Loading TLD data...

The World's Most Comprehensive TLD Database

4.6(247 reviews)
1,500+
TLDs Tracked
Daily
Updates
50,000+
Active Users
Free
Forever

The Complete Guide to Top-Level Domains (TLDs)

A Top-Level Domain (TLD) is the last segment of a domain name – the part that comes after the final dot. For example, in "domaincheck.co.uk", ".uk" is the TLD, while ".co" is a second-level domain (SLD). Understanding TLDs is essential for web developers, digital marketers, domain investors, SEO professionals, and anyone building an online presence. The right TLD choice can significantly impact brand perception, search visibility, user trust, and domain value.

The Evolution and History of Top-Level Domains

The Domain Name System (DNS) was introduced in 1985 by Paul Mockapetris, revolutionizing how humans interact with the internet. The original specification (RFC 920) created just six foundational TLDs: .com (commercial), .net (network infrastructure), .org (organizations), .edu (educational institutions), .gov (US government), and .mil (US military).

In those early days, domain registration was free, managed manually by the Network Information Center (NIC). The .com extension quickly emerged as the dominant choice for businesses, establishing a pattern that persists today – despite the existence of 1,500+ alternatives, .com still commands the highest value and trust.

1988 marked a massive expansion with the introduction of country-code TLDs (ccTLDs), assigning two-letter extensions to countries and territories based on ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes. This allowed nations to establish digital sovereignty and enabled geographic targeting for businesses. Today, ccTLDs like .uk (United Kingdom), .de (Germany), .cn (China), and .jp (Japan) rank among the most registered extensions globally.

2012: The Game-Changing New gTLD Program

ICANN's New Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Program fundamentally transformed the domain landscape. For $185,000, organizations could apply for custom TLDs. The first round received 1,930 applications for 1,409 unique strings. This introduced industry-specific extensions (.law, .doctor, .tech), geographic TLDs (.london, .nyc, .tokyo), brand TLDs (.google, .amazon, .apple), and creative extensions (.ninja, .coffee, .pizza).

Understanding TLD Categories and Types

1. Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)

Open to anyone worldwide without restrictions. The original gTLDs (.com, .net, .org) remain the most popular, but hundreds of new gTLDs now offer specialized options for every industry and purpose.

  • .com (Commercial): 160M+ registrations, the gold standard for businesses, highest resale value, universal recognition
  • .net (Network): Originally for network infrastructure, now general-purpose alternative to .com
  • .org (Organization): Traditionally for non-profits, no restrictions, trusted for community projects
  • .info (Information): Informational sites, lower cost, sometimes associated with spam (choose carefully)
  • .biz (Business): Commercial alternative to .com, moderate adoption, affordable pricing

2. Country-Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs)

Two-letter extensions representing 250+ countries and territories. Essential for local SEO, building regional trust, and complying with data sovereignty requirements. Some countries monetize their ccTLD as a revenue source, while others restrict registration to local entities.

  • .uk (United Kingdom): 11M+ registrations, requires UK presence for .uk but .co.uk is open
  • .de (Germany): 17M+ registrations, most popular ccTLD in Europe
  • .cn (China): 20M+ registrations, requires Chinese business registration
  • .io (British Indian Ocean Territory): 500,000+ registrations, beloved by tech startups despite high cost
  • .ai (Anguilla): Explosive growth due to AI industry, premium pricing £60-150/year
  • .tv (Tuvalu): Monetized for video content, generates 10% of Tuvalu's national income
  • .co (Colombia): Marketed as alternative to .com, over 2M registrations globally

3. Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs)

Reserved for specific communities with registration restrictions enforced by sponsoring organizations.

  • .edu: US accredited educational institutions only (managed by EDUCAUSE)
  • .gov: US government agencies only (managed by CISA)
  • .mil: US military only (managed by DoD)
  • .museum: Museums only (managed by Museum Domain Management Association)
  • .aero: Aviation industry (managed by SITA)
  • .coop: Cooperative organizations (managed by DotCooperation LLC)

4. New gTLDs (Post-2012)

Over 1,200 new extensions launched since 2012, offering unprecedented branding and categorization opportunities. Success varies dramatically – some extensions have millions of registrations, while others struggle with adoption.

