Domain Extension

What Is a Domain Extension?

A domain name extension is the ending portion of every web address—the characters after the last dot. When you register a domain, you choose both the name (like mybusiness) and the extension (like .com). Together they form your complete domain.

Extensions serve multiple purposes:

Categorization: Different extensions indicate different types of entities. Generic TLDs (gTLDs) like .com, .org, and .edu were originally meant for commercial, organizational, and educational use respectively. While these distinctions have blurred for open extensions, some still carry specific meanings.

Availability: With .com largely exhausted for good names, alternative extensions open new namespace. Your ideal name might be taken on .com but available on .io, .co, or .app.

Branding: Extensions can reinforce your brand identity. Tech companies use .io and .dev. AI companies use .ai. Media companies use .tv. The extension becomes part of the brand signal.

Browse all available extensions to search across every TLD and check what domain extensions are available for your name.

List of Domain Extensions

There are over 1,500 domain extensions in the IANA root zone. Here's a comprehensive list organized by category:

Original generic extensions (gTLDs):

• .com – Commercial (now general purpose), 150+ million registrations

• .net – Network (now general purpose)

• .org – Organizations (now general purpose)

• .edu – U.S. accredited educational institutions (restricted)

• .gov – U.S. government (restricted)

• .mil – U.S. military (restricted)

• .int – International treaty organizations (restricted)

Popular country code extensions (ccTLDs):

• .uk / .co.uk – United Kingdom

• .de – Germany (most registered ccTLD)

• .ca – Canada

• .au – Australia

• .fr – France

• .jp – Japan

• .cn – China

• .in – India

• .br – Brazil

• .eu – European Union

Tech and startup extensions:

• .io – Popular with developers and startups

• .ai – Artificial intelligence companies

• .co – Startup-friendly .com alternative

• .dev – Software developers (requires HTTPS)

• .app – Applications (requires HTTPS)

• .tech – Technology companies

• .code – Programming and development

Business extensions:

• .biz – Business

• .company – Companies

• .inc – Incorporated businesses

• .llc – Limited liability companies

• .agency – Agencies

• .consulting – Consultants

• .services – Service providers

Industry-specific extensions:

• .shop / .store – E-commerce

• .blog – Blogs and publications

• .news – News outlets

• .media – Media companies

• .design – Designers

• .photography – Photographers

• .restaurant – Restaurants

• .fitness – Fitness businesses

• .travel – Travel industry

• .law – Legal professionals

Creative and personal extensions:

• .me – Personal brands

• .name – Individuals

• .art – Artists

• .music – Musicians

• .studio – Studios

• .gallery – Galleries

• .photos – Photography

Geographic extensions:

• .nyc – New York City

• .london – London

• .tokyo – Tokyo

• .berlin – Berlin

• .paris – Paris

• .miami – Miami

Short domain extensions:

• .co – 2 letters, Colombia ccTLD used globally

• .io – 2 letters, tech-focused

• .ai – 2 letters, AI-focused

• .me – 2 letters, personal branding

• .tv – 2 letters, media/video

• .gg – 2 letters, gaming

• .cc – 2 letters, general use

Search all domain extensions to check availability across every TLD.

Most Popular Domain Extensions

Based on registration volume and usage, here are the most popular domain extensions in 2025:

1. .com – Over 150 million registrations. The universal default.

2. .de – Germany's ccTLD, most registered country code.

3. .cn – China's ccTLD, massive domestic usage.

4. .uk – United Kingdom, strong local preference.

5. .org – Nonprofits and organizations.

6. .net – Originally for networks, now general purpose.

7. .ru – Russia's ccTLD.

8. .nl – Netherlands, high per-capita registration.

9. .br – Brazil's ccTLD.

10. .au – Australia's ccTLD.

