A memorable web address is a valuable asset for any entrepreneur. A strong domain name establishes your brand identity online. If your business name and domain name are the same, it helps customers feel confident they’ve navigated to the right website.
But popular .com domain names have been picked over for decades, leading business owners to seek a new domain extension. Many have turned to .net, .org, and .io, among other domain extensions—but one has drawn unique interest from the business community: .co.
Here’s a comprehensive guide, with examples from successful websites, to help you determine if .co is the right domain extension for you.
What does .co mean?
In the digital world, .co is a top-level domain extension. Top-level domains (TLDs) are the last part of a website’s URL, used to categorize and direct websites. For example, in the web address shopify.com, “.com” is the TLD, and “Shopify” is the second-level domain (SLD).
The .co extension was originally designated as the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Colombia. Country code domain extensions are two-letter TLDs assigned to geographic regions that prompt browsers to load localized website versions. The Colombian government decided to generate revenue by licensing .co out to a global audience—and businesses took interest.
Domain registrars now market the .co global domain extension as a generic top-level domain (gTLD) alternative to .com, benefitting businesses whose desired domain name may not be available with a .com TLD.
Pros of using a .co domain extension
New innovative businesses in the tech and startup world have widely embraced the .co domain extension. For a private entity, startup, or business targeting a global market, .co domains offer an excellent alternative with far more availability:
Wide recognition
Although originally designated for the Colombian market, the .co extension is widely recognized as a commercial TLD thanks to its use by major brands, tech companies, and app developers, including hinge.co and vsco.co. If your branding strategy targets forward-thinking tech professionals, you can capitalize on .co’s association with the tech world.
The domain’s brevity and familiarity—only one letter removed from .com—may make it easy to recall without appearing suspicious.
Ecommerce benefits
The .co extension is an excellent online branding choice for ecommerce stores because it offers SEO benefits and its prefix mirrors words like “commerce,” “company,” and “corporation,” helping you establish trust with potential customers.
Along with other search engines, Google treats the .co TLD as a gTLD rather than a ccTLD. Typically, search engine rankings limit ccTLDs placements to users in the associated country. However, Google understands that a business website or online store may co-opt the .co domain and includes them in search results across the globe. You can also potentially get more exposure by putting relevant keywords in your second-level domain—e.g., potato chip brand Cronch may use CronchChip.co.
Straightforward registration process
If you use a reputable domain registrar, setting up a .co domain should be as easy as setting up a .com or .net extension. Simply pick an available name and buy it.
Shopify offers .co domain registration services, which include domain name search and generation, domain privacy protection, email forwarding, and tools to help you configure DNS settings.
You can expect a similarly straightforward process wherever you register your .co domain.
Cons of using a .co domain extension
A .co extension may not suit businesses that target a non-technical audience, are heavily reliant on established brand recognition, or have a tight budget. Here’s why:
Confusion with .com
Any .co domain will have lower global recognition than a .com name. While .co domains are gaining traction, .com domains are still far more common, especially among non-technical audiences. If your target audience is less tech-focused, lower recognition could impact your ecommerce store or personal blog.
Potential customers may mistakenly type .com instead of .co when entering your web address. If someone else owns the corresponding .com domain, visitors will see their site, not yours, and you may lose them as customers. The same issue applies to email addresses using your .co domain name.
If you’re worried your customers will routinely confuse your .co website for a .com one, you may want to avoid this TLD.
Higher costs
Compared to available .com domains, .co domains may come with a higher registration cost—often around two to three times the price of a .com or .net domain. Beyond the initial registration period, you need to renew your license regularly to maintain ownership of your domain. Hosting providers may also charge higher prices to renew .co licenses for any domains registered with them.
Shop around among DNS providers and keep an eye out for hidden fees, like ICANN fees, transfer fees, and extraneous bundled services.
Technical considerations
Most hosting providers support .co, but double-check .co compatibility before proceeding. You’ll rely on domain and hosting providers when configuring DNS settings or adding additional services like email accounts.
Staying relevant in search results is a big part of online success. If you don’t own the .com version of your .co website, users may assume the .com version is the intended version, causing lost traffic. Inbound linking also improves your SEO, and other websites may hesitate to link to .co websites for perceived illegitimacy.
.co domain meaning FAQ
Is a .co domain good?
Many organizations worldwide have determined that a .co domain suits their business interests because of search engine visibility, global recognition, and associations with words like “commerce,” “company,” and “corporation.” However, other business owners have considered the viability of a .co domain name and decided against it, often because it’s confused with .com.
What country uses the .co domain?
The .co domain began as the country code top-level domain for Colombia. Businesses and individuals worldwide now use it as just a domain without connection to Colombia.
Why are .co domains more expensive?
Often, .co domains are more expensive than .com domains because they are marketed as premium alternatives for businesses and startups and are priced higher by registrars due to their perceived branding value.
Can you trust .co websites?
Yes, you can trust .co websites as much as you can trust .com websites. Regardless of a website’s domain extension, look for security features like HTTPS, valid certificates, and encrypted transmissions to ensure it’s safe to enter personal information or payment details. These considerations apply to both desktop computers and mobile devices.
What companies use .co domains?
In this ever-expanding digital landscape, individuals seeking a memorable domain may turn to .co when a .com name is unavailable. Because of this, the .co domain name has seen international growth in recent years. Some of the companies that use .co domain names include Hinge (hinge.co), Nuhom (nuhom.co), and Gumroad (gumroad.co).