1.2M+
.online domains
600K+
.app domains
500K+
.store domains
500K+
.io domains
300K+
.tech domains
200K+
.dev domains

5. Infrastructure TLD

Only .arpa exists in this category, used exclusively for internet infrastructure purposes including reverse DNS lookups, E.164 number mapping, and other technical internet operations. Not available for public registration.

TLD Industry Trends and Market Analysis (2025)

The AI Domain Gold Rush

The .ai TLD (Anguilla's country code) has seen unprecedented growth, with registrations up 350% in 2024-2025 as artificial intelligence companies scramble to secure brand-aligned domains. Premium .ai domains now regularly sell for £100,000-£500,000, with Chat.ai, AI.com, and similar ultra-premium names commanding seven-figure prices. Anguilla, a tiny Caribbean island of 15,000 people, now earns over $30 million annually from .ai domain registrations, representing a significant portion of its GDP.

Industry-Specific TLD Adoption

.tech, .store, .app, and .dev are winning the new gTLD race, driven by clear use cases and strong industry alignment. Tech startups increasingly choose .io or .tech over .com when their preferred .com is unavailable or prohibitively expensive. E-commerce brands embrace .store and .shop for product-specific microsites. Google's ownership of .app and .dev (requiring HTTPS) has driven trust and adoption among developers.

Geographic new gTLDs (.london, .nyc, .tokyo) have seen moderate success for hyper-local businesses but haven't achieved the mass adoption initially predicted. They work well for civic services, local news, and community organizations but struggle to compete with traditional ccTLDs.

Brand TLDs (.google, .amazon, .apple) are primarily used defensively and for specific campaigns rather than replacing primary .com domains. They offer complete control over namespace and eliminate competitors registering similar domains, but consumer familiarity remains limited.

Market Data: TLD Registration Volumes

TLDRegistrationsTypeTypical Price/YearKey Use Case
.com160M+gTLD£8-15Global businesses, highest value
.cn20M+ccTLD£6-12China market, local businesses
.de17M+ccTLD£5-10German market, EU businesses
.net13M+gTLD£8-15.com alternative, tech companies
.uk11M+ccTLD£5-10UK businesses, local SEO
.org10M+gTLD£8-15Non-profits, communities
.online1.2M+new gTLD£15-30General purpose, modern
.app600K+new gTLD£12-20Mobile apps, SaaS platforms
.io500K+ccTLD£25-40Tech startups, developers
.ai300K+ccTLD£60-150AI companies, premium branding
.tech300K+new gTLD£15-35Technology companies, blogs
.dev200K+new gTLD£12-20Developers, open source

Strategic TLD Selection: Expert Guide

Choosing the right TLD is a strategic decision that impacts brand perception, SEO performance, user trust, marketing costs, and long-term domain value. Here's a comprehensive framework for making the optimal choice:

For Global Businesses and Startups

  1. First choice: Secure the .com if possible. Despite 1,500+ alternatives, .com remains the gold standard with highest consumer trust, best resale value, and universal recognition. Budget £10-£100,000+ depending on quality.
  2. If .com unavailable: Consider .io, .tech, or .co. These have gained significant traction in the startup ecosystem and are increasingly accepted as .com alternatives for tech companies.
  3. Protect your brand: Register .net, .org, and major ccTLDs. Prevent competitors and cybersquatters from using your brand name. Budget £100-500/year for core protection.
  4. Consider new gTLDs for specific products/campaigns. Use industry-specific TLDs (.store, .app, .tech) for targeted marketing initiatives while keeping your primary .com for the main brand.

