If you're buying your first domain name, you're probably asking yourself "is a .com domain name better?" The short answer is that a .com domain name is globally recognized, which gives it certain advantages over some other domain name extensions.
But that's not the only factor in play when choosing a domain name. Let's explore the issue of whether a dot com domain is better by looking at the factors in play.
What is a .com domain?
If you want to purchase a domain name, you may have some basic questions about .com and other domain extensions. If you’d like to go a bit more in depth about all things domains, check out our guide on the most common domain questions, including how domains work and what are the different parts of a domain name.
In fact, one of the questions you have is probably "what is a domain extension anyway?"
A domain extension is the bit that comes after the dot in a domain name.
The proper name for a domain extension is a top-level domain, or TLD.
The .com domain is just one of many hundreds of TLDs available today.
If you want to learn more about the history of .com domains, you can read this guide.
But in this post, we're going to focus on practical uses of the .com TLD, so let's talk about the advances of a .com domain.
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Advantages of a .com domain
One of the early TLDs introduced when the Domain Name System (DNS) was first createdin January 1985, .com is a true classic.
- Widely known around the world -- most people know the .com extension, which means it adds trust to your website.
- Doesn't tie a website to a particular location -- if you're looking to do business in more than one location, then .com provides you with a domain name that will work well in most markets.
- Easy to remember -- the fact it's short and well-known means that people are more likely to remember your website's address if it ends with .com, rather than a newer, longer TLD.
Having a .com domain can also be beneficial in case you want to sell the domain name at some point in time.
That may not seem like a huge list of advantages, and it's true that in many cases an alternative domain extension will work just as well as a .com domain. (You may also find there are cheaper domain names than .com.)
For example, there is no inherent search engine optimization (SEO) advantage in going for a .com domain name (despite a persistent myth that there is).
The one drawback to .com
There is one significant disadvantage to opting for a .com domain, and that is its popularity.
You may find that the domain name you want has already been taken on .com.
In such case, you might have to switch to another domain extension to get the domain name you want. Just make sure that you aren’t violating any intellectual property such as trademarks when buying your domain).
Related: Comparing the best domain registrars of 2024
Both .com and .co.uk domain names have a great deal of appeal for UK based websites, and neither one is inherently better than the other.
If you're planning to focus entirely on the UK market, then you may decide that a .co.uk domain suits your needs perfectly.
Equally, if you're planning to attract website visitors/customers from outside the UK then you may want to go for a .com domain. Search engines may favour your website over those with other domain extensions when Brits search online.
It can also be a good idea to buy both the .com and the matching .co.uk versions of your domain name. That way, you can make sure:
- People searching for you online will find you no matter which extension they type in
- No one else can buy the one you didn't and uses it to snaffle away visitors
When you're ready, you can search for a domain name here. Need a little help? Try GoDaddy's free domain name generator.
Related: How to choose a domain name – 10 expert tips
Summing up
Buying a .com domain does offer certain advantages, but you may need to be flexible if you're set on getting a .com domain.
You may also want to buy your domain name across multiple domain extensions in order to protect your brand. If the domain name you want is already taken, our domain lookup tool can help identify the owner's details so you can reach out to them about a potential sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? The answers might be here.
Is it better to use .com or .co?
Although .com is often considered the ‘go-to’ extension, both extensions have merits. Since .com is incredibly common, thiscould mean that your ideal .com domain has already been taken. If this is the case, then .co is a great alternative. Since it’s shorter and sharper, it’s more likely to stay in people’s heads and help them to remember your business.
Should I buy both .com and .co.uk domains?
Absolutely! Having multiple variations of the same domain name can be hugely beneficial, as it will help your website to appear in both local and international search results.
Because .co.uk is associated with the UK, search engines give websites with this extension priority for web searches that originate in the UK.
Even if you don’t want to target a global audience, having both versions will ensure that people will always end up at your website, regardless of which one they use.
Registering the .co.uk domain that matches your .com will also prevent anyone else from taking that domain and potentially using it for malicious purposes.
Is .com still the best?
While no domain extension is ‘the best,’ .com is undoubtedly the world’s favourite, with more than 155 million .com domains registered in total.
Its success can be owed to its simplicity, low cost and the fact that it’s one of the original extensions that was created in 1985, making it a bona fide classic.
Why does the UK use co.uk instead of com.uk?
Good question! The simple answer is because the domain extension .com.uk doesn’t actually exist.
The technical answer is because the .uk extension uses ‘.co’ for commercial purposes, instead of .com (as is the case in the US).
This is due to the fact that .com -- along with the domain name system (DNS) itself -- was originally created in, and limited to, the US. Shortly afterwards, the UK created its own network that would form the basis for the .uk domain extension.
What is the advantage of co.uk?
The main advantage of .co.uk is that it’s an established domain extension that’s trusted by 91% of people, according to a 2021 Nominet UK study.
