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At its core, the definition of a good domain is one that’s easy to remember—hence why .com is usually the go-to. But if you’ve tried registering a domain name recently, you’ve probably noticed that many of your top choices are already taken.

This can be frustrating to say the least. Luckily, you’re not without options. Here’s a list of the best .com alternatives, recommended by business owners who’ve been in the same boat.

.co

“If a .com isn't an option, .co is often the next best thing,” states Shane McEvoy, MD of Flycast Media. “Originally, the country code for Colombia was marketed as a shorter, more modern version of .com, and many brands have adopted it.”

He, however, notes that “I've worked with businesses that switched to .co when rebranding, and the biggest challenge is that some people assume a .co domain is a typo of .com.”

According to Christopher Pappas, founder of eLearning Industry Inc, this is exactly what makes .co a good option: “It's widely recognized and often mistaken for .com, making it a smart choice. Plus, major brands like Google (g.co) and Twitter (t.co) use it, proving its legitimacy.”

Founder and president of Stairhopper Movers, Adrian Iorga, similarly says, “Personally, I find that .co is much preferable among all other domain alternatives. I'd even go as far as saying that it is a better option than a .com domain in some cases. From a price standpoint, that much is true—because .co domains are more affordable than .coms.

“I've spoken with a lot of investors and funders who'd point out that they love the usage of a .co domain. So, for the same impact, or even more, you get a cheaper domain that has a much higher chance of having the domain name you want.”

Adrian adds, “The shorter domain just looks so good on business cards and pitch decks. It has that clean and modern quality to it, so brands that use it also are perceived that way by association.”

.io

“Around 40% of new tech startups I've worked with ended up choosing .io because it signals a modern, forward-thinking brand,” shares co-founder of Game Host Bros, Hone John Tito, noting, “It's not only about the tech world either—it's something to think about across different sectors.”

Co-founder and advisor of Inboxarmy, Chris Donald, agrees: “I've seen brands worry about .io because it started in tech circles, but that's outdated thinking. Today, it works across industries, and customers don't think twice about it.”

“What I like about .io is that it doesn't feel like a second choice,” he adds. “It looks intentional. Unlike other obscure domain extensions, people recognize it, trust it and don't hesitate to click. I've tested it for landing pages and standalone projects, and it performed just as well as a .com. 

He continues, “One unexpected advantage: It's often shorter and cleaner. With .com, businesses end up adding unnecessary words—‘get,’ ‘the,’ ‘HQ’—just to secure a domain. With .io, you can often grab the exact name you want. Shorter domains mean fewer typos, easier memorability and stronger branding overall.”

Sunaree Ko, founder of Tarot Cards, gives an example of this. “When we chose TarotCards.io, we were looking for a domain more in line with the modern, tech-savvy style of tarot reading we were doing. Since switching to .io, we've experienced a 30% spike in brand recall in our target demographic, especially millennials and Gen Z, who tend to link .io to state-of-the-art digital platforms.”

.ai

In recent years, .ai has emerged as a popular domain name trend. It’s been a favorite among techies and AI experts looking to start a business, but the general consensus is that domain extensions like .ai might have a limited shelf life.

“People who are as old as I am will remember the .com bubble from the early 2000s, and will see a lot of resemblance to what we have right now with the AI bubble,” says Garin Hobbs, martech expert at InboxArmy. “Companies throw ‘AI’ as a buzzword, and investors are dumping huge money into it. So, if you're looking to strike while the iron is hot, .ai will be one of the best possible choices for you. But you must be aware that in a couple of years' time, the situation may change, and the sentiment around AI can be much worse.”

“Be careful with extensions like .ai,” agrees Vivian Chen, founder and CEO of Rise Jobs. “They might be hot now, but trends shift—and a domain that feels cutting-edge today could make your site seem dated in a few years.”

Vivian advises, “The key is making sure your domain is simple, clear and doesn't require extra explanation. If people can hear it once and immediately type it in without confusion, you've got a winner.”

.net

Unlike .ai, the .net domain has had some time to marinate. 

“I've always liked .net as a solid alternative to .com, especially for tech, infrastructure and digital services businesses. It started for network-related companies but has become a well-known, credible domain extension,” notes Ashot Nanayan, CEO and founder of DWI.

