TLD Selection Guide
Domain Planning
Source: 16idc
A comprehensive comparison of popular domain extensions (TLDs) covering features, use cases, pricing, and SEO impact.
Popular TLD Comparison
| TLD |
Best For |
Reg. Price |
Renewal |
Trust |
| .com |
Universal — all websites |
$10-15 |
$10-15 |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| .io |
Tech companies, SaaS |
$30-50 |
$30-50 |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| .ai |
AI products & startups |
$40-80 |
$40-80 |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| .co |
Startups, business |
$15-25 |
$15-25 |
⭐⭐⭐ |
| .net |
Network/tech |
$10-15 |
$10-15 |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| .org |
Non-profits, open source |
$10-15 |
$10-15 |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| .app |
Web/mobile apps |
$15-20 |
$15-20 |
⭐⭐⭐ |
| .dev |
Developer tools |
$10-15 |
$10-15 |
⭐⭐⭐ |
| .me |
Personal portfolio |
$15-20 |
$15-20 |
⭐⭐⭐ |
Recommendations by Site Type
| Type |
Primary |
Alternative |
| Business |
.com |
.net, .co |
| Personal Blog |
.com |
.me |
| SaaS/Tech |
.com |
.io, .co |
| AI Product |
.ai |
.com, .io |
| E-commerce |
.com |
.store |
| Portfolio |
.design |
.me, .com |
Recommendations by Target Market
| Market |
Primary |
Alternative |
| Global |
.com |
.io, .co |
| China |
.com + .cn |
.cn |
| Europe |
.com |
.eu |
| US |
.com |
.io, .co |
Important Notes
SEO Impact
Google treats all TLDs equally. .com has no direct SEO advantage, but user behavior (preferring .com clicks) may indirectly affect CTR.
Brand Protection
If budget allows, register multiple TLDs:
- Core: .com (must register)
- Protection: .net, .org, .io
- Prevent typosquatting: common misspellings
TLDs to Avoid
- Free subdomains (.tk, .ml) — bad for SEO and brand
- Some obscure ccTLDs — renewal prices may spike
- TLDs with spam history (.work, .date, .loan)