Published: 17.10.2026
The .hu extension is the country-code domain of Hungary, a landlocked country in Central Europe with Budapest as its capital. Hungarian companies, schools, clubs and local services use it to show that they are rooted in Hungary, and visitors in the country read the ending as a sign of a local presence. Hungarian is the official language, and it is not closely related to most of the languages around it, so a local ending suits a Hungarian-speaking audience well. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .hu is still free.
Check if a .hu domain is available .hu Check
A short history
Hungary received its national code in the early years of the internet, when the network was used mainly by universities, research groups and early technology firms. As Hungarian shops, service providers, media outlets and clubs moved online, the zone grew into an everyday part of business life in the country. Its rules have been revised over time, so the current policy is the one that matters when you order.
Who runs it
The .hu zone is run by a national registry for Hungarian domain names. The registry keeps the central database of names and sets the conditions for holders, while accredited registrars sell names to customers and send the orders to the registry. Because the conditions are published by the registry itself, they are the reference point for any question about eligibility, contact data or renewal.
Rules in practice
- Holder conditions: the registry sets rules on who may hold a .hu name, and these can differ from the rules of generic zones, so check them first.
- Contact details: the data you enter must be accurate and up to date, and it may be verified when the registry asks for it.
- Length and characters: labels use letters, digits and hyphens, and can be up to 63 characters long.
- Hungarian letters: accented letters such as á, é, ő and ű may be possible through internationalised names, depending on the current rules.
Who uses .hu
- Restaurants, cafés and shops that serve customers in Budapest and in towns across the country.
- Hotels, spas and tourism businesses that welcome visitors to Hungary.
- Schools, sports clubs and cultural groups with a Hungarian audience.
- Consultants, clinics and other professional services that work with Hungarian clients.
Strengths
- The ending gives a clear signal of a Hungarian base, and local visitors recognise it at once.
- Search engines can treat a national ending as one geographic hint, so Hungarian-language content may match local searches well.
- The zone is easy to read on shop signs, menus and printed materials, so it needs little explanation.
Things to keep in mind
- The ending is tied to Hungary, so a business with mainly international customers may also want a generic address.
- Hungarian visitors expect Hungarian-language content, so an English-only site may feel less natural to them.
- Short and descriptive names are often taken already, so keep a few alternatives ready.
- Conditions for holders are specific to the zone and may change, so read the current terms before you order.
Tips before you register
- Check the name in .com and decide whether a second address is worth owning.
- Enter the company or personal details exactly as they appear in your official documents.
- Publish Hungarian content, a clear contact page and a privacy notice before launch.
- Host the site close to your visitors so that pages load quickly in Hungary.
- Set up mail authentication records and turn on auto-renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to live in Hungary to register a .hu name? Holder conditions apply, and they may depend on your situation. Check the current terms at the time of the order.
Does .hu help a site appear in Hungarian search results? It is a useful location signal, but relevant Hungarian content, a fast site and genuine local links usually matter more.
Can I use Hungarian accented letters in a .hu name? It may be possible through internationalised names. Test how the address displays in several browsers before you print it on materials.
