⚡ Quick Answer
.com is still better for most businesses. But .net is a legitimate alternative—especially for tech companies, networks, or when the .com owner won't sell. It won't hurt your SEO.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | .com | .net |
|---|---|---|
| Original Purpose | Commercial | Network/Tech |
| User Trust | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| SEO Impact | Neutral | Neutral |
| Availability | Very Low | Better |
| Price (Cloudflare) | $10.44/yr | $11.44/yr |
| Registered Domains | ~160 million | ~13 million |
The .com Default Problem
Here's the reality: when people hear your company name, they'll type yourcompany.com first. If someone else owns that:
- ⚠️ You could lose traffic to the .com owner
- ⚠️ Customers might email the wrong company
- ⚠️ Brand confusion if .com is a competitor
- ⚠️ You'll always need to specify "dot net"
However: If the .com is parked, unused, or owned by an unrelated business, .net becomes much more viable.
When .net Works Well
- ✓ Tech/networking companies: The original purpose still fits (Behance.net, SlideShare.net)
- ✓ Open source projects: Many use .net or .org
- ✓ .com is parked/inactive: Less confusion risk
- ✓ Strong brand: If your name is unique, people will find you
- ✓ Personal sites: Less expectation of .com
Famous .net Sites
Note: Many successful .net sites eventually acquired the .com too.
SEO: Does TLD Matter?
Google's official stance: All TLDs are treated equally for ranking purposes. A .net site can rank just as well as .com.
The indirect effect: User trust and click-through rates matter. Some users instinctively trust .com more, which could affect engagement metrics.
Our Recommendation
First: Try to Get .com
- • Modify your name slightly (add "hq", "get", etc.)
- • Contact the owner to buy it
- • Use a domain broker for valuable names
If .com Is Truly Unavailable
- • .net is a solid second choice
- • Register both to prevent confusion
- • Build your brand—name recognition overcomes TLD bias
The Bottom Line
.com is still the gold standard, but .net is a legitimate alternative—not a consolation prize. If you go with .net, commit to it and build your brand.
Whatever you choose, register both extensions to protect your brand.