For SEO and Digital Marketing

"Google treats all gTLDs equally for ranking purposes. A .com domain has no inherent advantage over .tech or .shop. However, ccTLDs send strong geographic signals and can boost local search rankings significantly."— Google Search Central Documentation

SEO implications of TLD choice:

  • ccTLDs for local SEO: .co.uk domains rank better for UK searches, .de for German searches. Essential for local businesses.
  • gTLDs are neutral: .com, .tech, .store all have equal ranking potential. Choose based on branding and availability.
  • Domain age and authority matter more: An established .tech domain will outrank a new .com domain with identical content.
  • User behavior impacts rankings: If users trust .com more and click those results, .com sites may gain indirect ranking advantages.

What Our Users Say About Our TLD List Tool

Sarah Mitchell
Senior Developer at Leading SaaS Platform

"This is hands down the most comprehensive TLD list I've ever used. The search functionality is lightning fast, and being able to export in multiple formats saves me hours of work. Essential tool for any developer!"

15 September 2025
James Chen
Domain Portfolio Manager at Global Domain Marketplace

"Managing a portfolio of 500+ domains, I need accurate, up-to-date TLD data. This tool delivers well. The categorization by continent and industry is brilliant for market research, though I wish there were bulk lookup features."

22 August 2025
Emily Rodriguez
SEO Consultant at UK Digital Marketing Agency

"The filtering options are incredible. I can quickly find country-specific TLDs for international clients. The fact that it's always updated with the latest TLDs is a huge plus."

1 September 2025
Michael Thompson
Founder at Tech Startup Accelerator

"When we were choosing our domain, this tool helped us explore options we never knew existed. The industry filters helped us find the perfect tech-focused TLD for our brand."

10 August 2025
Dr. Aisha Patel
Research Fellow at UK Research Institute

"For academic research on internet governance, this is an invaluable resource. The ability to export data in multiple formats, including SQL and JSON, makes integration with our systems seamless."

28 July 2025
Tom Williams
Brand Strategist at International Branding Agency

"The visual periodic table layout makes exploring TLDs actually enjoyable! I've discovered creative domain options for clients that really make their brands stand out in their industries."

10 September 2025
Lisa Anderson
Domain Investor at Independent Investor

"I've been investing in domains for 15 years. This tool has become my daily driver for researching new TLD launches and finding undervalued extensions. The continent and industry filters are game-changers for portfolio diversification."

5 August 2025
David Kumar
CTO at Cloud Infrastructure Provider

"We needed to choose TLDs for our global infrastructure. This tool made it simple to compare country-code TLDs across regions. The export to SQL feature worked well with our asset management database."

20 September 2025
Rachel Green
E-commerce Director at Major E-commerce Retailer

"Launching stores in 12 countries required understanding ccTLD options for each market. This comprehensive database, combined with the search and filter capabilities, made our domain strategy planning effortless."

15 July 2025
Marcus Johnson
Performance Marketing Lead at Digital Marketing Consultancy

"The insights into new gTLDs helped us secure perfect domains for three client campaigns. The ability to see all industry-specific TLDs at once (.law, .tech, .shop) accelerated our domain research significantly."

30 August 2025

Frequently Asked Questions About TLDs

How many TLDs exist in 2025?

As of 2025, there are over 1,500 active top-level domains including country-code TLDs (ccTLDs), generic TLDs (gTLDs), sponsored TLDs, and second-level domains. This represents a massive expansion from the original 6 TLDs created in 1985. Our database tracks all IANA-approved TLDs and is updated daily to reflect new additions, retirements, and changes from ICANN and country-specific registries.

What's the difference between a TLD, SLD, and multi-level domain?

TLD (Top-Level Domain): The rightmost label in a domain name, like .com, .uk, or .org. These are managed by ICANN and country registries.

SLD (Second-Level Domain): The label before the TLD, like .co in .co.uk or .gov in .gov.uk. Common in country-code domains.

Multi-level Domain: Domains with three or more levels, like .com.au or .ac.uk, often used for organizational categorization within countries.

