Extension
.il
.il in short
.il is the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) of Israel, managed by ISOC-IL, the Israel Internet Association. Most websites register under a second level such as co.il (companies), org.il or ac.il, though direct second-level .il registration is also possible. It typically costs around $15 per year.
.il at a glance
Type
ccTLD — Country-code top-level domain
Registry
ISOC-IL
Launched
1985
Country / scope
Israel
Restrictions
Open (usually 2nd-level co.il)
Typical price
$15/yr
Example sites
Israeli sites
Source: IANA root zone database & registry data · methodology
Where to register a .il domain
Prices are indicative and set by each registrar; renewal rates may differ from first-year promotions. Links may be sponsored. tldlist.us is an independent reference and not a registrar.
What does .il mean?
The .il extension is the country-code domain for Israel — IL is the ISO code for the country. It is one of the oldest ccTLDs in existence, delegated in 1985, and is administered by ISOC-IL, the Israel Internet Association, a non-profit that has run the namespace since the early days of the Israeli internet. Like .ie, it is a straightforward national domain with no generic reinterpretation: .il means Israel.
What sets .il apart is its structure. For most of its history the namespace was organised at the third level under category second levels — co.il for companies, org.il for organisations, ac.il for academia and gov.il for government — so when Israelis think of a local web address, they think co.il, not plain .il.
Who uses .il?
Israel, across business, civil society and the public sector. Companies register under co.il, which is the dominant and most recognisable form; non-profits and community groups use org.il; universities and research institutions use ac.il; and government bodies use gov.il. For an Israeli audience, a co.il address is an instant cue that the site is a genuine local presence, which is why even large brands keep their co.il alongside any global .com.
.il registration rules and requirements
Registration goes through ISOC-IL and its accredited registrars, and the practical experience depends on which second level you pick. The category zones each carry their own light expectations — co.il is intended for businesses, org.il for organisations, and the academic and government zones for those respective bodies. For everyday co.il registrations the process is generally open and low-friction. Alongside the traditional third-level structure, direct second-level .il names were introduced, so registering a name immediately before the dot is also possible — but co.il remains the default that most registrants reach for.
How much does a .il cost?
A .il — in practice usually a co.il — is one of the more affordable national ccTLDs, typically around $15 per year. That is competitive with a generic .com, and renewals stay in a similar band. Exact pricing varies a little by registrar and by the second level you choose.
| Level | Typical price (per year) |
|---|---|
| co.il (most common) | ~$15/yr |
| org.il / ac.il | Broadly similar |
| Direct .il | Varies by registrar |
Is .il good for SEO?
Yes, for an Israeli audience. Google treats .il (and its co.il second level) as a country-code domain tied to Israel, so it signals local relevance and can help you rank for searchers in Israel — a clear benefit for an Israeli business. As with any ccTLD, the flip side is that it leans toward one market and is less suited to a purely global brand than a generic .com. If Israel is your audience, that geo-signal is an asset. See how to compare and choose a TLD for the trade-offs.
.il vs alternatives
For an Israeli business the everyday choice is co.il versus a generic. A .com is globally trusted and unrestricted but carries no local signal; a short .co is brandable but says nothing about Israel; and .io suits tech startups chasing an international feel. .il wins whenever you want Israeli users to recognise you as local — which is why securing both a co.il and a .com is a common pattern. Choose .il when domestic trust is the priority.
.il pros and cons
Pros
- Strong local-trust signal in Israel, especially via the familiar co.il.
- Geo-targets Israel in search, helping you reach Israeli users.
- Affordable for a national ccTLD at around $15/yr.
- Run by ISOC-IL, a long-established non-profit registry.
Cons
- Geo-targeting to Israel is a drawback for a global audience.
- Most sites need the longer co.il form rather than a plain .il.
- Category second levels add a small structural decision.
- Less internationally recognised than the legacy generic TLDs.
Example .il websites
- company.co.il — Israeli businesses register under the dominant co.il second level.
- org.il names — non-profits and community organisations use the org.il zone.
- university.ac.il — Israeli universities and research bodies run on the academic ac.il zone.
.il — frequently asked questions
What is the .il domain?
.il is the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) of Israel, managed by ISOC-IL, the Israel Internet Association. Most websites register under a second level such as co.il (companies), org.il or ac.il, though direct second-level .il registration is also possible. It typically costs around $15 per year.
Who can register a .il domain?
Registration is handled through ISOC-IL and its accredited registrars. Most registrants use a structured second level: co.il for businesses, org.il for organisations, ac.il for academia and gov.il for government. The zones have their own light eligibility expectations, and direct second-level .il names are also available alongside the traditional third-level options.
How much does a .il domain cost?
A .il domain (most commonly a co.il name) typically costs around $15 per year, making it one of the more affordable national ccTLDs. Prices vary a little by registrar and by which second level you choose, with renewals broadly in the same range.
Why do Israeli sites use co.il instead of plain .il?
Historically the .il namespace was organised at the third level under category second levels — co.il for companies, org.il for organisations, and so on — so co.il became the established, recognisable address for an Israeli business. Direct second-level .il registration was introduced later, but co.il remains dominant simply because it is what Israeli users know and expect.