What Is .ME Domain? Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy
Jan, 14, 2025 
Are you thinking of opening a new website / personal project under a new domain? If so you may have heard of the .ME domain. So what is .ME domain? In this latest 1Byte article, we’ll talk about what you should know about the .ME domain, including the latest statistics, advantages, and some examples of where the domain has been used. If you are a small business owner, or person aiming at establishing a mark online, the .ME domain can help you decide. Let’s get started!
What is a .ME Domain?
.ME is a country code top level domain (ccTLD) for Montenegro. The versatility, and unique branding potential of which has seen it become popular globally. Unlike traditional domains, with .ME domains you get more than just another form of identification for you, your business or whatever your project might be— you get something that is easy to remember, unique and distinctive.
The .ME domain market has grown rapidly in recent years. The 2023 .ME Premium Domain Report shows that 51 premium .ME domains were registered in 2023 which brought in 317,500 EUR together. The second report shows rising demand for short and memorable domain names.
This is not just for the big corporations though! This medium yields unique branding potential, something that also benefits smaller businesses and individual users. In that regard, there’s Best.ME which is an app centered around personalized weight loss, and Made.ME where artists can put their skills on display and get paid for their work.
The 2023 .ME Premium Domain Report will tell you more about the latest trends and statistics.
History and Origin of .ME Domain
The .ME domain is a country code top level domain (ccTLD) for Montenegro. It was introduced September 24, 2007, just a few weeks after Montenegro declared independence from Serbia and Montenegro on June 3, 2006. The .ME domain has been delegated to the Government of Montenegro by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Montenegro initially used the second level domain .cg.yu. However, Montenegro created its own domain using the new ISO 3166 1 two letter code of “ME”. The .ME domain has quickly reached popularity as a personable and flexible domain.
More than 50,000 registrations came in through the .ME domain for its first 24 hours of public registration. Today, it supports over 1.2 million registered domains from users all over 200 countries. Big name brands have since decided to adopt .ME domains to benefit from their memorable and personal touch.
Growth Trends and Future Projections
The .ME domain has enjoyed explosive growth in the last few years. Though it maintained eighth place for most of 2023, In 2024, it became the top country code TLD. The rising popularity of this is a sign of its increasing global acceptance and use.
Experts believe that growth in the .ME domain will continue. According to the Namecheap Domain Insights & Trends Report 2024, the .ME domain has a high retention rate – once people register a .ME domain, they’re not quick to drop it. Due to this, the trend is expected to go on, making .ME a reliable choice for businesses and people.
The .ME domain is likely to continue its position in the domain industry. Because of its unique appeal and rising acceptance, we anticipate more users and businesses using ClearDB over the coming years.
Examples of .ME Domains in Use
The .ME domain is for personal branding as well as businesses. Here are some specific examples:
- Personal Branding: For example, the .ME domains are used to create personal online presence by people like Lea Verou, a CSS expert.
- Businesses: A few companies making use of .ME domains are Meta (fb.me, m.me and ig.me) and WordPress (wp.me).
- Services: One can see how .ME conveys their services in very concise words, like Join.me (an online collaboration tool) and Diagnose.me (a diagnosis platform).
- Marketing: For marketing campaigns, people like to use catchy domains such as hire.me, trust.me, and love.me for memorable web addresses.
How to Register a .ME Domain
The .ME domain, once Montenegro’s country code top level domain (ccTLD), has become a favourite for personal branding and web addresses that can’t help but drive an audience.
Steps to Register a .ME Domain
It’s simple to register a .ME domain. Follow these steps to get started:
- Choose a Domain Registrar: Choose a trustworthy domain registrar. 1Byte, GoDaddy, NameCheap and Wix are all popular.
- Search for Your Desired .ME Domain: Search for your perfect .ME domain with the registrar’s search tool. Make sure it’s unique and represents your brand well.
- Check Domain Availability: Check if your preferred .ME domain is available. If taken, think of alternatives.
- Select Your Domain and Add to Cart: After you find a domain that’s available, you can add it to your cart.
- Choose Your Registration Period: Once you have decided on how long you would like to register the domain (usually from 1 year to 10 years) then you can purchase the domain.
- Provide Your Contact Information: Only fill in your personal or business details.
- Select Additional Services (Optional): You can also add some services, for instance, privacy protection, or web hosting.
- Review Your Order and Complete Payment: Verify your order details and continue to payment.
Follow the steps above to control your .ME domain and get started with your online presence.
Costs and Renewals for a .ME Domain
Registering a .ME domain is extremely affordable and it provides great value. The fee for joining in the first place begins at around $1-$2. The price for renewals will change based on the registrar but expect to pay around $10 or upwards per year. With a .ME domain, the usual price for transferring the .ME domain to a new domain is around $10.
When checking out you should compare the prices at other registrars to find the best deal. There are some registrars that offer you multiple years of discounts on registration of domain, which over a period of time will definitely save your money.
Conclusion
A .ME domain is an exclusive and individualized choice for businesses and individuals desiring to create a significant online impression Nowadays the .ME domain is popular and has an excellent performance in the premium area name market. With .ME, you get a unique identity, which whether you’re a startup or already an established brand, is a good way of standing out online.