History of the TLD

.academy is a generic top‑level domain (gTLD) that was introduced as part of ICANN’s New gTLD Program to expand the Internet’s namespace and provide additional descriptive space for online identities aligned with education and training related services. The application was filed by an entity associated with Donuts Inc in 2012, with the TLD delegated to the DNS root zone in late 2013 after the required registry agreement with ICANN. Sunrise and general availability phases followed in early 2014. The registry operator is part of Identity Digital (formerly Donuts). 

Main Use and Industry Position

.academy is positioned as a domain extension that serves the education and learning sector. It is commonly chosen by schools, training centres, educational institutions, coaches, tutors, online learning platforms, and individuals affiliated with educational services. Unlike a restricted TLD such as .edu, .academy does not require accreditation or specific legal status to register, making it broadly accessible yet clearly associated with educational content. 

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared to legacy education‑focused TLDs, such as .edu which is restricted to accredited postsecondary institutions, .academy is open to any registrant without verification requirements. This provides greater flexibility but less exclusivity. Against generic TLDs like .com, .academy conveys a more specific educational identity. It is similar in thematic purpose to other education‑related new gTLDs (for example .school or .education), offering clarity to users about subject matter focus.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Conveys an educational or instructional identity that can align with brand messaging

• Open registration with no pre‑verification required

• Flexible for individual, institutional or commercial use

Cons

• Less recognition and trust compared to legacy education domains such as .edu

• May be perceived as less authoritative without affiliated accreditation

• Adoption and SEO strength vary by registrar and market

Registration Criteria

Anyone may register a .academy domain. There are no special eligibility requirements, documentation or brand verification needed. Some specific names may be reserved for registry operations or premium status based upon registry policy. Standard ICANN restrictions (such as reserved two‑character names) apply but there are no use or affiliation restrictions. 

Summary

.academy is a generic, open top‑level domain launched in 2013 under ICANN’s program to expand namespace options. It targets educational and instructional use cases but remains available to individuals and organisations without verification. It is often used by schools, academies, trainers, educators, and knowledge platforms looking to express their mission within a domain name. The absence of eligibility barriers makes it accessible, while its descriptive nature provides clear context for visitors about the educational scope of the website.