Domain Compare - Compare prices for .au domain names

About MyHost: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2026-02-04T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on to discover who owns MyHost, what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and more.

What do .au domains cost at MyHost?

As you will see on our comparison table, MyHost’s regular price for .au domains is NZ$12.50/yr, which works out to around AUD$10.77/yr. This falls below the median of the prices we track. They also sell web hosting.

Who owns MyHost?

MyHost was founded in 2000 and became part of SiteTech Group in 2009. Other SiteTech companies include Chirpy Domains and SiteHost.

What do ratings and reviews say about MyHost?

As of February 2026, MyHost’s online ratings and reviews (which are collected under its New Zealand brand) include:

4.8 / 5 on Trustpilot
4.7 / 5 on Google reviews

If you look for more reviews, don’t get confused with the separate Irish company that is also called MyHost.

Is MyHost a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

MyHost is not listed as a domain registrar by auDA. MyHost’s parent company owns and operates Webslice, which is an accredited registrar. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is MyHost on social media?

Yes, MyHost is active on Facebook and Bluesky. They also have an inactive X profile.

Where does MyHost report outages?

MyHost has a Network Status page in its clients’ area, as well as a stand-alone status page on its own domain, where each server is monitored separately.

About Chirpy Domains: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2026-02-04T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on to discover who owns Chirpy Domains, what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and more.

What do .au domains cost at Chirpy Domains?

Chirpy Domains are one of the cheapest prices we track, offering .au domains at $12.50/yr, well below the median on our comparison table. Chirpy Domain’s sister company MyHost offers web hosting services.

Who owns Chirpy Domains?

Chirpy Domains has operated since 2025 and is wholly owned by SiteTech Solutions Ltd. SiteTech began in 2004 and includes MyHost and SiteHost.

What do ratings and reviews say about Chirpy Domains?

There are no online platforms that provide reviews for Chirpy Domains as of February 2026.

Is Chirpy Domains a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

Chirpy Domains is not listed as a domain registrar. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is Chirpy Domains on social media?

No. Chirpy Domains does not operate any social media profiles.

Where does Chirpy Domains report outages?

Chirpy Domains does not have a webpage where outages or network status are reported.

Here’s how you choose between .com.au, .net.au, and other .au domain names

2026-01-30T00:00:00Z

Australia's .au Domain Administration (auDA) is a well-trusted domain regulator. They do a lot of work to keep the .au namespace well organised and free from bad actors. One key way they do this is by carefully determining eligibility for many of the most popular .au top level domains.

What .au domains are regulated and why? #

Like many other country code top level domains (ccTLD), .au domains are protected and can only be registered by Australians who meet the auDA’s guidelines. In all cases, you’ll have to provide either some form of Australian proof-of-identity, your Australian Business Number (ABN), or other means of authenticating your connection to Australia. There are eight primary .au domain namespaces which are protected by the auDA. Each has its own purpose and rules for who can register domains within them.

Who can register .com.au domains? #

To be eligible for Australia’s most popular TLD, .com.au, you have to be registered as a commercial entity (a business), and the domain name must match the name of a business or the service the business offers.

Who can get .net.au domains? #

The same applies for .net.au, which is exclusively for businesses. In the same sense, domains must also match the name of the business or the service the business offers. While the auDA website says .net.au “is the online for Australian tech companies”, there are no restrictions on the field or industry a business is involved in.

Who can register .org.au and .asn.au domains? #

On a similar but less commercial note, the .org.au namespace is reserved for not-for-profit organisations. Likewise, .asn.au is also exclusive to non-commercial organisations, which in this case also includes unincorporated associations.

Who is eligible for .edu.au, .gov.au, and .id.au domains? #

The .edu.au namespace is reserved for education and training providers in Australia, while the .gov.au namespace is restricted for only Australian government bodies. On a different note, only individuals (people, not companies) can obtain the licence for a .id.au.

How do I get .au direct domains? #

Unlike all of the above, the .au direct namespace has no distinct requirements, other than requiring you to be either an Australian citizen, permanent resident, trademark holder or organisation registered in Australia.

Who can get state and territory .au domains? #

State and territory specific domain names are also tightly protected. To be eligible for any of the below state and territory domains you must be a registered not-for-profit organisation, including state and territory bodies, and community groups, operating in the area.

.act.aucan only be used by those within the Australian Capital Territory.
.nsw.au can only be used by those within the state of New South Wales.
.nt.au can only be used by those within the Northern Territory.
.qld.au can only be used by those within the state of Queensland.
.sa.au can only be used by those within the state of South Australia.
.tas.au can only be used by those within the state of Tasmania.
.vic.au can only be used by those within the state of Victoria.
.wa.au can only be used by those within the state of Western Australia.

Remember to check and compare prices from different retailers before you register any new .au domains.

About SiteHost: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2026-01-30T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on to discover who owns SiteHost, what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and more.

What do .au domains cost at SiteHost?

SiteHost charges NZD$36.00 per year for .au domains, which works out to around AUD$31.74/yr as shown on our comparison table. SiteHost also offers web hosting and other services.

Who owns SiteHost?

SiteHost was founded in 2004 by the owners of its parent company SiteTech Group. SiteTech group also includes MyHost and Chirpy Domains.

What do ratings and reviews say about SiteHost?

Online ratings and reviews for SiteHost are as follows:

4.9 / 5 (Trustpilot)
4.7 / 5 (Google reviews)

Is SiteHost a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

SiteHost is not listed as a .au accredited registrar, however their parent company owns and operates SiteName which is an accredited registrar listed by the Domain Administration. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is SiteHost on social media?

