Is your website just for Tanzania, or do you desire to reach customers worldwide? 

Choosing between .tz vs.com domains is like deciding between a neighborhood shop and a global store; both get the job done, but one fits your goals better.

Understanding the differences between .tz and .com can help you make an informed decision when building a website. 

To help you get the perfect domain, this guide features a detailed comparison of tz vs. com, plus the pros and cons of each in different scenarios to inform your decision. 

What is a .tz Domain?

If you come across a website ending with .tz, it is affiliated with Tanzania. A .tz domain is Tanzania’s country-code top-level domain (ccTLD), like how .ke is for Kenya or .ng for Nigeria.

Businesses or organizations that want a Tanzania-specific online presence use a .tz domain. For example, a blog with a .tz domain usually has content tailored to a Tanzanian audience.

Also, businesses with a .tz domain, such as an internet service provider with a website like bestnet.ne.tz, mean that the company provides services in Tanzania. 

Examples of a .tz domain are:

.tz domain	Purpose	Example
.co.tz	For commercial businesses	shop.co.tz
.go.tz	For government websites	, tax.go.tz
.ac.tz	For academic institutions	university.ac.tz
.or.tz	For non-profit organizations	charity.or.tz

What is a .com Domain?

The .com domain is short for commercial. It was initially meant for businesses but has gained popularity with various websites. 

If you have searched for anything online, you could have encountered many websites ending with .com. This is because it is the most popular domain extension. 

Therefore, if you see a website like google.com, facebook.com, or amazon.com, you’re looking at a .com domain. It’s the standard choice for most websites because:

•  It’s trusted
• Easy to remember
• Works globally

Almost every type of website can use a .com domain. For example: 

• Blogs and personal websites
• Businesses 
• Portfolios and resumes
• Non-profits 
• E-commerce stores
• Educational site

.tz vs .com Domain Main Differences Explained

Purpose and Target Audience

The .tz domain is like a national flag on a website, signifying that the website identifies with Tanzania and is intended to connect with Tanzania strategically.

For example, local businesses use .tz domains, e.g., .co.tz, because it immediately signals their Tanzanian roots to customers, just like a physical storefront in Dar es Salaam would.

Government agencies also exclusively use .go.tz extensions, creating an official, trustworthy online presence for public services.

The .tz domain psychologically impacts internet users because, in many cases, Tanzanian internet users instinctively trust a .tz website more for local transactions, cultural or lifestyle influence, and language accessibility than they would a generic .com.

On the other hand, .com is the universal flag that sells brands or businesses worldwide. 

Multinational businesses like Apple or Microsoft use .com because it beats geographical boundaries. For example, a customer in Johannesburg can recognize a .com business website regardless of the business location.

Global businesses can use a .com domain for their website and utilize country-specific subdomains to reach local markets. For example, a tech company in Canada can have a .com website like canatech.com and a subdomain like canatech.co.tz for its Tanzanian market.

Domain Availability and Registration

Another key difference between a .tz vs a .com domain is availability and registration.

While TzNIC sets some regulations for .tz domain registration, the .com domain registration system is open to anyone. 

For example, if you want to register a .co.tz domain for a business, you need to show proof of business registration or affiliation with Tanzania during domain registration. 

On the other hand, with a valid address and some dollars, you can register a .com domain from anywhere in the world. 

The verification requirements for a .tz domain include:

1. Valid contact details: a Tanzanian phone number with local registration and a verifiable address
2. An active email address that you can access
3. A Tanzanian contact to prove residency

The .tz domain registration requirements ensure that .tz domains remain authentically Tanzanian. Hence, you can’t register a .tz domain simply because you like the name.

So, how do the regulations affect domain availability?

Having restrictions and requirements for registering a .tz domain makes it easier to regulate the number of .tz domain registrations.

Hence, .tz domains do not compete as much with the .com domains in registrations; this means you can have a shorter and perfect .tz domain compared to a .com domain.

The global competition for .com domains has seen hundreds of millions of domains registered, leaving it up to businesses to adopt different formulas to develop an ideal domain name that has not yet been registered. 

