Type
Generic
All TLDs / .org
.org — should you use it?
Generic TLD · introduced 1985
The short answer
The trust TLD. Unbeatable for nonprofits, open source, and communities — misplaced on a for-profit startup.Why it works
- Instant credibility for mission-driven projects
- Old and universally recognized
- Good availability
Why it might not
- For-profit companies on .org read as evasive
- Weak for commercial branding
The longer take
Wikipedia, Mozilla, Signal — .org carries a moral seriousness no other TLD has. Use it if the mission is the product. Don't use it to make a startup look charitable; people notice.
Where .org ranks
Straight answers about .org
Where to buy .org
Renewal trap: .org costs $7.98 in year one but $11.84/yr to renew — 1.5× the intro price. Budget for the renewal, not the promo. Full Renewal-Trap Index
| Registrar | First year | Renews | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dynadot Sponsored | $7.99 promo | $11.64 | Go → |
| Porkbun Trust pick cheapest | $7.98 promo | $11.84 | Go → |
| Cloudflare Trust pick at-cost | $8.50 | $11.20 | Go → |
| Namecheap Sponsored | Live price unavailable — confirm at the registrar. | Go → | |
Porkbun & Cloudflare prices in USD, pulled from their daily feeds (checked 2026-10-21). Cloudflare sells at wholesale cost but requires using Cloudflare’s nameservers. Full comparison: where to buy .org.
Some links are affiliate links. Prices are set by the registrar and can change — always confirm at checkout.