Domain extension .ag
Buy a .ag domain: price, renewal and rules
.ag is the country code extension of Antigua and Barbuda. In German-speaking countries it is used as the abbreviation for «Aktiengesellschaft» (AG).
- Registration
- CHF 92.90
- in the first year · incl. VAT
- Renewal
- CHF 92.90
- per year · incl. VAT
- Transfer
- CHF 92.90
Is your .ag domain still available?
What is .ag?
.ag is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) of Antigua and Barbuda, an island state in the Caribbean. It is managed by the registry Nic AG. The extension is open: people and companies from any country can register a .ag domain without residence or a branch in Antigua and Barbuda. Names are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. When you register, you confirm that you have a legitimate interest in the name and do not infringe trademarks or other third-party rights. The registry’s registration agreement is governed by the law of the State of New York.
.ag and the AG company form: what the extension says
In Switzerland, Germany and Austria, AG stands for Aktiengesellschaft, a company limited by shares. That is why many companies with this legal form use the extension, for example muster.ag instead of muster-ag.ch. Legally, however, the domain has nothing to do with the legal form. The registry does not check legal form or commercial register entries. A GmbH, a sole proprietorship or a private individual can also register their-name.ag, and an AG has no priority right to its name. So a .ag domain does not prove that an AG is behind the website. What counts is the commercial register entry and the legal notice.
Outside the German-speaking world, .ag is also used with other meanings, for example for agriculture, for agencies or for initials.
Rules for the name
- Up to 63 characters before .ag. One-character domains are reserved by the registry; two characters are possible.
- Letters, digits and the hyphen are allowed. A name may begin with a digit.
- The hyphen may not be at the start or end.
- Besides .ag, there are the sub-extensions .com.ag, .co.ag, .net.ag, .org.ag and .nom.ag.
Price, renewal and transfer
At HostOn a .ag domain costs CHF 92.90 per year, and renewal also costs CHF 92.90. There is no introductory price that rises afterwards. The extension is considerably more expensive than .ch. Those who choose it do so deliberately, to present themselves with the AG abbreviation. The registry allows terms from one to ten years. Automatic renewal is on and can be switched off in the client area.
To transfer to HostOn, you need the auth code from your current provider. The transfer costs CHF 92.90. Your website and e-mail stay online as long as you do not change the name servers. Disputes over a .ag name are handled under ICANN’s UDRP procedure, as with .com.
Alternatives to .ag
- .ch is the obvious choice for Swiss companies, with the company name or a short form.
- .swiss is reserved for companies and organisations listed in the commercial register or the UID register with their seat in Switzerland. Since 24.04.2024 also for individuals with Swiss citizenship or residence in Switzerland, for names containing their surname.
- .com if you operate internationally.
Tip: A proven model: the main website runs on your-company.ch and the .ag domain redirects there. Both spellings are secured, and e-mail runs through a single address.
Who is a .ag domain suitable for?
- AG companies with a short company name that want to show the AG abbreviation in their address.
- Companies whose preferred name is taken under .ch and who want a short second address.
- Brands that want to protect their name under .ag too, so nobody else uses the address.
- Farms and agricultural trade businesses, for whom .ag reads as «agriculture».
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions we are asked most often about this service.
No. .ag is the country code extension of Antigua and Barbuda and open to everyone. The registry does not check legal form. Individuals and other companies can also register .ag domains.
No. The Swiss country code extension is .ch. .ag belongs to Antigua and Barbuda and is used in German-speaking countries because of the abbreviation for Aktiengesellschaft.
CHF 92.90 per year. Renewal also costs CHF 92.90 per year, with no price jump after the first year.
Only the address itself. Domains are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Your rights to the name come from the commercial register and trademark law, not from the domain.
For customers in Switzerland, we recommend it. Many companies use .ch as their main address and redirect the .ag domain to it.
