.store vs com: A Detailed Comparison For Ecommerce Sites

This blog covers .store vs com domain extensions, especially as the .com extension has long been the standard for most websites, but a new domain has emerged specifically for ecommerce stores: the .store domain. While both can get the job done, which would be the best option for your website, .store vs .com? This complete guide shows you how they stack up against each other, their pros and cons, and, of course, when to choose and register a domain name that will be the best fit for your online business.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Domain extensions are the last part of a domain name, categorizing websites and directing visitors to the correct server.
• .com remains the default TLD for most people, but its lack of availability can make finding a domain name difficult.
• .store offers a .com alternative that signals ecommerce, but it comes with trade-offs.
• Choosing a domain extension is a balance between branding and business strategy; there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
• Hosted.com® offers simple, affordable domain registration and web hosting services in one place.

What Are .store vs com Domain Extensions?

First, let’s discuss Top-Level Domains (TLDs). As you’ve probably guessed, a TLD is the suffix of a domain name, the letters that follow the last dot in a web address. They are the first part of the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy, followed by the Second Level Domain (SLD), which is the name of the site. They help the DNS categorize websites and direct traffic to the right name server’s IP address.

Domain name extensions are managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and are divided into separate categories.

The main types of TLDs are:

Generic TLDs (gTLDs):

This is the most common type of TLD. Historically, they served a specific purpose, like .com being used for commercial sites, but can now be used and registered by anyone.

Country-Code TLDs (ccTLDs):

These are two-letter TLDs assigned to a specific country, for example, .us for the United States. They are often used to target that region and can help boost results in local search results.

New gTLDs:

In recent years, ICANN has introduced hundreds of new generic Top Level Domains, providing more options beyond the traditional gTLDs. These are often self-explanatory for a website, such as .store for ecommerce sites and .ai domains for websites specializing in Artificial Intelligence software.

Why the .com Extension is the Standard

For decades, the .com TLD has been the gold standard for most websites, with around 157.2 million .com domain name registrations as of Q1 2025, according to Verisign, the registry that manages the extension.

As one of the original gTLDs created, it was initially intended for use by commercial businesses, hence the “com” suffix. It has since become the default choice for many brands, large and small, for its global recognition and the inherent level of trust it brings.

These days, most people instinctively associate it with a legitimate, established business, and it is often the first extension they try when typing a URL into their browser’s address bar.

However, this popularity comes with a big downside: availability. Due to the huge number of registered .com websites, finding an available domain name that matches your branding can be difficult, to say the least. You may find yourself having to use hyphens or alternative spellings, or even choose something completely different, unless you feel like spending a small fortune to buy the one you want from the owner. For more on how expensive some of these can get, check our list of the Top 10 Most Expensive Domain Names.

Although it remains the most popular TLD, the lack of options for new businesses has paved the way for new extensions, providing alternatives for ecommerce websites. This brings us to the .store domain.

What Makes the .store Domain Extension Unique?

Unlike the general-purpose .com extension, the .store TLD was designed specifically for ecommerce platforms and online retailers, as the name implies. While not nearly as widely used, with a little over 3 million registered domains, using it for your site has several unique benefits.

A domain like “yourbrand.store” instantly tells visitors and potential customers exactly what your site is about. There’s not much room for interpretation.

The .store extension also gives you more freedom to find and register your perfect domain name, thanks to higher availability. This means you can get a short, relevant, and brandable site address that would be nearly impossible to find with a .com version.

While the .store domain offers branding and availability benefits for online retail, it’s not without its downsides. Because it is a newer TLD, it doesn’t have the same level of credibility as .com to some people. While many are familiar with new gTLDs, some may consider it less trustworthy because they aren’t used to them.

Choosing The Best Domain Extension: .store vs .com

Choosing the right domain extension for your site can have a direct influence on your branding and your target audience when they search for your products. The decision between .com vs .store essentially comes down to what works best for your small business.

Here are a few of the ways they can work for ecommerce businesses:

Consumer Perception

A .com domain can give the appearance of an established, trusted brand and it’s usually the go-to for most businesses. On the other hand, a .store domain is considered more modern and less generic and is a great way of explaining to visitors and customers that your site is a dedicated online shop.

Impact on SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

A common misconception is that having a .com domain can boost SEO performance, but the truth is, search engines treat all TLDs equally. While Google has stated that your choice of TLD does not directly influence your search rankings, it can indirectly affect your visibility in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

With a .com domain, your online store may experience a higher Click-Through Rate (CTR) because people are more familiar with it and tend to trust it more. Search engine algorithms consider this user experience metric when ranking sites, as they consider it as a positive user engagement signal.