He continues, “I've seen that users tend to trust .net way more than some of the newer, trendier extensions, which can come across as less professional. If you're in SaaS, IT or anything tech-related—.net helps create a modern, reliable, globally accessible brand identity without losing credibility.”

Related reading: Is your domain costing you business? 6 signs that it's time for a change

.org

“I believe a .org domain is perfect for mission-driven organizations. One thing that many people don't realize is that .org domains naturally attract a more engaged audience; people visiting a .org site often expect to support a cause, learn something meaningful or contribute in some way. This makes it easier to create a strong, loyal community around your brand,” points out Justin Wheeler, co-founder and CEO of Funraise.

He continues, “Another unique advantage is partnership opportunities. Many corporations and government agencies prefer to work with .org entities because they associate them with legitimacy, social impact and transparency. When we started Funraise, having a .org helped us form key partnerships in the nonprofit space, making it easier to build trust with industry leaders.”

Senior digital marketing manager of StratusLIVE, Kelly Perry, has noticed a similar pattern. “Just recently, I helped a client switch from .com to .org, and their donor trust metrics improved significantly, showing how the right domain extension can really impact audience perception.”

Justin further adds, “A lot of people also don't realize that .org domains tend to have lower spam rates compared to .com or other extensions. This means better email deliverability when you're reaching out to donors or supporters.” 

.biz

CEO of Luxury Cleaning NY, Andriy Neborak, is a big proponent of this option: “The .biz extension is straightforward and communicates the purpose of your website without ambiguity. Therefore, you can hardly go wrong with any look of a professional or simply informative site. 

“Although it doesn't have as wide recognition as .com or .co, .biz works best for niche industries or businesses that wish to highlight their commercial nature. This also means it is less saturated, which gives you a better chance to get the domain name you want.

“From my experience, the combination of a strong brand name and a .biz extension can facilitate the impression of an authentic and professional online presence for your business, allowing the business to express a great first impression to potential customers.”

.me

For freelancers and creatives looking to show off a portfolio, Sr. VP of marketing at Next Net Media, Tristan Harris, suggests using .me. “.Me is catchy and more personal…it adds the ‘this is me’ vibe.” 

He elaborates, “My recommendation is to choose what resonates with your gig: .me for a personal touch, .biz for showing straightforward professionalism or .tech for a little industry recognition (as examples).

“Also, other than choosing your .com alternative, don't forget to keep your domain short, and make sure it's easy to spell. People will not hunt for you. A clever extension, combined with a compact brand name, can break through the clutter.”

Read also: 

• Tips for future-proofing your domain

• Why paying $100+ for a premium domain is worth it

• The basics of web infrastructure 

Industry-specific TLDs

Industry-specific top-level domains (TLDs) have a unique way of communicating your brand’s purpose from the get-go. Several come highly recommended.  

.shop and .store

“At ShipTheDeal, we found that .shop and .store extensions work incredibly well for eCommerce sites, giving instant context about what the business does. When helping our merchants choose domains, I've noticed these extensions often lead to better click-through rates in search results because they clearly signal to shoppers that they'll find products there,” says Cyrus Partow, CEO of ShipTheDeal.

.product 

“I've explored many domain options, and .product stands out as a strong alternative to .com for businesses that focus on selling or showcasing products. Unlike generic extensions, .product immediately tells visitors what the website is about, making it ideal for brands that want to highlight their offerings. This kind of clarity helps with branding and positioning, especially in competitive markets,” says Kevin Liu, VP of products at Octoparse.

.app

“If your business is focusing on applications, the .app domain works perfectly. I have personally launched two to three successful apps using this extension and have seen very good results from it,” shares Sunny Kumar, founder and CEO of HeySERP.

.tech

“For niche industries, a domain like .tech or .agency can immediately signal your field, making it clear what your business is about. This kind of targeted extension can boost your brand recognition. One of our partners even saw a 14% increase in direct traffic after switching to a .tech domain,” says Tracie Crites, chief marketing officer at HEAVY Equipment Appraisal. 

.services

“I recently switched from .com to .services for my boiler company, and it's actually helped customers better understand what we do at first glance. When I was choosing the domain, I found that industry-specific extensions like .services or .heating made more sense than fighting for an expensive .com,” says Lara Woodham, director at Rowlen Boiler Services. 

