--- title: ".com vs .net Domains: Prices, Rules & Verdict | GlobalHostia" url: "https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-net" description: ".com vs .net: $13.94 vs $15.02 first year, renewing at $13.94 vs $15.02. Three-year cost, rules, SEO facts and a verdict per use case." source: "GlobalHostia; prices are synced from the billing system and exclude any taxes shown at checkout" --- Compare extensions # .com vs .net: which domain should you choose? The two original extensions: .net is the usual pick when the .com is taken. .com is cheaper in the first year, and over three years ($41.82 against $45.06). ## .com and .net prices From our current price list, in USD. +VAT 5% where applicable. The order form always shows the price before you pay. .com and .net prices in USD; the lower price in each row is marked. | Price | [.com](https://globalhostia.com/domains/com) | [.net](https://globalhostia.com/domains/net) | | --- | --- | --- | | First year | $13.94Lower | $15.02 | | Renews at (per year) | $13.94Lower | $15.02 | | Transfer inUsually adds a year to the registration. | $13.94Lower | $15.02 | | 3 years in totalFirst year plus two renewals. | $41.82Lower | $45.06 | | Price rise after year one | None | None | ## Is your name free in .com or .net? [Search multiple domains](https://globalhostia.com/domains/bulk-search) Extension to add when you type a name without one**.com**$13.94**.net**$15.02 Type a name without an extension and pick .com or .net; we check availability live. First-year prices in USD. ## Who each one suits ### .comGeneric The original commercial extension (1985) and the one people type by default. Run by Verisign Who can register Anyone, anywhere, for any purpose. Best for startup or SaaS product, local business, tech or developer project, online shop, personal brand or portfolio Costs $13.94 first year, then $13.94 a year [.com details and search](https://globalhostia.com/domains/com) ### .netGeneric An original 1985 extension, first meant for network providers, now open to all. Run by Verisign Who can register Anyone, for any purpose. Best for tech or developer project Costs $15.02 first year, then $15.02 a year [.net details and search](https://globalhostia.com/domains/net) ## Registry rules and restrictions What applies before and after you register. We confirm anything special before you pay. ### .com - Anyone, anywhere, for any purpose. - No HTTPS requirement from the registry, but every site should still use SSL. ### .net - Anyone, for any purpose. - No HTTPS requirement from the registry, but every site should still use SSL. ## SEO: does the extension matter? Short answer: not for rankings. Content, links and site speed decide where you rank; the extension mostly affects trust, memorability and which country search engines assume you serve. ### .com A generic extension: no ranking advantage or penalty on its own. Search engines rank the content and the links, and let you target any country. ### .net A generic extension: no ranking advantage or penalty on its own. Search engines rank the content and the links, and let you target any country. Myth check: no extension gets a hidden ranking bonus, and keyword extensions (like .shop or .tech) do not rank better for that keyword. Switching an established site to a new extension costs time while search engines re-learn it, so choose well up front. ## Our verdict, by kind of site Based on what each extension signals to visitors and its three-year cost at today’s prices. - Startup or SaaS product**.com**.com reads as a product brand to investors and users; .net is a weaker match for a startup name. - Local business**.com**.com is what local customers expect; .net reads as less local. - Tech or developer project**.com**Both fit equally well; .com costs less over three years at today’s prices. - Online shop**.com**.com tells shoppers they can buy here or is the address they trust most; .net fits a shop less naturally. - Non-profit or community**.com**Both fit equally well; .com costs less over three years at today’s prices. - Personal brand or portfolio**.com**.com reads naturally as a personal name or portfolio; .net is less personal. ## .com vs .net: questions and answers ### .com is cheaper in the first year (.com $13.94, .net $15.02). Renewals are $13.94 and $15.02 a year, so three years cost $41.82 for .com and $45.06 for .net, in USD before VAT where it applies. ### ### ### ### ## More on these extensions [All about .com](https://globalhostia.com/domains/com)[All about .net](https://globalhostia.com/domains/net)[.com vs .org](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-org)[.net vs .org](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/net-vs-org)[.com vs .io](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-io)[.com vs .co](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-co)[.com vs .ai](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-ai)[.com vs .app](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-app)[All comparisons](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare) ## Got the name? Register it in .com or .net Search now and see the live price before you pay. [Search names](#tc-q)[Every extension and price](https://globalhostia.com/domains/all)