If you’re setting up a website, picking the right domain extension can feel tricky. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the differences between .net, .com and .org, and go through the pros and cons of each so you can make a choice that suits your site.

What does .net mean? 

.net is short for “network” and was introduced in 1985 as one of the first set of domain extensions. It was originally aimed at businesses and organisations involved in network technologies, like internet service providers and infrastructure companies.

These days, though, there are no restrictions on who can register a .net domain name and often .net is seen as an alternative to .com domains. It’s also popular with tech-focused sites because of its original association with networking.

What does .com mean? 

.com is short for “commercial” and was also introduced in 1985. It was intended for commercial organisations and businesses looking to establish a presence online.

Over time, it became the most popular domain extension in the world, used for all sorts of websites — not just businesses. Because of this, many people now treat .com as the “default” for any web address.

What does .org mean? 

.org is short for “organisation” and, like .com and .net, it was created in 1985. It was originally meant for organisations that didn’t fit under another extension, such as clubs, associations, and non-profits. (Other original extensions included .edu for education, .mil for the military, and .us for the United States.)

The history of .org has led to it being widely associated with charities and non-profit groups, though anyone can register one. It’s often chosen by organisations that want to convey trust and community focus.

What are the advantages of a .net domain? 

One of the biggest advantages of a .net domain is recognisability as .net domains are the fourth most popular domain extension in the world. 

Despite this, you’re more likely to get the domain you want on .net vs .com because .com is much, much more popular. (However, just because a domain is available doesn’t mean you have the right to use. Make sure you check you won’t be infringing someone else’s intellectual property before buying any domain name.) 

There are no real drawbacks to using a .net domain name, although availability is likely to be more limited than it is for newer domain extensions. 

What are the advantages of a .com domain? 

With around 160 million .com domain names registered, it’s the most popular domain by far. The biggest advantage of a .com domain name is that it’s considered by many as the “default domain extension”. 

However, this huge popularity is also .com’s biggest drawback – you may struggle to register the domain name you want on a .com extension. 

What are the advantages to using a .org domain name? 

.org domain names also have a high degree of recognisability, and they can help indicate that your website is for a charity or non-profit organisation.  

Although anyone can register a .org domain, you may find that visitors make certain assumptions about the type of website they expect to on a .org extension. This may mean that it’s not the best choice for a business or other for-profit organisation. 

SEO and .net vs .com vs .org 

Search engine optimisation (SEO) isn’t affected by your choice of a .net, .com or .org domain name. You don’t need to think about .net vs .com vs .org in SEO terms. 

All domain extensions are SEO neutral, meaning they won’t help (or hurt) your efforts to rank well in search engines. 

.com vs .net vs .org which domain name extension should I use? 

Choosing a .com domain name is a great option for any kind of website. However, you may struggle to get the domain you want as the .com extension is so popular. 

.net is a great all-round domain extension and is suitable for almost any kind of website. It’s an extension you should strongly consider when choosing a domain name. 

Although .org domains can be used for any type of website, they do tend to be associated with non-profits and charities and you should bear this in mind when buying your domain. 

.com, .net, .org and brand name protection 

When you’re creating a website, you’ll want to register one main domain name. However, you may also want to register your chosen domain on other extensions to help with brand protection. 

By registering your domain on .com, .net, .org (and other extensions, like .biz) you’ll stop other people from being able to register it. 

This means you can avoid someone creating a different site (or worse, a malicious duplicate of your site) with the same domain name on a different extension.  

You don’t have to do this, but it’s something to bear in mind when choosing which domain extension to use. 

See also: How to Buy a Domain Name – A Step-by-Step Guide (and Useful Tips)

Summing up 

When it comes to .com, .net and .org, there’s not a huge difference in terms of what you can do with them.

☐  .net is a solid all-rounder and often easier to grab if your first choice on .com isn’t available.

☐  .com is the most recognised and works for pretty much any website, but the name you want might already be taken.

☐  .org is strongly linked to charities and non-profits, though you can use it for other types of sites too—just be aware of the expectations visitors might have.

If you pick a domain name you like, including the extension, then you can’t go wrong!

Check out this guide for more advice on choosing a domain name or you can search for a domain name here.