.com vs .io
Which domain extension is right for your project?
| Feature | .com | .io |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10-15/year | $30-60/year |
| Recognition | Universal | Tech-focused |
| Availability | Very limited | Good |
| Trust Level | Highest | High (in tech) |
| SEO Impact | Neutral | Neutral |
| Email Deliverability | Best | Good |
When to Choose .com
You're building a consumer brand. Your customers include people who don't work in tech. They type .com automatically and might not trust unfamiliar extensions.
A good name is available. If you can get a memorable, short .com that matches your brand, take it. This is increasingly rare, but .com remains the gold standard when available.
Email matters a lot. Some corporate spam filters still flag non-.com domains more frequently. If you're emailing enterprise clients, .com provides slightly better deliverability.
You want maximum credibility. Banks, healthcare companies, and other trust-dependent businesses benefit from .com's universal recognition. Non-tech audiences expect serious companies to use .com.
When to Choose .io
You're a tech company. SaaS products, developer tools, APIs, and tech startups have adopted .io as standard. Your audience expects tech companies to use tech-signaling domains.
Your .com is taken or expensive. Good .io names cost $30-60/year. Good .com names cost thousands or more when you can find them. .io offers better inventory at reasonable prices.
You want to signal "tech startup." Investors recognize .io. Developers recognize .io. If your users and funders work in tech, .io communicates the right message about your company.
You need a short, memorable name. Finding a two-word .io is much easier than finding a two-word .com. Better availability means better names at standard prices.
The Verdict
For tech companies targeting technical audiences: .io is a legitimate choice that won't hurt your credibility, SEO, or fundraising. Many successful startups use .io.
For everyone else: .com remains the safer choice. If you're targeting consumers, mainstream businesses, or non-technical audiences, .com's universal recognition outweighs .io's better availability.
The pragmatic answer: Get the best name you can in .com. If nothing good is available or affordable, .io is the best alternative for tech companies.
Find Your Perfect Domain
Ready to find available domains in .com and .io? Our AI-powered generator creates unique, brandable suggestions and checks availability in both extensions.
Try DecideDomain FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is .io as good as .com?
For tech companies targeting developers or other tech companies, .io performs nearly as well as .com. For consumer brands or mainstream audiences, .com still has an edge in trust and recognition. The gap has narrowed significantly since 2015.
Will .io hurt my SEO?
No. Google treats .io as a generic TLD, not a country-specific one. Your SEO depends on content quality and backlinks, not your TLD. Sites on .io and .com rank equally well for the same content.
Why is .io more expensive than .com?
.io costs $30-60/year compared to $10-15 for .com because the registry sets higher wholesale prices. The tech industry's demand keeps prices elevated despite better name availability than .com.
Should I buy both .com and .io?
If budget allows, yes. Own your primary brand in both extensions to prevent competitors or squatters from causing confusion. Use one as your main domain and redirect the other. This costs an extra $30-60/year but protects your brand.