Yes, SiteHost is active on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Facebook. They also have an inactive X profile.

Where does SiteHost report outages?

SiteHost reports outages on a separate website that details the status of all services provided, highlights upcoming maintenance and provides a long history of incident reports.

Jargon busting: Domain-related words and terms, defined

2026-01-18T00:00:00Z

Domains are surrounded by a lot of jargon. If you want to know the difference between registrants and registrars, or the difference between a CNAME record and AAAA record, then here are the answers.

If you see a term in italics that you don't recognise, it has its own entry in this glossary.
Bold terms are expansions of abbreviations.

AAAA record | A record: A type of DNS record that holds the IP address of the server that the IP address of the server that the domain points to. AAAA records specify IPv6 addresses and A records specify IPv4 addresses.
auDA: The not-for-profit regulator and registry for .au domains.
Auto-renewal: Domain renewal handled systematically. To save you going through a purchase process to retain ownership of your domain, auto-renewal makes the purchase for you. You receive reminder emails beforehand, and a confirmation after the transaction.
ccTLD: Country code top-level domain. All ccTLDs are two letters long, and every country has one. For example, Australia's ccTLD is .au and the United Kingdom's is .uk.
CNAME record: A type of DNS record used to specify a "canonical name", i.e. another domain that defines the right IP address. CNAME records are used to say "don't look for an IP address here - instead go and look at this other domain's records". One typical use is to relate a subdomain (like sub.example.com) to the IP address of the main domain (example.com).
DKIM: A TXT record related to email authentification. Similar to DMARC.
DMARC: A TXT record related to email authentification.Similar to DKIM.
DNS: The domain name system translates between domain names that humans understand, and IP addresses that machines understand.
DNS records: These records each contain a small amount of information that relates to your domain. DNS records perform crucial functions like connecting your domain name to the right servers for your website and/or email. For specific types of DNS record, see A record | AAAA record, CNAME record, and TXT record.
Domain password: A 16 character alphanumeric code needed to transfer domains between domain name providers..
gTLD: Generic top-level domains, for example .com, .org and .net. Unlike ccTLDs, gTLDs do not relate to any specific country.
ICANN: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is a non-profit body with a broad range of functions including regulating important gTLDs like .com, .org, and .net.
IP address: IP stands for Internet Protocol. IP addresses are used by machines to identify servers and other devices that are connected to the internet. There are two types of IP address. IPv4 addresses consist of four numbers separated by dots (e.g. 192.0.2.1). IPv6 addresses are longer, with colons rather than dots, and can include letters. (e.g. 2001:db8:3333:4444:CCCC:DDDD:EEEE:FFFF).
MX record: A type of DNS record used for email. When a domain is used for email addresses, then MX records specify the related email server(s).
Name server: Also known as DNS servers, name servers store DNS records. These are not the servers that store your website. Instead, they store and serve up information that browsers use to find your website when someone visits your domain.
Premium domain: Rather than charge the exact same price for every domain with a particular TLD, some registrars charge more for premium domains. There are no premium .au or .com domains, but two of the more popular TLDs with premium pricing are .co and .biz. Premium domains tend to be shorter or more memorable.
Registrant: The owner of a domain. If you have registered a domain, you are the registrant.
Registrar: A company that can work directly with the registry to register and update domains on behalf of customers. Not every domain retailer is a registrar. Registrars have to meet conditions and technical requirements set down by the TLD's registry (and regulator, if there is one).
Registry: The organisation that's responsible for the overall management of all the domains within a particular TLD. Some are public non-profit bodies, like Australia's .au Domain Administration (.au). Some are private companies, like GoDaddy Registry (.biz, and hundreds of others). Registries set wholesale prices and operate the systems that record information like who owns which domain. Along with regulators, registries can also set and enforce rules for their TLD - e.g. auDA upholds restrictions around who can register different types of .au domains.
Regulator: An official body that sets rules for domains within a particular TLD. Some examples: ICANN is the regulator for .com, and auDA for .au. Regulators can control prices, put restrictions on who can register particular domains, and set other rules.
Renewal: When you register a domain, you choose a period (usually 1-10 years). After that time you have the option to renew it, i.e. to retain ownership for another period of 1-10 years. Also see auto-renewal.
Reseller: A company that sits between a domain retailer and registry. There can be multiple resellers in a single supply chain or transaction. The highest-level seller in any chain is the registrar. By working through resellers, retailers can offer more TLDs. In return, resellers add a margin to the domain's wholesale price.
Retailer: A company or provider that you can buy domains from. Some retailers are registrars. Most are resellers. No matter which retailer you go through, the same registry sits at the top of each TLD's supply chain.
Second-level domain: Second-level domains are easiest to define with examples. The .com in .com.au and the .gov in .gov.au are second-level domains.
SPF: Sender Policy Framework - a specific type of TXT record used to help authenticate email senders.
Subdomain: A domain with two separate parts before the TLD. here.example.com is a subdomain of example.com.
TLD: Top-level domain. This is the bit that comes after the dot, for example .au, .uk, or .com. Different TLDs have different registries, different pricing structures, and different uses. See also: ccTLD, gTLD.
Transfer: Domain owners can transfer domains from one retailer to another.
TXT record: A flexible type of DNS record that records text. TXT records can be for humans to read, or they can be formatted for machines. Examples of machine-readable TXT records include SPF, DMARC, and DKIM records.
WHOIS: You can use a WHOIS lookup to find public information about a domain - like who owns it, when it was registered, and the name server(s) that it points to.

