Is .io going away because of the Chagos Islands deal?

Not imminently. The UK–Mauritius treaty raises questions about the long-term status of the country code, but any change would unfold over years with transition arrangements. Millions of .io domains remain in active use.

Why do so many startups use .io?

It evokes 'I/O' (input/output), feels technical and modern, and short .io names are often available when the .com is long gone. It became a cultural default in tech.

.io domain availability

The startup and developer favorite.

.io reads as 'input/output' to anyone technical, which is why it became the default vibe for startups, SaaS, developer tools and Web3 projects. It feels modern and engineering-native in a way .com doesn't.

Best for

Startups, SaaS and developer tools
APIs, infrastructure and Web3 projects
Anything that wants a 'built by engineers' feel

Frequently asked questions

Is .io going away because of the Chagos Islands deal?: Not imminently. The UK–Mauritius treaty raises questions about the long-term status of the country code, but any change would unfold over years with transition arrangements. Millions of .io domains remain in active use.
Why do so many startups use .io?: It evokes 'I/O' (input/output), feels technical and modern, and short .io names are often available when the .com is long gone. It became a cultural default in tech.

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