History of gTLDs
The first gTLDs launched in January 1985:
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.com— commercial entities -
.net— network infrastructure -
.org— organizations -
.edu— U.S. educational institutions -
.gov— U.S. government -
.mil— U.S. military
A seventh, .int, followed in 1988 for international treaty organizations.
For over two decades, these seven extensions were the only gTLDs available. The restricted TLDs (.edu, .gov, .mil, .int) still require verification, but .com, .net, and .org opened to unrestricted registration and now accept anyone.
The New gTLD Program
In 2012, ICANN launched the New gTLD Program, allowing organizations to apply for their own extensions. The application fee was $185,000, and applicants had to demonstrate technical and financial capability to operate a registry.
The result: over 1,200 new gTLDs entered the root zone between 2013 and 2016. Categories include:
Industry-specific: .tech, .law, .pharmacy, .bank
Geographic: .nyc, .london, .berlin, .tokyo
Interest-based: .photography, .travel, .music, .games
Generic words: .app, .blog, .shop, .online
Brand TLDs: .google, .apple, .amazon, .bmw
A second round of new gTLD applications is expected in 2026, which will add even more extensions to the namespace.
Types of gTLDs
Legacy gTLDs
The original seven gTLDs from the 1980s. .com dominates with over 150 million registrations—more than all other gTLDs combined.
Sponsored gTLDs (sTLDs)
Extensions managed by specific communities with eligibility requirements:
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.aero— air transport industry -
.coop— cooperatives -
.museum— museums -
.jobs— human resources -
.travel— travel industry
New gTLDs
Extensions added through ICANN's 2012 expansion. Popular examples include:
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.io— tech startups (technically a ccTLD, but functions like a gTLD) -
.ai— artificial intelligence (also technically a ccTLD) -
.app— applications and software -
.dev— developers -
.xyz— general purpose -
.online— general purpose
Browse available extensions with our domain extensions tool.
gTLDs vs. ccTLDs
| Factor | gTLDs | ccTLDs |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic tie | None | Specific country/territory |
| Availability | Usually open to anyone | Varies by country |
| SEO signals | No geographic signal | May signal local relevance |
| Examples | .com, .net, .app | .uk, .de, .ca |
For global audiences, gTLDs are typically the better choice. For targeting a specific country, a ccTLD may help with local search rankings.
gTLDs and SEO
Google has confirmed that new gTLDs don't receive preferential treatment in search rankings. A .shop domain won't rank better for shopping queries simply because of the extension.
What matters more:
Domain authority: Built through quality backlinks over time
Content relevance: Does your content match search intent?
User trust: Do visitors click and engage with your site?
.com still carries the highest default trust with users, but plenty of successful sites use newer gTLDs. The best domain name might not be a .com.
Choosing a gTLD
When selecting a gTLD for your project:
Stick with .com if available: It's still the most trusted and memorable extension. Users type it automatically.
Consider industry-specific options: .io and .ai have strong recognition in tech. .shop and .store work for e-commerce.
Avoid obscure extensions: A clever .pizza domain might confuse users who expect .com.
Check pricing: Some gTLDs have premium pricing. .io and .ai cost significantly more than .com annually.
Verify reputation: Some new gTLDs have been associated with spam. Check whether email providers or security tools flag the extension.
Use our domain search to check availability across hundreds of gTLDs simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does gTLD stand for?
gTLD stands for generic top-level domain—a domain extension not tied to any specific country.
Is .com a gTLD?
Yes. .com is the most widely used gTLD, originally intended for commercial entities but now open to anyone.
How many gTLDs are there?
Over 1,200 gTLDs exist as of 2024, compared to just 7 before 2012. The number continues to grow as ICANN approves new applications.
Are .io and .ai gTLDs?
Technically, no—they're ccTLDs (.io for British Indian Ocean Territory, .ai for Anguilla). But they function like gTLDs because they're marketed globally and don't require local presence. The domain industry often treats them as honorary gTLDs.
What's the difference between gTLD and TLD?
TLD is the broader category that includes all top-level domains. gTLD specifically refers to generic (non-country) extensions. All gTLDs are TLDs, but not all TLDs are gTLDs—ccTLDs are also TLDs.