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Extension guides · 5 min read
Is .io still worth it for a startup?
.io still reads as “tech company” to many buyers. It is worth it when the name is clear — not when you are only buying nostalgia.
Summary
- .io remains a familiar tech/startup signal, rooted as a country-code TLD in the DNS.
- Worth it when the second-level name is short, speakable, and available at a price that fits runway.
- Weaker when a solid .com/.co/.ai is available, or when your customers are offline-first and confuse the ending.
- Always check trademarks and email deliverability practices for your stack.
| Claim | Verdict |
|---|---|
| .io is “dead” | Myth — still widely used and understood in tech |
| .io guarantees funding or SEO | Myth |
| .io can be the right primary brand | True, when the string is strong |
- Say it on a sales call: “We’re at name-dot-io.”
- Check whether investors and customers in your segment already trust the ending.
- Compare total cost of ownership across endings on DNX pricing.
Should we redirect .com to .io or the reverse?
Pick one primary brand URL and redirect the rest. Consistency beats collecting endings.
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