Having a .co.uk domain also tells the world you’re a British business, plus it’ll help boost your ranking in regional search results, as Google frequently prioritises websites with local domain extensions over international sites for searches made from the UK.
Do I need more than one domain name?
Although having multiple domain names costs more than having just one, they can also help strengthen your online presence in multiple ways.
For example, if people often misspell your business name, you could register the incorrect version(s) so that visitors will still arrive at your website, instead of an error page.
You simply direct the misspelled domain names you own to your primary web address.
Having multiple domains can also help boost your overall search ranking and will prevent any competitors from taking them and using them for their own purposes.
You could even use one of your domains as a landing page for your offers or to promote a particular product or service.
What is the .co.uk domain used for?
The .co.uk domain is mainly used by British companies looking to promote their location within their web address. Doing so allows them to target UK customers far more effectively than any other web extension.
In fact, a 2021 Nominet UK studyhas shown that 70% of Brits prefer websites ending in .uk when shopping online.
What are the advantages of a .com domain?
As one of the original domain extensions, .com has effectively become synonymous with the internet, making it an obvious choice for most businesses.
For example, a person looking online for a business named Joe's Barber Shop will often type in‘joesbarbershop.com’ on the first try.
On top of that, .com is affordable, easy to remember and can be registered by anyone, no matter what they do or where in the world they’re based.
What is the best domain suffix for a new business?
That depends on your business needs. If you just want a simple web address, then .com should do you fine.
If you plan on selling your products or services online, then a .shop or .store is an excellent choice, as customers will immediately see that you have stuff on offer.
If, however, you want to attract local customers, you could use the official extension for your country or city for your web address.
For example, Britain has .uk, London has .london, Germany has .de, Barcelona has .barcelona -- the list goes on.
Alternatively, you could use a unique extension that highlights your occupation/service like .design, .plumbing or .vet.
For more details on how to pick the right domain extension, check out our article: Which domain extension should I use?
What is a domain extension?
A domain extension is essentially the lettering that appears after the second dot in your web address. For example, the extension in GoDaddy.com is .com.
Which domain extension should UK businesses choose?
As popular as .com is, this domain extension doesn’t say much about your business or services. Some people may even incorrectly equate it with American businesses.
That’s why .co.uk domains are generally better for UK businesses from a branding, marketing and search engine optimisation (SEO) perspective.
If you’re still not sure which one to use, then we recommend registering a bog-standard .com domain, along with a unique domain that promotes your location or services.
Which domain extension is best for SEO – .com or .co.uk?
While .com domains are ideal for businesses with a global presence, .co.uk domain names have higher search rankings in the UK as they’re associated with British businesses.
Search engines strive to deliver the most relevant results to UK searchers, and they use geographic clues to do this.
That said, it’s worth considering where you expect your business to be in the next few years. If you’re thinking of expanding your operations overseas, then it’s worth investing in a .com domain, as it’ll give you more leeway with your branding.
Does a .com or .co.uk domain rank better in the UK?
One of the most frequent questions we get is “Is .com better than .co.uk?” In short, .co.uk domains work better for UK businesses, since it includes the official country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the United Kingdom.
While .com is by no means a bad choice, .co.uk attracts more local traffic as it assures British users that you offer local services and that your prices are listed in GBP. After all, when someone searches for services ‘near me,’ they’ll be more inclined to choose a web address that features .uk.
How do I decide between a .com and a .co.uk domain for my website?
If your services are restricted to the British Isles, then you should absolutely use a .uk or .co.uk domain for your website. Having one will immediately tell prospective customers that you’re based in Britain, plus it can help you appear higher on local searches. If, however, you provide international services, then a .com may be better suited to your needs as its high value and authority will lend you more support on search engines.
What is the difference between a .com and a .co.uk domain?
The main difference is that .com is a generic top-level domain that suggests you have a universal presence, while .co.uk is made specifically for British companies/individuals. Although both extensions can be registered by anyone, you should consider which one is better for your needs as it’ll affect your standing on search engines.
How does a .com domain compare to a .co.uk for SEO purposes?
The relative SEO value of a .com and .co.uk domain depends on a range of factors, and it's important to consider your specific marketing goals and target audience when making a decision.
Both domains have the potential to rank for relevant keywords, but .com domains may have a higher search volume and more competition for high-value keywords.
If you’re targeting a specific region or location, a .co.uk domain may be more advantageous, as it can help improve your local search engine ranking.
However, .com domains are effective when targeting international audiences as you won’t be limiting yourself to a particular country or region.
What factors should I consider when choosing between a .com and a .co.uk domain?
The main factors you should consider are branding, SEO, cost and availability. While .com domains are better suited for global businesses, .co.uk domains are perfect for UK businesses and can be less expensive, especially when it comes to renewal costs.
However, none of this matters if your domain has already been registered. Check to see if yours is available now by using our domain search function.
