Choosing the right domain name extension is crucial for your brand and business. Besides providing an identity to your business, it can also influence your search rankings. Part of building a successful website is deciding on the right domain name extension.
Though there are many options, most people stick to .COM or .NET because of their popularity. Both .COM and .NET are recognizable domain extensions, easily available with hosting companies.
Choosing the right domain extension is essential as it reflects the purpose of your site. But how will you know the difference between .COM and .NET? In this article, we will talk about the difference between .COM and .NET, so you’ll know which one to choose for your website.
Read: Difference between a domain and web hosting.
Which is better – .COM or .NET?
While choosing the extension name, consider the reason to choose .COM or .NET. More than 43% of domains have a .COM extension, so it is the first choice for any new website. If you decide to go for a domain name extension other than .COM, make sure to look at your content. Most technology-related sites choose .NET as the name extension. Also, avoid niche domain extensions .CLUB .SPACE as these extensions are not suitable for commercial business. Lastly, consider the price while buying a domain name extension.
1. What is a Domain Name Extension?
Domain name extensions have two main parts – top-level domains and second-level domains. A top-level domain comes after a .period such as .NET or .COM. On the other hand, the second-level domain precedes the period. For example: in bhicoupons.com, the SLD is bhicoupons.
Domain name extension is a part of your domain name. The top-level domain extension helps you to identify the category of your site. Currently, there are more than five thousand top-level domains to register from, and the number is increasing each day.
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2. Definition of .COM and .NET Extensions
2.1 Meaning of .COM Extension
.COM is the most popular domain extension used by the majority of websites on the internet. .COM is a shorter version of the word ‘commercial’ and is a top-level extension (TLD).
When it was first introduced, .COM was used only for commercial websites, but today it represents all websites – personal, business websites, blogs, and portfolio sites.
Most people see .COM as a default domain extension because of the ubiquity it offers. However, as .COM serves over half of the websites on the internet, it scores low on availability. For a new website, getting a .COM domain name extension is tricky.
2.2 Meaning of .NET Extension
.NET domain name extension is the most popular name extension after .COM. .NET is a shorter version of ‘network’ and indicates that the name represents websites involved in networking technologies.
Initially, it was meant for networking, ISP’s, email services, and database, but slowly it gained popularity for blogs and business websites. Most new businesses opt for .NET extension when the preferred .COM extension is unavailable.
Further reading: New Domain or Subdomain: Pros and Cons
3. When should you consider a .COM or a .NET Extension?
3.1 .COM Extension
- .COM extension is easier for people to remember and makes your website look professional.
- Also, most mobile keypads have a .COM extension key for easy access.
- Most users type the .COM extension in the address bar for finding a new website, so it increases your reach to potential customers.
- Over the years, .COM extension has become a consistent marker for credibility and reliability.
- Besides the recognition, it offers a professional seal in business.
- Moreover, it is essential to check what your domain name represents and what you intend to do with your site.
3.2 .NET Extension
- You can choose .NET extension if .COM is not available. Or you can consider the extension name for services like networking, database, email hosting, and internet.
- Most businesses use the .NET name extension so that no other person can use it as a business name. The company mostly registers the name using .NET.
- You can use the extension name for various speed-checking websites that allow internet users to check the speed in real-time.
- Bigger brands buy both .COM and .NET extensions for their website so that nobody vilifies the reputation of their brand.
- Domain name registrars and web hosting companies often present .NET as the first alternative to .COM. And most new websites register .NET and later migrate to .COM when it’s available.
Further reading: Biggest Web Hosting Mistakes To Avoid
4. .COM vs .NET – Which to Choose?
4.1 .COM Extension
- .COM is the most used extension that represents a business service or a product.
- As a commercial domain, it is suitable for business platforms, E-com stores, blogs, personal websites, and general categories.
- As per RFC 1591, .COM is meant for a commercial entity and is an ideal extension for common websites.
- Through .COM, you can establish credibility for business as users prefer visiting a site with .COM.
- Buying a .COM name extension is costly compared to .NET or other domains.