At the same time, a catchy, memorable .store domain can also increase CTR by aligning better with potential customers’ search intent. For example, the URL “comicbook.store” could be more likely to result in a click than a generic .com site in the search results for comic books.

Ultimately, the best TLD for your ecommerce site depends on you and your business needs. In a nutshell, choose .com if you are targeting a global audience and want the recognition that comes with the extension. Keep in mind you might have to pay for a premium domain name or alter your first choice because the exact one you want is already taken.

Alternatively, .store can be an excellent choice. Especially if your primary focus is ecommerce, and you want a unique domain that instantly tells visitors what type of website you have, like the .shop extension. This is because it can appeal to a targeted online shopping audience without you having to spend time and money finding and registering it.

What to Consider When Choosing Between .store vs .com

Choosing the right domain name is more than just choosing between .store vs .com; it’s about having a website address that accurately reflects your ecommerce brand and business name. Below are some important factors to consider before making your final decision.

Branding

A memorable domain name and its extension form part of your brand identity. It communicates how you want customers to perceive you. Do you want to be seen as a universally trusted, classic brand (.com) or as a modern, purpose-driven specialist (.store)? Your choice helps set the stage and define your store’s market positioning.

It’s also worth considering your long-term business goals. If your company may expand beyond ecommerce into other services or areas, the (specific) .store TLD might limit you in future. Conversely, the .com TLD is a more generic domain extension that gives you more flexibility for future expansion, thanks to its broader “definition”.

Trust & Credibility

As we’ve discussed, different domain extensions have various levels of trust. People generally trust .com domains because of the extension’s history and widespread use by big companies. Newer extensions like .store can provide a different type of credibility, one based on clearly explaining to visitors what your website is about.

Availability & Price

Pricing and availability are two of the biggest considerations for small businesses. The number of registered .com websites can make finding your desired domain name hard or extremely expensive. In contrast, new TLDs like .store are often much easier to find and cost less to register and renew.

Although not usually on the radar for most beginner site owners, it’s also worth noting that domain extensions do not impact core technical functions, such as DNS propagation and management, email accounts, and SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates, if they are configured correctly from the start.

This means your website will have the same technical performance and security regardless of whether it uses a .com or .store domain.

Registering a Domain Name with Hosted.com®

Before you can start setting up your ecommerce business, your site needs an address and a home. This is where a domain registration service and web hosting providers like Hosted.com® come in, making linking and managing the two much easier.

With Hosted.com®, finding and registering your perfect domain is designed to be simple, affordable and secure, with everything, including a range of web and WordPress hosting plans, to ensure you can launch a website fast.

Here’s how it works:

Start by using our Domain Search Tool to check if your desired name and extension combination (.com, .store, .net, etc.) is available. It will also give you various options to help you find the best fit.

Alternatively, you can use our AI Domain Name Generator. Just enter a description of what you want, a few relevant keywords or your company name, and you’ll have dozens of SEO-friendly suggestions in seconds with real-availability checks.

Once you’ve found the perfect domain, select it and choose your registration period (1-10 years). Add your domain to the cart and proceed to our secure checkout.

You’ll be asked to provide your registrant details (contact number, email address, and name) and payment information to complete the registration. After payment, you will receive an email to verify your domain ownership.

We also include Domain Privacy Protection to hide your personal information from public view in the WHOIS database, along with auto-renewal. Thus, you never have to worry about losing ownership of your site address.

Once you’ve completed the above steps, our user-friendly Client Portal allows you to manage all your domains and Web Hosting services from one intuitive control panel. This includes everything from setting up new email addresses, to updating nameservers, creating subdomains and more.

Find the Perfect Domain Name – AI Domain Name Generator

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• About the Author
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Rhett Freeman

Rhett isn’t just a writer at Hosted.com – he’s our resident WordPress content guru. With over 7 years of experience as a content writer, with a background in copywriting, journalism, research, and SEO, and a passion for websites.

Rhett authors informative blogs, articles, and Knowledgebase guides that simplify the complexities of WordPress, website builders, domains, and cPanel hosting. Rhett’s clear explanations and practical tips provide valuable resources for anyone wanting to own and build a website. Just don’t ask him about coding before he’s had coffee.

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