.investments

“When I tried to get .com for my real estate business but was turned down, I chose .investments. It made my brand stand out right away and brought in real investors and buyers. I didn't force a general extension. Instead, I used one that made my niche stronger. You could also choose .property if you're in the real estate business or .expert if you want to show that you are an expert. With the right extension, people will be more likely to trust your business and remember it,” says Carter Crowley, founder of CB Home Solutions. 

.pro, .consulting and .advisor

“From my experience, the best options for a professional, expert-driven service include .pro, .consulting, and .advisor. .Pro is a strong choice because it immediately signals professionalism and expertise, which is exactly what clients look for in a consulting or advisory firm. Similarly, .consulting is a clear, industry-specific option that reinforces your business function—it leaves no doubt that you provide advisory services. Another great alternative is .advisor, which aligns directly with firms offering strategic guidance, quality control and professional insights,” says Habib Rkha, founder of QCADVISOR.

.insurance and .financial

“Running a digital insurance company taught me that .insurance and .financial are solid alternatives that build trust with potential clients looking for financial services. When we launched DundasLife with a .insurance domain, many clients mentioned it made us appear more specialized and credible compared to a generic .com,” says Gregory Rozdeba, CEO of Dundas Life.

Founder of The Stock Dork, Adam Garcia, adds, “From my experience running TheStockDork.com, I've found that .com still carries the most trust for financial services, but .capital and .finance are gaining traction for specialty firms. When I helped a fintech startup choose between .io and .finance, we did A/B testing with different landing pages and found that .finance actually performed better with our older, more traditional investor audience.”

.realtor or .homes

“I switched from a generic .com to .realtor for my real estate business, and it instantly helped potential clients recognize our industry expertise—kind of like wearing a professional badge. Last year, we noticed more qualified leads coming in because the domain extension itself communicated trust and specialization in property services,” says Carl Fanaro, president of NOLA Buys Houses.

Similarly, Sean Grabow, owner of Central City Solutions, notes, “In my real estate business, I've found .realty and .homes to be great alternatives to .com, since they instantly tell visitors what we do. When I switched from centralcitysolutions.com to centralcity.homes, our lead conversion improved by about 15% because people immediately recognized us as a real estate company.” 

.careers 

“I've seen success with .careers for recruitment-focused businesses. When we implemented digital strategies for a company targeting job seekers, the .careers extension instantly conveyed the company’s purpose. This approach increased organic traffic by 18% within six months due to improved keyword alignment and search relevancy,” says Shree Goldman, head of digital marketing at Clyck. 

.jewelry 

According to Yoad Bet Yosef, owner of Nature Sparkle: “When our sought-after .com domain was unavailable for Nature Sparkle, we opted for a .jewelry domain extension instead. This industry-specific extension immediately communicated our specialization and helped establish credibility in the diamond engagement ring market.

“The switch from our temporary .net domain to naturesparkle.jewelry yielded surprising results. Our click-through rate from search results increased by 27%, and our conversion rate improved by 18% within the first quarter. 

“Most notably, domain memorability improved significantly—customer surveys showed 64% of respondents correctly recalled our web address after initial exposure, compared to 41% with our previous domain.”

Country-code TLDs

“In my experience, if a .com version of the domain is not available, then it would be best to have a regionalized extension (.co, .uk, .de, etc.),” says Oscar Scolding, an SEO consultant and senior SEO and performance strategist at SEO Sherpa. “Firstly, these help Google understand your geo-targeting, which will benefit the SEO performance of the website. Secondly, it's easier to remember for repeat customers [than] an uncommon extension.”

Mark Sanchez, founder and senior real estate manager at Tropic Residential, further advises, “If your business has a focus on local or national identity, a .us domain extension is a solid choice. It signals that you're rooted in the United States and committed to serving U.S. customers...If you're promoting products or services tailored to U.S. consumers, .us will help establish that sense of community and pride. It's a simple and effective way to highlight your business's roots while maintaining professionalism.”

Learn more about the basics of country-code top level domains.

Bonus advice on selecting the right .com alternative

Choosing a domain name is never as easy as it sounds. As you explore your options, several experts offer their two cents. 

