.net Domain Guide
Network
One of the original TLDs, .net was intended for network-related organizations. Today it's used as a general alternative to .com, particularly by tech and networking companies.
Price
$10-15/year
Trust Level
High
Popularity
Popular
Type
gTLD
History
The .net TLD was created in January 1985 alongside .com as one of the original top-level domains. Originally intended for network infrastructure organizations like ISPs and hosting providers, it was opened to general registration. While never as popular as .com, .net has remained a respected alternative with millions of registrations. Many successful tech companies have used .net as their primary domain.
Best For
Who Should Use .net
- Tech and networking companies
- Online communities and forums
- Companies when quality .com is unavailable
- ISPs and hosting providers
- Technical infrastructure services
Who Should Avoid .net
- Companies where .com competitor exists
- Mainstream consumer brands
- Businesses requiring maximum brand recall
- Companies with heavy offline advertising
Pros
- Well established and trusted
- Good availability compared to .com
- Affordable pricing
- No restrictions on use
Cons
- Often seen as 'second choice' to .com
- Less memorable than .com for mainstream audiences
- Some desirable names are still taken
Technical Details
| Registry | Verisign |
| Restrictions | None - open to anyone |
| Length | 1-63 characters |
| IDN Support | Yes |
| DNSSEC | Supported |
| Privacy Protection | Available |
SEO Impact
Neutral. Treated the same as .com by search engines. No advantage or disadvantage for rankings.
Registration Tips
Good option when .com is unavailable at reasonable cost
Consider if your business has networking connotations
Research the .com holder to assess confusion risk
Priced similarly to .com - compare registrar rates
Works well for technical audiences who understand TLDs
Complete Guide
The Complete Guide to .net Domains
The .net TLD is one of the internet's originals, carrying decades of trust and recognition. While .com gets the spotlight, .net remains a solid choice for the right situations.
The .net Position
Historical Context: .net was designed for network infrastructure:
- ISPs and hosting providers
- Networking technology companies
- Internet services and utilities
Modern Usage: Today, .net is used more broadly:
- Alternative when .com is taken
- Tech companies and services
- Online communities and platforms
When .net Makes Sense
Technical Products: If your product involves networking concepts, .net fits naturally:
- Hosting services
- Network utilities
- Developer tools
- Infrastructure software
Community Sites: Many online communities use .net:
- Forums and discussion sites
- Gaming communities
- Technical communities
.com Unavailable: When the .com is taken but .net is available:
- Assess the .com holder
- Check for industry overlap
- Consider if users will confuse them
.net vs .com
The Second Choice Perception: Fair or not, many see .net as:
- "They couldn't get the .com"
- A lesser alternative
- Acceptable but not ideal
When This Doesn't Matter:
- Technical audiences understand TLDs
- Your brand is strong enough
- The .com holder is unrelated
- You're not competing for URL recall
Building on .net
Successful .net Brands: Major companies have thrived on .net:
- behance.net (now Adobe)
- speedtest.net (Ookla)
- battle.net (Blizzard)
These succeeded because:
- Strong brand identity
- Quality product/service
- Technical audience understanding
Marketing Considerations:
- Be clear about "dot net" in verbal marketing
- Emphasize your brand name
- Build recognition through great product
- Consider .com acquisition if you grow
SEO on .net
Google treats .net identically to .com:
- No ranking advantage or penalty
- Same content and link factors apply
- User experience matters more
Practical SEO:
- Focus on content quality
- Build legitimate backlinks
- Optimize for user intent
- Technical SEO fundamentals apply
Popular .net Domains
Frequently Asked Questions
Is .net as good as .com?
For SEO, yes - Google treats them equally. For user perception, .com generally has higher recall and trust among mainstream audiences. For technical audiences, .net is perfectly acceptable.
Should I use .net if .com is taken?
It depends on who holds the .com and in what industry. If unrelated and in different markets, .net can work well. If a competitor holds it, consider other options.
Is .net dying out?
No, .net remains one of the largest TLDs with millions of active domains. While new TLDs have emerged, .net maintains its position as a trusted, established option.
What's the difference between .net and .org?
.net was intended for network infrastructure while .org was for non-profits. Today both are open to anyone, but .org still carries non-profit connotations while .net feels more technical.
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