Getting a .com.au domain is one of the first things you need to do when setting up an Australian website. It tells visitors and Google that your business is genuinely Australian — and it takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.
This guide covers everything: the current eligibility rules, which registrars to use (and which to avoid), the exact steps to register, and how to set up your DNS once you’re done.
.com.au Domain Requirements — Who Can Register?
Not everyone can register a .com.au domain. Unlike .com domains — which anyone worldwide can buy — .com.au is restricted to Australian entities. The rules are set by auDA (the .au Domain Administration) and were last updated when the direct .au namespace launched in 2022.
To register a .com.au domain, you must be one of the following:
- An Australian registered company (with a current ACN or ABN)
- An Australian trading business (registered for GST or with an active ABN)
- An Australian partnership or sole trader with an ABN
- A foreign company with an ARBN (Australian Registered Body Number)
- An incorporated association registered in Australia
The domain name must also relate to your business. You can’t just register any word — the domain needs to be your business name, an abbreviation of it, a trademark you own, or a product or service you sell. auDA calls this the “close and substantial connection” rule.
In practice, this isn’t as restrictive as it sounds. If your ABN is registered and your domain is even loosely related to your business (which it almost always is), registrations go through without issue.
Best Registrars for .com.au Domains (2026)
Australia has dozens of domain registrars. Here are the ones worth using.
1. VentraIP — Best AU-Owned Registrar
VentraIP is Australian-owned and operated out of Melbourne, which matters for two reasons: your domain is managed by a company under Australian law, and their support team works AEST hours. At around $18–20/year for .com.au, they’re competitive on price and excellent on service.
Best for: Australian businesses who want their domain managed locally, anyone who also needs hosting.
2. Crazy Domains — Best for Bundles
Crazy Domains regularly runs intro offers that make .com.au domains very cheap for the first year. Their renewal prices are higher, so pay attention to the renewal rate before committing. Good option if you’re getting a domain + hosting bundle.
3. GoDaddy AU — Largest Registry, Average Experience
GoDaddy has the largest market share in Australia simply because of brand recognition and constant discounting. Their platform is fine, but their upsell process is aggressive and their support has deteriorated since they moved much of it offshore. Not our first recommendation, but not a disaster.
4. Netregistry — Solid but More Expensive
Netregistry (now part of Web.com) is one of Australia’s oldest registrars. They’re reliable but have gradually become more expensive than the competition. Worth considering if you’re buying through a reseller arrangement.
| Registrar | .com.au (1yr) | Renewal | AU-Owned? | AEST Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VentraIP | $18.95 | $18.95 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Crazy Domains | $4.95 (intro) | $29.95 | ❌ No | ⚠️ Limited |
| GoDaddy AU | $9.99 (intro) | $24.99 | ❌ No | ⚠️ Limited |
| Netregistry | $24.95 | $24.95 | ⚠️ Partial | ✅ Yes |
Prices correct as of April 2026. Always check the registrar’s current pricing before purchasing.
How to Register a .com.au Domain — Step by Step
We’ll use VentraIP in this example, but the process is almost identical on any registrar.
Step 1: Check if the domain is available
Go to the registrar’s domain search tool and type in your desired domain name without the extension (e.g., just “mybusiness” not “mybusiness.com.au”). The tool will show you whether .com.au is available and suggest alternatives if it isn’t.
If your first choice is taken, try:
- Adding a location: “mybusiness-sydney.com.au”
- Adding what you do: “mybusiness-plumbing.com.au”
- Using the .au direct extension instead (more on this below)
Step 2: Add to cart and create an account
Add the domain to your cart. You’ll need to create an account if you don’t have one — use your business email address, not personal. Most registrars will ask for basic contact information at this stage.
Step 3: Provide your eligibility information
This is the .com.au-specific step. You’ll be asked for:
- Registrant type — select “Australian Company” or “Sole Trader / Partnership” depending on your structure
- ABN or ACN — your 11-digit Australian Business Number or 9-digit Company Number
- Registrant name — must match the name on your ABN/ACN registration exactly
Step 4: Choose your registration period
.com.au domains are sold in 1 or 2-year terms. Two-year registrations work out slightly cheaper per year and mean you don’t have to worry about renewal as frequently. We recommend 2 years unless you’re not sure about the project.
Step 5: Skip the upsells (mostly)
Every registrar will offer add-ons at checkout: privacy protection, email hosting, website builder plans, SSL certificates. Our honest take:
- Privacy protection: Less important for .com.au than .com — auDA’s policies already limit what’s publicly visible in the WHOIS record for Australian registrants.
- Email hosting: Only take it if you don’t already have email set up. Google Workspace ($8.40/user/month) or Microsoft 365 are better long-term options.
- SSL certificate: Don’t pay for this separately — your hosting provider will include a free Let’s Encrypt SSL.
Step 6: Pay and confirm
Pay by credit card or PayPal. You’ll receive a confirmation email with your domain details and login credentials. Your domain is live within minutes — though DNS propagation takes 2–48 hours if you’re pointing it to a new hosting account.
.com.au vs .au — Which Should You Choose?
In March 2022, auDA introduced the .au direct namespace — meaning you can now register “mybusiness.au” in addition to, or instead of, “mybusiness.com.au”. This created a question that didn’t exist before: which one should you use?
