A free domain with hosting is rarely free for long. It’s usually free for the first year only, paid for inside the hosting price, and it renews at the host’s normal rate. The bigger catches are who legally holds the domain and how hard it is to take with you when you leave.
Key takeaways
- Most “free domain” offers cover the first year only, and often only on yearly plans.
- Check the renewal price before you sign up, not when the invoice arrives.
- The domain must be registered in your name, with your ABN for a .com.au, not the host’s.
- Find out what happens to the domain if you cancel the hosting.
How does a “free domain with hosting” deal work?
The host registers a domain for you and doesn’t charge a separate fee for the first term. The cost is built into the hosting price or the commitment you make, such as paying a year up front.
Registries charge the host for every domain, so someone pays each year. After the first term, that someone is you.
What’s the catch with a free domain?
The renewal price
The free period ends, and the renewal is billed at the host’s standard rate. Some charge well above a fair domain price. Ask for the renewal price in writing and compare it with a standalone registration.
Who owns the domain
This is the catch that matters most. You don’t buy a .au domain outright; you hold a licence for one to five years (auDA). The person or business named as the registrant holds that licence. If a host or developer registers it under their own details, you may not legally control your own business name online.
Leaving the host
Some deals tie the domain to the hosting account. Cancel the hosting and the domain may be charged at a higher rate, held until fees are paid or simply not renewed. Ask how to get your domain auth code before you need it.
The extension on offer
Many free offers cover a .com, not a .com.au. The domain you want may not be part of the deal.
Why does ownership matter more for a .com.au?
A .com.au must be held by an eligible Australian business, usually with an ABN or ACN. auDA says “someone else can register a com.au domain name for you with your explicit written permission”. But the registrant details should be yours, and a developer using their own details can cause eligibility and renewal problems (auDA).
The rules have tightened. Since 20 May 2026, .au domains are checked within the 90 days before renewal, and a domain whose ABN or ACN is no longer active isn’t renewed (SmartCompany). If your domain sits on someone else’s ABN, it depends on their business staying active.
If the domain does lapse, auDA allows a 30-day grace period. During that time your website and email stop working, and after it the name is released to anyone.
What should I check before accepting a free domain?
- Ask what it costs from year two. Get the renewal price in writing.
- Confirm the registrant. It should be your business name and your ABN or ACN, with your email as the contact.
- Ask about leaving. Can you transfer the domain away at any time, and is there a fee?
- Check the extension. Is the free domain the .com.au you want, or something else?
- Read the minimum term. If the free domain needs a yearly plan, make sure you’re happy with the host for that long.
ICANN says registrants are entitled to their registrar’s pricing and its process for “transferring, renewing, and restoring” a domain (ICANN). A good host answers all five questions without fuss.
How do I check who owns my domain now?
Use the free .au WHOIS lookup on auDA’s website. It shows the registrant, meaning the legal holder of the licence, and usually an ABN or ACN (auDA). If the name shown is your web designer, old host or a former business partner, fix it now while everyone is cooperative.
Setting things up in the right order from the start avoids this. Our guide on how to register a business name and domain walks through it.
Is a free domain ever a good deal?
Yes, when the domain is in your name, the renewal price is fair and you can leave whenever you like.
It’s a bad deal when it locks you to a host you’ve outgrown. Losing control of a domain can force a name change, and we explain what that costs in search terms in our guide to changing your domain name without losing SEO.
We keep things simple. We register domain names for Australian businesses in the business’s own name, with the price shown up front: a .com.au is $80 + GST for two years. Our Australian web hosting is priced separately, so you always know what each part costs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a .com.au domain for free?
Only as part of a bundle, and usually just for the first year. The registry charges for every .au licence, so the cost is recovered somewhere, often in the hosting price or a higher renewal. What matters most is that the domain is registered in your business’s name.
What happens to my free domain if I cancel my hosting?
It depends on the host’s terms. Some let you keep it at a standard renewal price, some charge a fee to transfer it and some won’t renew it. Ask before you sign up, and keep your auth code details handy.
Is a free domain registered in my name?
It should be, but don’t assume. Run a WHOIS lookup after registration. For a .com.au, the registrant should be your business with your ABN or ACN. If it shows the host or a developer, ask them to correct it straight away.
Why did my free domain renewal cost so much?
The free period covered the first term only, and the renewal was charged at the host’s standard price. You can usually transfer the domain to another registrar near renewal time. Check it’s in your name first.
Sources
- Renewing your domain licence, auDA
- com.au and net.au rule changes, auDA
- The 90-day domain name rule, SmartCompany, 30 July 2026
- Registrants’ Benefits and Responsibilities, ICANN
- How to use the .au WHOIS tool, auDA