.co

.co Domain Guide

Colombia / Company

Originally Colombia's country code, .co has been marketed globally as an alternative to .com, standing for 'company' or 'corporation'. It's become popular with startups and modern brands.

Price

$25-35/year

Trust Level

High

Popularity

Popular

Type

ccTLD

History

Colombia's .co domain was delegated in 1991 but remained relatively unused internationally for years. In 2010, the registry was privatized and .co Internet S.A.S. began marketing .co globally as an alternative to .com, emphasizing the 'company' and 'corporation' interpretations. Major brands like Twitter (t.co), Google (g.co), and Amazon (a.co) adopted .co for short URLs, boosting its legitimacy. The TLD has grown to over 3 million registrations.

Best For

Startups

Modern brands

Companies that can't get the .com

Short brand names

Who Should Use .co

Startups that can't afford premium .com domains
Companies with short, punchy brand names
Businesses where .co creates a nice domain hack
International companies targeting global audiences
Tech companies following industry trends

Who Should Avoid .co

Companies where the .com is held by a direct competitor
Businesses relying heavily on direct URL traffic
Traditional industries where .com is expected
Companies targeting older demographics

Pros

Similar to .com (easy transition)
Good availability for short names
Professionally accepted
Works well for companies and corporations

Cons

Some users may type .com by mistake
Higher cost than .com
Less recognition than .com

Technical Details

Registry	.CO Internet S.A.S.
Restrictions	None - open to anyone
Length	1-63 characters
IDN Support	Yes
DNSSEC	Supported
Privacy Protection	Available

SEO Impact

Neutral globally. Google does not penalize .co domains in search rankings. May occasionally be treated as Colombia-specific by some systems.

Registration Tips

Always check if the .com owner might cause brand confusion

Consider registering the .com as well to capture mistyped traffic

Use clear branding that works with .co pronunciation

Research if the .com holder is in a similar industry

Set up Google Search Console to specify global targeting

Complete Guide

The Complete Guide to .co Domains

The .co TLD occupies a unique position - it's the closest visual alternative to .com while being more available. Understanding when to use .co can help you secure great domains without breaking the bank.

The .co Value Proposition

Visual Similarity to .com: The single letter difference works in .co's favor:

Easy to remember for users
Professional appearance in marketing
Works well in logos and branding

The "Company" Interpretation: .co has been successfully rebranded to mean:

Company
Corporation
Commerce
Community

When .co Makes Sense

The .com Is Unavailable: If your perfect .com is taken:

Check if the owner is in a different industry
Assess the likelihood of user confusion
Consider if you can outrank them in search

Short Domain Strategies: .co works well for abbreviated domains:

[letters].co (like t.co, g.co)
[word].co for clean, simple names
Brand name + .co for startup feel

Domain Hacks: Some brands use .co creatively:

dro.ps (drop.s + .co doesn't work, but similar concept)
bra.co (branding + .co)

The .com Confusion Factor

The biggest .co risk is user confusion:

Mitigation Strategies:

Always say "dot C-O" clearly in verbal marketing
Consider buying the .com as a redirect
Use distinctive branding that emphasizes the .co
Monitor the .com holder for competitive moves

When Confusion Is Acceptable:

The .com is a parked page or unrelated business
Your brand is strong enough to overcome it
You're targeting primarily tech-savvy audiences
You'll drive traffic through search and social, not direct URL entry

.co and SEO

Google treats .co as a generic TLD:

No automatic Colombia association in search
Can set geographic targeting in Search Console
Same ranking factors apply as any other TLD

Building Authority on .co: Many successful companies rank well with .co:

Focus on content quality and backlinks
User engagement matters more than TLD
Mobile experience and site speed are key

Cost Analysis

Direct Costs:

Registration: $25-35/year (standard)
Premium names: Can reach thousands
Renewals: Usually same as registration

Indirect Costs:

Potentially needing to buy .com later
Marketing to overcome .com expectations
Lost traffic from typos (quantify with analytics)

Building a Brand on .co

Successful .co Brands:

AngelList (angel.co) - Startup investing platform
500 Startups (500.co) - Accelerator program
Many successful startups have launched on .co

Brand Integration Tips:

Make .co feel intentional, not like a fallback
Integrate the domain naturally into your brand story
Consider how it looks on business cards and signage

Popular .co Domains

twitter.coTwitter's short URL service (t.co)

angel.coAngelList startup platform

500.co500 Startups accelerator

about.coAbout.me page platform

crew.coCreative talent marketplace

over.coDesign app for social media

Frequently Asked Questions

Will people type .com instead of .co?

Some will. The best practice is to purchase the .com as well if available and redirect it to your .co. If the .com is unavailable, ensure your brand is strong enough to overcome the one-letter difference.

Is .co associated with Colombia?

While .co is technically Colombia's ccTLD, it's been successfully marketed globally. Google treats it as a generic TLD, and most users don't associate it with Colombia.

How does .co compare to .io for startups?

.io signals 'tech company' more specifically, while .co is more general-purpose. Choose .io for developer tools and tech products; .co works for any modern brand.

Can I use .co for e-commerce?

Yes, .co is acceptable for e-commerce. However, for mass-market retail targeting mainstream consumers, .com may provide higher trust. For startup/DTC brands, .co is fine.