- Maddy Osman
- Mar 10
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 6
The perfect domain is just a click away: claim your domain→
Thinking about making a website? One of the first things you’ll need is a domain name.
But have you ever wondered about how many domains there are or what types of domain name extensions are available? In this guide, we’ll break it all down, from the sheer number of registered domains to the different extensions you can choose.
Whether you're using a website builder or an AI website builder, start with the perfect domain name and launch your site with confidence.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is a unique web address that helps people find a website online. Instead of remembering complex IP addresses (a series of numbers, like 192.168.1.1), you can type in a domain name like “wix.com” to visit the website.
Domain names are part of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), which also includes details about the specific page being accessed.
For example:
Domain name: wix.com
Full URL: https://www.wix.com/plans
In this case, “wix.com” is the domain name, while the URL includes additional information, like the protocol (https://) and specific web page (/plans).
"When choosing a domain, prioritize one that aligns with your brand and is easy for customers to remember. A domain should reflect your business and make it simple for people to find you online." - Einat Shafir, product manager at Wix
For a more detailed guide on domain names, check out our article: What is a domain name?
Parts of a domain
A domain name is made up of different parts, each playing a specific role in how websites are structured and identified on the internet. The parts of a domain include:
Top-level domain (TLD): Also called the “domain extension,” this is the section of a domain name that appears after the last dot (e.g., .com, .org, .net). It helps classify websites based on purpose, industry or geographical location.
Second-level domain (SLD): SLD is the customizable part of a domain name that comes before the TLD. It often represents the brand name (like “wix” in “wix.com”).
Subdomain: This is an extension of the main domain that appears before the SLD. It helps organize different sections of a website without requiring a new domain name. For example, “support” is the subdomain in the domain “www.support.wix.com.”
Learn more:
Types of domain extensions
Different extensions serve different types of websites. Let’s look at some examples.
Generic top-level domains (gTLDs)
These are the most popular domain name extensions and aren’t tied to a specific country. They include:
.com domains: Most popular TLD and widely used for businesses and general websites.
.org domains: Originally intended for organizations and nonprofits.
.net domains: Initially used for network-based sites but now widely adopted for general use.
.info domains: Intended for informational websites.
.website domains: Used by small businesses and individuals.
.digital domains: Used by technology companies and startups.
Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs)
Country-code TLDs are specific to individual countries and often indicate a website’s geographic region.
Some popular ccTLDs include:
.us (United States)
.uk (United Kingdom)
.ca (Canada)
.de (Germany)
.au (Australia)
New generic top-level domains (ngTLDs)
As the demand for domain names grew, new gTLDs were introduced to provide more branding options.
Popular ngTLDs include:
.tech: Ideal for technology-related websites.
.blog: Perfect for bloggers and content creators.
.store: Best for eCommerce businesses.
.online: Flexible option for digital businesses.
Sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs)
Sponsored TLDs are restricted to specific organizations or industries.
Some well-known examples include:
.edu: Reserved for accredited educational institutions.
.gov: Used by government entities.
.mil: Exclusively used by the U.S. military.
.museum: Designed for museums and cultural institutions.
For more TLD examples, read our article on types of domains.
How many domains are there?
According to Domain Name Stat, over 763 million domains exist currently. And data from the Domain Name Industry Brief (DNIB) reveals there were 364.3 million domain name registrations in the fourth quarter of 2024 alone—a 6.4% increase from Q4 of 2021.
Breaking it down further, DNIB shows a total of 156.3 million .com registrations in Q4 of 2024. Registrations for other popular TLD categories include:
ccTLDs: 140.8 million
ngTLDs: 36.8 million
.net: 12.7 million
How many TLDs are there?
Currently, there are 1,601 TLDs based on data from Domain Name Stat. The numbers are distributed as follows:
gTLDs: Only eight exist, yet they dominate the market with over 337 million registered domains.
ngTLDs: A whopping 1,252 TLDs fall into this category, but they account for just 113 million registrations.
ccTLDs: With 341 options, these contribute over 312 million registrations.
Choosing the right domain extension can influence your website’s credibility and visibility.
Explore our guide to domain extensions to learn which TLD best suits your needs.
How to get a domain name
Let’s now look at two paths you can follow to get a domain name.
Buy a domain name
Buying a domain gives you full ownership and control over your web address. Before you purchase one, you need to perform a domain name search to check if it’s available.
If you’re struggling to find one that’s not taken, a domain name generator can suggest creative options based on your brand, keywords or industry.
Once you have a shortlist of potential names, check on the domain name cost before making a final decision. In most cases, a standard domain from one of the best domain registrars should typically cost you between $10 and $45 per year.
Another option is to look into domain flipping, where people buy and resell domains for a profit. If you decide to go down this path, make sure to check the domain history before purchasing.
Not planning to use your domain immediately? You can keep it as a parked domain, which means it's registered but not actively being used for website or email services. That will help protect the name so that someone else doesn’t acquire it until you’re ready to use it.
Learn more:
Get a free domain name
One of the best ways to get a free domain name is by bundling it with website hosting. For example, when you purchase any Wix premium plan, you receive a free domain for one year, along with free website hosting, making it a cost-effective option for getting your website online.
Additional perks you get with Wix’s website builder include:
Guaranteed uptime of 99.99% so your site remains accessible at all times.
A drag-and-drop editor and 900+ templates to create and edit your pages to your liking.
Site reliability and scalability, allowing your website to grow with your business.
Enterprise-grade website security to protect against cyber threats.
Top-tier website performance for a seamless user experience.
Wix Analytics to gain actionable insights into your website’s traffic and performance.
Learn more: How to get a free domain name.
How to manage your domain
Domain management involves handling various aspects of your domain to keep your website running smoothly and prevent issues like expiration or website security risks.
Here are some key steps to effectively manage your domain:
Keep your domain registration active
Your domain needs to be renewed periodically with your registrar or web hosting provider to avoid losing ownership. Enable auto-renewal through your domain registrar to prevent your domain from expiring and becoming available for others to purchase.
Learn more:
Enable domain privacy protection
When you register a domain, your contact details are stored in a public WHOIS database. To protect your personal information from spammers and cyber threats, you need to enable domain privacy protection.
Many registrars offer this as an optional service, but Wix allows you to select private registration when you create a website at no extra cost. This will replace your personal details with Wix's details so your information isn’t revealed in the public WHOIS databases.
“Certain domain registrars offer packages with added security (like WHOIS privacy protection), premium DNS services, SSL certificates or website-building tools. While these extras can increase the annual cost, they offer value in terms of convenience, security and performance. For businesses handling sensitive data or relying heavily on online transactions, these features are crucial." - Kumar Abhinav, senior link building analyst at Mavlers
Redirect or forward your domain
Domain forwarding allows you to automatically redirect visitors from one domain to another if you have multiple domain names. This becomes useful when you want to change your brand name and keep traffic from your old domain.
Learn more:
Keep an eye on your domain authority
Your domain authority (DA) score predicts how well your website will rank on search engines. Factors like the quality and number of backlinks coming from other websites and domain age influence the score.
How many domains are there? FAQ
Is .org or .co better?
Choosing between .org and .co depends on your website's purpose and audience.
.org is traditionally used by nonprofits and organizations. It carries a sense of trust, credibility and authority. .co is often seen as a short alternative to .com and is commonly used by businesses and entrepreneurs.
If you're running a nonprofit or an organization, .org is the better choice. But if you want to build a business or brand and .com isn't available, .co can be a solid alternative.