Industry stats: How many .au domains are there?

2026-01-15T00:00:00Z

Want to know how many .au domains are out there in the world? Thankfully, the .au Domain Administration (auDA) publishes that info every month.

Every month they share their Registry Monthly Statistics, giving us updated data of all registered .au domains, and a few other interesting stats. The most recent data goes up to November 2025, and here’s what it tells us.

How many .au domains are there? #

The most recent reported total is 4,292,817 domains, roughly 1 for every 6 Australians. It’s not far from the peak all time reported .au domains, which was 4,294,520, reported in August 2025.

The total number of .au domains increased every month throughout 2025 until September, and has decreased slightly every month since then. Of the total 4.29 million .au domains, 65,586 were created in the last month.

How many new .au domains were added in the last year? #

In the last year there has been a 1.3% increase in .au domains, with 54,013 more .au domains than there were this time 12 months ago. It’s been almost two years since we’ve seen growth rates that high, which is a good sign.

The 1.3% increase shows a much higher year-on-year growth rate than the previous year (0.2%), and could indicate that the all-time peak total may be surpassed again in the coming months.

Which .au namespace is the most popular? #

Unsurprisingly, com.au domains are the most popular choice, with a total of 3,211,297 com.au domains. This was an increase of 1.4% year-on-year (almost identical to the total .au domain growth at 1.3%), and a 0.35% increase from the previous month.
The second most popular option is to use just .au directly. Of all significant top level domains, .au has grown in popularity the most year-on-year with 2.7% growth. There are currently 777,597 .au direct domains registered.
The third most popular namespace is net.au, which has seen the biggest decrease in the last 12 months, down -5.8%
Of the other most common domain choices, asn.au and org.au experienced decreases in the past year (-4.3% and -0.9% respectively).
gov.au domains, which can only be registered by government entities, grew 1.1% over the last year, with a total of 6,592 gov.au domains currently registered.
edu.au domains (exclusive to education and training providers), grew 0.22% year-on-year, with 17,474 currently registered.
id.au showed no significant movement year-on-year, with 12,019 domains currently registered, only 1 domain now than there were this time last year.

How long are most .au domains licensed for? #

Across both new domain license registrations and domain renewals, the most popular domain licence period is by far a one year with 163,000 domains licensed. Two year licence periods are the second most common with 42,006 licenses, almost a quarter of the frequency of one year periods. Three and five year license periods are the third and fourth most popular (10,031 and 6,729), with four year periods being the least popular with 876.

Credit: .au Domain Administration Ltd

Remember to check and compare prices from different retailers before you register a new domain.

Simple .au domain price comparisons

2026-01-14T00:00:00Z

Just the data that matters to you: Simple domain price comparisons for stress-free shopping #

As you can read in how we calculate prices, the prices you see here on Domain Compare are the full Australian dollar renewal price that each retailer charges for one domain for one year.

This is one number that every retailer needs to know, even if it’s not front and centre on their website. When you’re looking for the cheapest .au domain it makes sense to know what it will cost in a normal year. So we ignore introductory specials, short-term discounts, bundles of domains and other things, and discounts for bulk purchases or terms longer than a year.

Domain pricing isn’t everything, but it’s a very good start #

Comparing domain providers is never perfectly apples-to-apples. Some retailers are better for managing hundreds of domains with slick tools, while others squeeze dollars hard and give you a more bare-bones experience. Some use aggressive discounting to create an amazing first impression. Others want your purchase to be the start of a long customer relationship. We can’t quantify any of this, or at least not in a way that would make comparisons easy, so we don’t try to.

What we do try to do is to make Domain Compare as fair as possible, and quick and easy to use. Price will always matter and always be directly comparable.

We keep it simple by being all about .au domains. Just Australia’s ccTLD. That’s partly to make price comparisons easier - not every retailer has the same price on .au and .com domains, for example - and because we couldn’t find anywhere else where Australians could easily find the up-to-date info that we collate here.

The other info in our simple domain price comparison table #

We’ve included overall summaries of reviews, and colour-coded the results like a traffic light system. The data comes from either Google reviews or Trustpilot, depending on where each provider is visible. Trustpilot is our preferred source, because that platform is good at identifying real customers rather than junk reviews. Google reviews are a reliable-enough backup.

Review platforms are not directly comparable, so don’t read too much into small differences.

It’s often useful to get domains and hosting from one provider, so we include that.

Web Hosting is commonly offered by domain retailers, and it’s often handy to get both things from one provider. So we show you which companies offer both. Our price comparisons don’t include hosting.

DNS Records: A Beginners' Guide

2025-12-03T00:00:00Z

Name server configuration can feel daunting. You’re doing your best to follow instructions, but different sites seem to tell you different things. You’re pretty sure you have entered the right values, but you’re not entirely sure what they’ll do. It can be a frustrating situation and often comes down to a limited understanding of DNS fundamentals. Without this foundation, it is easy to feel stuck and start trying every solution you can find, just hoping one works.

Let's take a step back and build a solid understanding of what DNS really does.

What is DNS? #

When a machine looks for your domain, for example when someone visits your website or sends you an email, it first contacts a nameserver. The nameserver stores your DNS records, which direct your request to the right place, such as your website or inbox. These records don’t live on your webserver but on the nameserver itself, and they contain the information needed to perform the machine-to-machine connection smoothly.