The case for .com.au
- Recognition: .com.au is what Australians expect. It’s been the standard for 30+ years. Customers typing your URL from memory will default to .com.au.
- Email credibility: A .com.au email address reads as more established to Australian recipients than a .au address.
- SEO parity: Both .com.au and .au send the same geographic signals to Google. Neither has an SEO advantage over the other.
The case for .au
- Shorter: If your business name is long, dropping “.com” saves characters in URLs, business cards, and signage.
- Availability: Many .com.au domains are taken that have a corresponding .au available — especially single-word domains.
- Priority period is over: .com.au holders had priority to claim their matching .au until September 2024. That window has closed, so it’s now first-in, first-served.
Our recommendation
If your desired .com.au is available, get .com.au. It’s the established standard and what Australian customers expect. Consider also grabbing the matching .au to prevent competitors registering it — at $15–20/year it’s cheap protection.
If your .com.au is taken but the .au is free, .au is a perfectly legitimate choice for a new business.
What Does a .com.au Domain Cost?
Expect to pay $15–25/year for a .com.au domain at reputable Australian registrars. Watch for:
- Introductory pricing: Some registrars advertise $4.95 for the first year, then jump to $29.95 on renewal. Always check the renewal price before registering.
- Transfer locks: A few registrars make transferring your domain away unnecessarily complicated. VentraIP and most reputable AU registrars make transfers straightforward.
- Bundled vs standalone: If you’re also buying hosting, registrars often include a free domain for the first year. Check whether “free” means free for life or just year one.
DNS Setup After Registration
Once you have your domain, you need to point it at your website hosting. This is done by updating your domain’s nameservers or DNS records — depending on how your setup works.
Option 1: Update nameservers (easiest)
If your hosting provider gives you nameserver addresses (e.g., “ns1.ventraip.com.au” and “ns2.ventraip.com.au”), you can point your entire domain to their DNS by updating the nameservers in your domain registrar’s control panel. This hands off all DNS management to your host.
Steps:
- Log into your registrar’s control panel
- Find your domain and look for “Nameservers” or “DNS Settings”
- Replace the existing nameservers with the ones your host provided
- Save — propagation takes 2–48 hours
Option 2: Add A and CNAME records (more control)
If you want to keep DNS at your registrar but point individual records to your host, you’ll update specific records:
- A record: Points your domain (and www subdomain) to your server’s IP address
- CNAME record: Creates aliases (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com.au → your mail server)
- MX records: Points email to your mail server (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, etc.)
Your hosting provider will give you the exact values to enter — just copy them in. Don’t change values you don’t understand, as a misconfiguration can take your site offline.
How to Transfer a .com.au Domain
If you want to move your domain to a different registrar (e.g., to consolidate everything with your hosting provider), the process for .com.au is straightforward:
- Unlock the domain — log into your current registrar and disable the transfer lock (sometimes called “domain lock” or “registrar lock”)
- Get your transfer key — .com.au transfers use an “Auth Code” or “EPP Code.” Request this from your current registrar.
- Initiate the transfer — go to your new registrar, search for your domain, and choose “Transfer.” Enter your auth code when prompted.
- Approve the transfer — you’ll receive an email to the registrant address asking you to approve. Confirm it.
- Wait 5–7 days — auDA requires a standard transfer period. Your site stays online throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register a .com.au domain without an ABN?
No. You need an ABN, ACN, or ARBN to register .com.au. If you’re starting a new business, apply for an ABN first — it’s free and usually issued within 24 hours.
How long does a .com.au registration last?
You can register for 1 or 2 years. After that, you renew to keep it. If you let it lapse, it goes into a redemption period where you can recover it for a fee, then eventually becomes available to anyone.
Can someone take my .com.au domain?
Only if you fail to renew it. Set up auto-renewal on your domain to prevent this. Most registrars will send multiple reminder emails before a domain lapses.
Is .com.au better than .com for SEO in Australia?
Google treats .com.au as a country-code TLD (ccTLD) and gives it a geographic signal for Australia. This can help you rank in Australian search results. A .com domain can also rank well in Australia, but you’d need to configure Google Search Console to target Australia specifically. For a business targeting Australian customers, .com.au is the cleaner choice.
What if my preferred .com.au is taken?
Try the .au direct extension, add a descriptor (your suburb, what you do), or contact the current registrant if it’s a domain you genuinely need. Services like auDA’s dispute resolution can help if someone is sitting on a domain you have a stronger claim to.
Can I have email with my .com.au domain?
Yes. Once you have your domain, you can set up email at yourname@yourdomain.com.au using Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or your hosting provider’s email service. You’ll add MX records in your DNS to point email to whichever service you choose.
How long does it take for a .com.au domain to go live?
Registration itself is instant — your domain is technically yours within minutes. DNS propagation (making it accessible in browsers) takes 2–48 hours, though usually it’s live within a couple of hours.
Ready to Register?
For most Australian businesses, we recommend VentraIP for domain registration. They’re Australian-owned, transparent on pricing (no intro/renewal bait-and-switch), and their support team is genuinely based in Australia. If you’re also looking for hosting, their shared hosting plans are solid for small business sites.