--- title: ".io vs .co Domains: Prices, Rules & Verdict | GlobalHostia" url: "https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/io-vs-co" description: ".io vs .co: $34.67 vs $18.60 first year, renewing at $64.20 vs $37.44. 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 # .io vs .co: which domain should you choose? Two short country codes used by startups everywhere. .co is cheaper in the first year, and over three years ($93.48 against $163.07). ## .io and .co prices From our current price list, in USD. +VAT 5% where applicable. The order form always shows the price before you pay. .io and .co prices in USD; the lower price in each row is marked. | Price | [.io](https://globalhostia.com/domains/io) | [.co](https://globalhostia.com/domains/co) | | --- | --- | --- | | First year | $34.67 | $18.60Lower | | Renews at (per year) | $64.20 | $37.44Lower | | Transfer inUsually adds a year to the registration. | $64.20 | $37.44Lower | | 3 years in totalFirst year plus two renewals. | $163.07 | $93.48Lower | | Price rise after year one | +85% | +101% | ## Is your name free in .io or .co? [Search multiple domains](https://globalhostia.com/domains/bulk-search) Extension to add when you type a name without one**.io**$34.67**.co**$18.60 Type a name without an extension and pick .io or .co; we check availability live. First-year prices in USD. ## Who each one suits ### .ioCountry code A country code adopted worldwide by tech startups, developer tools and SaaS. Run by The registry of the British Indian Ocean Territory Who can register Anyone, with no local presence needed. Best for startup or SaaS product, tech or developer project Costs $34.67 first year, then $64.20 a year [.io details and search](https://globalhostia.com/domains/io) ### .coCountry code Colombia’s country code, marketed worldwide as short for "company". Run by The registry of Colombia Who can register Anyone, with no local presence needed. Best for startup or SaaS product Costs $18.60 first year, then $37.44 a year [.co details and search](https://globalhostia.com/domains/co) ## Registry rules and restrictions What applies before and after you register. We confirm anything special before you pay. ### .io - Anyone, with no local presence needed. - The territory’s status is changing after the 2024 UK–Mauritius agreement on the Chagos Islands; .io registrations continue to work normally today, but some owners keep a second extension as a fallback. - No HTTPS requirement from the registry, but every site should still use SSL. ### .co - Anyone, with no local presence needed. - People often mistype it as .com, so many owners register both. - 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. ### .io A country code that Google treats as generic, like .com: it is not tied to one country in search results and gives no ranking boost on its own. ### .co A country code that Google treats as generic, like .com: it is not tied to one country in search results and gives no ranking boost on its own. 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**.co**Both fit equally well; .co costs less over three years at today’s prices. - Local business**.co**.co is what local customers expect; .io reads as less local. - Tech or developer project**.io**.io signals a technical product or team at a glance; .co is less specific. - Online shop**.co**.co tells shoppers they can buy here or is the address they trust most; .io fits a shop less naturally. - Non-profit or community**.co**Both fit equally well; .co costs less over three years at today’s prices. - Personal brand or portfolio**.co**Both fit equally well; .co costs less over three years at today’s prices. ## .io vs .co: questions and answers ### .co is cheaper in the first year (.io $34.67, .co $18.60). Renewals are $64.20 and $37.44 a year, so three years cost $163.07 for .io and $93.48 for .co, in USD before VAT where it applies. ### ### ### ### ## More on these extensions [All about .io](https://globalhostia.com/domains/io)[All about .co](https://globalhostia.com/domains/co)[.com vs .io](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-io)[.com vs .co](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-co)[.io vs .ai](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/io-vs-ai)[.io vs .dev](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/io-vs-dev)[.io vs .tech](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/io-vs-tech)[All comparisons](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare) ## Got the name? Register it in .io or .co Search now and see the live price before you pay. [Search names](#tc-q)[Every extension and price](https://globalhostia.com/domains/all)