To learn more about a DNS read up on how your domain name connects web browsers to your website.

DNS Record Types #

DNS acts as the internet’s contact list, with DNS records operating like the individual fields in a contact entry. Just as a contact may contain multiple fields of information, such as a home phone, work phone, email, or address, a domain name can have different types of DNS records storing important information.

A Record (Address Record) #

An A record acts like a home address, serving as the main hosting address. It connects a domain name to an IPv4 address, allowing web browsers to locate the server hosting the website.

An IPv4 address is essentially a unique number that identifies a device on a network. If a website is migrated to a new server, the A record must be updated to reflect the new server location.

A records only work with IPv4 addresses, which use a 32-bit system, limiting the total number of addresses to around 4 billion. This limitation led to the creation of IPv6 to support the internet's growth.

AAAA (Quad-A Record) #

The AAAA record functions just like an A record does but specifically for IPv6 addresses. Their purpose aligns but their address format support differs.

IPv6 addresses use a 128-bit scheme, represented in hexadecimal notation, with segments separated by colons. This may sound confusing but it’s really just a way of writing numbers using 16 symbols (0-9 and A-F), which makes it easier to work with computer numbers than using long strings of 0s and 1s.

This expansion addresses the concerns regarding the impact of internet growth on the possible IPv4 combinations.

Both A and AAAA records can list multiple IP addresses on a single domain name. This allows for – if one server fails, another can take over – and advances routing, which sends users to different servers based on factors like location, server load, or availability, making websites faster and more reliable.

CNAME Record (Canonical Name Record) #

A CNAME record allows one domain name to act as an alias for another main domain, called the canonical domain.

A common example is the “www” version of a website, under which www.example.com can point to example.com.

This is particularly useful when different parts of a site run on separate servers. For example, your main website could be on one server, whilst your blog subdomain is on another, but both can still use the same main domain name, maintaining brand consistency.

MX Record (Mail Exchange Record) #

An MX record tells the internet where to deliver emails for your domain, directing incoming emails to the correct mail server. When someone sends you an email their mail server checks your domain’s MX records to find out which server is responsible for handling your emails. Many domains have multiple MX records with priority settings, meaning emails can still arrive even if one server is down, ensuring reliable email delivery.

TXT Record (Text Record) #

Text records operate as a note attached to your domain providing the internet with important information. As the name suggests, you can store any text you like as a TXT record. There are some formats of TXT records that do specific jobs, for example helping mail systems recognise that you are not a malicious spammer. Examples of things you can do with TXT records include:

Verifying domain ownership – For example Google Search Console provides a unique code which, when saved as a TXT record, confirms you as the domain owner and adds the domain to your Search Console.
Communicating email sender policies (SPF) – These identify which servers send emails from your domain. A mismatch is a potential sign of spam.
Protecting your domain from misuse (DMARC) – Another email-related policy, DMARC works with SPF and guides recipients who are handling suspicious emails.

SRV Record (Service Record) #

SRV records tell the internet where to find a specific service on your domain, like instant messages, voice over, or other applications. They provide the hostname and port numbers, allowing for service discovery without requiring knowledge of the IP address.

SRV follow this specific format:

_service._protocol.domain.com

Choosing a Domain Provider #

It is crucial to note that not all domain providers allow you to create or manage all types of DNS records. Some only allow basic records like A or CNAME, while others may charge extra for premium DNS features.

This is an important consideration to keep in mind when comparing different domain providers. See our comparison table for a side-by-side look at prices and features.

DNS doesn't have to be DIY #

Managing DNS records might seem complicated at first, but understanding what each record does makes it much easier. Setting them up correctly helps ensure your website, email, and other online services run smoothly.

If you are unsure or lack experience with DNS, this is another reason to look for high-quality support when you choose your domain or hosting provider. Their advice and guidance can ensure proper DNS configuration for you.

How Your Domain Name Connects Web Browsers to Your Website

2025-12-02T00:00:00Z

Your domain is your website’s address. It makes it easy for people to find your site by connecting a readable name to its server. Understanding how domain names work is simpler than it sounds. A domain gives people an easy-to-remember way to reach your website, while computers use numerical IP addresses to find the server where your site lives. The domain name system works like a translation service between domain names that humans understand, like mywebsite.au, and IP addresses that machines understand, like 123.456.7.8.

How Domain Name Servers Work #

When someone types your domain into a browser or clicks a link, the request first goes to a nameserver - not the web server where your site lives. This acts as an intermediary, translating your domain into the correct IP address and directing the browser to the right web server so it can load your website. This all happens in a fraction of a second, which is why your website appears almost instantly.

Your Role as Domain Owner #

As the owner of your domain, you control the nameserver settings. Your web host will let you know what to enter to make sure your website displays correctly. Knowing this also explains a bit about how domain name retailers work, because retailers let you manage your domain and update these settings.

Keeping It Simple #

In short: your domain is the address people type. DNS translates it into your server’s IP address, and it’s up to you to make sure the settings point to the right place. Your web host will give you the details you need to set things up correctly, while your domain retailer provides the tools to update your nameservers and connect your domain to your chosen host. Understanding this connection helps you manage your domain confidently and avoid any website downtime. To compare .au domain prices and renewal options, check out our comparison table.

About domain retailer HELP: Ownership, prices, reviews

2025-11-28T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on to discover who owns HELP! (a.k.a. Help.com.au), what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and other questions.

What do .au domains cost at HELP?