Credibility and Trust

Digitally, a .tz domain works like a trusted neighborhood shop. Therefore, local consumers perceive .tz sites as more accountable. If issues arise, local customers know the business operates in Tanzania and can be physically located.

On the other hand, the .com domain has an advantage in gaining customers’ trust. Its universal recognition creates instant legitimacy with global customers. Users globally are more likely to click a .com link in search results than an unfamiliar ccTLD domain extension.

Depending on where you use it, each domain extension can gain trust and credibility for your business. 

For example, if Tanzanian users search for the best courier services in Tanzania, they are more likely to trust a .tz site than a .com site. 

However, if a user in Germany searches for the best courier services in Tanzania, they might click on a .com website because it is familiar and has a global affiliation. 

Also, having a local domain like a .tz builds trust and helps eliminate scammers, especially for large corporations such as banks, government sites, and financial institutions. 

If your business targets the Tanzanian market, a .tz domain is the best option to build trust and credibility. If you are focused on a global audience, you should get a .com domain to build trust. 

Price

There are several accredited .tz domain registrars, and each has different pricing, depending on the package and features included in a bundle. 

For example, Truehost charges TSH 32,750 ($13) for a .co.tz domain. .tz domain registrars, such as ZESHA, offer .tz domain registration with a hosting bundle for a high fee (TSH 223,000) for the basic plan.

The pricing for registering a .com domain also varies depending on the domain registrar. The average price for a .com is $10-$20 (TSH 25.350 – 50,700). Domain registrars sometimes offer generous discounts for first-time registrations and higher renewal prices.  

It is vital to research and compare domain registrars before choosing to gain insight into the current market prices. To register a .tz domain, compare different registry options, and get the best. 

Also, remember that the price of a .com registration can vary due to the currency exchange rate from TSH to dollars, mainly if your registrar uses dollars to transact. 

Online Visibility and SEO

You need a .tz domain if you are a business targeting Tanzanian consumers. 

Google’s algorithm associates .tz websites with Tanzania, giving them a ranking boost for location-based searches. This ranking is crucial for all businesses, such as hotels and local services.

Furthermore, if you have a .tz website, local backlinks from .tz sites carry more weight in building domain authority within Tanzania.

One disadvantage of a .tz domain regarding visibility is its limitation for expansion. Your business might experience difficulty gaining visibility outside Tanzania with a .tz domain.

A .com website is the way to go if you focus on global SEO. The .com domain has a flexibility advantage over ccTLDs. The .com website targets audiences from multiple countries, depending on the tailoring of the website content.

Besides global popularity, the .com domain has universal crawlability, which helps with international link-building campaigns, as .com backlinks are valued worldwide.

Which One Should You Get?

Deciding whether you should get a .tz domain or a .com domain for your website can be hectic. In this situation, there are several things you should think about to make the best decision: 

1. Identify your website goals
2. Know your target audience: local or international
3. Know how much you are willing to spend
4. Decide on the plans for your business, such as the possibility of expansion

When you should get a .tz domain:

• If you have an audience mainly in Tanzania, to build business trust
• You want a perfect short domain name for a Tanzanian website
• When your business is registered in Tanzania
• If you wish to develop Tanzanian SEO

A .com domain is a winner in these situations:

• If you want a global audience for your website
• Your desire to expand globally
• If you are targeting instant brand recognition
• To build global SEO

Do you want to build a website to help your business achieve Tanzanian and global success? You do not have to pick one domain. You can acquire a .tz and a .com domain and redirect one to the other for optimization. 

Final Take: .tz vs .com Domain 

Picking the winning domain comes down to your goals and who you are trying to reach with your website. You can make the most with a .tz domains if:

• Your business, blog, or organization is only for Tanzania.
• You want better local trust, SEO, and the ideal domain name.

A .com is perfect for a global audience, instant recognition, and situations where you want to register quickly without restrictions. 

If you want to reach a local and global audience, get a .tz and a .com. If you need more help deciding or registering, Truehost TZ has you covered.