Ask HN: .io vs .ai for a startup?

6 points by genevpd 8y ago ↗ HN

.com is taken, both .io and .ai are available.

Would you pick .io or .ai for a business app where ML/AI is major value proposition?

19 comments

[ 3.1 ms ] story [ 56.5 ms ] thread

deurzen 8y ago ↗

.io is becoming increasingly popular amongst startups.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/christophersteiner/2017/05/03/m...

I would go for the .io TLD myself.

nightfly 8y ago ↗

buy both

genevpd 8y ago ↗

Several people suggested to buy both, in that case, which one you will make primary and other for redirect?

eb0la 8y ago ↗

Don't redirect. Just setup the same site with the same content and see what happens / converts better / etc.

edward8628 8y ago ↗

I would go with .io and .ai is not bad neither

[deleted] 8y ago ↗

(comment deleted)

sgillen 8y ago ↗

Either is going to be fine honestly.

I agree with the others in that I would choose .io

throwaway180118 8y ago ↗

Which domain registrar would you recommend?

tedyoung 8y ago ↗

I like HexoNet (https://www.hexonet.net/) and NameCheap (https://www.namecheap.com/) and pick the one that has the lower price for the TLD that I'm interested in.

In this case, HexoNet has .ai for $80/year, and NameCheap has the .io TLD for $32.88/year.

rcfox 8y ago ↗

It sounds like the .io TLD is very poorly managed, what with people being able to take over the nameservers. https://hackernoon.com/stop-using-io-domain-names-for-produc...

LiamPa 8y ago ↗

Agreed good advice that came from this was to host anything important (API) on www.

[deleted] 8y ago ↗

(comment deleted)

tedyoung 8y ago ↗

I would personally get both: you want the .ai, because that's your niche, and add on the .io given that it isn't very expensive at $32.88/year.

segmondy 8y ago ↗

None, leave it and find an available .com

eb0la 8y ago ↗

Today .com is a serious asset. It it's taken, buy it as soon as you raise money.

Investors won't protest if you buy a $XXX asset that might not loose value if everything goes bad.

throwaway413 8y ago ↗

.ai is the new .io

nik736 8y ago ↗

I would only get .io or .ai if the .com is taken but can be bought. Otherwise add a word to take the .com.

innoprenuer 8y ago ↗

I would go for .ai because thats the core feature. domain with .ai gives away your core offering (i.e. ML/Al) and you would have customer attention from the very beginning. According to me, it also adds credibility and legitimacy in a subtle way which goes a long way in lead conversion.

rajacombinator 8y ago ↗

Doesn’t matter at all but “AI” is still in the buzz cycle might as well hop on board.