.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
.com
View full details →
.io
View full details →