Fastest-growing extensions:

• .ai – Explosive growth from AI industry

• .app – Mobile and web applications

• .dev – Developer community adoption

• .io – Continued startup popularity

Cheapest Domain Extensions

Domain extension pricing varies dramatically. Here are the most affordable options:

Budget-friendly extensions ($1-10/year):

• .xyz – Often under $2/year on promotion

• .online – Frequently discounted

• .site – Low-cost option

• .website – Budget alternative

• .info – Established cheap option

• .club – Affordable community extension

• .space – Low registration cost

• .store – E-commerce on a budget

• .tech – Often promotional pricing

Standard pricing ($10-20/year):

• .com – ~$12-15/year retail

• .net – ~$12-15/year retail

• .org – ~$12-15/year retail

• .co – ~$15-25/year

• .de, .uk, .fr – Most major ccTLDs

Premium pricing ($30-100+/year):

• .io – ~$40-60/year

• .ai – ~$80-150/year

• .dev – ~$15-20/year

• .app – ~$15-20/year

Warning about cheap extensions:

Low first-year pricing often masks high renewal rates. A domain offered at $0.99 may renew at $30+. Always check:

• Renewal pricing (not just first year)

• Transfer-out policies

• Registry reputation

Some cheap extensions have become associated with spam due to bulk registrations. This can affect email deliverability and user trust. Research an extension's reputation before choosing based solely on price.

New Domain Extensions 2025

ICANN continues approving new extensions. Recent and upcoming additions include specialized TLDs for emerging industries, geographic regions, and communities.

Recently launched:

• Additional geographic TLDs

• Industry-specific extensions

• Brand TLDs (company-owned, not public)

Upcoming ICANN round:

ICANN is planning a new application round for additional TLDs. Organizations can apply to operate new extensions, though the $185,000+ application fee limits applicants to well-funded entities.

Trends in new extensions:

• More industry-specific options

• Geographic expansion

• Stricter verification requirements for some TLDs

• Continued growth in tech-focused extensions

Check new domain extensions as they become available for registration.

What Domain Extension Is Best for a Startup?

The best extension depends on your startup's focus and audience:

For most startups: .com

• Universal recognition and trust

• Users type it automatically

• Investors and acquirers expect it

• Widest audience acceptance

For tech startups: .io

• Strong developer/tech association

• Good availability for short names

• Accepted in startup community

• Premium pricing but established reputation

For AI companies: .ai

• Instant category recognition

• Premium brand signal

• Rapidly growing acceptance

• Higher cost but strong positioning

For apps: .app

• Clear application focus

• Requires HTTPS (security benefit)

• Google-operated registry

• Growing mainstream adoption

For budget launches: .co

• Affordable .com alternative

• Short and professional

• Established startup usage

• Good stepping stone before acquiring .com

General startup advice:

• If you can get a good .com, take it

• .io and .co are safe alternatives

• Match extension to your audience expectations

• Secure the .com defensively even if using another extension

• Consider long-term brand building, not just availability

Domain Extension Pricing

Extension pricing has two components:

Registry wholesale price: What registrars pay the registry operator. This varies by extension—Verisign sets .com wholesale around $10, while .ai's registry charges $50+.

Registrar retail price: What you pay. Registrars add margin above wholesale. Competition keeps common extensions affordable; niche extensions carry higher margins.

Pricing tiers:

Premium domain pricing:

Beyond standard registration, premium domains—desirable names within any extension—cost extra. A registry might charge $10/year for randomstring.io but $5,000/year for cloud.io. Check whether your desired name has premium pricing before assuming standard rates.

Domain Extensions and SEO

Search engines treat most extensions equally for ranking purposes:

No inherent SEO advantage: Google doesn't favor .com over .io or .app for non-geographic searches. A .guru domain won't rank better for guru-related queries because of its extension.

ccTLD geographic signals: Country code extensions send location signals. A .de domain may rank better in Germany but worse globally. Google treats some ccTLDs (.io, .co, .tv, .ai) as generic—no geographic signal.

User behavior matters more: Click-through rates affect rankings. If users trust and click .com more than unfamiliar extensions, that engagement helps .com rank better—not the extension itself.

Email deliverability: Some cheap extensions have spam reputation issues that can affect email delivery. Established extensions (.com, .org, major ccTLDs) have cleaner reputations.

Choosing a Domain Extension

Start with .com: It's the default. If available for a good name, take it. Check domain availability to see options.

Consider alternatives when:

• Your ideal .com is taken or too expensive

• An extension fits your industry (.io for tech, .ai for AI)

• You're targeting a specific country (use their ccTLD)

• You want a domain hack (bit.ly, youtu.be)

Evaluate extensions by:

• Recognition (will users trust it?)

• Pricing (including renewals)

• Availability (are good names open?)

• Reputation (associated with spam?)

• Longevity (established registry operator?)

Red flags:

• Extremely cheap first-year pricing with hidden renewal costs

• Extensions heavily used by spam sites

• Registries with unstable policies or ownership

• Limited registrar availability