Who Should Get a .Org Domain (+How to Get One)

Last updated on December 5th, 2022 by Melinda Bartley

Do you want to know if the .org domain is the right one for you?

Every domain extension is designed for a specific purpose so the .org domain should ideally be used by organizations. But there are lots of other purposes where the .org matches perfectly.

In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions about the .org domain extension and we’ll show you the best way to register a .org domain right away.

What is .Org Domain?

The .org domain stands for organization and is mostly used by non-profit organizations. It is a top-level domain extension established in 1985, making it one of the original domain extensions.

The .com domain was meant for commercial purposes and businesses and the .net domain was meant for networks and communities. Like this, we also have .edu for educational institutions and .gov for governmental organizations.

The .org was set up for organizations that didn’t match any of these. But over time, the .org was claimed by more non-profits and became associated with the industry.

Websites with the .org domain are usually perceived as credible and authentic compared to the newer domain extensions.

What is the .Org Domain Used For?

While the .org domain can be used for any kind of website you want, the best matches are as follows:

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Charities
Open Source Projects
Trusts
Educational platforms
Not-for-profit ventures
Social causes

With this in mind, if you choose to use a .org domain for a commercial business, people may perceive your site as a non-profit. They may feel misled and you could face unnecessary backlash.

When to Use .Org Domain?

If your heart is set on a particular domain name and the .com version is taken, you may be tempted to pick up another extension like .org or .biz.

Our advice is to always pick a .com domain. It’s easily recognized and people trust these websites. Plus, since it’s so familiar, a lot of users tend to automatically type in yourdomain.com when they want to visit your site.

Ideally, you should use the .org TLD extension only if you fall into the categories we mentioned above that include NGOs, non-profits, and social causes.

By default, people associate these websites with non-profits so it’s best to stick to that. You could cause unnecessary confusion among your users if you have a .org eCommerce store that isn’t for charity.

Can Anyone Get a .Org Domain?

Yes, anyone can register a .org domain. There are no restrictions on it. However, it is best suited for social, charitable, cultural, scientific, artistic, and religious kind of websites.

Can I Use a .Org Domain for a Business?

No, we recommend using .com for businesses. It’s the best domain extension for any kind of commercial venture. If you’re looking for more options, try these domain extensions:

.associates
.business
.biz
.company

.enterprises

.global

.group

.inc

.industries

.limited

.management

.services

.solutions

.ventures

You can be creative with these extensions. For instance, if your company name is RedBird Inc., instead of getting www.redbirdinc.com, you can make it www.redbird.inc. It makes the domain name shorter and brand-friendly.

.Com vs .Org Domain Names

.com stands for ‘commercial’ and was initially created for businesses and commercial purposes. However, in just a few short years of its release, the .com domain became the most popular extension used.

It’s now used by everyone for any purpose they like. It’s highly recognizable, so most people prefer the .com domain.

There’s a certain trust factor that’s automatically associated with the .com.

The .org domain was initially created for organizations that didn’t fall under business, education, government, and so on. These miscellaneous organizations could use the .org domain.

Fast forward to 20 years later, the .org domain is now strongly associated with non-profits, NGOs, and social causes.

This is an unrestricted domain name which means you can start any website you want. That said, we advise you to take on this domain only if you plan on creating a website that’s related to social, cultural, religious, scientific, and educational purposes.

Even if you aren’t an NGO or non-profit, you can definitely register a .org domain. But you need to make sure it will work for your brand. So for instance, a website about fighting climate change, a free online public library, free tools and resources, things like that would work best with .org.

.Net vs .Org Domain Names

.net stands for network. It works best for companies that offer internet services, networking services, database hosting, email hosting, or similar services.

It also is a good option for community sites. For instance, Behance.net is a popular online design community for artists and designers to network. Companies looking for talent can join the platform to easily connect with members.

It becomes a bit tricky between .net and .org, because you can also get a .org website if you want to start a free social community.

The choice is up to you and what you think would work best for your website. We always (always!) recommend the .com version. It’s the #1 option for any website.

How to Get a .Org Domain?

If you haven’t already found a domain name, give our domain name generator a go!

It’s an awesome tool where you just need to enter a keyword or two of what you have in mind. The generator uses AI technology and combines all sorts of words, suffixes, prefixes, alliterations, and more to give you a list of great domain name ideas.

The best part is that it crosschecks domain availability with Bluehost’s domain registry. Only if it’s available, the domain name idea will be added to the list.

So you know if you see a name in the results list, you can register the domain name right away!

Now, it gets better. We only want the absolute best for you so we’ve done our best to work out 2 exclusive deals on domain names with Bluehost and Domain.com.

Once you settle on your domain name and the .org extension, simply select it.

You’ll get an option to checkout with an offer:

Bluehost: Sign up for a web hosting plan with the most reliable web host and grab a domain name for free (1-year registration)
Domain.com: Get 25% off on your domain registration with the world’s oldest and best domain registrar.

We’ll show you how to get your domain for free with Bluehost. When you click on the button that says “Get a free domain with Bluehost”, you’ll be redirected to our exclusive offer page on the Bluehost website.

Hit the ‘Get started’ button and then select your web hosting plan. In case you’re wondering what a web hosting plan is, if you want to set up a website with your domain name, you’ll need to buy a web hosting plan.

We love Bluehost’s web hosting features as it’s secure, reliable, and comes with easy WordPress installation. you simply need to click a button and WordPress will be installed for you.

Then you can log in to WordPress and start building your website for free!

Bluehost’s web hosting plans start as low as $2.75 per month.

After you choose your plan, you need to select your domain name and the .org extension here.

Then create your account by filling up your personal details such as your name, address, and contact information.

Keep in mind, this information is added to the WHOIS database which is a public record. If you don’t want your details displayed publicly, you’ll want to buy on the ‘Domain Privacy’ addon. Read more about that here: What Is Private Domain Registration? (Pros & Cons Explained).

Then you can review your package details once more and make the payment for the web hosting plan. Your domain will be included for free.

That’s it! You’ve successfully registered a .org domain. We hope you found this guide helpful. If you’re ready to set up your website now, follow our easy tutorials:

These posts will help you get your website, SSL security, and email set up for free!

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