HELP, or Help.com.au, has a regular price of $15.00 per year for .au domains. This is well below the median of retailers tracked on our comparison table. They also offer web hosting.

Who owns HELP?

HELP! is part of the privately held company Trillion, founded in 1997. Other Trillion companies include, Above.com, Drop.com.au, and Netfleet.

What do ratings and reviews say about HELP?

The only online review platform with more than one post about Help.com.au is G2, where they have an average 4.4 / 5.

Is HELP a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

Help.com.au is a domain reseller, not an accredited registrar. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is HELP on social media?

Yes, Help.com.au are active on Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Where does HELP report outages?

Help.com.au does not have a public status page where they report outages or network status.

Registering Your First .au Domain

2025-11-19T00:00:00Z

If you’re setting up your first website or email address, one of the first steps is registering a domain name - which is your online home address. It’s how people find you online, and it’s the foundation of your digital presence.

So, how do you register your domain name, and what makes .au domains unique? Let’s go through the basics.

What domain registration actually means #

When you register a domain, you’re not buying it outright. You’re renting it for a set period, usually between one and five years (for .au domains). During that time, you have the exclusive right to use that domain name. When the registration period means, you’ll need to renew it to keep it active.

It’s similar to renting a house: you pay to keep using the address, but you don’t own it forever. If you forget to renew, the domain becomes available for someone else to register. How to register a .au domain name The process for how to register your domain name is simple, and it can all be done online through a domain retailer (also called a registrar).

Choose your domain name. Pick something that represents your brand or purpose - short, memorable names usually work best.
Choose a domain retailer. Once you’ve decided on a name, you’ll need to choose where to register it. If your preferred .au domain is available, you can register it through any accredited retailer. Prices can vary between providers, so it’s worth comparing options - you can use our comparison table to view and compare current prices.
Check availability. Use your chosen retailer’s search tool to see if your preferred name is available. If it’s taken, try a variation or another domain ending.
Select your domain extension (TLD, or top-level domain). For Australian websites, you can choose from extensions like .au, .com.au, or .net.au. .au domains are available to anyone with an Australian presence. .com.au domains are designed for businesses and require proof of connection to Australia, such as an ABN (Australian Business Number) or ACN.
Provide your contact details. You’ll be asked to enter your name, address, phone number, and email. These are stored in the official WHOIS database managed by auDA, Australia’s domain regulator.
Confirm your registration period and pay. Decide how many years you’d like to register for - many people start with one or two years, then renew later. Once your payment is processed, your domain is registered.

What information is public? #

When you register a .au domain, some of your details (like your name and email address) appear in auDA’s public WHOIS record. However, your physical address and phone number are kept private.

Unlike .com or .nz domains, .au domains don’t support privacy add-ons such as ID Protection. This is because auDA already limits what information is shown publicly, and privacy rules are built into their system.

Tips before you register #

Don’t just look at the first year's price. Short-term deals can cost in the longer run. Compare renewal prices too, as that’s what you’ll be paying long-term.
Keep your details accurate. If your contact information changes, update it promptly to ensure you receive renewal notices.
Consider registering similar domains. You might want to secure both your .au and .com.au versions to protect your brand. Ready to get started?

Registering a domain name is one of the simplest steps in creating an online presence - and it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Before you commit, take a moment to compare .au domain prices and see which registrar offers the best value and service for you.

Domain name disputes in Australia

2025-11-05T00:00:00Z

If another party registers a domain name similar or identical to your business name, brand or trademark this can be stressful – but there are formal processes to help resolve disputes when you believe you have a stronger claim. In Australia this is provided for by auDA, the governing body for the .au domain space. They offer a system called the .au Dispute Resolution Policy (auDRP).

While the auDRP is an option, you don't have to use it. Instead, you may instead pursue other avenues for resolving their dispute, such as litigation. The auDRP is intended to offer a faster and more cost-effective alternative to court proceedings for resolving disputes.

The auDRP provides a mechanism for resolving disputes involving domain names registered unfairly or in bad faith. The process is particularly useful if you hold a registered trademark, as this provides a strong basis for asserting your claim to the domain.

You may be able to bring a claim under this policy if:

The domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a name, trademark or service mark in which you have rights
The current domain holder has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name
The domain name was registered or subsequently used in bad faith.

Examples of when a domain name can be determined as being used in bad faith as per the auDRP policy include, when it is registered to primarily profit from someone else's trademark, block their business, or confuse customers.

The auDRP is not designed to intervene in legitimate ownership disputes but rather a procedure intended to resolve clear cases of misuse. This means that merely wanting a domain is not sufficient to bring rise to a claim under the auDRP. If the domain holder is not acting in bad faith and is using the domain for genuine reasons, such as for their own business, then your chances of raising a successful dispute under the auDRP are unlikely.

Under the auDRP, the process starts by confirming the domain’s creation date via the Domain Creation Request Form on the auDA website. You then file a formal complaint with an auDA-approved dispute resolution provider, and pay a fee. The provider notifies the domain holder, who has 20 days to respond. If no response is filed, the panel decides the case based on your complaint alone.

If the domain holder doesn’t respond, the panel considers both sides before deciding whether the domain should be transferred, cancelled, or remain with the current holder.

Whether you have a valid claim depends on how the domain was registered. If it appears the domain was taken unfairly or in bad faith, you can likely use the auDRP process to challenge it. However, if the registration does not meet the conditions for an auDRP claim you might explore other options. Possible alternatives include negotiating directly with the current holder, or registering a different domain, which you can start by comparing different domain retailers on our comparison table.

