The global domain name market is entering a new phase of development. While market growth was once driven primarily by .com, an increasing share of new registrations now comes from country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) and new generic top-level domains (new gTLDs), including .shop, .guru, .app, and many others. Despite this shift, .com and .net continue to be the preferred domain extensions for businesses, organizations and online services, maintaining their position as the industry’s leading namespaces.
Together, .com and .net account for approximately 44.6% of all registered domain names worldwide, with a combined 179.1 million registrations – including 166.6 million .com domains and 12.5 million .net domains. In practical terms, nearly one out of every two domain names registered globally belongs to one of these two extensions.
At the same time, the combined .com and .net domain base declined by 1.0 million registrations, or 0.6% year over year. This modest decrease reflects the continued diversification of the domain market, as more businesses and organizations choose ccTLDs and new gTLDs that better align with their geographic presence, industry or brand identity.
The latest Domain Name Industry Brief (DNIB) also highlights another key indicator of the enduring strength of .com and .net: their renewal rate. During the second quarter, the renewal rate increased to 75.5%, up from 72.6% during the same period last year. This demonstrates that a significant majority of registrants continue to renew their domains, underscoring the lasting value of these extensions and the strong confidence users place in them.
Industry experts believe that while the domain name market is becoming increasingly diverse and competitive due to the continued growth of ccTLDs and new gTLDs, these trends are unlikely to challenge the long-standing leadership of .com and .net in the near future. Their global recognition, established reputation and high level of trust continue to make them the first choice for businesses and organizations seeking a strong and credible online presence.
