The .com domain was one of the earliest internet extensions and remains the most popular and sought after today. If you’ve thought about creating a website, you’ve likely considered using a .com address for good reason.
For four decades, the .com domain has been utilized since its inception, leading to significant advancements and evolution of the internet. While many users regularly visit completed .com websites, few are aware of the robust technological foundation supporting this extension, making it a cornerstone of internet reliability.
Despite changes in usage and the registration of numerous domains over the years, ensuring the safety and stability of .com remains crucial for the extensive worldwide user community who rely on it every day.
What does .com signify? Why is it so well-liked? Is it beneficial to register one for your venture? And where can you do so securely?
This article will address key questions for individuals considering registering a .com domain. Learn why this extension remains popular among companies, professionals, and content creators globally.
Contents of the text
- What is the meaning of .com?
- Who is .com suitable for?
- Pros and cons of using the .com domain extension
- Where can I register a .com domain?
- What is the price of a .com domain?
- The Brazilian commercial extension is known as .com.br. When deciding between extensions, consider whether to choose .com or .com.br.
- Which extension is preferable: .com or .com.br?
- How can you determine if a .com domain is free?
- Is it beneficial to register a .com domain?
- Which extension should I choose: .com or .com.br?
What is the meaning of .com?
The .com domain extension, derived from “commercial” in English, is widely used on the internet along with .org and .net. It is a top-level domain (TLD) that signifies the category of a website or email by appearing at the end of an online address.
Originally created for commercial purposes on the internet, the .com domain extension has now gained widespread popularity and is used by a variety of entities, including companies, organizations, professionals, and personal blogs, with no restrictions on its usage. Today, anyone can register a .com domain, regardless of whether it is for commercial use.
What is a domain and its purpose is also worth reading.
Your present significance
The .com extension, established in 1985 during the early days of the internet, continues to be the most popular worldwide despite the introduction of numerous new extensions. Over 40% of websites globally still opt for .com.
Verisign’s DNIB Q1 2025 report revealed that by the end of the first quarter of 2025, there were over 157 million .com domains registered. The top 10 TLDs by number of domain names included .com, .cn, .de, .net, .org, .uk, .ru, .nl, .br, and .au, with .com leading the list ahead of country-specific extensions like .cn and .de.
Who is .com intended for?
The .com domain is a flexible and appropriate option for almost any kind of online venture, including virtual businesses, service providers, personal brands, blogs, institutional websites, startups, and digital products.
Choosing a global domain such as .com is a strategic move for those looking to establish online credibility, attract an international audience, and have a memorable and valuable name in the digital realm.
Anyone, whether an individual or a business entity, can register a .com domain without any limitations based on their location. All that is required is to engage a registration service and furnish essential contact details that will be linked to the domain ownership. For more details on the regulations and procedure for registration, please refer to our guide on global domains.
Pros and cons of the .com domain extension
When creating a website, the initial step is selecting the perfect domain. While popularity is important, it shouldn’t be the sole factor. To ensure the best decision, it is crucial to assess both the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Here is our list.
Benefits
- It is the most widely recognized and remembered domain name.
- Transmitting trust to users and potential customers is essential for credibility.
- Can be utilized for any kind of website.
- Names with this extension typically hold greater worth in the domain market due to their commercial value.
Drawbacks
- Short or generic names are hard to come by due to the large number of names already taken.
- Premium domain names come with high price tags.
- It lacks specific geographic or sector distinctions as it is general and does not specify a particular area or industry.
- Having a .com domain does not ensure sole ownership of the name in other extensions, as domain registration does not equate to brand registration.
Learn about intellectual property and domain names by reading this article.
Where can I register a .com domain?
Registering a .com domain is a straightforward process, with numerous authorized companies offering this extension in Brazil and internationally. When choosing a registrar, it is important to carefully consider specific criteria.
- Select a reputable and established company to avoid future issues related to transfers, excessive fees, and potential loss of domain registration and renewal services.
- Carefully review the fees not just at the initial purchase, but also during renewals to ensure price transparency. Companies often provide significant discounts initially, only to charge regular prices upon renewal. It is crucial to determine if the company clearly discloses their prices and if they are fair or excessive.