About Only Domains: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2025-11-03T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of the best-known providers of .au domain names. Read on to discover who owns Only Domains, what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and more.

What do .au domains cost at Only Domains?

Our comparison table shows Only Domains regular price for .au domains is $24.49/yr, this sits just above the median price we track. Only Domains also offer web hosting.

Who owns Only Domains?

Only Domains was founded in New Zealand in 2009 and is now owned by CentralNic NZ Ltd, a privately held company it amalgamated into in 2022. Only Domains is part of the global Team Internet Group, which rebranded from CentralNic in 2023.

What do ratings and reviews say about Only Domains?

When looking at online reviews for Only Domains you’ll find:

3.6 / 5 stars on Trustpilot
3.2 / 5 stars on G2.

Is Only Domains a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

Only Domains are not listed as a .au accredited registrar. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is Only Domains on social media?

Yes, Only Domains operate an active Facebook profile. Only Domains have inactive LinkedIn, Instagram and X profiles.

Where does Only Domains report outages?

Only Domains report outages on a System Status page located under the Support tab on their main website. This page covers the status of Only Domain’s different systems and a log of previous incident reports.

About Crazy Domains: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2025-10-31T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on to discover who owns Crazy Domains, what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and other questions.

What do .au domains cost at Crazy Domains?

Crazy Domains pricing sits just below the median of prices we track on our comparison table, the standard cost for a .au domain at Crazy Domains is $20.93. They also offer web hosting.

Who owns Crazy Domains?

Crazy Domains was established in 2007 in Australia. Today Crazy Domains is managed by Newfold Digital Inc, a privately held company established in 2021. Other NewFold companies include Hostgator, Bluehost, Crucial, and Digital Pacific.

What do ratings and reviews say about Crazy Domains?

Crazy Domains online ratings and reviews vary as follows:

Trustpilot 4.3 / 5
G2 2 / 5
Product Review (Australia) 3.5 / 5

Is Crazy Domains a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

Crazy Domains is a domain reseller, not an accredited registrar. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is Crazy Domains on social media?

Yes, Crazy Domains operates active accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. They also have an inactive X profile.

Where does Crazy Domains report outages?

The Support column on Crazy Domain’s website provides a link to a Service Status page. This page provides real time updates on the status of various Crazy Domains services as well as a record of incidents reported over the past 2 weeks.

About VentraIP: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2025-10-30T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare answers the important questions about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on to discover who owns VentraIP, what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and more.

What do .au domains cost at VentraIP?

VentraIP’s standard pricing for .au domains is $22.95/yr, this is right at the median of prices we track, as per our comparison table.

Who owns VentraIP?

VentraIP was founded in 2008 in Melbourne Australia and owned by its parent company Nexigen Digital, an 100% Australian owned privately held company.

What do ratings and reviews say about VentraIP?

The only online review platform with more than one post about Domains Direct is Google reviews, where they have an average 4.2 stars.

Is VentraIP a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

VentraIP is listed as a .au accredited registrar by the Domain Administration. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is VentraIP on social media?

Yes, VentraIP has active social media accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Where does VentraIP report outages?

Linked to their website, under Support, VentraIP provides a Service Status page. This page reports on the status of a range of services and details recent reports.

How Domain Compare calculates .au prices

2025-10-27T00:00:00Z

When it comes to finding the right domain registrar, understanding the true cost of ownership is key. At Domain Compare, we're dedicated to providing you with transparent pricing information so you can make a properly informed decision.

The prices in our comparison table are earch retailer's regular, ongoing renewal price for one .au domain for one year, excluding the goods and services tax (GST), in Australian Dollars (AUD). If retailers charge different proces for different TLDs (for example if a .com.au domain and a .id.au domain would be priced differently), then we take the .com.au price.

We take this approach so you get a realistic view of the ongoing cost of maintaining your domain. While some registrars may offer a reduced registration price at first, they often charge significantly higher renewal fees. By focusing on the renewal price, we help you avoid any surprises down the road. This is also why we ignore temporary discounts and specials.

If an international retailer doesn't list a price in AUD, we convert their price to AUD at the current exchange rate (at the time of the comparison table update). If there's a choice of currency, we default to USD for the conversion. This allows for easy comparison across different registrars, ensuring you're getting the best deal.

If you're a provider and notice any discrepancies in the pricing information on our site, please reach out to us at compare@domaincompare.au. We're committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of our comparison platform.

Photo by Angèle Kamp on Unsplash

Choosing Between Domain Retailers: Is Price All That Matters?

2025-10-25T00:00:00Z

When it comes to registering a domain, price is often the first thing people look at. And so it should be! But choosing the right domain retailer is about more than just getting the lowest price – the right provider can make managing your domain simpler, more secure, and less stressful.

Here’s what to consider when comparing options in Australia.

Make Sure They Offer the Domain You Need #

Not every retailer supports every type of domain. If you’re looking for a .com.au, .net.au, .org.au, or a more specialised “top-level domain” (TLD) like .id.au, double check that the retailer provides it. This way, you won’t run into surprises halfway through the registration process.

Review Domain Management Tools #

If you’re managing more than one domain, or plan to in the future, look into the tools the retailer provides. Good domain management features save you time and reduce mistakes. Key tools include:

Bulk management - update contact details, DNS settings, or renew multiple domains at once.
DNS controls - easily point your domain to your website, email or other services.
Renewal reminders and alerts - stay on top of expiry dates.
Reporting dashboards - keep track of your domains, ownership, and any potential issues.

