.xyz vs .com
Which domain extension should you choose? Here's how the two compare — and when each one is the better pick.
Side by side
| .xyz | .com | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Generic TLD, since 2014 | Legacy generic TLD, since 1985 |
| Runs the registry | XYZ.COM LLC | VeriSign, Inc. |
| In the root zone since | February 19, 2014 | January 1, 1985 |
| Popular meaning | — | the default for businesses |
| Search geotargeting | Generic — not tied to a country | Generic — not tied to a country |
| DNSSEC-signed | Yes | Yes |
| Name servers (IPv6) | 4 (4) | 13 (13) |
Choose .xyz if…
- Side projects and experiments
- Web3 and crypto-adjacent brands
- Names that are gone everywhere else
Watch out for
- Very low promotional prices have attracted spam in the past, so some filters are wary
- Renewal prices can be much higher than first-year promos
Cheap, flexible and fine for side projects or playful brands. Check the name's history and your email deliverability.
Choose .com if…
- Any business that wants the "default" address customers will guess
- Brands that expect word-of-mouth and radio or podcast mentions
- Email addresses people won't misspell
Watch out for
- Short, dictionary-word .com names are almost all taken or sold as premiums
- Typosquatters target popular .com names — register common misspellings if you're big
- Don't pay a broker before checking whether a newer TLD tells your story better
If the exact name you want is available on .com at a sane price, take it. Everything else is a trade-off against the ending people assume.
.xyz vs .com FAQ
Is .xyz better than .com?
Neither is better across the board. Cheap, flexible and fine for side projects or playful brands. Check the name's history and your email deliverability. If the exact name you want is available on .com at a sane price, take it. Everything else is a trade-off against the ending people assume.
Does .xyz or .com rank better on Google?
Google doesn't give either ending a ranking bonus. What differs is geotargeting: .xyz is generic — not tied to a country, and .com is generic — not tied to a country. Content and links matter far more than the TLD.
Can I use both .xyz and .com?
Yes, and many brands do: register both, pick one as the main site, and redirect the other to it so links and email never go astray.