www vs non-www: Which Is Better for SEO?
Neither www nor non-www is better for SEO. Google treats them as equal. What matters is choosing exactly one version, redirecting the other to it with a 301, and keeping every canonical, sitemap and internal link consistent with that choice. Running both live splits your site into duplicate copies.
How to choose
Pick the version people expect to type and that matches your existing links. If your site is new with no links, non-www reads cleaner on printed material. If you plan cookie scoping across subdomains later, www gives more room. Either way, commit once.
Make the switch safely
- Redirect the unused version to the chosen one, sitewide, 301.
- Set every canonical tag to the chosen version.
- Update the sitemap URLs, then resubmit in Search Console.
- Verify both versions are covered in Search Console properties.
Confirm your setup with the On-Page SEO Checker, which flags canonical mismatches, and check for accidental duplicate copies with the Duplicate Content Checker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is https separate from www choice?
Yes, four versions exist: http/https times www/non-www. One canonical, three redirects.
Does the choice affect email or DNS?
DNS differs slightly, email not necessarily. Decide with whoever manages DNS.
Related reading
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