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What is a .net domain?

.net is one of the original generic top-level domains, created in 1985 for network providers. Today anyone can register one, for any purpose. Verisign runs it, the same registry as .com, and like .com it targets no country.

Registry
Verisign
Type
Generic (gTLD), no country
Who can register
Anyone, anywhere
Term
1 to 10 years at a time
WHOIS privacy
Free

12.5 million.net names registered, 30 June 2026

Verisign, Domain Name Industry Brief Q2 2026

When .net makes sense

  1. Your .com is taken

    The same name on .net is often free, and people already know the extension.

  2. You run networks or tech

    Hosting, ISPs, IT services, SaaS and infrastructure: the extension still fits its original meaning.

  3. You want to protect your .com

    Registering the .net too stops someone else from using your name on it.

Pair it with your .com

Own both, and send the .net to your main site so every visitor ends up in one place.

  1. Register the .net beside your .com
  2. Point both at the same site with DNS records (free in your dashboard)
  3. Have the site redirect the .net to the .com (301), so search engines see one address

Compare

.net, .com or .org?

Today's prices, per year.

FAQ

.net questions

Is .net as good as .com?

For most visitors it works the same and it's just as trusted. .com is still what people type by default, so if you use .net as your main name, say it clearly on cards and ads, or own both.

Who runs the .net extension?

Verisign, the company that also runs .com, under a contract with ICANN. Your domain is registered in your own name or your company's.

Is .net good for SEO?

Yes. Google ranks pages, not extensions, and .net is generic like .com, so a .net site can rank in any country.

Does .net cost more to renew?

Today it's $16.99 for the first year and $19.99 to renew. Verisign can raise the wholesale price, so renewals can cost more later. The renewal price is shown before you pay.

Is WHOIS privacy free on .net?

Yes. Privacy protection is free on .net and keeps the owner's name, address, email and phone out of public WHOIS lookups.

Can I move my .net to HostMentor?

Yes, once it's past the 60-day lock after registration or a previous transfer. Get the auth code from your current registrar and start the transfer from your dashboard. It costs $16.99 and adds a year to the registration.

Check your .net name.

See the .com and other options alongside it.

Search a .net name

Also see .com, .org and every extension we sell.