundred rupees or more per year.

Is .in good for SEO?

It’s great for ranking in India, but less suited to a worldwide audience than .com.