.org domain checker and rules
A .org follows the .com's character rules, with its own list of languages for accented names. You buy it through a registrar, never from the registry itself. How our checks work
What can a .org name contain?
Letters, numbers and hyphens, up to 63 characters before the .org. Accented names work only in the languages Public Interest Registry has approved.
| Character | Allowed? | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Letters a to z | Yes | Anywhere; capitals don't count |
| Numbers 0 to 9 | Yes | Anywhere, including first |
| Hyphen (-) | Yes | Not first or last; not two in the 3rd and 4th places |
| Accented letters, other scripts | Some | Listed languages, such as Spanish, German and Chinese |
| Spaces, underscores, symbols | No |
Do you need to be a nonprofit to register a .org?
No. Public Interest Registry calls .org "open and unrestricted": anyone can register and use one, and for-profit companies do.[3]
How do you register a .org?
- Check the name above, with the .com and your handles.
- Pick a registrar from Public Interest Registry's list, comparing renewal prices, not just the first year. The registry doesn't sell to the public.
- Register it for 1 to 10 years, then turn on auto-renew and the transfer lock.
- Answer your registrar's emails about your contact details.[3, 10]
What should you know before you register a .org?
The renewal price is higher than the first year: $7.98, then $11.84 a year at Porkbun. Compare other endings' renewal prices.
| Fact | What it means |
|---|---|
| Price rises | The registry must give registrars 180 days' notice before raising renewal prices |
| 60-day lock | Moves to another registrar can be refused for 60 days after registering, a transfer or an owner change |
| Transfer code | Your registrar must give it to you within 5 days of asking |
| Renewal reminders | About a month and a week before expiry |
| 30 days to restore | After deletion, you have 30 days to ask your registrar to restore it |
| Accurate details | Update them within 7 days of a change. Ignore your registrar's questions for 15 days and it can suspend the name |
What if the .org you want is taken?
Look for close versions, wait to see if it lapses, or file a UDRP complaint if it copies your trademark.
| Route | What to know |
|---|---|
| Pick another name | The checker shows close versions and other endings that are available with your handles |
| Wait for it to lapse | The owner gets reminders, then 30 days to restore it after deletion |
| UDRP complaint | Prove a trademark match, no rights for the owner, and bad-faith registration and use |
| What a panel can do | Cancel the name or transfer it to you, nothing more |
Which platforms should you claim with your .org?
The .com first, then Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. Once you have the .org, set up email and HTTPS with Using your .org.
Checks the .org, the .com, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube in one search.
Sources (11)
- PrimaryPorkbun: domain name pricing, the public price list our checker reads daily
- PrimaryIANA: Root Zone Database, .org
- PrimaryPublic Interest Registry: FAQ
- PrimaryICANN: .org Registry Agreement (section 2.10; Exhibit A, section 4.3)
- PrimaryRFC 1035: Domain names, implementation and specification (sections 2.3.1, 2.3.3, 2.3.4)
- PrimaryRFC 1123: Requirements for Internet hosts (section 2.1, names may start with a digit)
- PrimaryRFC 5891: Internationalized domain names in applications (section 4.2.3.1, hyphen rules)
- PrimaryICANN: FAQs for registrants, transferring your domain name
- PrimaryICANN: Expired Registration Recovery Policy
- PrimaryICANN: Keeping registration data accurate
- PrimaryICANN: Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (paragraphs 4(a) and 4(i))