Published: 20.10.2026
The .coop zone is a sponsored extension for cooperatives, which are businesses or organisations owned and run by their members for shared benefit. Farmers' supply groups, worker-owned firms, housing co-operatives and community shops are typical examples. Because the zone is sponsored, its rules tie registration to the cooperative community, so a name here signals a real cooperative identity to visitors. Use the availability form just below this text to see whether your name in .coop is still available.
Check if a .coop domain is available .coop Check
A short history
Cooperatives developed as a way for people to share risk, buy supplies together and sell their products through a common channel. Over the years the member-owned model spread into farming, retail, housing, energy and financial services in many countries. Some cooperatives are long-established institutions, while others are recent start-ups that chose the same structure. A .coop address lets such an organisation describe its model in the address itself, rather than leaving visitors to guess.
Who runs it
The zone is sponsored, so its policies are shaped by the community it serves, and a registry operator administers the register and the day-to-day rules. Registrars sell names to eligible customers and forward the applications. Because eligibility is tied to the sector, the current terms set out who may apply and what checks apply, so read them before you pay.
Rules in practice
- Eligibility: registration depends on meeting the community terms, so read them before you order.
- Accurate status: state the legal form of the cooperative and how membership works, in line with its registration documents.
- Characters: names use letters, digits and hyphens, with a label of up to 63 characters.
- Records: keep the registrant details current, because directors and members change over time.
Who uses .coop
- Agricultural cooperatives that share machinery, supplies or marketing for farm members.
- Worker-owned firms and craft collectives that share profits and take decisions together.
- Housing cooperatives that publish house rules, meeting notes and maintenance news for residents.
- Food, retail and energy cooperatives that serve their members and the communities around them.
Strengths
- The name tells members, partners and the public that the organisation is cooperative, which sits at the heart of its identity.
- It is short and easy to say at a members' meeting or in a newsletter.
- It helps visitors recognise the model without needing a long explanation.
Things to keep in mind
- Eligibility depends on the community terms, which can change, so do not assume that any group can register.
- Members expect transparency, so publish governance details and annual reports wherever your rules allow.
- Many people still type .com first, so decide whether you also want that address.
- A cooperative with several regional branches needs a plan for local pages and contact details.
Tips before you register
- Look up the name in .com, and see how other cooperatives in your sector present themselves online.
- Use the official name exactly as it appears in the cooperative's registration papers.
- Publish a clear page for joining, with the steps and a named contact person.
- Mail authentication should be set before any newsletter or ballot notice is sent.
- Agree in writing who may change the registrar account and the DNS settings.
Frequently asked questions
Can any group register a .coop name? Not necessarily. Registration depends on meeting the zone's community terms, so check them before you order.
Is a .coop name only for large cooperatives? No. Small and newly formed cooperatives can also apply, provided they meet the terms that apply at the time.
Does .coop help a cooperative appear in search? It shows the organisation type clearly, but its activities, news and contact details usually matter more.
