The extension is the last part of a domain name: the .in in yourbusiness.in or the .com in yourbusiness.com. Hundreds of extensions exist, and they differ in who can register them, what they cost, how long you can register them for and how transfers work. This guide explains the main types of extension, compares the popular ones with Domain India prices, and helps you pick the right one for your business.
Domain extensions (top-level domains, or TLDs) come in a few types: generic ones such as .com and .org, country-code ones such as .in and .uk, second-level endings such as .co.in, newer generic ones such as .online or .store, and extensions in Indian scripts such as .भारत. For a business in India, .in or .co.in is the natural local choice and .com the global one; many businesses register both. Prices, eligibility rules and transfer rules depend on the extension, so check them before you register.
1. What a domain extension is
Every domain name ends in a top-level domain (TLD). Each TLD is run by a registry, which keeps the list of names registered under it and sets its rules: who may register, the minimum and maximum length, how long a registration can last and how transfers work. You register through a registrar such as Domain India, which passes your order to the registry.
The extension doesn't change how your website works. A site on .in loads just as fast and ranks by the same rules as one on .com. What changes is price, eligibility, and what the name tells visitors about you.
2. The main types of extension
Some country codes are marketed for other meanings: .io (British Indian Ocean Territory) is popular with tech companies, .tv (Tuvalu) with video creators and .me (Montenegro) with personal sites. They are still country codes, run under that country's policy.
3. Popular extensions compared
Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, excluding 18% GST, for the first year and each renewal year:
| Extension | Type | First year | Renewal per year | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .in | Country code (India) | ₹575 | ₹625 | Businesses and people serving India |
| .co.in | Second-level (India) | ₹475 | ₹525 | Indian companies; the lowest-priced .in option |
| .com | Generic | ₹1,150 | ₹1,150 | Global brands and the default people guess |
| .org | Generic | ₹1,108 | ₹1,108 | Non-profits, communities, projects |
| .net | Generic | ₹1,438 | ₹1,769 | Tech and network services, or when .com is taken |
| .info | Generic | ₹2,229 | ₹2,701 | Information sites |
| .biz | Generic | ₹1,969 | ₹2,111 | Businesses, when .com is taken |
| .xyz | New generic | ₹1,533 | ₹1,710 | Low-cost, flexible names |
| .app | New generic | ₹1,850 | ₹2,028 | Apps; HTTPS is required by the registry |
| .dev | New generic | ₹1,509 | ₹1,757 | Developers; HTTPS is required by the registry |
| .online | New generic | ₹3,015 | ₹3,315 | General websites |
| .co | Country code (Colombia) | ₹3,244 | ₹3,456 | Start-ups and short brand names |
| .io | Country code | ₹5,651 | ₹6,005 | Tech products |
The other Indian second-level endings (.net.in, .org.in, .firm.in, .gen.in, .ind.in) are priced the same as .co.in: ₹475 for the first year and ₹525 to renew. Every other extension is on the domain pricing page.
Several extensions cost more to renew than to register. Over three or five years, the renewal price matters more than the first-year price, so compare both before you choose.
4. Rules that differ by extension
Registration length. Most extensions can be registered for one year at a time or for several years up front, commonly up to ten. The checkout shows the periods available for the extension you choose.
Name length and characters. Each part of a domain name can be up to 63 characters, using letters, numbers and hyphens, and cannot start or end with a hyphen. Some registries set their own minimum length or reserve certain names. The domain search tells you straight away if a name is not allowed. For .in, see Reserved and prohibited domain names under the .IN registry.
Eligibility. Most generic extensions and .in are open to anyone. Others have conditions: .us requires a connection to the United States, .eu requires residence or an establishment in the EU (and a few nearby countries), and .gov.in is only for government bodies. Read Who can register a .in domain for the .in rules.
Transfer lock. Generic extensions such as .com normally cannot move to another registrar until 60 days after registration or a previous transfer, and a change of owner details can also start a 60-day lock. Country-code extensions follow their own registry's policy. Can I transfer an existing domain to Domain India explains the conditions and steps.
