A .al domain for your online store

Why an online store in Albania picks .al

Buying online asks for more trust than almost anything else on the web. The customer has to share a home address, a phone number and often card details. A .al domain tells them, before they add anything to the cart, that the store operates in Albania and that its registrant has gone through AKEP verification.

The local extension also helps with local search, because search engines use it as one of several geographic signals. For a store that only ships within the country, that is a natural edge over sites with a generic address.

Step 1: the right domain

The store name should be short, easy to pronounce and free of hyphens. Keep in mind that the .al registry does not accept the letters ë and ç, so pick a form customers will spell correctly even when they only hear it.

• Check with DPPI that the name is not someone else's registered trademark.
• If the name has commercial value, also register .com.al and redirect it to the main domain.
• A store run by a company registers with the QKB extract; see .al domain for business.

Step 2: hosting that handles the traffic

An online store has more pages, images and requests than a brochure site. When choosing hosting, ask about storage, security care and the option to upgrade the plan as traffic grows. If the store will be built with WordPress and WooCommerce, WordPress hosting is the natural starting point; for other sites there is also shared hosting.

The domain is connected to hosting through nameservers or DNS records. The guide hosting for a .al domain explains how to choose and how to connect the two.

Step 3: the SSL certificate

No online store should take orders without HTTPS. An SSL certificate encrypts data between the browser and the server, and modern browsers flag sites that collect data without one as not secure. Check whether your hosting plan includes a certificate or add one of our SSL certificates. More detail in SSL for a .al domain.

Step 4: professional email

Order confirmations, invoices and replies to customers should come from an address like [email protected], not from a free mailbox. It builds trust and lowers the risk of messages landing in spam. You can use Google Workspace or OX App Suite, and add the MX and TXT records in the domain's managed DNS. See professional email with a .al domain.

Pre-launch checklist

1. The .al domain is approved and the registrant details are accurate.
2. The registrant email is read regularly, so you never miss an expiry notice.
3. Hosting is active and the nameservers or A records point to it.
4. Every page loads over HTTPS, including the cart and checkout.
5. Professional email sends and receives, with MX and TXT records in place.
6. The .com.al variant, if you have one, redirects to the main domain.
7. The domain is renewed for a term that gives you peace of mind, from 1 to 10 years.

Check that records have propagated with the DNS Checker before you announce the store.

Frequently asked questions