.io vs .com
Which domain extension should you choose? Here's how the two compare — and when each one is the better pick.
Side by side
| .io | .com | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | British Indian Ocean Territory's ccTLD | Legacy generic TLD, since 1985 |
| Runs the registry | Internet Computer Bureau Limited | VeriSign, Inc. |
| In the root zone since | Early ccTLD (date not recorded) | January 1, 1985 |
| Popular meaning | input/output — the startup and developer favorite | the default for businesses |
| Search geotargeting | ccTLD that Google treats as generic | Generic — not tied to a country |
| DNSSEC-signed | Yes | Yes |
| Name servers (IPv6) | 4 (4) | 13 (13) |
Choose .io if…
- Developer tools, APIs and SaaS products
- Short, available names that are long gone on .com
- Tech audiences who read ".io" as a signal, not a red flag
Watch out for
- Renewal prices are noticeably higher than .com at most registrars
- The territory's sovereignty is moving to Mauritius, which raises long-term questions about the ccTLD
- Non-technical customers may still type .com by habit
Still a solid choice for developer tools and tech brands, but know that it rests on a territory whose status is changing. For a company meant to last decades, also hold the .com.
Choose .com if…
- Any business that wants the "default" address customers will guess
- Brands that expect word-of-mouth and radio or podcast mentions
- Email addresses people won't misspell
Watch out for
- Short, dictionary-word .com names are almost all taken or sold as premiums
- Typosquatters target popular .com names — register common misspellings if you're big
- Don't pay a broker before checking whether a newer TLD tells your story better
If the exact name you want is available on .com at a sane price, take it. Everything else is a trade-off against the ending people assume.
.io vs .com FAQ
Is .io better than .com?
Neither is better across the board. Still a solid choice for developer tools and tech brands, but know that it rests on a territory whose status is changing. For a company meant to last decades, also hold the .com. If the exact name you want is available on .com at a sane price, take it. Everything else is a trade-off against the ending people assume.
Does .io or .com rank better on Google?
Google doesn't give either ending a ranking bonus. What differs is geotargeting: .io is cctld that google treats as generic, and .com is generic — not tied to a country. Content and links matter far more than the TLD.
Can I use both .io and .com?
Yes, and many brands do: register both, pick one as the main site, and redirect the other to it so links and email never go astray.