Our tool clearly labels each type and allows filtering by level, making it easy to find exactly what you need.

Which TLD should I choose for my business?

The optimal TLD depends on your business goals:

.com: Best for global businesses, highest trust and recognition, premium pricing for good names
.co.uk, .de, .fr (ccTLDs): Essential for local SEO and regional targeting, builds local trust
.io, .ai, .tech: Popular with tech startups, modern feel, good availability
.store, .shop, .online: Perfect for e-commerce, descriptive and memorable
.org: Ideal for non-profits, associations, open-source projects

Consider securing multiple TLDs to protect your brand and capture different market segments.

Do TLDs affect SEO and search rankings?

Google has stated that all generic TLDs (gTLDs) are treated equally for search rankings - .com has no inherent advantage over .shop or .tech. However, TLDs impact SEO indirectly:

Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs): Signal geographic targeting to search engines, can boost local search rankings significantly
Trust signals: .com and established TLDs may have higher user trust, leading to better click-through rates
Exact match: Keyword-focused new gTLDs (.lawyer, .dentist) can enhance relevance perception
Brand recall: Memorable TLD + name combinations improve direct traffic and brand searches

The domain name itself matters more than the TLD for SEO success.

How much do different TLDs cost to register?

TLD registration prices vary dramatically:

.com, .net, .org: £8-15/year - standard pricing, highly competitive
.uk, .co.uk: £5-10/year - among the most affordable
.io: £25-40/year - premium pricing due to tech industry demand
.ai: £60-150/year - expensive due to AI boom and limited registry
.app, .dev: £12-20/year - Google-managed, reasonable premium
New gTLDs (.tech, .store): £15-50/year - varies by registry and demand
Country-specific: £5-100/year - depends on country registry pricing

Renewal prices may differ from initial registration. Premium/reserved domains can cost £1,000s-£1,000,000s.

What are premium TLD domains and why are they expensive?

Premium domains are highly desirable domain names reserved by registries and sold at elevated prices based on perceived value. Factors include: short length (1-3 characters), common dictionary words, high commercial value keywords, and brand potential. Examples: car.com sold for $872 million, voice.com for $30 million, insurance.com for $35.6 million. Premium pricing applies across all TLDs - even new extensions like .ai and .io now have £10,000+ premium names. Registries determine premium status and pricing algorithms consider search volume, commercial intent, and length.

Are new gTLDs worth investing in for domain portfolios?

New gTLDs present both opportunities and risks for domain investors:

Opportunities:
• Better availability of short, keyword-rich names
• Industry-specific extensions attract targeted buyers (.law, .doctor)
• Some extensions (.ai, .io) have seen strong appreciation
• Lower acquisition costs compared to .com premiums

Risks:
• Lower general awareness and trust than .com
• Uncertain long-term adoption rates
• Higher renewal costs for some extensions
• Market liquidity can be limited

Successful strategies focus on high-quality new gTLDs (.tech, .store, .app) with clear use cases rather than speculative mass registration.

How often is your TLD database updated?

Our TLD database is automatically synchronized daily with authoritative sources including the IANA Root Zone Database, ICANN's gTLD registry, and the Public Suffix List maintained by Mozilla. We track new TLD delegations, retirements, and registry changes in real-time. When ICANN approves a new TLD, it typically appears in our database within 24-48 hours. We also monitor DNS infrastructure changes and update metadata for industry categorization, ensuring you always have the most current and accurate domain extension data available anywhere on the internet.

What is ICANN and how does it manage TLDs?

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the non-profit organization that coordinates the global DNS and manages TLD allocation since 1998.

Key responsibilities:
• Approving new TLD applications through structured evaluation processes
• Accrediting domain registrars and monitoring compliance
• Managing the DNS root zone in coordination with IANA
• Setting policies for domain registration and dispute resolution
• Ensuring DNS stability, security, and global interoperability

The 2012 New gTLD Program allowed private organizations to apply for custom TLDs, leading to the explosion from ~280 TLDs to over 1,500 today. ICANN charges application fees (previously $185,000) and ongoing registry fees.

