All TLDs / .ngo / What .ngo means
What does .ngo mean?
.ngo is a generic top-level domain run by Public Interest Registry, introduced in 2014 and not tied to any country. In a web address like yourname.ngo, .ngo is the ending after the last dot. Its registry limits who can register one. Our verdict: The one ending reserved for NGOs, under Public Interest Registry's seven NGO criteria.
Registry operator: Public Interest Registry — per the IANA root database.
Source: IANA root zone database, checked November 3, 2026.
What does .ngo mean in a web address?
In a web address like yourname.ngo or an email address like you@yourname.ngo, .ngo is the top-level domain: the last part of the name, after the final dot. It tells you which registry the name is registered with, not where the website is hosted. More on how domain endings work.
What .ngo is actually used for
For an NGO that works across borders, name.ngo puts the status in the address. Keep the .org as home and use the .ngo for campaigns.
Source: Public Interest Registry: .NGO and .ONG registration policy, checked 2026-11-04; IANA root zone database: .ngo, checked 2026-11-04.
Is .ngo a country code or generic domain?
.ngo is a generic top-level domain (gTLD), not tied to any country. Google Search treats every TLD that isn't a country code as generic, so a .ngo site can rank anywhere, like a .com.
Source: Google Search Central: managing multi-regional sites (last updated 2025-12-10), checked 2026-11-04.
Who runs .ngo?
.ngo is operated by Public Interest Registry. It has been live in the official IANA DNS root since 2014.
Can anyone register a .ngo domain?
Not everyone. .ngo is a restricted TLD (Community TLD (ICANN Spec 12)): its registry limits who can register to the community or sector it serves. Here’s how to check whether a specific name is taken.
Should you use it?
Our short answer: The one ending reserved for NGOs, under Public Interest Registry's seven NGO criteria. A strong second address next to the .org, rarely a replacement for it. For the full pros, cons, and rating, read the complete .ngo review.