--- title: ".online vs .site Domains: Prices, Rules & Verdict" url: "https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/online-vs-site" description: ".online vs .site: $3.00 vs $3.00 first year, renewing at $35.57 vs $32.36. 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 # .online vs .site: which domain should you choose? Two newer, neutral extensions for any kind of website. Both cost the same in the first year, but .site costs less over three years once renewals are counted. ## .online and .site prices From our current price list, in USD. +VAT 5% where applicable. The order form always shows the price before you pay. .online and .site prices in USD; the lower price in each row is marked. | Price | [.online](https://globalhostia.com/domains/online) | [.site](https://globalhostia.com/domains/site) | | --- | --- | --- | | First year | $3.00 | $3.00 | | Renews at (per year) | $35.57 | $32.36Lower | | Transfer inUsually adds a year to the registration. | $32.36 | $32.36 | | 3 years in totalFirst year plus two renewals. | $74.14 | $67.72Lower | | Price rise after year one | +1086% | +979% | ## Is your name free in .online or .site? [Search multiple domains](https://globalhostia.com/domains/bulk-search) Extension to add when you type a name without one**.online**$3.00**.site**$3.00 Type a name without an extension and pick .online or .site; we check availability live. First-year prices in USD. ## Who each one suits ### .onlineGeneric A 2015 extension for any business or project that lives on the web. Run by Radix Who can register Anyone, for any purpose. Best for general use Costs $3.00 first year, then $35.57 a year [.online details and search](https://globalhostia.com/domains/online) ### .siteGeneric A 2015 extension that suits any website. Run by Radix Who can register Anyone, for any purpose. Best for general use Costs $3.00 first year, then $32.36 a year [.site details and search](https://globalhostia.com/domains/site) ## Registry rules and restrictions What applies before and after you register. We confirm anything special before you pay. ### .online - Anyone, for any purpose. - No HTTPS requirement from the registry, but every site should still use SSL. ### .site - 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. ### .online 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. ### .site 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**.online**.online reads as a product brand to investors and users; .site is a weaker match for a startup name. - Local business**.site**Both fit equally well; .site costs less over three years at today’s prices. - Tech or developer project**.site**Both fit equally well; .site costs less over three years at today’s prices. - Online shop**.online**.online tells shoppers they can buy here or is the address they trust most; .site fits a shop less naturally. - Non-profit or community**.online**.online is the better fit for an organisation or community; .site reads as more commercial or technical. - Personal brand or portfolio**.site**Both fit equally well; .site costs less over three years at today’s prices. ## .online vs .site: questions and answers ### They cost the same in the first year (.online $3.00, .site $3.00). Renewals are $35.57 and $32.36 a year, so three years cost $74.14 for .online and $67.72 for .site, in USD before VAT where it applies. ### ### ### ### ## More on these extensions [All about .online](https://globalhostia.com/domains/online)[All about .site](https://globalhostia.com/domains/site)[.com vs .online](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/com-vs-online)[.xyz vs .online](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/xyz-vs-online)[.site vs .website](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/site-vs-website)[All comparisons](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare) ## Got the name? Register it in .online or .site Search now and see the live price before you pay. [Search names](#tc-q)[Every extension and price](https://globalhostia.com/domains/all)