Security features. Some newer extensions, including .app and .dev, are on the browser HSTS preload list, so websites on them only open over HTTPS. That is easy with a free SSL certificate from your host, but it means the site must have one before it will load.
5. WHOIS privacy by extension
Privacy rules also depend on the extension.
For .in and its second-level extensions (.co.in, .net.in, .org.in and others), personal registrant details are not shown in public WHOIS. This is free and automatic; there is nothing to switch on. If the domain is registered to a company or organisation, that name may still appear.
For other extensions, privacy options differ from one registry to the next, and some country codes don't allow privacy services at all. Ask support before you register if privacy matters for a particular extension. The .in rules are covered in detail in .IN domain WHOIS privacy.
6. How to choose the right extension
- Start with your audience.If your customers are mainly in India, .in or .co.in tells them you are local. If you sell worldwide, .com is still the name people guess first.
- Protect the obvious alternatives.Many businesses register both the .in and the .com of their name and point one at the other, so nobody else can take it.
- Prefer an extension people can say aloud.A name you have to spell out on the phone, or explain ("dot co dot in, not dot com"), loses some visitors.
- Check the renewal price and rules.Confirm the yearly renewal cost and any eligibility or document requirement before you commit.
- Think about email.Your email addresses will use the same extension. A short, familiar one is easier to dictate and less likely to be mistyped.
For more help picking the name itself, read How to choose the right domain name for your business.
- Signals an Indian business to Indian customers
- Low first-year and renewal prices
- Personal details hidden in public WHOIS at no cost
- Visitors abroad may type .com out of habit
- .co.in is sometimes confused with .co or .com, so register the variants you care about
7. Where Domain India fits
Domain India is a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar and also registers .com, .org, .net and hundreds of other generic and country-code extensions, including .भारत names in Indian scripts on the Bharat domains page. Your domains, renewals and hosting sit in one client area.
Renewals work by invoice: one is emailed up to 30 days before the due date, and nothing is charged to a saved card automatically. The domain renews when you pay it (How auto-renewal works).
If you need somewhere to put the website too, a shared hosting plan includes email at your domain:
- 25 GB NVMe SSD Storage
- 50 GB Monthly Bandwidth
- 1 Website
- 10 Email Accounts
Support is by 24/7 live chat and support tickets. Tickets get a first response within 15 minutes; resolution can take longer depending on the issue. There is no phone support.
Frequently asked questions
What is a domain name extension?
The extension, or top-level domain (TLD), is the last part of a domain name, such as .in in yourbusiness.in or .com in yourbusiness.com. Each extension is run by a registry that sets its own rules for who can register, how long for and how transfers work.
What is the difference between a gTLD and a ccTLD?
A gTLD is a generic extension such as .com, .org or .online, open to anyone and governed by ICANN rules. A ccTLD is a two-letter country code such as .in, .uk or .us, run under that country's own registry policy.
Should an Indian business choose .in or .com?
If your customers are mainly in India, .in or .co.in signals a local business and costs less. If you sell worldwide, .com is the name people guess first. Many businesses register both and point one at the other.
How much does a .in domain cost at Domain India?
Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, excluding 18% GST: a .in domain is ₹575 for the first year and ₹625 a year to renew, and .co.in is ₹475 for the first year and ₹525 to renew.
Does the extension affect my Google ranking?
Not directly. Google treats generic extensions the same way, and a country code such as .in helps signal that your site targets India. Content and site quality matter far more than the extension.
Can I transfer any domain extension to another registrar?
Most extensions can be transferred with an auth code once the domain is unlocked. Generic extensions such as .com normally cannot be moved within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer. Country-code extensions follow their own registry's rules.
Is WHOIS privacy free for .in domains?
Yes. For .in and its second-level extensions such as .co.in, personal registrant details are not shown in public WHOIS. This is free and automatic, with nothing to switch on. For other extensions, privacy options differ, so ask support.
Ready to pick your extension? Search for a domain to see every available ending for your name, compare prices on the domain pricing page, or open a support ticket if you have a question about a particular extension's rules.
Check .in, .co.in, .com and hundreds of other extensions in one search, and register with a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar.
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