Registrars that offer these tools make it straightforward to stay organised, even if you have a portfolio of domains.

Check Pricing and Transparency #

The cheapest initial price isn’t always the best deal. Make sure to check:

Renewal fees over the first few years
Costs for optional extras like domain privacy or email hosting
Any hidden or setup fees

A clear and transparent comparison of different retailers can make this much easier. You can check our domain retailer comparison table to see regular renewal prices from multiple retailers side by side - helping you make a decision that works for your budget long-term.

Evaluate Customer Support Options #

You might rarely need help, but when something goes wrong, say your website goes offline or your emails aren’t working, responsive support is crucial. Look at reviews to see how easy it is to reach support and how helpful their team is.

Consider Extras That Add Value #

Many Australian retailers offer extra services that make managing your domain easier:

Web Hosting to get your website online and running smoothly
Email Hosting linked to your domain
SSL certificates for secure websites
Website builders to help you create a site quickly

Even if you don’t need all these right away, having them in one place can simplify things later.

Check Reputation and Reviews #

Finally, check customer reviews and industry feedback. A retailer with a good track record for reliability and support will give you peace of mind that your domains - and your website - are in safe hands.

At the end of the day, choosing the right domain retailer isn’t just about finding the lowest price. It’s about finding one that gives you the flexibility, tools, and support you need to manage your online presence easily. That said, if you’re just getting started, there’s nothing wrong with picking the cheapest option to begin with. You can always switch or add more services later once you know what you really need.

About GoDaddy: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2025-10-24T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on to discover who owns GoDaddy, what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and more.

What do .au domains cost at GoDaddy?

As provided on our comparison table the regular price for a .au domain at GoDaddy is USD$25.58/yr, which works out to around AUD$39.02/yr. They also sell web hosting.

Who owns GoDaddy?

GoDaddy is a publicly traded, American company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. It is one of the world’s largest domain registrars. Its history of mergers and acquisitions is long enough to have its own page on Wikipedia, and its ownership history includes large private equity investments from KKR and Silver Lake Partners.

What do ratings and reviews say about GoDaddy?

As of October 2025 GoDaddy’s online ratings and reviews sit at the following rates:

Trustpilot 4.5 / 5
Product Review (Australia) 1.1 / 5
G2 3.9 / 5 (GoDaddy Domains has a specific listing)

Is GoDaddy a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

GoDaddy is listed in the Domain Administration’s list of .au accredited registrars, and are therefore a registrar of .au domains. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is GoDaddy on social media?

Yes, GoDaddy has active profiles on Facebook, TikTok, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. They also have an inactive Bluesky profile.

Where does GoDaddy report outages?

GoDaddy reports outages on the GoDaddy Status Page under a separate url to their main website, this page covers the status of a number of services and reports one week's worth of past incidents.

About HostPapa: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2025-10-17T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on about HostPapa: what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and more.

What do .au domains cost at HostPapa?

HostPapa’s regular price for .au domains is $29.99/yr, this sitting just above the median price of retailers we track as per our comparison table. HostPapa also offers web hosting services.

Who owns HostPapa?

HostPapa was founded in 2006 and is a Canadian-based privately held company. HostPapa has expanded, with locations in 11 additional countries around the world.

What do ratings and reviews say about HostPapa?

HostPapa’s online ratings as reviews at October 2025 are as follows:

4.7 / 5 stars on Trustpilot
4.3 / 5 stars on Google reviews.

Is HostPapa or reseller of .au domains?

HostPapa acts as a reseller of .au domains as they are not listed on the Domain Administration’s list of .au accredited registrars. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is HostPapa on social media?

Yes, HostPapa operates active accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. They also have inactive accounts on X and TikTok.

Where does HostPapa report outages?

Under the Customer Tools tab on HostPapa’s website there is a link to a Network Status page, which records the current status of numerous services, and details past incidents.

About Above.com: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2025-10-17T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on about Above.com: what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and more.

What do .au domains cost at Above.com?

Above.com has the lowest .au domain price on our comparison table. It’s $8.45 per year.

Who owns Above.com?

Above.com was founded in 2008 and is owned by its parent company trillion.com, which was founded in 1997 and is privately held. Other Trillion companies include Help.com.au, Drop.com.au, and Netfleet.com.au.

What do ratings and reviews say about Above.com?

Above.com only has two reviews reported on Trustpilot as of October 2025, with the average sitting at 3.2 / 5. G2 reports the same average of 3.2 / 5, this being the result of 5 reviews.

Is Above.com a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

Above.com is a registrar of .au domains being one of the entities listed under the Domain Administration’s list of .au accredited registrars. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is Above.com on social media?

Yes, Above.com has an active account on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. They also have an inactive X profile with no posts on this platform.

Where does Above.com report outages?

Above.com does not have a webpage or site where they report on outages or network status.

About Webcentral: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2025-10-16T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on to discover who owns Webcentral, what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and more.

What do .au domains cost at Webcentral?

As you will see on our comparison table, the regular price for a .au domain at Webcentral is $29.95/yr. They also sell web hosting.

Who owns Webcentral?

Webcentral started as NetRegistry in 1997, and is owned by Oakley Capital, which acquired it in 2023 through a carve-out from Webcentral Limited (now 5GN). In 2024, Oakley merged it with World Host Group (rebranded as hosting.com in 2025), creating a global hosting and domains platform.

