.com, .fr, .io, .ai… Which Extension Should You Choose?
The extension (or TLD) is the suffix of your domain: .com, .fr,
.io… It shapes trust, image,
price and sometimes local SEO. Here's how to choose.
The basic rule
When in doubt, .com is the safe bet: it's the best-known and
most credible extension internationally. If your business is local to one
country, the matching ccTLD (e.g. .fr for France) is
excellent (trust + a mild geographic signal for local SEO).
The right choice for your project
| Extension | Ideal for | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com | Any project, international | $ | The default, most reassuring |
| .fr | French businesses and sites | € | Local trust, good value |
| .io | Startups, tech, SaaS | $$ | Tech image, but high renewal |
| .ai | Artificial intelligence | $$$ | Very trendy, expensive |
| .co | .com alternative | $$ | Short, memorable |
| .shop / .store | E-commerce | $→$$ | Year-1 promo, watch the renewal |
| .org | Nonprofits, NGOs | $ | Connotes non-profit |
| .dev / .app | Developers, apps | $$ | HTTPS enforced (secure) |
Extension and SEO: what's true (and false)
- False: a
.ioor.ai"boosts" ranking. Google does not favor new extensions. - True: a ccTLD (
.fr,.de…) sends a geographic signal useful for local SEO. - True: visitor trust (click-through rate) matters: a
.com/.frinspires more confidence than an obscure TLD.
🔍 Compare your name across every extension
Type your keyword: DomaineScan shows availability and price on .com, .fr, .io, .ai, .co…
Test my name →Should you buy several extensions?
For a brand, it's often smart to secure at least the .com + your ccTLD, to
stop a competitor grabbing them and to redirect to your main site. But there's no need to
buy 20 extensions "just in case": focus the budget on 1 to 3 useful extensions.
In short
Choose first by your audience (international → .com, a
single country → its ccTLD, tech → .io) and your renewal
budget. Then check real availability and price — that's DomaineScan's job.