Popular Domain Extensions
The part after the dot — the TLD — shapes how people perceive your site and how much you pay. Here is what the most popular extensions are best for, with typical pricing to budget around.
Last updated:
Prices are typical annual ranges and change often; always confirm current and renewal pricing before buying.
The extensions worth knowing
.com
~$10–15/yrBest for: Almost any business or brand
The most popular and trusted extension, and still the one people type by default. If you can get the .com, it is almost always the safest choice.
.io
~$35–60/yrBest for: Tech startups, developer tools, SaaS
A ccTLD (British Indian Ocean Territory) that the tech world adopted as shorthand for "input/output". Widely accepted for startups, though pricier than .com.
.co
~$25–35/yrBest for: Startups wanting a short .com alternative
Short, global, and close enough to .com to feel familiar. A solid fallback when your .com is taken.
.ai
~$70–100+/yrBest for: AI and machine-learning companies
A ccTLD (Anguilla) that has become the default for AI products. In high demand, so expect premium pricing.
.net
~$12–18/yrBest for: Tech and infrastructure brands
The original network extension. Credible and widely recognised, often used when the .com is unavailable.
.org
~$10–15/yrBest for: Non-profits, communities, open source
Signals a mission or community focus. Trusted by donors and members, and still fine for any organisation.
.app
~$12–18/yrBest for: Mobile and web apps
Requires HTTPS by default, which signals security. A clear fit for software products.
.dev
~$12–18/yrBest for: Developers and dev tools
Popular for engineering blogs, portfolios, and developer-facing products. Also HTTPS-only.
.shop
~$25–35/yrBest for: E-commerce stores
Instantly communicates that you sell something. Useful when a product-specific .com is gone.
.me
~$15–25/yrBest for: Personal brands and portfolios
A ccTLD (Montenegro) that reads as the English word "me" — great for personal sites.
.blog
~$20–30/yrBest for: Blogs and publications
A descriptive extension that tells visitors exactly what to expect.
.xyz
~$2–15/yrBest for: Budget projects and modern brands
Cheap and flexible, embraced by some big names (like Google’s Alphabet at abc.xyz). Perception varies by audience.
How to choose between them
- Default to .com unless you have a specific reason not to.
- Tech or AI product? .io and .ai are expected and accepted — just budget for the premium.
- Serving one country? A ccTLD (.uk, .de, .ca) builds local trust and helps geo-targeting. See our ccTLD guide.
- On a tight budget? .xyz and similar extensions are cheap and perfectly functional.
- Mission-driven? .org still carries weight with communities and donors.
Frequently asked questions
Does the extension affect my SEO?+
Not directly for generic extensions — Google treats .com, .io, .xyz and others equally. The exception is country-code TLDs like .de or .uk, which signal that you target that country. Any real-world advantage of .com comes from user trust, not the search algorithm. See our SEO guide for the full picture.
Is .com still worth it in 2026?+
For most businesses, yes. It remains the default people type and trust, and it tends to earn more clicks. The main exceptions are tech and AI startups, where .io and .ai are fully accepted, and budget or experimental projects where a cheaper extension is fine.
Why are .io and .ai so expensive?+
Both are country-code TLDs with limited supply that happen to be in heavy demand from tech and AI companies. High demand plus a small registry equals higher wholesale prices, which registrars pass on. Expect .ai in particular to cost several times more than a .com.
Should I register my brand across multiple extensions?+
Register the handful most likely to be confused with yours — typically the .com, .net, and .co, plus any obvious misspellings. You do not need dozens of defensive registrations; a few key ones protect your brand without wasting money.
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