If you’ve been paying attention to the domain landscape lately, you’ve probably noticed an explosion of flashy new TLDs — .app, .xyz, .live, .studio, .world, .whatever. Every year, dozens more appear, promising creativity, availability, and modern appeal.
And yet, despite all the noise, when you look at what serious companies and trusted brands actually use… they’re still on .com.
Let’s talk about why.
💡 1. It’s About Trust — Not Trend
Consumers trust what they know.
For more than 30 years, .com has been the backbone of the internet’s credibility layer. It’s familiar, proven, and hardwired into memory.
When someone sees a .com, their subconscious reads it as:
“This is probably legit.”
Compare that to an unknown TLD like .one or .today — it might look creative, but it instantly raises a small question mark in the user’s mind. In business, that microsecond of hesitation can cost a click, a sale, or a lead.
🌍 2. Global Default Recognition
No matter where you are in the world, people assume websites end with .com.
That muscle memory is priceless. Even if you own yourbrand.co, users will still type yourbrand.com first.
You can fight it, or you can embrace it — but ignoring it means constantly reminding customers how different your domain is. And that’s marketing energy wasted on something that shouldn’t require explanation.
💰 3. Value Retention and Liquidity
Domains are digital real estate.
And just like physical real estate, location matters.
In domain investing, .com is the equivalent of beachfront property — finite, trusted, and always in demand. A one-word .com can be worth six figures or more because it’s part of a global standard.
Meanwhile, new TLDs lose value the second the hype fades. Many have zero resale market and unpredictable renewal costs. Some registries even increase renewal fees without warning.
If you’re thinking long-term — .com is the stable asset class.
🚀 4. Branding Power and Simplicity
A brand on .com feels complete.
It says, “we made it.” It’s part of the psychology of success online.
Even when startups launch on trendy extensions like .io or .ai, many quietly upgrade to .com as soon as they can afford it. It’s a rite of passage — the digital equivalent of moving from a rental to owning your own building.
Because when someone says “Find us online at…” — the default expectation is still .com.
⚖️ 5. Not All TLDs Are Scams — But Many Are Short Games
There’s nothing inherently wrong with new TLDs. Some are creative and genuinely useful for niche projects.
But the industry around them has turned speculative — a casino of limited supply, hyped releases, and hidden price escalations.
Many registries rely on the excitement of “finally finding a name that’s available,” only to surprise owners with inflated renewals a year later.
Meanwhile, .com quietly stays stable, predictable, and globally accepted.
🧠 The SQRL’s Take
At DomainSqrl, we’re not anti-creativity — we’re anti-friction.
If your domain makes people hesitate, explain, or overthink — it’s working against you.
For businesses and brands that plan to exist for more than a few months, .com isn’t just tradition — it’s strategy.
Stick to the dot that built the web.