Domain names are a vital part of any web project, large or small. In this article, we’ll cover the ten most popular domain name TLDs and their standardized premiums.

Every web address has three components: a domain name (example: Google.com), an extension (.com in this case), and a Top-Level Domain or TLD (.”com” is the TLD in this example).

A domain name is the base level of a web address that tells you what type of organization it is. In most cases, they’re straightforward–such as .edu for an educational institution, .gov for a government entity, or .org for an NGO.

Getting another country’s website requires a TLD (.co.UK or.ca), and more complicated extensions like .co,.net,.org are open to people with certain qualifications or interests within that field.

Each one of these different extensions has a set price associated with it, and the prices vary wildly. For example, you’ll pay more for .co than .net and a WHOLE LOT more for .org than either of them.

If you’re doing any work online where people will be paying you, or you’ll be paying other businesses to use your website (like an e-commerce site), these prices are important to know. Many people have no idea what they need (or what they can get away with) when they search for web hosting or registrar services, and some companies take advantage–and charge exorbitant fees to grab them.

So for this article, we’re going to cover the most popular top-level domain names and their standardized premiums.

1) .COM

The world’s most popular top-level domain for commercial use; often the default choice for many providers (though not all). Available for $8.99 per year plus $0.18-0.25 cents per “registration year” (1 to 10 years).

So, Who Owns The .Com Name?

It has been tough to say when DoD developed the .com domain. There are two different stories that we know of today. The first being that on March 15th, 1983, 14-year-old programmer Stephen P. Ryder registered ccmurfs.com for $15 and also created a company called Computer Consulting Services Incorporated (CCSI), Cyber Surf’s parent company). A commercial website was supposedly the first one on the World Wide Web (WWW). However, some disagree with this story, including Fran Hall’s woman, because she registered entsys.com in August 1991, even though she was not yet 14 years old.

2).NET

The world’s most popular top-level domain for corporate use. Available for $11.99 per year plus $0.18-0.25 cents per “registration year” (1 to 10 years).

The history of the .NET domain
.NET is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, and it is one of the most popular TLDs in use on the Web. Microsoft has used the domain since at least 1993 to identify its current and past products and services. The official purpose of the .biz domain name was initially for Internet service providers. Still, many companies have requested to use the domain name for different purposes (such as creating a name that reflects what they do or hyphenating their name).

3).ORG

The top-level domain for nonprofit organizations. Available for $13.99 per year plus $0.18-0.25 cents per “registration year” (1 to 10 years).

In 1986, Jon Postel, a professor at UCLA who also pioneered Internet protocols, created the first domain specifically for nonprofits and called it .ORG. Network Solutions Inc., the company that he established to manage this domain, is now Verisign, which administers all top-level domains.

The intention behind .org was to create a “non-commercial” alternative for commercial sites and collectives to provide an easier way for people with appropriate interests or qualifications in fields like ecology, public health, and law enforcement to find one another on the then tiny web. It not only offered an alternative but also provided a stable home for these.

4).INFO

The world’s most popular top-level domain for private, public, or community use. Available for *$4.99 per year plus $0.18-0.25 cents per “registration year” (1 to 10 years).

The history of.INFO domain
A .INFO top-level domain was first created in 1985 as an alternative to other TLDs, such as Org and Net. The intention behind.info was to create a “non-commercial” alternative for commercial sites and collectives to provide an easier way for people with appropriate interests or qualifications in fields like ecology, public health, and law enforcement to find one another on the then minimal web. It not only offered an alternative but also provided a stable home for these.

5).US

The world’s most popular top-level domain for U.S.-based businesses. Available for $11.99 per year plus $0.18-0.25 cents per “registration year” (1 to 10 years).

In 1986, Jon Postel, a UCLA professor who also pioneered the Internet’s protocols, created the first top-level domain for U.S.-based businesses. The organization that he set up to manage this domain, known as Network Solutions Inc., is now called Verisign, and they administer all of the top-level domains.

The intention behind .us was to create a “non-commercial” alternative for commercial sites and collectives to provide an easier way for people with appropriate interests or qualifications in fields like ecology, public health, and law enforcement to find one another on the then minimal web. It not only offered an alternative but also provided a stable home for these.

6).CO

The World’s most popular top-level domain for companies based in Columbia (the country) or just for businesses located in its neighboring countries. Available for $27.99 per year plus $0.18-0.25 cents per “registration year” (1 to 10 years).

The.CO domain name was first introduced in November 2006, becoming the seventh generic top-level domain (gTLD). It has an annual registration cost of $27.99.

It is intended for Colombian businesses and is also intended to be used by businesses in other countries near Columbia, such as Costa Rica, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.

7).ME

The world’s most popular top-level domain for businesses, organizations, and individuals located in Montenegro. Available for $19.99 per year plus $0.18-0.25 cents per “registration year” (1 to 10 years).

The.ME domain name was first introduced in November 2006, becoming the seventh generic top-level domain (gTLD). It has an annual registration cost of $19.99.

It is intended for Montenegrin businesses and is also intended to be used by businesses located in other countries near Montenegro, such as Croatia, Serbia, Albania, and Kosovo.

8).TV

The world’s most popular top-level domain for television-related sites and services, including home video, film distribution, and production companies, cable TV companies, etc. Available for $44.99 per year plus $0.18-0.22 cents per “registration year” (1 to 10 years).

The. The TV domain name was first introduced in 2002 as a top-level domain for television-related sites and services, including home video, film distribution, production companies, cable TV companies. It has an annual registration cost of $44.99

It is intended for any site or service that relates to the television industry, including those who provide news, sports, or children’s programming on a global scale and those providing distribution to televisions such as cable TV providers.

9).MOBI

It is the new gTLD for the mobile industry. It was approved in 2012 and launched in 2014. The main purpose of creating this TLD is to help enhance the value of the mobile while increasing its reach and usage.

The maximum number of characters allowed to be registered with Mobi TLD is 63, which allows you to register your business name or your own name with a .mobi website. The .mobi gTLD is very popular as it follows the linguistic structure of names. It makes it easy for users to remember as well as make use of it when necessary. Google has promoted the .mobi gTLD since 2010.

10).BIZ

The world’s most popular top-level domain for businesses and organizations. Available for $24.99 per year plus $0.18-0.25 cents per “registration year” (1 to 10 years).

The.biz domain name was first introduced in November 2002 as a top-level domain for businesses and organizations. It has an annual registration cost of $24.99

It is intended for any company, organization, or individual who would like to register their domain name with the biz top-level domain. The biz domain is appropriate for almost any area of business that uses the internet or can be reached through phones and fax machines.

All domains are registered for a period of 1 to 10 years.

1 year: Costs you *$8.99 plus 18 cents (0.18) per registration year; this is typically the default option for most providers listed above.

10 years: Costs you $89.99 plus 36 cents (0.36) per registration year.
2 or more years: It costs you $17.98 plus 54 cents (0.54) per registration year, so it’s cheaper to buy in bulk!