An event study of the .com wholesale price increases of 2021-2024 with ICANN's monthly registry reports: renewals rose 36.4% and 38.3% before the 2021 and 2022 increases, and TurnCommerce (NameBright) accounted for 90.5% and 93.8% of the extra renewals. Without it the market moved 0.5%-3.5%, within normal monthly variation. Includes the registrar's month-by-month renewals, Verisign's own filings on early renewals, the first data on the November 2026 increase and when the October report will show the answer.
Why You Should Pick .IS for Your Domain
Written by Liam Campbell ·
When building a digital presence for your business, choosing the right domain name can make all the difference in how customers find and remember you, as the website name is the first impression potential visitors get of your brand.
Naturally, you might gravitate toward familiar extensions like .com or .org, but you'll quickly discover these spaces crowded with millions of existing registrations. Finding that perfect short, memorable name becomes nearly impossible unless you have a very specific niche term. Fortunately, there are numerous alternative extensions that open doors to creative possibilities.
One particularly intriguing option is the .is domain.
Table of Contents
1. What Is the .is Domain?
The .is domain serves as the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Iceland, that remarkable Nordic island nation renowned for its stunning natural beauty and thriving technology sector. ISNIC (Internet á Íslandi hf.) has overseen domain management since the internet's earliest days, with hi.is becoming the very first registered .is domain back in 1986, marking it as one of the internet's pioneering domain registrations.
Like most European country-code extensions, .is doesn't have specific registration requirements, making it accessible to individuals and companies outside of the country itself. Given Iceland's modest population and the domain's premium status, you'll discover plenty of creative naming opportunities still available.
2. Who Uses .is Domains
While Icelandic businesses and residents naturally form the primary user base, the "is" extension unlocks remarkable creative potential that extends far beyond geographic boundaries.
2.1 Domain Hack Enthusiasts
The "is" extension ranks among the most sought-after choices for domain hacking since it mirrors the common English verb "is." Consider the classic who.is (pioneered back in 2002), a service that is a must-have for internet registries. This was also at one point used for ThePirateBay torrent website. The same concept could be applied to your company with some modifications.
2.2 Personal Brand Builders
The "is" extension also excels for personal branding and professional identity sites due to the verb "to be" naturally present in the domain name.
3. Why Choose an .is Domain?
The .is extension brings distinctive advantages that set it apart when crafting a memorable online identity.
As a two-character country extension, it's short and simple, which allows you to be creative with the name. The "is" being a word itself makes even the more "out-there" domain names sound more intuitive.
ISNIC also maintains rigorous security protocols and comprehensive anti-abuse measures, creating a cleaner, more trustworthy domain environment. This quality focus means .is domains are rarely associated with questionable or low-value content (ThePirateBay moved domains just a few months ago due to fears of being seized).
From a pricing perspective, .is domains are a bit of a premium option, typically ranging from $45-80 annually. While this might seem high, the price point discourages speculative buying and ensures you're alongside serious businesses and meaningful projects.
4. How to Register a .is Domain
The .is registration process includes some unique steps but remains accessible to global applicants.
1Visit the Register.Domains page for .is domains.
2Enter your preferred domain name and verify availability. Thanks to the extension's premium nature and creative versatility, many innovative combinations are still available.
3Choose your registration term, with options between one and five years.
4Provide your contact details and complete the payment.
5Set up your website through your hosting provider, then develop and launch your site, as the registration usually takes only minutes to complete.
5. Registration Requirements
Global registration for .is means that anyone can register for a website in this domain. Icelandic residents must supply ID numbers, while international applicants face no special documentation needs.
6. Discover What .is Can Do for You
The .is domain landscape presents extraordinary opportunities for innovative branding and professional positioning. With its distinguished history as one of the internet's oldest domains, Iceland's outstanding global reputation and unmatched creative potential.is continues gaining popularity among visionary entrepreneurs.
So register your domain today with Register.Domains before the best names are gone.
