What is .tk?
The .tk domain is the country code TLD for Tokelau, a remote Pacific Island territory of New Zealand with a population of about 1,500 people. Despite its tiny origin, .tk became one of the most registered TLDs in the world of domains — entirely because of free registrations.
A Brief History
Freenom, a Dutch company, partnered with Tokelau to offer free .tk domain registrations starting in 2001. This made .tk the largest ccTLD by registration count for several years, peaking at over 31 million registrations. However, the free model attracted massive abuse — spam, phishing, and malware — leading to significant reputation problems.
In 2023, Freenom ceased free domain registrations following legal action from Meta (Facebook) over abuse-related issues.
Why Choose .tk?
- Historical significance — One of the most fascinating stories in domain name history.
- Affordable — Even without free registration, .tk remains one of the cheapest TLDs.
- Short — Two-character extensions are concise and easy to type.
Did You Know?
- .tk once had over 31 million registrations — more than many major TLDs.
- Tokelau's domain revenue from .tk was at one point a significant portion of the territory's GDP.
- The tiny island nation of 1,500 people technically had more domains than most countries.
- Free .tk registrations were discontinued in 2023 due to widespread abuse.
Registration & Pricing
.tk domains now require paid registration. DomainWorld offers current pricing — you can get a domain up and running in minutes.
The Future of .tk
The end of free registrations may actually improve .tk's reputation by reducing abuse. In the world of domains, .tk's story is a cautionary tale about the true cost of "free."