.io Domain Search
Search available .io domains.
Country
British Indian Ocean Territory
Pricing
$35-60/yr
Registrations
1.5M+
Launched
1997
.io by the numbers
About 26k new .io domains are registered every month, which is 0.3% of every domain registered across all extensions, up 80% on the same months of 2025. A .io name registered this year averages 9 characters, 4.5% contain a hyphen and 7% contain a digit. 93.5% of them are registered for a single year. GoDaddy registers 20.5% of new .io domains, and the five largest registrars take 67.5% between them. About 29k .io domains come up for renewal in April 2027, the busiest month ahead.
26k
New registrations a month
Average across 2026
up 80%
Versus the same months in 2025
0.3%
Of all new domains registered
Across every extension
April 2027
Busiest renewal month ahead
About 29k come up
Show the monthly figures
| Month | New .io registrations |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | About 13k |
| February 2025 | About 9.5k |
| March 2025 | About 16k |
| April 2025 | About 17k |
| May 2025 | About 16k |
| June 2025 | About 15k |
| July 2025 | About 16k |
| August 2025 | About 18k |
| September 2025 | About 19k |
| October 2025 | About 18k |
| November 2025 | About 17k |
| December 2025 | About 22k |
| January 2026 | About 22k |
| February 2026 | About 25k |
| March 2026 | About 28k |
| April 2026 | About 30k |
| May 2026 | About 30k |
| June 2026 | About 26k |
| July 2026 | About 19k |
What a new .io name looks like
The typical .io registered this year is 9 characters long.
How long people register for
Where they get registered
The five largest registrars take 67.5% of new .io registrations between them.
What happens to them
Measured across 2025.
Estimates rounded from our own WHOIS observations. Last measured September 2026.
Why choose .io?
Strong association with technology and innovation
Short and memorable domain structure
Recognized globally by developers and startups
Treated as a generic domain by Google
Trusted by major platforms and communities
History
The .io domain was introduced in 1997 as the country code top level domain for the British Indian Ocean Territory. It quickly gained popularity in the technology sector due to its association with input and output terminology. Over time, the domain became widely used by developers and startups. The domain is now managed by Identity Digital.
Usage and applications
The .io domain has evolved from a geographic extension into a strong brand signal for modern technology companies. It is commonly used by software platforms, developer tools, APIs, blockchain projects, and online games. In gaming, .io became especially popular after the success of browser based multiplayer titles.
Popular .io domains
github.io
Used for GitHub Pages and developer hosted websites.
readthedocs.io
A leading platform for open source documentation.
etherscan.io
A widely used blockchain explorer for Ethereum.
opensea.io
A major marketplace for digital assets and NFTs.
itch.io
A popular platform for independent game developers.
agar.io
The game that popularized the io gaming trend.
Most expensive .io sales
mint.io
2021One of the highest publicly reported io domain sales.
230,000 USD
fluid.io
2024High value sale in the AI and SaaS space.
199,995 USD
metaverse.io
2021Sold during strong interest in virtual worlds.
175,000 USD
hero.io
2023Short and brand focused keyword domain.
125,000 USD
ledger.io
2021Aligned with blockchain and finance branding.
120,000 USD
First registered .io domain
levi.io
1998
One of the earliest known .io domain registrations by Levi Strauss and Company.
Registration
Requirements
Open to anyone worldwide with no restrictions
Registry
Internet Computer Bureau Ltd under Identity Digital
Key milestones
How can I check .io domain availability
Use our free .io domain search tool to instantly check whether a domain name is available for registration.
Is the .io domain search free
Yes. You can search for available .io domain names without any cost or sign up.
How accurate is .io domain availability data
Availability results are based on current registry data and are updated regularly.
Can I search multiple .io domains at once
Yes. You can check multiple domain names in a single search.
Why do startups prefer .io domains
.io is closely associated with technology and software, making it appealing to startups and developers.
How much does a .io domain cost
Most .io domains are priced between 35 and 60 USD per year depending on the registrar.
Does Google treat .io as a generic domain
Yes. Google treats .io as a generic top level domain, allowing it to rank globally.
Can anyone register a .io domain
.io domains are open to individuals and businesses worldwide.
Is .io safe for long term business use
Yes. Many established platforms rely on .io domains for their main websites.
Why are .io domains popular for games
The success of early multiplayer browser games made .io a recognizable gaming domain.