Best Australian Domain Registrar in 2024

Nathan Finch——Last Updated on February 23, 2024

The first step to creating a web presence of any size is to choose and register your domain name.

Some may wonder why it's necessary to pay to reserve a name when the internet is free.

Aside from the fact that registrars are businesses, there are several reasons you have to pay for this necessary service.

In the early days of the internet, some far-sighted individuals were quick to register the names of large corporations, common professions, and well-known people.

This left those companies and people without the ability to use their own names without paying a huge amount of money to gain the rights to them.

For example, Coca Cola has been embroiled in several, very costly domain name disputes.

But, branding isn't the only reason to choose a good domain name and registrar. Without a unique name that's reserved for your use only, the internet would be a more confusing and frustrating place.

Besides, consider how many times you've had to choose soccermom1978@emailservice.com, lawyer1257684@myemail.com, or invented an alternative spelling for common words or names to sign up for a free email account that has 10 million other subscribers.

Keep reading to find out more about the best domain registrars in Australia.

We used several criteria to determine the best domain name registrar in Australia from among the hundreds out there. We considered price, but that wasn't the only factor that went into our selections.

Our reviewers also took into consideration the search, purchase, and configuration process, transparency, support, value-added services or features and reputation.

Reputation is more important than you think. Fly-by-night service providers are a reality in the cyber world, and a disreputable registrar that disappears suddenly can cause a host of problems.

In 2019, one of the largest registrars suddenly went out of business. This left customers without the ability to renew expired domains, locked them out of their accounts, and kept people from registering new names.

In these cases, ICANN will usually de-credit the registrar and bulk migrate all of the client domains to a new registrar that's accredited.

However, one has to wonder what happens to all of their client databases and domain information when registrars go out of business and leave customers unprotected? If you're ever in this position, you can find an announcement on the ICANN Bulk Transfer page.

But, our goal is to keep you out of that position. To that end, here is our list of the top five registrars based on the criteria outlined above.

Key Features

• Up-front pricing
• SSL certificates
• Free domain transfers
• App integration
• Free domain privacy protection
• Powerful domain search tool, handles up to 50 names at a time

• Free privacy protection
• Very budget-friendly
• Live chat support assistance

• The only downside we could find is that the service isn't completely free, but "free" is never really free on the internet anyway.

Key Features

• SSL certificates
• Bulk domain registration
• Private registration
• 24/7 customer support via email and live chat
• Premium domain availability and brokering
• Unlimited disk space
• eCommerce solutions

• They give you a lot of free tools
• Dozens of country code TDLs (ccTDLs) available
• They'll give you a free website builder with each domain registration

• Higher price than other registrars
• Some upselling involved
• Lower prices only available for longer contracts or bundles

Key Features

• Email ticketing
• 24/7 live chat support
• SSL certificates and free domains with hosting
• Knowledgebase
• Privacy and security features

• Official WordPress partner
• Established, well-known company
• 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, social media, and phone

• Lack of transparency about their numbers
• Main focus is on hosting
• Large corporation with millions of customers leads to large corporation problems like privacy and leaks

Key Features

• Free private registration
• Free Whois privacy protection
• Easy domain management tools
• Free custom email with G Suite
• Email forwarding
• Sub-domain customization
• Integrates with many web builders
• 24/7 support via email, live chat, and phone

• Name recognition
• SEO
• Integration with other Google platforms and services

• Still in beta testing phase
• Higher cost than other registrars
• Some Agent 88 and geo-specific TDLs aren't supported with private registration

Key Features

• SEO tools
• Domain transfers
• Email services
• eCommerce and website builders
• SSL and other security options
• Online marketing tools, including social media support

• Lots of helpful tools
• Priced better than many services
• Old, established brand

• No live chat option
• Whois privacy protection is an extra cost
• Customer service only available during "banker's hours"

The three "Rs" of domain name selection and purchase are registry, registrar, and registrant.

Don't be be confused by the terminology.

A registry is the entity that owns and manages top-level domains (TLDs), the extension following the domain name.

They handle the purchase of domain names from registrars, who in turn lease them to registrants; that's you, the customer.

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manage the registries.

For example, the registry in charge of all .coms is VeriSign. When a registrar sells a .com domain, they notify VeriSign and pay them a fee to reserve the domain.

Then, they pass that fee on to you, the registrant, giving you exclusive rights to that domain for the term of your contract with the registrar.

Of course, you don't actually own your domain name. You're simply paying for exclusive rights to use that specific configuration and top-level domain extension (the .net, .org. or .com at the end of your URL).

Once your best domain registrar Australia expires, that domain name is up for grabs again.

Top Tip

If you're registering a domain name for a business or monetized website, it's a good practice to also register domains under any possible variation of that name, including various TDLs, to fend off lookalikes who could steal your traffic or ruin your reputation later.

Some unscrupulous people purchase and park potentially lucrative names, holding them for sale to the highest bidder later.

