Subdomains and subfolders (also known as subdirectories) are two distinct methods for organizing website content. Let’s take a closer look at the key differences.
Subdomains: A subdomain appears before the primary domain name (e.g., https://help.time4vps.com/). Using a subdomain usually involves creating a new DNS record that points to a specific IP address or directory. Search engines typically treat subdomains as separate websites. While they are still associated with the main domain, they may accumulate their own keyword rankings and link equity. There are some main cases when we use a subdomain:
- Specific functionality of the website: If a section of your website has a different purpose or requires a particular audience (e.g., a support portal, an e-commerce store, or a blog);
- Different website technologies: If you need to use a different CMS or technology for a specific section (e.g., your leading site is on WordPress, but your support portal is on a different platform);
- Internationalization: For different languages of your website;
- Testing Environment: Developers often use subdomains for staging versions of a website to test changes before publishing;
- Large entities: Large companies with multiple brands or branches that require their separate online presence.
Subfolders: A subdirectory is a type of website hierarchy under a root domain that uses folders to organize content on a website, a subdirectory is the same as a subfolder and the names can be used alternatively. A subfolder appears after the primary domain name, often separated by a slash (https://www.time4vps.com/knowledgebase/). There are some main cases when we use a subdirectory:
- Categorization of content: For organizing related content within the same website (e.g., articles within a blog, different product categories);
- Boosting overall domain authority: When you want all content to contribute to the SEO strength of your primary domain, as link equity and keyword rankings are consolidated;
- Simplicity and ease of management: Generally simpler to set up and maintain, especially for smaller businesses or websites.
- Consistent branding and user experience: Helps maintain a unified look and feel across the entire website.
Let’s debate what is better for SEO purposes.
Practical experience and various cases say that there are some nuances. Subfolders are generally considered to be better for integrating link equity and domain authority. Search engines see them as part of the main website; links to any page within a subfolder contribute to the overall authority of the root domain. Keyword ranking in subfolders directly contributes to the main domain’s keyword density. Subdomains, being treated as separate, might rank independently for different sets of keywords. Managing SEO for multiple subdomains can be more complex, as each might require its own search verification and analytics tracking.