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An essential component of any website is its domain name. A domain extension, or top-level domain (TLD) is the end of a website’s main URL, like the .com at the end of squarespace.com.
Domain extensions are important because they’re part of your website’s digital address. They signal your trustworthiness or your niche, like .gov for government websites. Yours should be memorable, easy to find, and in sync with your brand identity.
This guide will explain some of the most common and popular TLDs to choose from, as well as emerging TLDs and how to choose yours.
Most common top level domain extensions
There are hundreds of TLD extensions to choose from but in the early days of the internet, we only had a few. Those website extensions are still popular, while others have risen in popularity as businesses have evolved. Below are seven of the most common TLD extensions.
1. .com
A lot of websites end with .com, because it began as a domain extension you could apply to most any business. Today, websites with a .com are considered more authoritative or trustworthy than those with less common TLDs. In 2024, nearly 44% of websites had a .com TLD. It fits any type of website and makes it easy for users to find and remember your URL.
While TLDs don’t directly impact your site’s search engine optimization (SEO), .com is generally a safe bet. Search engines respond in part to trust signals and whether users click on search results, and a .com TLD is unlikely to negatively impact either of those factors.
One of the drawbacks of a .com domain extension is that the name you want for your website may be unavailable. Because of the popularity of .com domains, you may have to get creative with your business name.
2. .net
This domain extension initially had a rigid technological use. It’s since evolved into a sort of competitor or alternative to .com. Over 2% of websites globally have a .net domain extension. If your preferred .com domain is taken, a .net version isn’t a bad choice if it’s available. Users generally recognize it as a common, trustworthy TLD.
3. .org
Initially, .org was meant for and more commonly associated with not-for-profit websites. That has evolved as the requirements to register a .org domain name have loosened. It’s the second most popular domain extension globally. The TLD now represents organizations more broadly, like political, medical, educational, and community-based groups.
Among common website extensions, a .org domain extension sends the strongest signal about what your website does, so make sure to use it only if it makes sense for your brand and mission. For example, .org could feel misleading if used for an ecommerce site.
4. .co
While .net is a common alternative to .com, .co is another strong option. Because of its similarity to the .com domain extension, .co could be a better fit.
If you decide to register a .co domain extension, do research to ensure that you don’t share a business name or niche with a similar .com URL. A domain that’s too similar could confuse people and inadvertently send visitors to the wrong site.
5. .io
Whereas .net has a technological past, .io is one of the tech-oriented TLDs of the current moment. This domain extension name is often used for tech start-ups.
An .io domain extension name is an opportunity for a website to subtly signal its technological savvy or niche. This TLD is sometimes a more affordable option as well.
6. .store
A more specific buying domain extension, .store lets users know that the focus of the website they’ve clicked on is to help them make a purchase. As .com domains get claimed or become too expensive, a .store TLD has risen in popularity. It’s clear about its purpose, which helps signal trustworthiness.
7. .biz
For businesses or entrepreneurs who want a common website extension that’s not .com or .co, there’s .biz. This is another popular, easily recognized TLD that is explicitly and commonly associated with business or selling, such as ecommerce. That makes it a flexible option for different types of websites, if other TLD options aren’t available or aren’t appealing.
More popular TLD extensions
As technology has evolved, so too have TLDs. If you’re looking for a memorable, location-specific, or industry-specific TLD, consider the following extensions.
Country-specific domain extensions
Some of the most popular domain extension names are country-specific. For example, nearly 4% of website URLs end in .de, representing German sites.
Country-specific domain extensions let users know where a business or person is based, and can be a good option for local businesses or location-specific websites. If your audience is primarily in a specific country, a country-specific TLD is a great choice for your website.
Emerging tech domain extensions
We have .io, but there are other emerging, tech-specific domain extensions that can tell users what kind of website or business they’ve landed on.
For example, many new artificial intelligence (AI) businesses use .ai for their websites, signaling the niche focus of their business within tech. Other common domains used in tech include .tech and .xyz.
Novelty domain extensions
Novelty domain extension names may seem silly, but they can be memorable for the right brand. Novelty extensions are useful if they support a website’s purpose and feel appropriate in context.
For example, if you’re building a website for a pizzeria, a .pizza domain name is very appropriate. Or the daytime cafe attached to a restaurant could use a .cafe website extension to differentiate from its restaurant website. Other examples of novelty TLDs include .dog, .dot, and .duck.
News domain extensions
For the most part, we get our news on the internet. Many news outlets still use a .com domain extension or sometimes a country-specific one, but there’s an emerging trend of news specific domain extensions among some new media outlets. These include .news, .wiki, and .media.
Content creator and community domain extensions
Digital content creators and community leaders might use a social-related domain extension. This can help creators separate different content channels or highlight the type of website they have, like a link in bio site vs. a blog or community. Content creators might decide to use a .blog, .social, or .bio TLD.
Brainstorm ideas with the free domain name generator
What to consider when choosing your domain extension
Ultimately, your website is an extension of you or your business. Your TLD is part of that. Make sure your URL is fairly easy to remember and related to the focus of your website.
Factors to consider when choosing a domain extension include:
Relevant business or industry: Your domain name has to make sense in context to your business or industry. If tech isn’t your wheelhouse, avoid any of the .io or .ai TLDs.
Geography: A country-specific TLD tells users where you or your business is based. It’s also a good option if you’re focused on a local community.
Audience: Consider what website extensions your competitors use. Tailoring your URL to your audience can set you apart from the crowd.
Cost: Pricing varies on TLDs, so your budget may influence your final choice.