You may have had the experience of following a link that seems legit only to find that it redirects you to a nearly blank landing page that reads "This domain is for sale," followed by information to purchase it from that registrar.

Don't do business with any company that baits and switches with false links or misleading information.

In the internet's infancy, there was a money-making scheme called "domain flipping" that caught a lot of established brands off guard when they went to register a corporate domain and found their own names unavailable.

This is still done, but it's more difficult unless you have deep pockets or get extremely lucky.

Even generic names can mean a big payout for someone. You want "Carinsurance.com"? It will cost you $49.7 million.

That's currently the world's most expensive available domain name. Here are the most valuable domains of those that are currently unavailable.

You can avoid problems like this by choosing a reputable domain registrar and acting fast once you've chosen your domain name.

One of the first things I would recommend is to keep domain registration and hosting separate when it comes to finding the best domain registrar in Australia.

Nearly all hosting companies, and quite a few other types of internet-related service providers, offers free domains and registrations as a bonus or sign up incentive.

This is fine if you're just putting up a static website with little expected traffic or just looking for a host and cheap domain for your online portfolio.

This can be a benefit if you're looking for a simple setup through one provider that you can manage from a single dashboard.

However, if you're going to be juggling multiple domains or engaged in eCommerce, it's best to go with separate companies who specialize in each type of service.

You should also consider:

Price and Terms

This means not just the up-front pricing, but also price increases and hidden fees for renewals, transfers, and other charges that sneak up on you.

This goes hand-in-hand with the term of your registration, because some companies offer a good price for the first year of registration, but jack up their fees upon renewal.

A typical term is a minimum of one year, but you can register a domain name for up to 10 years or more.

For example, LasVegas.com is registered through to 2050.

Domain Transfer Policies

Legal disclosure first: ICANN has set terms stating that no new domains can transfer to another registrar until after to first 60 days of a new registration.

This is partially to keep unscrupulous actors from jumping from service to service, and to protect the registrars' interests to some extent.

That should be enough time for you to determine if your registrar was everything you hoped it would be.

After the initial 60-day period, most services will let you transfer your domain to another registrar without penalty and some will try to charge you a fee. Find out the provider's terms before making a commitment to any one registrar.

Expiration Policies

This is probably where the widest disparity is. Some services will allow you to renew your domain before the term expires, and some will hold your domain for 30 - 60 days after expiration before releasing it to someone else.

If your service offers an automatic renewal feature, make sure to activate it.

You should also check just before the expiration date just to be on the safe side. Find out other renewal terms up front, like how much they charge for a renewal, and whether your services and rates will change after you renew.

Add-On Incentives and Services

Even if you don't need additional services like hosting or email service right now, it's still good to know about their prices and availability for future reference.

Red Flags and Things to Avoid

It's easy to tell you why to look for, but it's just as important for you know how to spot red flags and evaluate offers that seem to good to be true.

Some companies sneak hidden fees in as premium services that are added to your account by default. That means that you have to opt out before agreeing to their TOS.

The top price for a .com domain name registration should never be more than $15 per month.

Never do business with a company that forces you to accept third-party affiliations as part of your user agreement or charges hidden fees to pad their bottom line at your expense.

Research any potential registrars to find out if they've had any negative associations in the media or a lot of customer complaints.

You should also beware of lack of transparency, availability of customer service, and providers who give you a hard time about elements of service that should be easy, like domain transfers or settling disputes.

If you just want a few general facts about domain name registration, our FAQ section should give you the information you need.

What Is the Best Domain Name Registrar?

The cheapest is not necessarily the best, nor is the most expensive. In the end, it should come down to which works best for your needs and offers a high degree of security. Some guidelines to follow when looking for a registrar are:

• Quick domain searches
• Easy to purchase and configure
• Intuitive dashboard for managing multiple domains
• Knowledgeable customer support with 24/7 availability through multiple channels
• Limited amount of upsells, no pressure
• Availability of add-on services and features
• Transparency and good reputation

Can I Register a Domain If I Don't Have a Hosting Service?

Yes. In fact, it's recommended that you keep your name registrar and hosting platform separate, especially if you're going to purchase several domains.

Do I Have to Register My Domain?

Yes. If you ever plan on launching a website, you must first have your domain name registered with an organization called International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

Platforms that offer hosting without requiring domain registration will have their own name in your URL, and they will own your website and its content.

Will I Need to Renew My Domain Registration?

Eventually. Terms generally last from one to 10 years. The renewal date depends on the terms of your registrar; some will hold your name for up to 60 days if it expires, but other will resell it immediately.

Check on their renewal policies before deciding on domain name registrars.

Choosing the right domain name registrar only seems complicated on the surface. Once you have the right information regarding what a registrar is and what you should look for when you're shopping around, your decision should be simplified.

No matter what domain(s) you choose, make sure that you select a reputable hosting platform for your website.

These two elements together have a larger effect on the success of your web launch than almost any other factors.

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