.com and .net are one of the most popular domain name extensions on the internet. But, which one is right for your website? You might know that choosing a perfect domain name is very important for your website or business as it can help you to build your brand and improve search traffic. In this article, we will share the difference between .com vs .net domain extensions and which one is better for your website.
What is a Domain Extension?
A domain extension is the last part of a domain name, the letters that come after the dot (.) sign of any domain name. For example, the .com is a domain extension of the domain wpmyweb.com.
There are different types of domain extensions available which were created to differentiate different kinds of websites.
Here are the most well-known domain extensions you see most often:
- .com (commercial) - This is the most popular domain extension that is specially designed for commercial businesses (Apple.com)
- .net (network) - .net is an excellent alternative to .com domain extension which was intended to be used for networking websites (Speedtest.net)
- .org (organization) - This domain extension is mostly used for nonprofit organizations (Wikipedia.org)
- .gov (government) - Unlike other domain extensions, the .gov extension is restricted for public use, this means only government organizations are permitted to use it (ca.gov)
- .edu (education) - This domain extension is used for academic organizations and schools (mit.edu)
Difference Between .Com and .Net Domain Extensions
.com and .net both are the most popular domain name extensions.
The .Com domain name is primarily used for commercial businesses, including E-commerce websites, personal blogs, portfolios, etc.
On the other hand, the .Net domain extension represents "Network," which was first created for the use of networking websites such as internet service providers, tech websites, email and database service providers.
However, nowadays, many businesses use both .com and .net extensions to make sure nobody else can use their company name domain.
When You Should Choose a .Com Domain
The .com is the most registered domain name extensions in the domain name system of the internet. Nearly 46.7 percent of all global websites are registered with the .com domain extension.
Due to the vast popularity of .com domain name, it's easier for users to remember a .com domain than any other extensions. You probably noticed when someone tells a website name; we usually open the website by adding the .com extension at the end.
However, due to the massive popularity of the .com domain extension, it feels like all the proper domain names are already registered, which cannot be registered again. If this happens, then a .net or any other domain extension would be a great choice.
When You Should Choose a .Net Domain
The .net domain extension stands for "Network," which is mainly used by networking websites. If you provide services like internet, email, database hosting, or even if you run a technology related website, then the .net domain extension will be an excellent choice for your website.
As the .net extension was initially designed for the use of networking related websites, it may not fit for business websites. Speedtest.net is a perfect example of the .net extension, which is a technology related website that allows users to check their internet speed in real-time.
However, many business owners prefer to buy both .com and .net extensions to make sure nobody else could defame their company's reputation - another reason why use a .net extension when search engines like Google, Bing blacklist your .com domain.
.Com vs .Net - Which One is Better for SEO?
Now, you may be wondering which domain extension (let's say com vs net) will help you to rank higher on Google. If you ask so, then none of the extensions will help you to boost SEO. That means both the .net and .com extension will perform very well.
The way you can improve your website's SEO is by following the best SEO practices such as - link building, creating a high-quality article, using the right keywords, and many more.
However, adding keywords in your domain name can help you rank better in search results. For example, if you want to sell flowers online, then a good domain name which contains the flower keyword would be buyflowersonline.com or flowershop.com. For small business which is located locally, you can also include the location into your domain name, for example, chicagoflowers.com.
How to Buy .Net and .Com Extensions
After choosing a domain and extension, you also need a web hosting to host your website.
There are many web hosting companies which offer both .com and .net domain extension and their hosting price is also low.
- Register a Free Domain Name
Bluehost is one of the top-rated web hosting company that offers both domain and hosting. They are now powering over 2 million websites worldwide.
Usually, a domain costs around $14 for a year and $11.99/month for web hosting, and it looks pretty expensive for users who want to start their new website.
Luckily, Bluehost offers a 60% discount on their hosting packages. Their hosting price starts from $2.95/month, which includes a free domain name for one year, free business email, worth of $100 marketing credits, and most importantly, it's very easy to start a website with Bluehost.
Click to Register a Free Domain Name with Bluehost
.Com vs .Net - The Verdict
.com and .net are the two most popular domain extensions in the world. But which extension is suitable for your domain? As you know, choosing a perfect domain extension is extremely important for your website. If you want to buy a domain for your commercial businesses, then the .com extension would be perfect. The .net extension is for those who offer internet, email hosting, database hosting, and other networking related websites.
In this article, we have shared the difference between .com vs .net extensions and also explained which one you should choose for your website.
Now, it's time to figure out which type of website you want to start and then register a domain along with a suitable extension that matches your business.
Here's a tool below you can check whether a domain is available for registration. In the blank field, type your desired domain name and click on Check Availability.
