What Are the Most Common Domain Extensions in 2025?

Key Takeaways

1. A domain name is a vital part of brand identity and online visibility.
2. The choice of extension (TLD) strongly affects trust, credibility, and recognition.
3. Classic TLDs like .com, .org, and .net remain the most authoritative and widely used.
4. Newer TLDs (.io, .co, .xyz, etc.) are growing in popularity, especially in tech and creative industries.
5. Businesses should balance availability, brand alignment, and memorability when selecting a domain.

No online business today can do without a website. Your website is where a potential customer can find all they need to know about your brand and your products. Plus, it’s the focal point of all your online marketing efforts.

That’s why choosing the perfect domain name for your business, personal blog, or portfolio website is critical. But before you get one, there are a few things to consider.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Domain Name

Memorability and Brevity

There are millions of domain names on the Internet, so it is important that yours is easy to read and memorable. Typically, it should be short, easy to type, and doesn’t contain hyphens or special characters that might confuse users when searching.

For example, a user will find it easy to type and remember trustname.com instead of trus#4u*name.com.

Brandability

Outside of being short and memorable, you must ensure your domain name is unique. It should be a name that represents your brand or content and stands out from competitors.

Domain Extensions

Carefully consider the domain extension or Top-level domain(TLD) to use. Depending on your business you might want to get creative, but your website will be easily found if you stick to the popular TLDs like .com, .org, and .net.

Move Quickly

With every minute that passes, new domain names are being registered, so when you decide on the perfect one for your business, don’t hesitate to register it. So, what is a domain extension?

What Is a Domain Extension?

A domain extension or top-level domain (TLD) is the last part in a domain name like .com, .org, .net, essentially everything that comes after the final dot in a web address.

TLDs play a significant role in the seamless use of the internet, they do so by helping to identify, organize, and classify websites based on their content, purpose, or location. TLDs come in different variations that fit various industries, playing a major part in the online marketing strategies of diverse organizations. 

Some examples are:

• .com — initially created for commercial websites, but is now the most popular and used domain extension;
• .org — created for organizations or non-governmental websites;
• .us — created for citizens or websites located in the United States.

Now that you know what domain extensions are, what are the 5 most common TLDs in 2025?

5 Most Common Domain Extensions in 2025

1 .com TLD

The first domain extension you should consider buying is a .com TLD— if available. Created since the early development of the domain name system(DNS), the .com TLD is by far the most popular domain extension on the Internet. Initially created primarily for commercial websites, it has become the most reliable and trustworthy domain extension for any business.

Because of this, users automatically assume every domain name or business has a .com extension, and you won’t blame them, it’s the TLD most associated with websites.

Having such popularity automatically translates to trust and authority, and with potential customers weary of doing business on unfamiliar websites, having a domain name with a .com TLD gives your website credibility.

.com TLDs aren’t restricted to any specific country, they carry the same weight and value across all borders.

However, as great as this domain extension might be, it also has its unique problems. When you go to register it, chances are it's already taken. In the past, many webmasters purchased domains with .com extensions and sold them for big money—some millions of dollars, so it is not uncommon to find almost all the good domains with .com TLDs already registered.

If you encounter this problem, you might have to pay extra money to purchase it from its current owner or you can opt in for a domain backorder. This way, you will be notified when it expires and will be in line to buy it.

But if you’d rather not spend too much or go through that hassle of a backorder, there are other options you can consider.

2 .org TLD

Alongside the .com TLD, the .org is also one of the earliest domain extensions on the Internet. It was originally designed for non-governmental organizations, non-profits, online communities, etc., but is now available to anyone.

So if your website isn’t commercial, you might consider getting a .org extension. It is less popular than a .com, so you stand a higher chance of registering one.

However, its lesser popularity isn’t a disadvantage because being one of the first domain extensions, web users see .org as a trustworthy and reliable source of information. It also carries the same SEO advantages as a .com regarding search rankings and backlinking authority.

Some popular websites that use .org extensions are Wikipedia, Craigslist, and WordPress. Although they provide different services, they rely mostly on their communities and users to grow their brand and produce content.

3 .net TLD

Just like the .com and .org TLDs, the .net domain extension has a specific target — network-based products and services. However, it is now unrestricted which means everyone can register it.

