Subdomains vs Subdirectories: What’s the Deal?

If your website has a blog or shop section, you might wonder — should you use a subdomain (like blog.example.com) or a subdirectory (example.com/blog)? Both work, but they serve slightly different purposes.

Subdirectories are generally better for SEO. Google sees them as part of your main site, so your content helps boost your entire domain’s authority. That’s great for growing traffic.

Subdomains, on the other hand, are treated like separate websites. They’re useful if you want to split functions — like having a store or a support center that feels like its own brand.

For example, if you have a main business site and a knowledge base, separating them can make management easier. But you’ll need to optimize both for SEO separately.

Still unsure? Many platforms like cheap web hosting have blog guides and examples to help you decide what’s best based on your goals.