Domain Extension Comparison
Compare two extensions – .com vs .co.uk, .io vs .dev and more – on use, rules, geography and SEO.
About the Domain Extension Comparison
Which extension should you choose? This tool compares any two of 21 popular extensions side by side: what each is meant for, who runs it, who may register it, whether HTTPS is required, how long an expired name takes to be released, and how Google treats it.
SEO in short: the extension does not make a page rank higher. Country-code extensions such as .co.uk or .de tell Google which country the site is for, which helps in that country and makes international targeting harder. Google treats generic extensions – including .io, .co and .ai, which are technically country codes – as worldwide. See the guides for the most common choices: .com vs .co.uk, .com vs .net, .com vs .org, .io vs .dev and .co.uk vs .uk.
Frequently asked questions
Is .com better for SEO than other extensions?
No. Google ranks pages on content and links. .com is easier for people to remember and type, which can bring more direct visits.
Does .io count as a country domain?
Technically it is the country code of the British Indian Ocean Territory, but Google treats .io as generic, so it can rank worldwide.
Should I register several extensions?
Registering your main name on .com and your country extension, then redirecting one to the other, protects your brand and stops others using it.