Published: 23.07.2026
The .org extension is known as the home of non-profit projects, foundations, communities and open-source software. It is also open to anyone, which makes it a flexible and trusted choice.
Check if a .org domain is available .org Check
A short history
The name comes from "organization". .org was among the first top-level domains created in the mid-1980s, together with .com, .edu, .gov and .mil. One of the earliest names, mitre.org, was registered in July 1985. At first it served all kinds of organisations that did not fit the other categories, and it later became closely tied to the non-profit world.
Who runs it
For its first years .org was run by the same organisation as .com. In 2003 the registry was handed to the Public Interest Registry (PIR), a non-profit created by the Internet Society, with the aim of operating the zone for the public benefit. In 2009 .org became the first large open zone signed with DNSSEC. In 2019 a plan to sell PIR to a private investment company caused wide protest, and the sale was eventually blocked in 2020.
Rules in practice
- Open to everyone: you do not have to be a non-profit.
- Names can have up to 63 characters; letters, digits, hyphens and international characters are supported.
- Registration for one to ten years; around ten million names are registered.
- There are no special documents, but misuse of the name for fraud can lead to suspension.
Who benefits from .org
- Charities, foundations and NGOs: the extension signals a mission, not a sale.
- Communities and clubs: forums, associations, hobby groups.
- Open-source projects and standards bodies.
- Schools, research projects and public initiatives that want a neutral look.
Tips
- If you run a business, .org can still work for a blog, a community or a documentation site.
- Register the .com version of the name as well to protect your brand.
- Enable domain privacy to keep contact details out of public records.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to prove that I am a non-profit? No. Anyone can register a .org name.
Is .org more trusted than .com? People often connect it with non-commercial projects, but trust comes from your content and your reputation.
