Using your .co
A .co is short and sold worldwide, but its renewals cost about double the first year. Here is what it signals, the rules, and the setup basics.
Basics
Is a .co domain good for business?
A .co works for any business but carries no official meaning. The registry says .co began as Colombia's country ending and has become a universal one, a "short and sharp" ending for businesses, startups and individuals.[1]
How much does a .co cost over time?
$15.76 the first year at Porkbun, then $31.20 a year, nearly three times a .com's $11.08.
| Cost at Porkbun | .co | .com |
|---|---|---|
| First year | $15.76 | $11.08 |
| Each year after | $31.20 | $11.08 |
| First 5 years | $140.56 | $55.40 |
If the .com is available, it costs far less to keep; check both together. Compare every ending in Which domain ending should I pick?[2]
What rules apply to how you use a .co?
The .co anti-abuse policy bans malware, phishing, pharming, botnets, spam and child abuse material. The registry can have a name suspended, locked or deleted, or block it from resolving. Wrong or outdated contact details can also cost you the name.[3, 4]
Advanced
How do you set up email, DNS and HTTPS on a .co?
The same way as on a .com. The full steps are on Using your .com.
| Step | What to know |
|---|---|
| Nameservers | Turn off DNSSEC at your registrar first; the switch can take up to 24 hours |
| Set up SPF or DKIM before you send; over 5,000 a day to Gmail needs both, plus DMARC | |
| HTTPS | Cloudflare issues free certificates to every domain active on its service, on any plan |
Sources (7)
- Primary.CO Registry: home ("What is .CO?")
- PrimaryPorkbun: domain name pricing, the public price list our checker reads daily
- Primary.CO Registry: Anti-Abuse Policy
- Primary.CO Registry: Registration Policies (accurate data)
- PrimaryCloudflare docs: Full setup
- PrimaryGoogle Workspace Admin Help: Email sender guidelines
- PrimaryCloudflare docs: Universal SSL