You have so many options at that moment when you want to pick a domain name extension for your online appearance. However, picking the right one for your own needs can be a little bit hard. Why? Because there are only slight changes between the options, and you need to research a little.
But, not now, if you read this article out. Because in this article, we will lead you to the strengths and weaknesses of each regular Top Level Domain (TLD is the abbreviation) inside the UK.
What are TLDs?
But, first we need to look at what TLDs are exactly. A domain name is the unique characterization of an online entity. But it has two parts: the name of the domain, and the extension. The name is up to your own imagination, it can be almost everything.
However, the extension was made to categorize the websites by their type. There are three main types:
- Generic top-level domains: These have no additional meaning, like “.com”, or “.org”.
- Sponsored top-level domains: These can’t be used by the public. Usually, governments or other associations use them to emphasize that the real website is connected to them. Like: “.gov”, or “.mil”.
- Country code top-level domains: Also, every country has its own TLD. Businesses inside that country can choose to use this specific TLD as well. Like: “.uk”, or “.de”.
Why will TLDs matter in real life?
There is another key factor that you need to focus on during this phase. Two online entities can’t have the same domain names. So, if “orange.com” is taken, you can’t get it unless you wait till it expires. But, how do you know that it will expire? How can you be sure? There is no guarantee for that. That’s why in a case like this, you need other solutions.
And that’s where TLDs have a huge part. You can’t take orange.com (if we stick with the mentioned example), but you can try orange.uk, or orange.co.uk instead. Since, even if the name is the same, but the TLD is different, hypothetically you can get the other one (if it’s not taken before).
Which TLD should you choose inside the UK?
In this part of the article, we take a look at the three most popular TLD options in Britain, and emphasize which is the best for your own specific needs.
.com
“.com” is the most popular domain extension in the world. According to Statista, more than 44% of all websites use the “.com” TLD. Unlike that, this does not completely fit with the UK’s stats. Although, there is not an exact statistic that we can rely on in this matter, but approximately only 20% of all British websites use “.com”.
Strengths of using “.com”
If you know that your buyers will come to your site from different regions, maybe from different continents, this has to be your choice. A British resident would be more relaxed when clicking on a “.uk” ending URL. But what about Japanese residents? They can feel that this might be a scam, and they rather avoid it.
Of course, you can create different websites for the different countries you want to step in with your company. But, this choice needs much more resources. And what if you don’t know in the first place the regions where you attract the visitors? In these cases, a generic TLD can also be a great option.
For many people, “.com” means credibility. Even if this is not the case in 2025, human perception does not follow the trends that fast. If you want to avoid losing even one potential buyer because of their fear, you can’t find a better option than “.com”.
.co.uk
Now let’s take a look at some country code Top Level Domains, starting with “.co.uk”. And even if it looks weird at first, this is the most popular option inside the UK. There are a little more than 10 million domains inside Britain that end with either “.co.uk”, or “.uk.”. In 2024 August, a little bit more than 8 million were all ended with “.co.uk.”.
But what makes this as popular?
Strengths of using “.co.uk”
Let’s start with its simplest advantage. Because this is the general option across the British people, this makes it more appealing to click on. “I know 10 other websites that end in the same way, then how can it be bad for us?” – Most people definitely think in that way.
Also, in contrast to “.com” “.co.uk” only targets the British people. Usually, all the companies that use this option only want to target the British. And the good thing is that Google definitely knows this intention. Although the algorithm does not display your website to visitors outside of the UK, it boosts your appearance inside the country. And when you only want to convince British buyers, this is definitely a key strength.
There are two other key factors why you rather choose a country code Top Level Domain. This mostly matters if you run a webshop. So, it can be very frustrating when the prices are not in GBP, or the business can’t deliver (or just at a really high price) to the UK. In this case, a “.co.uk”, or a “.uk” domain extension can indicate to the potential buyers that “Hey, you wouldn’t be disappointed if you choose us!”.
.uk
The domain extension of “.uk” is less traditional than the last mentioned one. Maybe that’s why it is not the main British option. However, young British entrepreneurs rather use this option, and the number of this kind of TLD will significantly rise.
Strengths of using “.uk”
The strength of this domain name extension lies in its simplicity. It is easier to type in, if someone wants, and has more sense. Like, how can something be both “co” and “uk”? In the case of the “.uk” extension, you can even more emphasize that your target groups are the British.
Generally, all the strengths of “co.uk” also apply to this.
Which one should you choose?
As you can see, there is no better or worse in this list. It all depends on your own expectations and needs. And we have some good news: You can register all three options on our website!
