History of the TLD

.cool is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) that was introduced as part of ICANN’s New gTLD Program. The registry agreement for .cool was signed by ICANN in November 2013 and the TLD was delegated into the DNS root zone in January 2014, making it active and available for registration soon after. The string was launched for general public registration in 2014 with the aim of broad open use by individuals and organizations wanting a distinctive domain extension.

Main Use and Industry Position

.cool is positioned as a creative and expressive domain extension intended for a broad audience. It is often used by individuals, lifestyle brands, influencers, creative projects, startups, tech communities, personal portfolios, entertainment sites, and anyone seeking a memorable or trend-conscious domain name. Because of its branding potential, .cool serves as an alternative to traditional TLDs for entities that want to highlight creativity, uniqueness or contemporary appeal.

Comparison to Other TLDs

.cool differs from legacy TLDs such as .com and .net in that it has no commercial legacy or marketplace dominance but provides greater availability for short and memorable names. Compared to other expressive gTLDs like .fun, .life or .club, .cool conveys a youthful, trend-forward image. It stands apart from industry-specific TLDs like .design or .photography by being general-purpose and lifestyle oriented rather than functional or sector-specific.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Provides a distinctive and memorable domain extension

• Broad open registration with no special eligibility requirements

• Good availability for short and brandable names

Cons

• Perceived as less authoritative or professional than legacy TLDs for some audiences

• May not be immediately associated with specific industries

• Branding impact depends on audience perception and use case

Registration Criteria

.cool is an open gTLD with no restrictions on who can register. Individuals, businesses and organizations worldwide can register .cool domains on a first-come, first-served basis without special eligibility requirements.

Summary

.cool is an active generic top-level domain that offers a creative, expressive, and brand-friendly alternative to legacy extensions. Introduced in 2014 through ICANN’s New gTLD Program, it is managed by Donuts (via Binky Moon, LLC) and widely available for public registration. The extension appeals to users seeking unique, memorable domain names for personal, business and creative projects.