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.online

.online is a in the (DNS) of the , designed to signify a website's online presence and suitability for digital businesses, e-commerce platforms, blogs, portfolios, and informational sites. Delegated into the on March 6, 2015, following a base registry agreement signed with on January 15, 2015, .online was introduced as part of ICANN's 2012 New gTLD Program to expand the namespace beyond traditional extensions like .com. Operated by Technologies Inc. SEZC, a Cayman Islands-based registry specializing in new gTLDs, .online entered its Sunrise Period in July , followed by and Landrush phases, with general availability commencing on , , allowing public registrations on a first-come, first-served basis. The quickly gained traction, reaching 100,000 registrations within three months of launch and surpassing 1 million domains by November 2018, reflecting its appeal to global users seeking concise, relevant online identities. As of November 2025, .online ranks among the top new gTLDs with approximately 4.24 million active registrations, representing about 9.07% of all new gTLD domains, and supports Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) for broader accessibility.

Overview

Definition and Purpose

The .online is a (gTLD) introduced under the Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ()'s 2012 expansion program to broaden the . As a new gTLD, it functions as a versatile extension in the (DNS), enabling the registration of second-level domains like example.online. The primary purpose of .online is to serve as a descriptive for websites centered on online activities, businesses, and services, providing a straightforward way to signal an entity's focus. It aims to create memorable and relevant names that reinforce an ", helping users differentiate their presence from more generic legacy TLDs like .com by directly incorporating the concept of online engagement. In comparison to other descriptive gTLDs such as .store and .site, .online offers similar branding potential through its intuitive, keyword-based structure, allowing registrants to align domain choices with their specific online objectives for enhanced recognition and relevance.

Launch Details

The .online entered its pre-launch phases in mid-2015, following delegation by after the 2014 auction process. The Sunrise period, reserved for trademark holders to register exact matches and variations of their marks through the , ran from June 18, 2015, to August 17, 2015, resulting in 775 registrations and setting a record for a generic new gTLD at the time. This was followed by an Period from August 19 to August 25, 2015, functioning as a limited registration phase that allowed select registrants to purchase domains at premium prices, helping to stagger demand. General Availability commenced on August 26, 2015, opening registrations to the public at standard pricing without restrictions. Operated by Radix Technologies Inc. SEZC, the phased rollout strategy—encompassing Sunrise, , and General Availability—was designed to prioritize protections, control influx of registrations to prevent system overload and abusive practices like bulk squatting, and ensure stable infrastructure performance during peak interest. On launch day, .online achieved immediate success with over 38,000 domains registered in the first 24 hours, including a record 28,000 in the initial 30 minutes, underscoring strong market demand for the extension.

History and Development

ICANN Application Process

In 2012, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) initiated its New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program to broaden the Domain Name System (DNS) root zone by introducing new generic top-level domains beyond the existing ones. This expansion aimed to foster competition, innovation, and choice in the domain name space. The application window opened on 12 January 2012 and closed on 20 April 2012, attracting 1,930 submissions for various strings from applicants worldwide. Radix, operating through its subsidiary DotOnline Inc., submitted an application for the .online string during this period (Application ID 1-1070-97873). As outlined in ICANN's Applicant Guidebook, the submission required detailed responses to 50 questions across multiple attachments, covering the applicant's technical and operational capabilities to manage the registry, financial projections and stability to ensure long-term viability, and a comprehensive and to promote . For generic strings like .online, no community endorsement was mandated, though applicants had to demonstrate from existing TLDs and adherence to policies. The evaluation fee for the application was US$185,000, non-refundable except under specific withdrawal conditions. Post-submission, conducted an Initial Evaluation phase starting in June 2012, reviewing applications in batches for completeness and compliance with technical, financial, and legal criteria. The .online application by DotOnline Inc. passed this Initial Evaluation without proceeding to Extended Evaluation, confirming the applicant's qualifications. A subsequent 90-day public comment period allowed input, followed by a formal objection window from 25 to 13 March 2013, during which third parties could file disputes through designated Service Providers on grounds such as string confusion objection, legal rights objection, limited objection, or community opposition objection. No formal objections were filed against any of the .online applications, and while a GAC Early Warning was issued by the government to Radix's portfolio—including .online—citing national public policy concerns, it did not escalate to formal GAC advice against delegation. Upon successful completion of evaluations and the absence of unresolved objections, the .online applications transitioned to the contention resolution phase in 2013, as multiple applicants had submitted for the string, requiring ICANN to resolve competing claims through mechanisms such as private agreements or auctions before delegation.

Auction and Delegation

The .online string entered ICANN's new gTLD program with a contention set comprising multiple applicants, including Radix FZC, Tucows Inc., Namecheap Inc., I-Registry Ltd., WhatBox? LLC, and Donuts Inc. This contention arose because more than one entity applied for the identical string during the 2012 application round, requiring resolution under ICANN's established mechanisms for string confusion disputes. The contention set was ultimately resolved through ICANN's private auction process in November 2014, where a newly formed entity—DotOnline Inc., backed by , , and —prevailed as the winning bidder. This private auction, facilitated outside ICANN's public auction platform to encourage applicant-led resolutions, awarded DotOnline Inc. the exclusive rights to operate the .online registry for an undisclosed fee reported to be in the millions of dollars. Following the auction victory, DotOnline Inc. signed the base registry agreement with on January 15, 2015, formalizing its obligations as the TLD operator under the new gTLD program's specifications. The delegation process ensued, with the (IANA) updating the on March 6, 2015, to include .online and activate it for global resolution. This root zone integration marked .online's official entry into the , enabling subsequent phases of implementation.

