The extension you choose affects everything: user trust, memorability, SEO, and even your ability to resell the domain later. Let's make sure you pick the right one.
The Big Three: .com, .net, .org
Most Valuable .com (Commercial)
Trust Level: Highest | Price: $9-15/year | Best For: Everything
.com is the gold standard. It's what people type by default, what they remember, and what they trust. If the .com is available for your brand, get it. Period.
98% of Fortune 500 companies use .com
.net (Network)
Trust Level: High | Price: $10-15/year | Best For: Tech, Networks, ISPs
Originally for networking companies, .net is now a general-purpose backup when .com isn't available. Still widely recognized but worth about 10-20% of equivalent .com value.
.org (Organization)
Trust Level: High | Price: $10-15/year | Best For: Non-profits, Communities, Open Source
Designed for non-profit organizations. Using .org for a commercial business can seem misleading. Best reserved for charities, foundations, and community projects.
Tech & Startup Favorites
Tech/SaaS
PopularAI/ML
HotCompany/Startup
GrowingApplications
New gTLDDevelopers
New gTLDTechnology
New gTLDTech Favorite .io
Trust Level: High (in tech) | Price: $30-50/year | Best For: Startups, SaaS, Developer Tools
The darling of Silicon Valley. .io (technically British Indian Ocean Territory) became synonymous with tech startups thanks to the "input/output" connotation. Notion.io, Github.io, and hundreds of Y Combinator startups use it.
Caution: Worth 15-30% of equivalent .com. Higher annual cost than traditional TLDs.
Rising Star .ai
Trust Level: High (in AI space) | Price: $70-100/year | Best For: AI Companies, Machine Learning, Automation
Exploding in popularity with the AI boom. Originally Anguilla's country code, now the go-to for AI startups. Premium pricing reflects demand. Character.ai, Jasper.ai, and major AI tools use this extension.
Country Code Extensions (ccTLDs)
Country codes can be powerful for local businesses or clever domain hacks:
| Extension | Country | Common Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| .uk | United Kingdom | UK businesses | bbc.co.uk |
| .de | Germany | German market | amazon.de |
| .ca | Canada | Canadian businesses | amazon.ca |
| .au | Australia | Australian market | news.com.au |
| .tv | Tuvalu | Video/Streaming | twitch.tv |
| .me | Montenegro | Personal brands | about.me |
| .gg | Guernsey | Gaming | discord.gg |
Domain Hacks
Creative use of ccTLDs to spell words:
- del.icio.us — Used .us extension
- bit.ly — Used Libya's .ly
- youtu.be — Used Belgium's .be
- goo.gl — Used Greenland's .gl
Industry-Specific Extensions
E-commerce
Retail
Blogging
Agencies
Creative
Healthcare
Financial
Legal
New gTLD Caution
While industry-specific extensions seem logical, they have drawbacks:
- Lower trust than .com among general audiences
- Harder to resell (less liquid market)
- People may not recognize/remember them
- Some email systems flag unusual TLDs as spam
Which Extension Should You Choose?
| If You Are... | Best Choice | Backup Options |
|---|---|---|
| Any business (general) | .com | .co, .net |
| Tech startup | .com, .io | .co, .ai, .dev |
| AI company | .ai, .com | .io |
| Non-profit | .org | .com |
| Local business (UK) | .co.uk, .uk | .com |
| Personal brand | .com | .me, .io |
| E-commerce | .com | .store, .shop |
| Developer/Portfolio | .dev, .io | .com |
Extension Value for Resale
If you're investing in domains, extension dramatically affects liquidity:
| Extension | Market Liquidity | Resale Value vs .com |
|---|---|---|
| .com | Highest | 100% (baseline) |
| .net | Good | 10-20% |
| .org | Good | 10-15% |
| .io | Good (in tech) | 15-30% |
| .co | Moderate | 10-25% |
| .ai | Good (growing) | 20-40% |
| Country codes | Variable | 5-20% |
| New gTLDs | Low | 1-10% |
Final Recommendations
- Always try for .com first. It's worth the extra effort or cost.
- If .com is taken: Consider buying it (make an offer) or try .co/.io/.ai depending on your industry.
- Avoid obscure extensions unless you have a specific strategic reason.
- If using alternatives: Also try to secure the .com to prevent competitors or confusion.
- Match audience expectations: A law firm on .xyz looks unprofessional. Context matters.
Find Your Perfect Domain
Browse premium domains across all major extensions. Hand-picked for quality and investment potential.
Explore DomainsLast updated: December 2025