.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
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.io
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