- Ensure that the business provides customer support, ideally in Portuguese, as setting up a domain may be challenging for non-experts, and assistance from a professional can be crucial for launching your project on the internet.
- Prefer companies that provide necessary features without additional charges, like DNS management, domain redirection, privacy protection, and a user-friendly control panel.
To find and compare the leading companies that offer .com domain registration services in Brazil, consult the list of top domain registration companies.
What is the price of a .com domain?
When selecting a company to register with, it is crucial to consider pricing, as domain costs can differ significantly depending on the registrar you opt for.
Values are typically categorized into three sections: first-time registration, renewal, and transfer. Here is an overview of the average prices charged by key market registrars.
| Company | Registration .com (1st year) | Renewal .com | |
| Hostinger | $49.99 | $ 79,99 | Visit > |
| HostGator | $ 28,99 | $ 79,99 | Visit > |
| GoDaddy | $ 74,99 | $ 109.99 | Visit > |
The cost of transferring a domain differs among companies, with some offering free transfers while others charge the same as registration fees. In cases where charges apply, the domain is typically renewed for an additional year.
Domain registration and hosting have different billing cycles, with hosting typically charged monthly. Though initial costs may appear steep for beginners, many hosting providers offer complimentary domains as part of their plans, offering potential savings. 🙂
Brazil’s commercial extension is .com.br.
.com.br is the Brazilian equivalent of .com, designed for commercial use and exclusively targeted towards Brazil.
The main focus of the .br extension, which is the most prominent among the categories, is on over 90% of all registrations. It is a great choice for individuals working in the local market who wish to enhance the Brazilian identity of their brand.
Domains ending in .br are managed by Registry.br, while registration can be carried out by the same entity or an accredited domain registration company. The registration cost for .com.br is typically cheaper than .com due to its national nature.
To register a .com.br domain, you need to be a registered individual or company in the country and provide specific documentation like CPF or CNPJ during registration.
The entity registered for a .br domain must also be used for future .br domains, unlike international domains. If you registered a .br domain with your CPF and want to register another one using the same CPF, you can only do so with the same entity. Transferring a .br domain to a different entity can be easily done within the Registry panel.
One aspect of the extensions finalized in .br — .com.br situation is that it’s not possible to conceal the registrant’s information in the Whois database. While this may appear less secure, this regulation helps prevent domain owners from engaging in illegal activities.
Which extension should you select: .com or .com.br?
The decision between .com and .com.br relies on the brand’s objectives: opting for .com.br is more beneficial for focusing solely on Brazil, while selecting .com is ideal for broader expansion or aiming for a universal domain.
To safeguard your brand and deter others from registering the same name with a different extension, many opt to register both domain names.
What is the best option for registering a .br domain: a hosting company or a registration service?
How can you determine if a .com domain is free?
A convenient and efficient method to verify the availability of a domain for purchase is to conduct a search using the desired name on a domain registration website. Learn how to do this step by step.
- Access the webpage for registering a domain with any provider.
- Type the preferred name into the search bar.
- Ensure that it is accessible. If not, explore alternative options and variations recommended according to your search.
If you find out that a domain name is already taken, you can use the Whois query tool to look up the details of the domain owner, including their email address. This information can be useful if you want to reach out to them for potential purchase offers.
What steps should be taken if the domain is unavailable?
Finding the desired domain name can be challenging due to the high number of registered domains, but there are alternative options available to increase your choices.
Strategies that assist in finding an appropriate domain name.
- Experiment with different combinations by adding extra words (e.g. name+online, name+official).
- Utilize alternative extensions like .net, .co, and others, ensuring not to infringe on any third-party trademarks.
- Consider purchasing the domain name directly from the owner or through resale platforms.
- Create fresh domain names using artificial intelligence. Some businesses provide this service through their registration websites.
Is it worthwhile to register a .com domain?
Choosing a .com domain is still a great option for creating a strong worldwide online presence that is both reputable and easy to remember.
This extension remains the most robust and dependable option for professional websites, despite facing tough competition from other providers and cost considerations. Selecting the right name and provider can guarantee a top-notch domain for your project.
Have you registered your domain yet? If not, discover the biggest domain registration companies to secure yours!
Publication date: 30/04/2025 (revised on 07/05/2025)
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