Starting a new tech business? Then you need a strong online presence to help you stand out from your competitors. One of the best ways to achieve this is by choosing the right domain extension for your website. But what are the best tech TLDs in the market? ⭐
Below, we give you the eight best domain extensions to consider for your new business venture. We also discuss real-life examples of companies that have found success with these extensions.
Let’s begin.
Why are tech TLDs the right choice for you?
There are so many domain extensions to choose from. Why opt for a tech-related one?
To answer this question, we need to highlight some of the incredible benefits that come with choosing a tech TLD over a .com or other common domain extensions.
In a nutshell, there are four main reasons why choosing a tech TLD makes sense:
First, there is more availability ✅
👉 The top five most common TLDs from last year are:
- .com
- .org
- .ru
- .de
- .net
.com is the most popular of the bunch (not surprisingly) with 47% of the domains worldwide using it.
The challenge with choosing a popular domain extension like .com is that there’s often limited availability for domain names since all the simple, easy-to-spell, or common phrases are often already taken. This results in people choosing acronyms or variations of the names they want.
Not as many people choose tech TLDs, so you may easily be able to register a domain name you want without compromising.
Second, it helps with branding 📢
Choosing a tech-related TLD can be a great branding tool. A TLD like .tech or .dev immediately communicates to your website visitors that your platform is tech-centric.
It is also more memorable and stands out, as opposed to choosing the more generic domain extension options.
Third, Google won’t penalize you ⚠️
According to Google, TLDs aren’t a ranking factor. This means the domain extension you choose won’t affect whether or not you rank well [1].
Having said that, we know that Google prioritizes relevance when it comes to search engine results.
This means that if you have a productivity app and choose the domain “yourdomain.app,” you might have a better chance of ranking well when your audience uses search terms like “productivity app” or “app for work.”
Fourth, it can get you more traffic 🚗🚗
This is related to the previous point – as you rank higher for specific search terms, you may be in a better position to get more relevant traffic.
It’s also important that we highlight that there are many components to having a solid SEO strategy that will help you bring in the right traffic to your website so, in addition to choosing the right domain name, it’s important to cover all these SEO points.
Now that we’re clear on all the incredible benefits that choosing a tech-related TLD can give you, let’s take a look at the best TLDs to consider for your tech business.
Top 8 best domain extensions for startups
.tech
The .tech domain extension was launched in 2015 and is a great option for all different types of tech-related businesses, from SaaS companies to hardware.
The “tech” is short for “technology” and choosing this extension sends a clear message to your audience about which industry you’re in.
Example – get.tech
Get.tech focuses on helping tech-related brands and companies purchase domains with the .tech extension. So, of course, what better way to show this than for them to also have the same TLD?
This choice is a great way to reinforce their brand and highlight what they specialize in.
.ai
The .ai TLD was originally created as a country code for Anguilla, an Eastern Caribbean country. However, it’s safe to say that these days, most people associate this extension with one of the biggest developments of our lifetime – artificial intelligence.
Choosing this extension can be a great choice for any website looking to immediately communicate to its audience that it focuses on cutting-edge technology and innovation.
Example – replika.ai
Replika uses the .ai TLD to mirror its core offering – an AI-powered chatbot designed to engage in meaningful conversations. This choice not only establishes Replika’s tech-forward identity but also contributes to its online discoverability.
.io
Similar to .ai, the .io domain extension was originally a country-specific TLD for the British Indian Ocean Territory (the “io” stands for Indian Ocean). But in the tech space, this “io” is often associated with Input/Output, making it a great choice for tech-related projects.
Example – spring.io
In a nutshell, spring.io is a platform that helps developers build a variety of applications through Java. The founders chose the .io extension for its tech-focused image, aligning with the global tech community.
In addition, remember that we spoke about how tech TLDs are more available than other generic extensions? Well, this is a great example – spring.com isn’t available (no surprise) so the founders choosing the .io route helped them keep the domain name they wanted without having to settle for a variation of it instead.
.dev
Fourth on our list of tech TLDs is .dev. The .dev TLD was first introduced in 2014. This extension can be a great way to indicate to website visitors that your site is a hub for coding resources, insights, innovation, and other tech-related developments.
Example – web.dev
Web.dev provides resources, tools, and best practices for web developers. Choosing a .dev TLD was strategic for the founders: the clear association enhances the platform’s commitment to innovation in web development.
.software
If you want to tell your audience you focus on software programs and anything related to that topic, the .software TLD makes sense. It was first introduced in 2014 and has since become a great choice for startups seeking a memorable domain for their website.
Example – cloud9.software
The Cloud9 website focuses on software solutions in the medical field and is a great example of how software programs can be used in a variety of different industries. Choosing the .software TLD helps the founders clearly convey the nature of their business and their expertise.
.cloud
Like many of the domain extensions on this list, the .cloud TLD was introduced back in 2014. For those involved in cloud services, storage, or development, .cloud is a great option that can be memorable and impactful to your audience.
Example – ascential.cloud
Ascential specializes in cloud solutions for businesses. By choosing the .cloud TLD, they’ve made a straightforward and effective branding choice. It clearly communicates their focus on cloud technology, making their domain name both memorable and indicative of their expertise.
.app
There are billions of mobile phone users so there’s no surprise that the mobile app industry has become so popular. According to research, people spend 88% of their mobile time on apps [2].
If you’re in the business of developing applications, going for a .app TLD can be a great choice to give your audience an idea of what you specialize in.
Example – cash.app
Cash App created an application that allows their users to bank, send and receive money, buy stocks and bitcoin, and more. When you land on the website, the .app can be a reminder that this product is an app you can download and use on your mobile device. They’ve chosen a domain that aligns seamlessly with their service and this is a great reinforcement of their specialty.
8. .network
Number eight on our list of tech TLDs is .network. If you’re developing a tool that relates to connectivity, collaboration, or community in the digital space, this can be the perfect domain extension for you.
Example – moonbeam.network
Moonbeam’s founders created a platform to help developers integrate their applications across different platforms. Their strategic move to adopt the .network TLD perfectly aligns with how their brand relates to connectivity and collaboration.
Final thoughts on the best tech TLDs for companies, startups, and developers 🧐
The tech space is changing the way we work, connect with each other, play, and so much more. If you’re a company, startup, or developer and are creating new and exciting technologies, then it makes sense to consider a tech-related TLD to help you not only stand out, but communicate the core focus of your brand.
👍 As discussed, there are few advantages to choosing a tech TLD:
- There is generally more availability, which means you have a better chance of getting the domain name you want
- Tech TLDs can help you stand out from your competitors
- You can rank higher for certain related search terms and as a result, gain more website traffic
In addition, the tech industry is an exciting space that focuses on innovation and new developments. What better way to enter the industry than to choose a TLD that connects with your core offering?
To learn more about how effective choosing TLDs can be for your brand, you can check out our interview with Neha Naik, Vice President of Channel Partnerships at Radix.
