Few naming decisions come up as often for AI founders as this one. The .ai extension has become the natural home for AI products, but .com is still what most people type by default. Here's what the data says, and how to decide.
What funded AI startups actually use
In The Startup Domain Report, our analysis of thousands of funded startups, AI companies were the least likely of any sector to be on the exact .com of their name, and the most likely to be on .ai. Across all sectors, the share of new startups launching on .ai has risen sharply in recent cohorts.
The case for .ai
- Instant category signal: it tells people you're an AI product.
- Availability: short, clean names are far easier to find on .ai than on .com.
- Accepted by investors and users: many well-funded AI companies use .ai as their main domain.
The case for .com
- Default typing behaviour: people, and email autocomplete, still reach for .com.
- Lost email and traffic: if someone else owns your .com, some of your messages and visitors end up there.
- Longevity: if your product grows beyond "AI", a .com doesn't tie the brand to a trend.
- Registry considerations: .ai is a country-code extension (Anguilla), so its rules and pricing are set by that registry rather than the .com registry.
Our recommendation
- Launching now? A strong .ai is a perfectly good start. Check who owns the .com of the same name.
- Raising or growing? Plan to secure the matching .com, ideally before your profile rises.
- Own both where you can: one main domain, the other redirecting.
Want the .com (or .ai) of your name? See how we help AI startups.
Questions
Is .ai a good domain for a startup?
Yes, for AI products it's widely accepted and often easier to get a short name on. Many companies later add the matching .com as they grow.
Should I buy both the .ai and the .com?
If you can, yes. Use one as your main domain and redirect the other, so you don't lose traffic or email to someone else.
More guides
- How to buy a domain name that's already taken
- How to find out who owns a domain, even when WHOIS is private
- How much does it cost to buy a domain that's already registered?
- Exact-match domains and SEO: do they still help you rank?
- Domain broker vs. doing it yourself
- How to approach a domain owner to buy their domain
- Domain escrow explained: how to pay for a domain safely
- How to upgrade from .io or .ai to the .com
- How to buy a domain from a private owner
- What to do when a domain owner won't reply
- How to buy a domain anonymously
- How to hire a domain broker to buy a domain
- Is a premium domain worth it?
- How domain brokers charge