.tv 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
| .tv | .com | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Tuvalu's ccTLD | Legacy generic TLD, since 1985 |
| Runs the registry | Ministry of Transport, Energy, Communications and Innovations | VeriSign, Inc. |
| In the root zone since | Early ccTLD (date not recorded) | January 1, 1985 |
| Popular meaning | television, video and streaming | 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) | 6 (6) | 13 (13) |
Choose .tv if…
- Streaming channels, video creators and media brands
- Short names for shows and podcasts with video
- Companion domains for campaigns
Watch out for
- Premium pricing on short or obvious names
- Non-video brands may find the ending confusing
Great for video, streaming and creator brands. Just know you're renting from one of the world's smallest countries — and that's part of the story.
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.
.tv vs .com FAQ
Is .tv better than .com?
Neither is better across the board. Great for video, streaming and creator brands. Just know you're renting from one of the world's smallest countries — and that's part of the story. 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 .tv or .com rank better on Google?
Google doesn't give either ending a ranking bonus. What differs is geotargeting: .tv 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 .tv 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.