With over 15 years of experience as a webmaster, I‘ve helped countless businesses and individuals choose the right domain name for their website or blog. One of the most common questions I get is: what‘s the difference between .com and .net domains?
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive deep into the nuances between these popular domain extensions to help you make the best decision for your online presence. I‘ll draw upon statistics, real-world examples, and proven tips to highlight the pros and cons of each.
Let‘s get started!
Contents
Introduction: The Importance of Choosing the Right Domain
Your domain name is often the first interaction people will have with your brand online. It needs to create trust, convey what you do, and be easy to remember.
With so many options like .com, .net, .org, and new domain extensions (known as "TLDs"), how do you choose?
While search engines treat domains similarly for SEO purposes, studies show that certain extensions like .com are seen as more credible by visitors. The domain extension also sets user expectations about what type of site they‘ll find.
That‘s why this choice deserves careful consideration – not just going with what happens to be available. By understanding the key differences between .com and .net, you can make an informed decision that sets your website up for long-term success.
.Com vs .Net Usage and Availability
Of the over 357 million registered domains worldwide, .com makes up a dominant 46% share of the market. It‘s by far the most popular TLD.
In comparison, .net accounts for only around 4% of registered domains.
Here‘s a breakdown of the domain registration market share across the major extensions:
| Domain | Market Share |
|---|---|
| .com | 46% |
| .cn (China) | 15% |
| .de (Germany) | 6% |
| .net | 4% |
| .org | 3% |
| .uk (United Kingdom) | 3% |
As you can see, .com‘s popularity means availability can be limited, especially for shorter, brandable names. On the other hand, significantly more .net domains are available.
Many businesses will purchase both the .com and .net versions of their preferred name – even if they only use the .com actively. Owning the .net prevents another company from acquiring it and potentially benefiting from residual traffic or brand confusion.
So while .net can work as an alternate option if your ideal .com is taken, it should not generally be your first choice. Let‘s look at why .com remains the gold standard.
The Perception of .Com vs .Net
Several studies have shown that website visitors perceive .com domains as more credible and professional than other common extensions like .net.
For example, a 2016 Princeton study found that:
- 75% of survey respondents saw .com domains as the most prestigious and trustworthy.
- 51% said they would trust a .com site more for shopping online.
- 47% would trust a .com more for financial transactions.
Similarly, a 2015 study by USC found that:
- 44% of respondents considered .com domains to be the most credible choice for a small business website, compared to just 3% for .net.
- 71% said .com sounds the most familiar to them when choosing a domain.
Users have come to associate the .com extension with commercial websites and brands. Even though .net domains are safe and secure, visitors may subconsciously perceive them as less legitimate.
This “trust bias” towards .com can give you an edge in conversions, reputation, and ultimately revenue.
Examples of Effective .Net Domain Usage
However, there are certainly examples of well-known and successful sites using the .net extension:
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creativelive.com – A huge online education platform serving over 10 million students.
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techcrunch.net – A widely read technology publication now owned by AOL.
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mylife.net – A people search service with over 300 million visitors per month.
What do these sites have in common? They involve internet technology and networking in some way, matching the original intended use case for .net domains.
For these brands, the .net extension reinforces their positioning as part of the internet infrastructure landscape. But for most businesses, .com remains a safer bet due to trust and familiarity.
SEO and Domain Extensions
One important point is that Google and other search engines do not prioritize one domain extension over others.
For example, a recent Google study found minimal search ranking differences between sites using .com vs .net. User experience signals like mobile-friendliness and page speed were much greater drivers of search performance.
This means you should choose your domain extension based on branding, trust, and availability factors rather than trying to get an SEO boost.
However, the domain name itself can impact SEO if it contains relevant keywords. For example, outdoorgearshop.com would likely outrank mygearshop.net for searches like "outdoor gear shop" since it contains the keyword.
But for non-keyword domains like brand names, the extension makes little SEO difference.
When to Use .Com vs .Net
With this context in mind, here are some best practices on when to choose each extension:
Use .Com For:
- Businesses and commercial sites
- Blogs, personal sites, and portfolios
- Marketing campaigns and promos
- Non-profit organizations
- Most new websites
Use .Net For:
- Internet infrastructure organizations
- Web hosting companies
- Software and tech products
- Networking hardware and services
- Established brands where .com wasn‘t available
Avoid .Net For:
- Ecommerce sites
- Financial service providers
- Medical or healthcare sites
- Law firms and legal services
- Other professional services like consulting
These types of sites especially benefit from the extra trust and legitimacy that .com domains confer. The exception would be if your ideal .com name isn‘t available.
Alternatives to .Com and .Net
With over 1,200 TLDs now in existence, you have options beyond just .com and .net. Here are some other common TLDs to consider:
Regional TLDs
- .co (Colombia)
- .io (British Indian Ocean Territory)
- .ai (Anguilla) – Popular for AI and ML sites
- .ca (Canada)
- .me (Montenegro)
Purpose-Specific TLDs
- .org – Traditionally non-profits, now used more broadly
- .gov – US government sites
- .edu – US higher education institutions
- .blog – Blogs and personal publishing
- .news – News outlets and publications
Generic TLDs
- .site
- .tech
- .store
- .app
I recommend starting your search with .com, then evaluating these alternatives if your first choice .com name isn‘t available. Each has different connotations, so choose what aligns with your brand identity and offerings.
More Naming Tips
Here are some other tips for choosing the perfect domain name:
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Brandability: Select a name that‘s short, memorable, and communicates your value proposition.
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Keyword optimization: Work relevant keywords into your domain name organically if possible.
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Global considerations: Use a generic TLD like .com if you plan to expand internationally.
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Special characters: Avoid hyphens, numbers, and underscores. Stick to letters.
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Pronounceability: Domains that are intuitive to say aloud tend to perform better.
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Scalability: Pick a name that leaves room for easy brand extensions in the future.
Taking the time to find the ideal available domain can pay dividends in shaping your brand‘s story and growth down the road. Don‘t settle for your second or third choice – explore creative alternatives until you find a name you‘re excited to build your website around.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Choosing between popular domain extensions like .com and .net may seem simple on the surface, but there are important nuances to consider.
To recap this guide‘s key points:
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.Com domains are far more prevalent, but .net names have higher availability.
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Visitors perceive .com sites as more trusted and credible than .net.
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Search engines treat .com and .net equally – choose based on branding.
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.Net domains suit internet infrastructure sites, while .com is better for broader use cases.
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With new TLDs, you have alternatives beyond just .com and .net to explore.
I hope these insights and tips better equip you to make the right domain choice for your website or blog. Your domain name is a long-term asset for your brand, so invest the time upfront to find the perfect fit!