Your domain will only get you so far

According to Iryna Kutnyak, Quoleady’s director of operations: “The domain extension itself isn't what makes a brand memorable—it's what you do with it. The strongest brands don't rely on having the ‘perfect’ URL; they make their name stick through great content, strong positioning and consistent messaging.

“Think about some of the biggest companies out there—many started with non-.com domains or had less-than-ideal URLs before securing their preferred one later. For example, Instagram launched as instagr.am, using a creative country-code domain before switching.

“The point? A great product and brand will outgrow any domain limitations. If people want to find you, they will, no matter what's at the end of your URL.”

Think big picture

Harsh Pathak, digital marketing manager at WPWeb Infotech, muses that “the best alternative to a .com depends on more than just availability. Non-.com domains can actually increase engagement if they match user expectations. If a visitor sees .ai for an AI-based tool or .design for a creative portfolio, it subconsciously reinforces credibility. In some cases, this can even improve click-through rates in search results because the domain itself signals relevance.

“Another overlooked factor is how email deliverability is affected by your choice of domain. While .com domains generally perform best, some alternative extensions—like .xyz or .online—are often flagged as spam by email providers, due to misuse by low-quality sites. If email marketing is a major part of your business, a widely trusted extension like .co, .io or a country-specific domain reduces the risk of deliverability issues.

“[You could even ‘hack’ a domain so that it’s memorable.] Some brands turn their entire web address into a marketing asset by creatively using extensions, like bit.ly or del.icio.us (before its rebranding). 

“For SEO, a .com still holds slight advantages in trust and authority, but Google treats most alternative domains equally, as long as they're high-quality and relevant. However, country-code domains like .uk or .de can limit international ranking potential. If global reach is a priority, a neutral extension like .co or .io is often a safer choice.”

Relevance matters more than tradition

According to founder and CEO of Pheasant Energy, Ryan Moore: “When a .com domain isn't available, the best alternatives are industry-specific extensions that enhance credibility and brand identity. I've faced this challenge firsthand. Many .com domains were either taken by inactive sites or held by resellers at high prices. Instead of compromising, I explored alternatives that not only solved availability issues but also made the brand more recognizable.

“My biggest takeaway from this experience is that relevance matters more than tradition. A well-chosen domain extension can reinforce a company's credibility and improve discoverability. Before settling for an expensive or hard-to-remember .com, businesses should consider whether an industry-aligned domain might actually enhance their brand presence and recognition in the long run.”

Consider three main factors: industry, audience and location

CEO of Advertised Solutions, Ethan Ruskin, breaks it down: "While .com remains the gold standard for business websites due to its universal recognition and trust, several alternatives offer strategic advantages depending on your industry, audience and location.

"If your business serves a particular country, a country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) can boost local trust and SEO. For instance, .ca is ideal for Canadian businesses, enhancing local search rankings, while .co.uk is preferred in the UK, signaling credibility for British customers.

"Many businesses also use newer generic top-level domains (gTLDs) that align with their industry, such as .io. or .tech. Niche domains like .law, .finance and .agency serve professionals in their respective fields. These domains not only clarify branding, but also help differentiate businesses in competitive industries.

"Additionally, decentralized domains like .eth (Ethereum name service), .crypto and .nft are rising with Web3 adoption. Although Web3 domains are still evolving, they have the potential to become mainstream in fintech, NFTs and decentralized applications.

"Ultimately, while .com is still king, these alternatives can provide better branding, industry relevance and local SEO benefits."

Your domain extension is part of your identity

President and CEO of DataNumen, Inc., Alan Chen, states, “When I was creating a website for the first time, I desperately wanted a domain with a .com extension. It felt like the gold standard, the mark of credibility. But the perfect name with a .com was already taken, pushing me to explore alternatives.

“That search taught me something crucial: a .com isn't the only way to appear professional. In fact, choosing an alternative can sometimes make your brand more distinctive.

“One of my favorite discoveries was how extension choice can tell a story. A tech startup I consulted for couldn't land their preferred .com, so they opted for a technology-specific domain. It instantly conveyed their niche and gave their website a sharp, modern vibe. Similarly, I've seen local businesses use region-based extensions to connect with their community, reminding people where they're rooted, which builds trust.

“Ultimately, what matters is alignment. The right alternative can emphasize your brand's focus, whether it's innovation, location or professionalism. The extension is part of your identity; it should amplify, not detract.”