.com vs .io
A frequent debate in the startup world. While .com provides universal recognition, .io has become the de facto choice for developer tools and SaaS products. The I/O computing association and shorter available names make .io attractive despite higher renewal costs.
Choose .com if you are building a consumer-facing brand with mainstream appeal. Choose .io if you target developers, run a SaaS product, or want a shorter domain name.
| Feature | .com | .io |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Commercial | British Indian Ocean Territory |
| Type | Generic | Country Code |
| Registry | VeriSign, Inc. | Internet Computer Bureau Ltd (ICB) |
| Registered Domains | 160 000 000 | 1 500 000 |
| Year Introduced | 1985 | 1997 |
| DNSSEC | ✓ | ✓ |