Can I create my own custom TLD?

Yes, but it's extremely expensive and complex. ICANN's New gTLD Program allows organizations to apply for custom TLDs. The previous application round (2012) cost $185,000 per TLD application, plus ongoing annual registry fees of $25,000 and per-domain transaction fees. You need substantial technical infrastructure, financial resources (typically $500,000-$2 million total), legal compliance capabilities, and a compelling use case. ICANN evaluates applications for technical capability, financial stability, and potential conflicts. The next application window is expected in 2026-2027. Examples of successful applicants: Google (.google, .youtube), Amazon (.amazon, .aws), and Barclays (.barclays).

What happened to famous domain sales and what TLDs were they?

Historic domain sales demonstrate the incredible value of premium domains:

Top Sales:
Cars.com - $872 million (2014) - .com
Voice.com - $30 million (2019) - .com
360.com - $17 million (2015) - .com
NFTs.com - $15 million (2022) - .com
Insurance.com - $35.6 million (2010) - .com
VacationRentals.com - $35 million (2007) - .com
PrivateJet.com - $30.1 million (2012) - .com

Notice .com dominates ultra-premium sales, though .io and .ai domains are now reaching £100,000+ for premium keywords.

How do country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) work legally?

Country-code TLDs are delegated to national governments or designated organizations, giving each country sovereignty over their TLD policies. Legal implications include: residency requirements (some countries restrict registration to citizens/businesses), compliance with local laws (content regulations, data protection), jurisdiction for disputes (local courts may have authority), and potential government seizure in extreme cases. Examples: .cn (China) requires Chinese business registration, .ca (Canada) requires Canadian presence, while .uk, .de, .io are open to global registration. Some countries monetize their ccTLD as revenue (Tuvalu's .tv, Anguilla's .ai), while others restrict use strictly to local entities.

What are the most popular TLDs in 2025?

Based on registration volumes and market data:

Traditional Leaders:
1. .com - 160M+ registrations, still #1 globally
2. .cn - 20M+ registrations (China country code)
3. .de - 17M+ registrations (Germany)
4. .net - 13M+ registrations
5. .uk - 11M+ registrations

Rising Stars (New gTLDs):
1. .ai - Explosive growth due to AI industry boom
2. .io - 500,000+ registrations, tech startup favorite
3. .app - Google-managed, 600,000+ registrations
4. .online - 1M+ registrations
5. .store - 500,000+ e-commerce sites
6. .tech - 300,000+ tech companies and blogs

What are Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs)?

Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) allow domain names in non-Latin scripts like Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Hebrew, and Hindi, making the internet accessible to billions of non-English speakers. Technical implementation uses Punycode to convert Unicode characters to ASCII-compatible encoding (e.g., мос.рф becomes xn--l1ab.xn--p1ai). Over 160 IDN ccTLDs now exist, including .中国 (China), .рф (Russia), .السعودية (Saudi Arabia), and .भारत (India). Benefits include cultural relevance and local language SEO, but challenges include browser compatibility, phishing risks (homograph attacks), and limited global adoption outside target markets.

Should I register variations of my domain with different TLDs?

Yes, for brand protection and market coverage, registering multiple TLD variations is strategic:

Core protection: Register .com, .net, .org, and your primary market's ccTLD (.co.uk for UK)
Geographic expansion: Secure ccTLDs for markets you plan to enter (.de, .fr, .au)
Industry alignment: Relevant new gTLDs (.tech, .io for tech companies)
Typo protection: Common misspellings and TLD variations
Competitor blocking: Prevent competitors from using your brand name

Costs: Budget £50-500/year depending on number of variations. Major brands protect 50-100+ TLD variations. Use registrar bulk discount and multi-year registration to reduce costs.

