{
  "id": 7331236,
  "title": "'.com is still the default': Wix reports that domain trends are shifting, but .com remains king",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/com-is-still-the-default-wix-reports-that-domain-trends-are-shifting",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-14T14:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/pro/com-is-still-the-default-wix-reports-that-domain-trends-are-shifting-but-com-remains-king"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The .com domain extension has long been the go-to choice for businesses establishing their online presence. However, according to a recent study by Wix, the landscape of Top-Level Domains (TLDs) is evolving. In 2026, there is a noticeable shift in the way companies select TLDs, with alternatives such as .ai, .io, and .store gaining traction.\n\nInbal Geva, Product Lead and GM at Wix Domains, shared insights from the study, highlighting that .store websites generate 10% more sales than .com sites. This could be attributed to the clarity that .store extension conveys about the nature of the website – a store. Moreover, .org websites exhibit a 34% higher likelihood of driving ecommerce revenue compared to .com sites. The reason behind this discrepancy is not the .org extension itself, but the type of organizations and audiences that typically adopt it. Established organizations, nonprofits, and mission-driven businesses often attract more engaged communities, leading to increased ecommerce activity.\n\nThe study also revealed that registrations for .store, .online, and .shop tripled within a short span of five months. These numbers suggest a shift in how businesses want to position themselves online, rather than a decline in the preference for the traditional .com extension. The growth of these alternative TLDs can be attributed to factors like improved availability of desired names, competitive pricing, increased visibility, and effective marketing by domain registries.\n\nDespite the rise of alternative TLDs, .com remains the default choice for businesses whose brand name is readily available. People are often willing to make minor adjustments to their domain names to secure a .com address. However, the adoption of extensions like .yoga for yoga studios or .bar for bars showcases the creativity and flexibility that businesses now have when choosing a domain.\n\nThe emergence of tech-associated TLDs like .ai and .io has surged by 20% and 32 times, respectively, between January and May 2026. These increases may be linked to significant business or product launches in the tech and AI sectors. The use of such TLDs can serve as an immediate contextual signal for search engines and LLMs, offering additional value in terms of search engine optimization (SEO), answer engine optimization (AEO), and geographical optimization (GEO). Wix's data analysis of nearly a million domain registrations indicates that businesses are increasingly treating domain selection as a critical early decision in their online journey, which could contribute to their success in the digital space.",
  "summary": "I spoke to Inbal Geva at Wix Domains to discuss domain trends and opportunities in 2026",
  "key_points": [
    ".com domain remains dominant despite shifting trends",
    ".store sites generate 10% more sales than .com",
    ".org sites 34% more likely to drive ecommerce revenue"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}