---
title: ".site vs .website Domains: Prices, Rules & Verdict"
url: "https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/site-vs-website"
description: ".site vs .website: $3.00 vs $3.00 first year, renewing at $32.36 vs $25.94. 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

# .site vs .website: which domain should you choose?

Short or spelled out: two extensions that simply say "website". Both cost the same in the first year, but .website costs less over three years once renewals are counted.

## .site and .website prices

From our current price list, in USD. +VAT 5% where applicable. The order form always shows the price before you pay.

.site and .website prices in USD; the lower price in each row is marked.
| Price | [.site](https://globalhostia.com/domains/site) | [.website](https://globalhostia.com/domains/website) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First year |  $3.00 | $3.00 |
| Renews at (per year) |  $32.36 | $25.94Lower |
| Transfer inUsually adds a year to the registration. |  $32.36 | $25.94Lower |
| 3 years in totalFirst year plus two renewals. |  $67.72 | $54.88Lower |
| Price rise after year one |  +979% | +765% |

## Is your name free in .site or .website?

[Search multiple domains](https://globalhostia.com/domains/bulk-search)

Extension to add when you type a name without one**.site**$3.00**.website**$3.00

Type a name without an extension and pick .site or .website; we check availability live. First-year prices in USD.

## Who each one suits

### .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)

### .websiteGeneric

A 2014 extension that says exactly what it is.

Run by

Radix

Who can register

Anyone, for any purpose.

Best for

general use

Costs

$3.00 first year, then $25.94 a year

[.website details and search](https://globalhostia.com/domains/website)

## Registry rules and restrictions

What applies before and after you register. We confirm anything special before you pay.

### .site

- Anyone, for any purpose.
- No HTTPS requirement from the registry, but every site should still use SSL.

### .website

- 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.

### .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.

### .website

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**.website**Both fit equally well; .website costs less over three years at today’s prices.
- Local business**.website**Both fit equally well; .website costs less over three years at today’s prices.
- Tech or developer project**.website**Both fit equally well; .website costs less over three years at today’s prices.
- Online shop**.website**Both fit equally well; .website costs less over three years at today’s prices.
- Non-profit or community**.website**Both fit equally well; .website costs less over three years at today’s prices.
- Personal brand or portfolio**.website**Both fit equally well; .website costs less over three years at today’s prices.

## .site vs .website: questions and answers

###

They cost the same in the first year (.site $3.00, .website $3.00). Renewals are $32.36 and $25.94 a year, so three years cost $67.72 for .site and $54.88 for .website, in USD before VAT where it applies.

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## More on these extensions

[All about .site](https://globalhostia.com/domains/site)[All about .website](https://globalhostia.com/domains/website)[.online vs .site](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare/online-vs-site)[All comparisons](https://globalhostia.com/domains/compare)

## Got the name? Register it in .site or .website

Search now and see the live price before you pay.

[Search names](#tc-q)[Every extension and price](https://globalhostia.com/domains/all)