4.2 .NET Extension
- Smaller companies can opt for a .NET name extension if they intend to provide information through their websites. As per RFC 1591, .NET is meant for only networking purposes.
- Due to its easy availability, it also suits technology-related websites. Most tech companies use this extension as an alternative to .COM.
- The best part about the .NET is its easy availability.
- .NET will need more marketing efforts than .COM, as the latter is popular with search engines.
- Though .NET name extension is a less competitive alternative to the .COM extension, it’s equally recognizable.
- Although it wasn’t the first choice for generic websites before, it is far more preferred today as the demand for .COM is higher.
- If you want a cheaper domain extension, then .NET is your best choice.
5. Pros and Cons of .COM and .NET Extensions
5.1. Pros of .COM
- Most companies prefer the .COM domain as its a known commercial extension compared to other domains.
- Provides complete credibility and authenticity for business websites.
- .COM has a dedicated support key in the mobile pad, which makes it easily accessible.
- Establishes a strong online presence through search engine optimization.
- Provides better ranking support than other domain name extensions.
- Acceptable for a multitude of industries.
5.2 Cons of .COM
- Half the internet is flooded with .COM extension, which makes it rather tricky to get the domain.
- For non-profit websites, .COM may not be acceptable. It suits websites that are commercial or branded.
- Usually, a more expensive option compared to .NET extension.
- Finding an ideal domain name with a .COM extension may be time-consuming.
5.3 Pros of .NET
- It is better for service-based business sites or technology related sites
- An ideal option for networking and internet providers
- Easier to get a new domain name compared to .COM
- Helps in the marketing of service-based business websites
- Professional and trusted name extension
- Cheaper compared to .COM extension
- Less competitive and registration process is hassle-free
- Acceptable to use for any business-related website
5.4 Cons of .NET
- .NET websites need comprehensive marketing efforts to rank on search engines or compete with similar websites.
- For a business that is not established, users may find it hard to find your website.
- With .NET, there is a possibility that users may land up on your competitor’s website.
- .NET extension is limited to technology-related websites or networking sites, the extension thus does not have a universal appeal.
- .NET may not work for commercial websites or E-com websites.
- Not a professional sounding domain, so it may pose a problem in branding.
- Not as competitive as .COM, but you can expect limited availability of domains.
- Customised options may be costly.
#Alternatives Available to .COM and .NET
There are many other alternatives available to .COM and .NET. Most people also use customized name extensions for branding.
- .ORG alternative is suitable for charitable organizations and non-profits.
- Educational institutes use .EDU for credibility.
- .GOV is used by most government departments and entities.
- .IO is not too known, but tech companies or start-ups prefer it. Even call centers have .IO has a domain name extension.
- Location-based extensions are common such as .UK .US or .IN. Location-based domains give access to websites that are located within a country.
6. .COM vs .NET: Which One is Better For SEO?
.COM does not offer any built-in advantage over .NET from an SEO point of view. No matter which one you choose, search engines will treat them the same. That said, .COM TLD is a trusted name extension, and websites that use it, get more traffic.
Most users are aware of bigger brands use .COM. Moreover, .COM may get more site visits via search results.
At times, the choice of TLD may help you rank in the local results. For example, if your business is India-based and you go with .IN extension, your site might rank well in India and get more clicks.
For ranking a website, the focus should be on using the best SEO practices. SEO techniques use targeted content, which helps a site rank higher in SERP.
Irrespective of .COM or .NET, if you follow an SEO plan and optimize images, videos, and site content, it will make a difference. SEO works on targeting the right keywords and paying attention to the content you post. Here, an important part is the domain name and not the domain name extension.
Verdict,
.COM is still the most preferred choice in domain name extension, but .NET is also picking up pace. If your preferred name extension is taken, you can add some additional words to make it unique.
Make sure your domain name is easily pronounced and keep it simple. Moreover, you can use a domain name generator tool for getting the specific domain. Whether it is .COM or .NET, the right selection will give you visibility and credibility in the webspace.
To buy hosting along with a domain name extension, use these Bluehost hosting coupons.
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