If you run a network-based business, then there’s less pressure for you to get a .com TLD. It is not as popular as the .com extension meaning you’ll likely get the domain name you desire.

For example, speedtest.net will command more authority as a website that tests Internet speed than speedtest.com. However, if you run a business outside the web service industry, you can utilize the .net TLD in creative ways.

You could use a .net extension for your personal blog or community forum. Since it stands for network, visitors to your website could be made to feel a part of a network of people.

It can also work perfectly for business. For example, gymequipment.net will give your website more credibility and authority than using a .biz TLD.

However, you have to be sure your domain name doesn’t create confusion. For example, a bakery selling cookies might see cookies.net as the perfect domain name. However, because network-based services mostly use .net TLD, many users might think it is a domain about web cookies.

But if you own a tech startup, another TLD is very popular within that industry.

4 .io TLD

The .io domain extension was created as the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) of the British Indian Ocean Territory— an overseas territory of the United Kingdom since 1965. However, because there aren’t any permanent residents in that territory, the TLD is unrestricted and can be registered by anyone.

But it's not just Tech startups that have adopted it, the TLD is also gaining momentum among the gaming and cryptocurrency communities.

The .io TLD can also be used as a hack for branding purposes. If your business name ends with an io, this could be a perfect opportunity to be creative. For instance, instead of Cardio.com, you could register card.io. Another popular example is former US presidential candidate Marco Rubio who used rub.io for his campaign in 2016.

Additionally, .io domain extensions are not as popular as their .com counterparts, so there’s every possibility your desired domain name is available to register. But you better hurry up, cause some of them are beginning to sell for top dollar.

5 .co TLD

Just like the .io TLD, .co was initially created as a country code top-level domain(ccTLD) for Colombia. Still, in 2010, it was opened for registration as an alternative to the .com domain extension.

Since then, it has become the go-to TLD for companies, corporations, and commercial ventures. If you’re a young business, using the .co TLD might make sense because it’s shorter, easy to remember, and will make your business stand out from the crowd. This approach can help diversify your brand and target younger web users.

Because it’s less popular than a .com TLD, it might help take away the challenge of finding a .com domain that fits your brand— which typically costs a lot of money.

However, the major challenge you’ll face is confusion. By default, most internet users will automatically add an “m” when typing in a domain name with a .co TLD. This means if there’s another domain similar to yours that ends with a .com, many potential customers will find themselves landing on their page instead.

Another potential drawback of a .co TLD is establishing trust and credibility with potential customers. Being a relatively unknown domain extension, users might feel less comfortable doing business on your website.

Tech.co is a good example of a popular brand that uses .co TLD. It is a website for business technology news, reviews, and advice. 

New Domain Extensions to Consider

The domain extensions mentioned above are the 5 most common TLDs in use right now, but you aren’t limited to only these options. To ensure you don’t miss out on other potentially good TLDs, we’ve compiled a list of some new domain extensions that are trending:

• .online: With almost every business online nowadays, you could use an extension like .online to make your domain name memorable. Since the word online represents companies with a web presence, it is a great TLD to start an online business with;
• .shop: Using .shop as a domain extension for an eCommerce business is just brilliant. It screams online shopping and is easy to type, making it one of the most memorable and useful domain extensions;
• .icu: This TLD is memorable, slightly cryptic, and is not restricted. It can work well for brands, individuals, and entities who might play around with the phrase “I see you;”
• .info: If you’re looking to build an online community or own an information-based website, then a .info extension will make perfect sense;
• .site: This domain extension is versatile and can cater to various websites and businesses. It has a nice ring, is memorable, and effortlessly ties into the online landscape;
• .xyz: This TLD has a catchy vibe to it, .xyz extensions are the most popular among new generic TLDs, with a market share of 16.71%. If your desired domain extension is unavailable, consider registering a .xyz TLD;
• .me: This generic TLD sounds amazing for a personal website or portfolio. It was originally meant to operate as a country code TLD for Montenegro but is now unrestricted and available to everyone.

When picking out a domain name, remember to choose one that aligns with your brand, is short and easy to remember, and is available with a good TLD.