Registry Operations

Operator and Infrastructure

The .online top-level domain is operated by Radix Technologies Inc. SEZC, a of the Registry, which manages a portfolio of new generic s (gTLDs) including .site, .tech, .store, .space, and .press. Radix was founded in 2013 by entrepreneur specifically to participate in the expansion of new gTLDs under 's program. Radix Technologies Inc. SEZC became the registry operator for .online in 2021, following a transfer from the original operator DotOnline Inc., under the original ICANN registry agreement signed in January 2015. Radix relies on shared registry backend services for operational efficiency, previously provided by (formerly CentralNic), with a migration to Registry scheduled for November 2025. Following the migration, will handle over 10 million domains under management across Radix's portfolio. DNSSEC support is enabled for .online, allowing registrants to secure their domains against through cryptographic validation of DNS records. The infrastructure includes a global network of over 350 nodes to ensure low-latency DNS resolution and high reliability worldwide. Headquartered in , , operates with a focus on scalability to support high-volume registrations and affordability to make premium, brandable domains accessible for global users.

Registration Policies and Process

The registration of .online domains follows standard policies for generic top-level domains (gTLDs) as established by , including a first-come, first-served basis in general availability following the initial sunrise period. The sunrise phase, which ran from July 20 to August 17, 2015, allowed holders to register domains matching their marks before public availability. There are no residency or citizenship requirements for registrants, making the TLD open to individuals and entities worldwide. All registrations must comply with ICANN's (UDRP) for resolving disputes over abusive or infringing domain use. Pricing for .online domains operates on a wholesale model set by the registry operator, , with a base fee of $25 per year for standard registrations, renewals, and transfers as of 2025. Retail prices charged by ICANN-accredited registrars vary, often ranging from $10 to $40 annually depending on promotions and add-on services, though some early-year registrations after the launch featured introductory discounts as low as $0.99 for the first year to encourage adoption. Premium domains, such as short or high-value names, incur higher variable fees that renew at the same rate. The registration process begins with eligibility verification, which is unrestricted beyond adherence to ICANN's anti-abuse policies, followed by selection of an ICANN-accredited to handle the submission. Once submitted, domains are provisioned via the registry's backend systems managed by , with initial terms available from 1 to 10 years and renewals following the same structure. Registrants receive automated reminders for renewals, and failure to renew within the may lead to a redemption phase before the domain is released.

Adoption and Usage

Growth Statistics

The .online top-level domain achieved rapid initial adoption following its launch in 2015, reaching 100,000 registrations by November of that year, marking it as the fastest new (gTLD) to hit this milestone. By November 2016, registrations had doubled to 500,000, and the domain surpassed 1 million registrations in October 2018, securing its position as the fifth largest new gTLD by zone size at the time. Growth continued steadily, with registrations reaching 2.3 million by early 2023. As of November 2025, .online maintains approximately 4.3 million active domains under management. Post-launch annual growth rates for .online registrations have averaged 20-30%, reflecting sustained demand in the new gTLD sector, though specific yearly figures varied, such as a 36% increase from to 2018. This trajectory has positioned .online consistently among the top-performing new gTLDs, ranking fifth overall by total registrations during much of its history. In terms of market positioning, about 65% of developed .online sites are utilized by small-to-medium businesses (SMBs), underscoring its appeal for commercial online presence. from .online operations exceeded $13 million by 2018, driven by both standard and premium registrations, with continued positive trends in subsequent years supporting the registry's portfolio growth.

Notable Examples and Impact

One of the most notable sales in the .online TLD's history was .online, which fetched $201,250 in March 2017 through a transaction facilitated by and , making it the highest-priced new (gTLD) sale at that time. This transaction highlighted the potential value of descriptive .online domains in sectors like and . Subsequent high-profile sales included Betting.online, acquired for $400,000 in October 2023 by the same entity behind .online, establishing a new record for the extension and underscoring ongoing demand in the iGaming industry. These premium resales have attracted domain investors seeking concise, keyword-rich names that align with online activities. The .online TLD has found practical application among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) establishing presences, where its descriptive nature signals a digital . For instance, platforms like kingostore.online exemplify how SMBs leverage the extension for operations, offering products directly to consumers. In the tech sector, creative implementations include ditherimage.online, a tool that applies dithering effects for retro-style , demonstrating the TLD's utility for innovative online tools and media applications. Such uses span media projects, where .online domains support and platforms targeted at digital audiences. By showcasing viable monetization through premium sales, .online has contributed to the broader new gTLD ecosystem, proving the appeal of descriptive extensions for straightforward online branding. As of 2025, it has influenced domain investing trends by emphasizing exact-match opportunities for digital identities, with non-traditional TLDs like .online enabling startups and SMBs to secure their exact brand names 88% of the time, compared to 54% with legacy extensions like .com, thereby enhancing online visibility and trust. This has fostered greater competition and innovation in the domain market, aligning with the growth of versatile branding options beyond .com.

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