.io domain lifecycle

.io is the British Indian Ocean Territory ccTLD that became the unofficial TLD of choice for developer tools and tech startups starting around 2010. As of 2025 it has roughly 1.5 million registrations — small compared to .com but with disproportionate brand recognition in tech.

Originally operated by a Cambridge-based team, the registry was acquired by Afilias in 2017 and is now operated by Identity Digital. Pricing is significantly higher than legacy gTLDs — typical retail is $32-$60 per year, vs $10-$15 for .com.

There is a long-running political question about the future of .io. The British Indian Ocean Territory is being transferred to Mauritius, which has raised concerns about whether the TLD will continue to operate as today. ICANN policy includes provisions for "retired" ccTLDs that could affect long-term .io holders.

The lifecycle is the standard ICANN gTLD model. Drop times are less concentrated than .com but follow a predictable daily pattern.

Best fit: Tech-forward audiences who recognise .io as the modern alternative to .com. Most YC startups in the last decade use .io.

• Significantly higher renewal pricing than legacy gTLDs ($32-$60/yr retail vs $10-$15 for .com).
• Long-term TLD viability uncertain due to Chagos Islands sovereignty change.
• Drop catch market is real but smaller than .com — manual registration succeeds more often.

• For competitive 3-4 letter .io names, plan on a backorder.
• For longer or niche .io names, manual registration at drop is usually achievable.
• Be aware of the long-term sovereignty risk if you are buying a name to hold for 10+ years.

• .ai lifecycleApproximately 70-100 days; less predictable than gTLDs
• .co lifecycleApproximately 80 days from expiry to drop
• .dev lifecycleApproximately 80 days from expiry to drop
• .app lifecycleApproximately 80 days from expiry to drop

• Identity Digital — .io Registry