Subdomains vs Subfolders
When you add a new section to your online presence — a blog, a shop or a help centre — you face a choice: put it on a subdomain like blog.yourbrand.com or in a subfolder like yourbrand.com/blog. The decision affects technology, hosting and search visibility.
There is no single right answer, but understanding the trade-offs helps you make a choice that suits your goals.
The Practical Difference
A subfolder is part of the same site and shares its hosting and authority. A subdomain behaves more like a separate site that can be hosted and managed independently.
When to Choose Each
The right choice usually comes down to how independent the new section needs to be.
- Choose a subfolder when the content is closely tied to the main site and you want it to share search authority.
- Choose a subdomain when you need separate technology, a different team, or distinct hosting.
- Consider a subdomain for staging or app environments that should stay isolated.
| Aspect | Subfolder | Subdomain |
|---|---|---|
| Example | site.com/blog | blog.site.com |
| SEO authority | Shared with main site | Treated more separately |
| Hosting | Same as main site | Can be hosted apart |
| Best for | Closely related content | Distinct apps or teams |
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.