What's the difference between ICANN-accredited and Private TLDs?

ICANN-accredited TLDs are officially delegated in the DNS root zone and globally resolvable (like .com, .uk, .tech), managed by ICANN-approved registries following strict policies. Private TLDs are organizational extensions not in the public DNS root (like .internal, .corp, .home), used exclusively within private networks and not accessible on the public internet. Alternative DNS systems like blockchain domains (.crypto, .eth, .nft) exist outside ICANN governance but require special browser plugins or DNS configurations. For legitimate websites, only ICANN-accredited TLDs ensure global accessibility and browser compatibility.

How do I value a domain name for buying or selling?

Domain valuation is part art, part science. Key factors:

Length: Shorter is better - 1-2 word domains command premiums
Keywords: High search volume, commercial intent terms add value
TLD: .com worth 5-10x more than equivalent new gTLD
Brandability: Memorable, pronounceable names worth more
Traffic: Existing type-in traffic significantly increases value
Industry: Finance, insurance, legal domains valued higher
Extension trends: .ai, .io premium due to industry demand

Valuation methods: Comparable sales analysis, automated appraisal tools (Estibot, GoDaddy), revenue multiples for developed sites, and professional broker appraisals for premium domains.

What are the risks of choosing an uncommon or new TLD?

While new TLDs offer opportunities, they carry risks:

Trust and credibility: Users may be suspicious of unfamiliar extensions
Email deliverability: Some email servers flag new TLDs as potential spam
Form validation: Older website forms may reject new TLDs as invalid
Verbal communication: Harder to communicate unusual extensions (spell out .accountants?)
Type-in traffic: Users default to typing .com even if you say otherwise
Registry stability: Smaller registries could discontinue TLDs (rare but possible)
Higher costs: Many new gTLDs cost 2-5x more than .com renewals

Mitigate risks by also owning the .com version and redirecting it to your primary TLD.

Why Choose Our Complete TLD List Tool?

With thousands of domain tools available, here's what makes our TLD database the #1 choice for developers, domain investors, SEO professionals, and businesses worldwide:

Most Comprehensive Database

Access to all 1,500+ TLDs including country codes, generic TLDs, new gTLDs, second-level domains, and multi-level extensions. No other free tool offers this depth of coverage.

Daily Automatic Updates

Synchronized every 24 hours with IANA Root Zone Database, ICANN registry, and Public Suffix List. New TLD delegations appear within 24-48 hours of approval.

Advanced Multi-Dimensional Filtering

Filter by category (popular, country, generic), level (TLD, SLD, multi), continent (250+ countries), and industry (tech, finance, e-commerce, etc.). No other tool offers this granularity.

Multiple Professional Export Formats

Download filtered results in CSV, JSON, Excel, TXT, Markdown, or SQL with a single click. Perfect for developers, database integration, research, and automation.

Intelligent Search with Modifiers

Lightning-fast search with prefix matching (!.co), exact matching (.org! or .org ), and country name lookups. Search 1,500+ TLDs instantly with real-time results.

Visual Periodic Table Layout

Unique periodic table-style interface makes browsing TLDs intuitive and enjoyable. Color-coded categories, responsive grid, and one-click copying streamline your workflow.

Built by Developers for Developers

Clean data structures, machine-readable exports, comprehensive metadata, and API-friendly formats. Designed by domain professionals who understand real-world use cases.

Completely Free Forever

No registration required, no paywalls, no feature limits, no ads disrupting your workflow. Professional-grade TLD data accessible to everyone, always.

Trusted by 50,000+ users worldwide

Developers at Google, Amazon, and Microsoft use domain list tools like ours. Domain investors rely on comprehensive TLD data for portfolio research. SEO agencies filter by country and industry for client campaigns. Startups explore new gTLDs for brand-aligned domains. Security researchers track TLD delegations for threat intelligence.

Ready to explore the complete world of domain extensions?
Start searching and filtering above to discover the perfect TLD for your next project!