How much does a .CA domain cost?

A .CA domain typically costs between $10 and $20 a year.

But aren’t some domains free? And don’t some companies pay thousands of dollars to obtain the rights to a domain that was previously registered?

Yes, on both counts. There’s a lot more to domain name prices than you might think. Let’s clear things up for you so you know you’re getting a good deal.

Who do you buy a domain name from?

You can buy domain names from registrars—companies that sell domain names and related services like web hosting—or resellers, which are companies that sell domain names on behalf of a registrar (many DIY website builders are resellers).

CIRA manages the .CA registry. We set the “wholesale” price of .CA domains, but you can’t actually buy a domain name directly from us.

How long can I register a domain name for?

You can register a .CA domain for one to 10 years at a time. You can renew your registration any time before the domain expiry date. However, if you let your domain expire, you’ll lose all the brand value you created, and someone else can register it.

Can I get a domain for free?

Technically, yes, you can get a domain for free from certain DIY website builders, but they come with some big caveats that a paid .CA domain doesn’t. With most free plans from web builders, your domain will look something like this:

• username.wix.com/yourwebsite
• yourwebsite.weebly.com
• yourwebsite.wordpress.com

If you want to share your website, blog or ecommerce store with the world, relying on these free subdomains could undermine your credibility with visitors and potential customers.

Read our free domain vs .CA domain comparison guide to learn more about the pros and cons of each and find out which option is best for you.

Why are there so many different prices for domains?

There are a few factors that impact the price of domains, such as:

1. Domain name availability: this is the biggest factor influencing domain pricing. If someone already owns the domain name (and domains are typically available on a first-come, first-served basis), the cost of acquiring it from them in the aftermarket can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. By contrast, a domain that’s up for grabs (a combination of letters, numbers and hyphens that no one currently has registered) is just a standard price to obtain.

2. Registrar pricing models: for the same reason that a large poutine can cost $10 at some chip trucks and $18 at others, different registrars set different prices. Many registrars offer additional products, like website-building services or email tools. These companies may use domain names as a loss leader, giving them away for free or at a steep discount to generate additional revenue from hosting, email, security and other services. Other registrars may operate more simply, selling only domain names. Shop around, do your research and find the one that meets your needs at a fair price point.

3. The wholesale price: as mentioned, the registry sets the wholesale price. For .CA, it’s $10.50 (CAD) and a .com is currently $10.97 (USD).

Some specialty top-level domains, like .inc and .ai, can have a significantly higher wholesale price.

Fun fact: when you choose a .CA domain, that purchase helps fund Net Good by CIRA, which supports projects, communities and policies that make the internet better for all Canadians. CIRA is proud to have funded 245 projects across Canada with $14.2 million since 2014.

4. Sales or promotions: some registrars offer a wide range of promotions and sales, while others stick to no-nonsense pricing. One common type of promotion is introductory pricing for the first year, where typically you commit to a second year at a higher price. Be sure to read the fine print!

5. Add-ons and bundles: as you make your way through the digital checkout line, you’ll typically have the option to add related services to enhance or protect your domain name. Some registrars offer things like email, SSL certificates, WHOIS privacy protection and hosting at an additional cost. Some bake it into the domain price, so it might seem higher than usual, but maybe you’re getting more functionality included.

A great domain name provides value to your business

Here’s the takeaway: if you’re looking to build your brand and establish an online presence, whether it’s a website or a unique branded email address, investing a few of your hard-earned loonies and toonies in a .CA domain name is absolutely the way to go.

Not only is that .CA domain name the foundation of your unique online identity, it’s a clear sign that you’re a proudly Canadian business.

And that, in our humble opinion, is priceless.