.co.uk or .com?
Which Domain Extension is Right for Your Business?
When it comes to choosing a domain name, most UK businesses default to a .co.uk — and for good reason. But if you’ve ever paused and wondered whether you should be using a .com instead (or as well), you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions I’m asked during new project kick-offs.
This post cuts through the fluff to help you understand which option is right for your business – and why the best answer might be both.
What’s the difference between .co.uk and .com?
The short version:
- .co.uk tells people (and Google) that you’re a UK business
- .com is the globally recognised standard, used by businesses around the world
They both work exactly the same technically – but what they signal to your audience can be very different.
When a .co.uk is the right choice
If you serve a UK audience, operate in a specific region, or run a business that’s rooted locally, a .co.uk domain is a solid, sensible choice.
It’s often the most familiar to UK customers, particularly in sectors like trades, retail, hospitality and services. And Google knows it’s UK-focused too, which helps with location-specific search.
Use a .co.uk if:
- Your customers are mostly in the UK
- You don’t plan to trade internationally
- You want your domain to immediately feel local and trusted
When a .com might be a better fit
If you’re trading internationally, plan to grow your reach, or your services are online and location-independent, a .com can work harder for you.
According to Statista, .com still accounts for over 46% of global websites – which means people outside the UK will often default to trying that first, even if you’ve told them otherwise.
Choose a .com if:
- You have (or want) customers outside the UK
- You’re building a personal or digital-first brand (coaching, consulting, SaaS, content)
- You want a more global, scalable feel
What about using both?
Honestly? It’s often the best option.
Buying both the .co.uk and the .com version of your domain gives you flexibility, futureproofs your brand and helps avoid confusion down the line.
Even if you only plan to use one, redirecting the other means you won’t lose traffic if someone types the wrong one by instinct.
And if brand protection is important to you – and it should be – owning both stops someone else from registering it and muddying your presence online.
A GoDaddy UK survey found that 68% of people trust a business more if it owns both versions of its domain. Food for thought.
But isn’t .com more expensive?
Yes – usually just under twice the cost of a .co.uk. But given the small annual fee and the peace of mind it brings, it’s often a worthwhile investment if your brand name matters to you.
Final thought
If you’re only targeting the UK, a .co.uk will likely serve you well. But if you have international ambitions – or simply want to protect your name and brand – registering the .com version too is a smart move.
Domains are low-cost but high-value assets. It’s far easier to register them now than try to retrieve them later when someone else owns them.
Coming up next…
We’ll be talking about professional email addresses – and why setting up one linked to your domain is an easy credibility win.
If you’d rather have someone else sort your domain, email and hosting setup (without you needing to Google what DNS means), I offer that too. Just drop me a message.