What do ratings and reviews say about Webcentral?

Webcentral’s online ratings and reviews as of October 2025 sit at 4.8 / 5 on Trustpilot.

Is Webcentral a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

Webcentral is an accredited registrar, listed on the Domain Administration’s list of .au accredited registrars. The list names both Webcentral Group Ltd trading as Melbourne IT, and Netregistry. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is Webcentral on social media?

Yes, Webcentral has active accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Linkedin.

Where does Webcentral report outages?

Webcentral has a stand-alone Service Status page found under the support column on their website. The Webcentral status page records the current status of a number of services and provides recent incident reports.

About Melbourne IT: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

2025-10-16T00:00:00Z

Domain Compare gives you the facts about some of Australia’s biggest and best-known providers of domain names. Read on to discover who owns Melbourne IT, what their domains cost, how they are rated by customers, and more.

What do .au domains cost at Melbourne IT?

As you can see on our comparison table Melbourne IT is one of the more expensive options. Their standard price for a .au domain is $88/yr. They also offer web hosting.

Who owns Melbourne IT?

Melbourne IT was established in 1996 and in 2014 it was acquired by NetRegistry (which was founded 1997), combining the two companies. Both are now owned by Webcentral Group, an Australian web hosting and domain name company. NetRegistry was absorbed into the Webcentral brand; Melbourne IT operates under its own brand.

What do ratings and reviews say about Melbourne IT?

Trustpilot reviews have MelbourneIT reviews and ratings sitting at 4.4 / 5 as of October 2025.

Is Melbourne IT a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

Melbourne IT is listed on the Domain Administration’s list of .au accredited registrars as Webcentral Group Ltd trading as Melbourne IT. Learn the difference between domain registrars and resellers.

Is Melbourne IT on social media?

Yes, Melbourne IT is active on Facebook and LinkedIn, they also have an inactive account on X.

Where does Melbourne IT report outages?

Melbourne IT reports outages on their Service Status page, linked under the resources heading on their website. The status page details the current status of a number of services and links previous notices reported.

The domain name supply chain

2025-10-14T00:00:00Z

When you register a domain name, you are basically renting a product. It sounds simple and, for you, it is. All you need to do is pick a provider, find a domain name, and pay for your chosen number of years.

But behind the scenes there are technical and bureaucratic systems that keep everything working. This article quickly explains who’s who.

Regulators set the rules. Those rules can dictate who is allowed to register certain domains (e.g. .gov.au is only Government agencies) and what information you need to supply to register a domain. Sometimes these intersect. For example, .com.au domains require you to prove that it will be used by an Australian commerical operation. An ABN makes good proof of that.

Sometimes regulators also control the wholesale price of domains. For .au domains, the regulator is auDA, and they set a wholesale price for the entire industry.

Registries run the systems that record the current owner, along with other details of each domain. They collect the wholesale price for each domain registered, and they make sure that all the providers who offer domains to the public are following the rules. For .au domains, the registry is the same body as the regulator - auDA.

Registrars are companies that are allowed to record domain name ownership directly with the registry. They are the first level of companies that offer domain names to the public. Australia has a few dozen registrars. As we'll soon explain, not every domain name retailer is a registrar. Registrars need to be officially credited by auDA. To be credited a registrar has to prove that it will abide by all the right regulations, and that their systems are compliant with the registry as well.

Resellers are a larger group of companies that offer domain names to the public. Rather than being directly connected to the registry, resellers work through registrars. They are an extra link in the supply chain. In some cases, you can get multiple resellers in a single chain.

Registrants are the people (or companies) who register and use domain names. Like you!

No matter which reseller or registrant you use to register your domain, the registration is ultimately held in the same registry. It’s worth comparing different options, though, because these things can all differ a lot:

The price you pay to register (and, later, to renew) your domain.
The domain-management tools that you get access to.
The support that you can call on from your provider.

Domain Compare - Compare prices for .au domain names

About MyHost: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

What do .au domains cost at MyHost?

Who owns MyHost?

What do ratings and reviews say about MyHost?

Is MyHost a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

Is MyHost on social media?

Where does MyHost report outages?

About Chirpy Domains: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

What do .au domains cost at Chirpy Domains?

Who owns Chirpy Domains?

What do ratings and reviews say about Chirpy Domains?

Is Chirpy Domains a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

Is Chirpy Domains on social media?

Where does Chirpy Domains report outages?

Here’s how you choose between .com.au, .net.au, and other .au domain names

What .au domains are regulated and why? #

Who can register .com.au domains? #

Who can get .net.au domains? #

Who can register .org.au and .asn.au domains? #

Who is eligible for .edu.au, .gov.au, and .id.au domains? #

How do I get .au direct domains? #

Who can get state and territory .au domains? #

About SiteHost: Ownership, domain prices, reviews

What do .au domains cost at SiteHost?

Who owns SiteHost?

What do ratings and reviews say about SiteHost?

Is SiteHost a registrar or reseller of .au domains?

Is SiteHost on social media?

Where does SiteHost report outages?

Jargon busting: Domain-related words and terms, defined

AAAA record | A record

auDA

Auto-renewal

ccTLD

CNAME record

DKIM

DMARC

DNS

DNS records

Domain password

gTLD

ICANN

IP address

MX record

Name server

Premium domain

Registrant

Registrar

Registry

Regulator

Renewal

Reseller

Retailer

Second-level domain

SPF

Subdomain

TLD

Transfer

TXT record

WHOIS