Domain Extensions Guide
Every TLD explained — what they mean, who they're for, and how much they cost. Updated for 2026.
All 16 extensions at a glance
Click any extension to search it live
$0.99 first yr
$9.99/yr
Best for any business
Best for: Any business, global brands
Most trusted$9.99/yr
Great for tech & networking
Best for: Networks, infrastructure, ISPs
$9.99/yr
Ideal for non-profits
Best for: Non-profits, open source
$39.99/yr
Popular with startups & SaaS
Best for: SaaS, developer tools, startups
Tech standard$24.99/yr
Short & modern company name
Best for: Modern companies, startups
$14.99/yr
Perfect for mobile apps
Best for: Mobile & web applications
$12.99/yr
Made for developers
Best for: Developer portfolios & tools
$69.99/yr
Hot choice for AI companies
Best for: AI startups, machine learning
Trending$4.99 first yr
$14.99/yr
E-commerce & retail
Best for: E-commerce, retail
$3.99 first yr
$9.99/yr
Affordable & versatile
Best for: Blogs, services, general use
$3.99 first yr
$9.99/yr
Budget-friendly option
Best for: Landing pages, personal sites
$9.99/yr
Technology brands
Best for: Tech companies, agencies
$4.99 first yr
$9.99/yr
Shopping & retail
Best for: Shopping, product brands
$4.99/yr
Communities & memberships
Best for: Communities, memberships
$9.99/yr
Information portals
Best for: Information portals, directories
$9.99/yr
Business & commerce
Best for: Small business, local services
Which extension should you choose?
.com vs .io
Choose .com for consumer brands. Choose .io for B2B SaaS and developer tools.
.com carries the highest global trust and is the default assumption when anyone hears a brand name. .io has become the de facto standard for the tech/startup world — if your audience is developers or technical buyers, .io is fully respected and often even preferred. If you can't get the .com, .io is the strongest alternative for a tech product.
.com vs .co
Choose .com if available. Choose .co as a clean, modern fallback.
.co has gone fully mainstream — Angel.co and hundreds of well-funded startups have normalised it. It reads as 'company' or 'co-founder', making it feel intentional rather than a consolation prize. The main risk: people will sometimes type .com by reflex, potentially landing on a different site.
.io vs .ai
Choose .io for software tools. Choose .ai if your product is explicitly AI-driven.
.ai commands a price premium because demand has exploded since 2023. If your product is genuinely AI-first, the .ai extension adds brand credibility. If AI is just a feature, stick with .io or .com — paying $70/yr for .ai as a marketing gesture is rarely worth it.
.app vs .dev
Choose .app for end-user products. Choose .dev for developer-facing tools.
Both extensions are Google-owned and HSTS-preloaded (HTTPS enforced automatically). .app signals a consumer-facing product; .dev signals something built for or by developers. Both are clean, credible, and increasingly common in the startup ecosystem.
Trust & mainstream adoption
How consumers and investors perceive each extension
| Extension | Trust Level | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com | High | Any business, global brands | $0.99 first yr |
| .net | High | Networks, infrastructure, ISPs | $9.99/yr |
| .org | High | Non-profits, open source | $9.99/yr |
| .io | High | SaaS, developer tools, startups | $39.99/yr |
| .co | High | Modern companies, startups | $24.99/yr |
| .app | High | Mobile & web applications | $14.99/yr |
| .dev | High | Developer portfolios & tools | $12.99/yr |
| .ai | Growing | AI startups, machine learning | $69.99/yr |
| .store | Medium | E-commerce, retail | $4.99 first yr |
| .online | Medium | Blogs, services, general use | $3.99 first yr |
| .site | Medium | Landing pages, personal sites | $3.99 first yr |
| .tech | Medium | Tech companies, agencies | $9.99/yr |
| .shop | Medium | Shopping, product brands | $4.99 first yr |
| .club | Medium | Communities, memberships | $4.99/yr |
| .info | Medium | Information portals, directories | $9.99/yr |
| .biz | Medium | Small business, local services | $9.99/yr |
Frequently asked questions
Does the domain extension affect SEO?
Google has stated that new TLDs are treated the same as .com and .net for ranking purposes. Your content, backlinks, and user signals matter far more than the extension. The indirect SEO impact comes from click-through rates — users are more likely to click a .com result, which can affect traffic over time.
Is .com still the best domain extension in 2026?
.com remains the most trusted and widely recognised extension globally, but it is no longer the only credible choice. .io, .co, .ai, .app, and .dev are all mainstream in their respective niches. The best extension is the one that's available, memorable, and fits your audience.
What is the cheapest domain extension?
.com starts from $0.99/yr on first-year promotions at Hostinger. .club is one of the most affordable at $4.99/yr with no promotional required. .store, .online, and .site all offer sub-$4 first-year deals.
Can I change my domain extension later?
You can register a new domain and redirect, but changing your primary domain is painful — you lose accumulated backlinks and brand recognition. Choose your extension carefully the first time.
What does HSTS preloading mean for .app and .dev?
HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) preloading means browsers are hard-coded to always use HTTPS for .app and .dev domains. You cannot serve HTTP on these extensions — which is actually a security feature, not a limitation.
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