For most Australian businesses the answer is .com.au, with the matching .au direct name as back-up. A .net.au follows exactly the same rules as .com.au, so it’s mainly a second choice when the .com.au is taken. Charities and not-for-profits belong in .org.au or .asn.au, individuals can use .id.au, and anyone with an Australian connection can register a .au direct name.
Key takeaways
- .com.au and .net.au share identical eligibility rules: you need an ABN, ACN or similar commercial registration.
- .net.au isn’t reserved for tech or internet companies, despite the name.
- .org.au is for registered not-for-profits; .asn.au also allows unincorporated associations.
- .au direct is the most open: any person or organisation with an Australian presence can register any available name.
- Pick one main address and point the others at it.
What are the Australian domain options?
auDA, the body that runs .au, sets who can register in each namespace and which names they can choose. There were 4,430,752 .au domains in October 2026: 3,332,095 .com.au, 812,392 .au direct, 176,898 .net.au and 70,760 .org.au (auDA registry statistics). Customers know .com.au best by a long way.
| Domain | Who can register | Which names | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com.au | Australian commercial entities (ABN, ACN, ARBN) or Australian trade mark owners | Must match or relate to your business, trade mark or what you sell | Almost every business |
| .net.au | Same as .com.au | Same as .com.au | A fallback when the .com.au is taken |
| .org.au | Registered Australian not-for-profits, such as charities and incorporated associations | Your organisation’s name, or a service, program or event you run | Charities and community groups |
| .asn.au | Not-for-profits and unincorporated associations | As .org.au, plus an occupation your members practise | Clubs, industry and professional associations |
| .id.au | Australian citizens and permanent residents | Your first name, family name, nickname or an abbreviation | Personal sites and portfolios |
| .au direct | Anyone with an Australian presence | Any available name | Shorter addresses and protecting your .com.au |
Sources: auDA’s rules for .com.au and .net.au, .org.au, .asn.au and .id.au, and the auDA .au Product Guide 2026.
Is .net.au different from .com.au?
Not in the rules. auDA applies the same eligibility and allocation criteria to both: you must be an Australian commercial entity, and the name must connect to your business. The “.net” doesn’t mean internet or networking, and nobody checks whether you’re a tech business.
The real difference is habit. Customers type .com.au by default, so a business on .net.au will lose some visitors and emails to whoever owns the .com.au. That’s why .net.au is shrinking: down 4.5% in the year to October 2026 while .com.au grew 3.8%. Choose .net.au only when the .com.au is gone and you can live with that leak, or register both.
Should a charity use .org.au or .asn.au?
Both are for not-for-profits, and both require proof of status when you register. .org.au suits registered charities, companies limited by guarantee and incorporated associations. .asn.au covers the same groups and also accepts unincorporated associations, so a local club without formal incorporation can still get one. An association can also register a name based on an occupation its members practise.
A not-for-profit that sells goods or runs a social enterprise may also qualify for .com.au if it has an ABN. Many register both and point one at the other.
Where does .au direct fit?
.au direct names (yourname.au) are the newest and most open option. Anyone with an Australian presence, including citizens, permanent residents and Australian-registered organisations, can register any available name. They’re shorter, but less familiar to customers. Most businesses use one to protect their .com.au rather than as their main address. Our guide on whether to buy the .au direct version weighs it up, and our article on .au priority status explains who got first claim on existing names.
Do I need to keep proving eligibility?
Yes. Eligibility applies for as long as you hold the name, not just on the day you register. Since 20 May 2026, a .au renewal can be blocked if the ABN or ACN behind it is no longer active (SmartCompany). If you restructure, sell or close a business, sort out the domain at the same time.
auDA is also consulting on changes to .com.au and .net.au allocation for new registrations. Its October 2026 proposal would let existing licences keep the current rules (SmartCompany). It’s still a proposal, so check the latest before you rely on it.
How many Australian domains should I own?
Usually two: your .com.au as the main address and the matching .au direct, redirected to it. Add the .net.au if a competitor could plausibly use it, and the .com if you trade overseas. Keep them all in one account, locked against unauthorised transfers. Our domain security page explains how to lock your names down.
Ready to register? Our .au direct domains page explains how the newest names work, and you can register your domain with WMS in a few minutes. A .com.au is $80 + GST for two years.
Frequently asked questions
Is .net.au as good as .com.au?
Technically, yes: the same rules and the same eligibility apply. In practice, customers type .com.au by habit, so some traffic and email will go to whoever owns the .com.au. Use .net.au as a fallback, or register both.
Can a business register a .org.au?
Only if it’s a not-for-profit entity registered in Australia, such as a charity, company limited by guarantee or incorporated association. A normal trading business isn’t eligible and should use .com.au.
What is .asn.au used for?
Associations, clubs and other not-for-profits, including unincorporated groups that can’t get a .org.au. The name can match the organisation, a program or event it runs, or an occupation its members practise.
Do I need an ABN for a .au domain?
For .com.au and .net.au, you need an ABN, ACN or similar registration, or an Australian trade mark. A .au direct name only needs an Australian presence, so citizens and permanent residents can register one without an ABN.
Can I have both .com.au and .au?
Yes. Most businesses that register a .au direct name use it alongside their .com.au, redirecting one to the other. It stops anyone else using the shorter version of your name.
Sources
- Registry Monthly Stats, October 2026, auDA
- com.au and net.au rule changes, auDA
- org.au rules: eligibility and allocation, auDA
- asn.au rules: eligibility and allocation, auDA
- id.au rules: eligibility and allocation, auDA
- .au Product Guide 2026, auDA
- The 90-day domain name rule, SmartCompany, 30 July 2026
- Small businesses keep existing .com.au URLs, SmartCompany, 21 October 2026