If most of your customers are in the UK, choose .co.uk. It's the ending UK customers know and trust. If you sell worldwide, or plan to, a .com makes sense. Whichever you pick, it's worth registering the other main endings too and pointing them at your website, so nobody else can use your name.
The three options at a glance
All three work in exactly the same way. Any of them can run a website and professional email. The differences are about recognition, availability and price.
| .co.uk | .uk | .com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | UK businesses of any size | Short UK names, or as a second domain | International businesses |
| Recognised by UK customers | Very high | Growing | Very high |
| Signals you're UK based | Yes | Yes | No |
| Name availability | Good | Good | Harder, most short names are taken |
| Price with RhinoReg | £8.99 a year | £8.99 a year | £17.99 a year |
| Run by | Nominet (UK) | Nominet (UK) | Verisign (US) |
Swipe the table to see all three.
First-year prices at the time of writing. Renewal prices may differ and are always shown before checkout.
.co.uk: the trusted UK choice
.co.uk has been around since 1985 and is the ending most UK customers expect to see. If you're a local business, a trade, or an online shop selling mainly in the UK, it tells visitors straight away that you're based here, which builds trust before they've read a word.
Good for
- Instantly shows you're a UK business
- The ending UK customers are most likely to type
- Better availability than .com
- Low cost
Watch out for
- Can feel local if you expand abroad later
- A few more characters than .uk
.com: the global standard
.com is the best-known domain ending in the world. If you sell internationally, or your brand isn't tied to one country, it's the natural choice. The catch is availability: most short, simple .com names were registered years ago, so you may need to be more creative with your name.
Good for
- Recognised everywhere
- Ideal for selling worldwide
- Many people type .com out of habit
Watch out for
- Short, simple names are hard to find
- Costs more than UK endings
- Doesn't tell customers you're UK based
.uk: short and modern
.uk launched in 2014 as a shorter alternative to .co.uk. It gives the same UK signal with fewer characters, which is handy for short, punchy brands. It's still less familiar than .co.uk, so some people may type .co.uk by mistake. That's why many businesses register both.
Some .uk names show "Restrictions apply" in search results. These are rules set by the registry, and you'll see any details before checkout.
Does the domain ending affect Google rankings?
Not in the way many people think. Google doesn't rank a .com above a .co.uk just because of the ending. What it does do is treat country endings such as .co.uk and .uk as a sign that your site is aimed at UK visitors, which can help you show up in UK searches.
A .com is treated as international, so Google relies on other clues, such as your content, your address and prices in pounds. In short, choose the ending that suits your customers. Useful content, a fast website and a clear description of what you do matter far more than the ending.
Should you register more than one?
Usually, yes. Extra domains cost very little compared with the trouble of someone else using your name. A simple setup that works for most UK businesses:
- Use .co.uk as your main domain, for your website and email.
- Register the .uk and .com versions too, if they're available.
- Point the extra domains at your main website with domain forwarding, which is included free with every RhinoReg domain.
Worth knowing: the domains businesses most often regret are the cheap ones they didn't buy. Once a competitor or a domain trader owns your .com, it can be expensive, or impossible, to get back.
Which should you choose?
Plumbers, salons, cafés and builders. Add the .uk to protect your name.
Use .co.uk as your main domain, and grab the .com for customers who type it by habit.
Lead with .com, and keep the .co.uk so your UK name is protected.
yourname.co.uk or yourname.uk are short, memorable and professional.
Five checks before you buy
- Say it out loud. Could someone spell it after hearing it once on the phone?
- Avoid hyphens and numbers if you can. They're easy to forget and hard to say.
- Keep it short. Shorter names are easier to remember, type and fit on a logo.
- Check trade marks. Make sure the name isn't someone else's registered trade mark using the GOV.UK trade mark search.
- Check social media. See if the same name is free on the platforms you plan to use.
How to register your domain
- Search for your name using the box below. You'll see which endings are available and their prices.
- Select the domains you want. Your main domain, plus any extra endings to protect your name.
- Check out. Your domain is usually ready within minutes, with forwarding, DNS control, domain locking and auto renew included.
Common questions
Can anyone register a .co.uk domain?
Yes. You don't need to be a limited company. Sole traders, individuals, charities and clubs can all register one. You just need to give accurate contact details.
Is .uk the same as .co.uk?
No. They're separate domains, so example.uk and example.co.uk can be owned by different people. That's why many businesses register both.
Can I change my domain later?
Yes, but it takes work: new email addresses, updated printed materials, and redirects so you don't lose your Google rankings. Choosing well now saves that hassle.
Do I own my domain forever?
You register a domain for a set period, usually one year or more, and renew it. Turn on auto renew so it never expires by accident.
Do I need a website to register a domain?
No. You can register a domain now to secure the name and build the website later. You can also use it straight away for a professional email address.
Keep reading
More plain-English guides for getting your business online.
See all guides →Ready to find your domain?
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