.net 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
| .net | .com | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Legacy generic TLD, since 1985 | Legacy generic TLD, since 1985 |
| Runs the registry | VeriSign, Inc. | VeriSign, Inc. |
| In the root zone since | January 1, 1985 | January 1, 1985 |
| Popular meaning | — | the default for businesses |
| Search geotargeting | Generic — not tied to a country | Generic — not tied to a country |
| DNSSEC-signed | Yes | Yes |
| Name servers (IPv6) | 13 (13) | 13 (13) |
Choose .net if…
- Infrastructure, hosting and network services
- Technical products and internal platforms
- Protecting your brand alongside the .com
Watch out for
- Visitors default to .com — make sure you control both
Fine for technical services and as a backup to your .com. As a primary consumer brand, people will still type .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.
.net vs .com FAQ
Is .net better than .com?
Neither is better across the board. Fine for technical services and as a backup to your .com. As a primary consumer brand, people will still type .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 .net or .com rank better on Google?
Google doesn't give either ending a ranking bonus. What differs is geotargeting: .net is generic — not tied to a country, and .com is generic — not tied to a country. Content and links matter far more than the TLD.
Can I use both .net 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.