Quick Answer: How much does a domain cost in Canada? A .ca domain costs $10 to $20 CAD per year, says CIRA. Real renewals run higher. GoDaddy Canada and Hostinger renew a .ca at $21.99 to $23.69 CAD. Hostinger renews a .com at $27.89 CAD. Budget for the renewal price. A free domain with hosting is free for year one. It then renews at the normal price.
A .ca domain may look very cheap at first. In our test, Hostinger advertised a .ca for just $0.01 CAD, but the cart showed the regular renewal price for later years.
So, how much does a domain name cost in Canada? The answer depends on the domain extension, first-year price, renewal fee, taxes, and any extra services.
A low first-year price does not always mean a lower overall cost. Renewal fees can be much higher, and some providers charge extra for useful services.
In this blog, I will explain domain prices in Canada, including .ca and .com costs, renewal fees, and extra charges to check before you buy.
How Much Does a Domain Cost in Canada?
The answer to how much does a domain name cost in Canada starts with CIRA. CIRA runs the .ca registry. It says a .ca costs $10 to $20 CAD per year. The cost for domain name registration changes with the extension. It also changes with the registrar.
| Type | Price range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New .ca (typical ca domain name prices) | $10 to $20 CAD per year. GoDaddy Canada lists a standard price of $21.99 CAD | CIRA, GoDaddy Canada |
| New .com | Wholesale price is $10.97 USD. Namecheap lists $10.98 USD in year one and $18.48 USD at renewal. Hostinger lists $27.89 CAD at renewal | CIRA, Namecheap, Hostinger |
| Specialty extensions | Hostinger .io: $44.69 CAD in year one, $104.69 CAD at renewal. Hostinger .shop: $1.39 CAD in year one, $55.79 CAD at renewal. Namecheap .co: $7.98 USD in year one, $45.48 USD at renewal | Hostinger, Namecheap |
| Premium names | Higher price up front. Higher renewal too | Cloudflare |
| Names someone already owns | Hundreds to thousands of dollars. CIRA gives no currency | CIRA |
The registry sets the wholesale price. CIRA sets it for .ca at $10.50 CAD. A .com wholesale price is $10.97 USD. You cannot buy from the registry. You buy from a registrar.
A registrar adds a markup. Cloudflare says markups run from 10% up to over 100%. Some registrars sell domains at a loss. They earn money from hosting and email.
Watch the currency on every page. Namecheap shows USD by default. You can switch it to CAD. Taxes and a small ICANN fee are added at checkout.
You may want the cost of the full site. Read how much a website costs in Canada for that.
First Year Price vs Renewal Price: What You Pay Over Five Years
Domain renewal fees are the part most buyers miss. They start in year two. The first year price is often a sale price.
Ask how much does a domain cost over five years. Do not ask for one year only. The five year total is the first year plus four renewals. This is the real cost of domain name ownership.
| Registrar | Extension | First year | Renewal | Five year total | Date checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoDaddy Canada | .ca | $0.01 CAD (3 year term required) | $21.99 CAD | $87.97 CAD | Oct 8, 2026 |
| GoDaddy Canada | .com | $3.99 CAD with code GDWELCOME (1 year, new customers) | Not shown on page | Not shown | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Hostinger | .ca | $0.01 CAD (3 year term) | $23.69 CAD | $94.77 CAD | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Hostinger | .com | $0.01 CAD (3 year term) | $27.89 CAD | $111.57 CAD | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Namecheap | .ca | $11.98 USD | $14.98 USD | $71.90 USD | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Namecheap | .com | $10.98 USD | $18.48 USD | $84.90 USD | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Rebel | .ca | $9.99 | $17.99 | $81.95 | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Rebel | .com | $13.99 | $22.99 | $105.95 | Oct 8, 2026 |
The Rebel prices come from the DomainOffer price tracker, but the tracker does not list a currency. Sibername also does not show a public price I could verify.
The cheapest first year may not be the cheapest over five years. Hostinger charges $0.01 CAD for a .ca in year one, but its five year total is higher than Namecheap’s. Renewal prices often decide the real cost.
Why do renewals cost more? The first year is usually a promotion, while later years use the regular price. CIRA calls this introductory pricing and tells buyers to check the fine print.
Some newer domain extensions have much higher renewal fees. Cloudflare says extensions such as .shop and .tech can cost two to four times more. Hostinger’s .shop costs $1.39 CAD in year one and $55.79 CAD to renew.
Prices can change too. Rebel raised its .ca price from $5.99 to $9.99 on July 17, 2026. Always check the current price before buying.
Use these steps to protect your budget:
- Read the renewal price before you pay.
- Turn on auto renew so the name never lapses.
- Set a calendar reminder one month before renewal.
- Compare the five year total, not the year one price.
Domain Add-ons at Checkout: What to Skip
The cart is where the total grows. Registrars sell add-ons next to the domain. You must read each line.
| Add-on | Price shown | Keep or skip | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain privacy | Free at GoDaddy Canada, Hostinger and Namecheap (most extensions) | Keep, never pay extra | CIRA also hides an individual’s contact details on .ca |
| SSL certificate | Free with GoDaddy hosting plans. Namecheap’s offer is for year one only | Check your host first | You may already have one |
| Business email | Namecheap gives a 1 month free trial. Other prices not shown | Skip until needed | You pay each month after the trial |
| Website builder | GoDaddy offers a free trial | Skip if you chose a platform | You may already have a plan |
| Domain protection | Add-on at GoDaddy and Hostinger. Prices not shown | Skip for a new site | Auto renew is cheaper |
Privacy protection hides your details from public WHOIS records. Some registrars include it for free. SSL adds the padlock to your site. Check if your host includes it.
Business email looks professional and can be added later. Auto renew can help prevent your domain from expiring. Check the final price for taxes before paying.
.ca or .com: Which Should a Toronto Business Get?
For Toronto businesses that mainly serve Canadian customers, a .ca domain can be a good fit. It shows visitors that your business is Canadian. CIRA also says that every .ca purchase supports Net Good and its community programs.
A .com is the familiar choice for many people. They often type it automatically. It also makes sense if your business serves customers in the United States.
Here is the simple approach. Choose .ca if most of your customers are in Canada. If your budget allows, buy the .com as well and point it to your main website. That way, visitors who enter the wrong domain ending can still find you.
You cannot register a .ca domain without meeting CIRA’s requirements. You need a genuine connection to Canada. CIRA calls these the Canadian Presence Requirements. There are eighteen categories you can qualify under when registering.
Individuals may be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Businesses may qualify as Canadian corporations or owners of Canadian trademarks.
See the CIRA registrant requirements page for the full rules.
CIRA can request proof of eligibility later. This process is called Registrant Information Validation. One registrar reseller says a domain may be deleted about two months after the audit begins if you cannot provide the required proof.
What about search rankings? Google has said that country code domains can help it understand a site’s target country. This can be a small local signal, but your content still matters more.
Keep your domain name short and easy to say over the phone. Avoid numbers, unusual spellings, and confusing words.
How to Get a Domain Name for Free (and What It Costs Later)
You can get a domain name for free in three ways. Each one has a catch.
Route 1: Free with a hosting plan
Some hosting companies include a free domain for the first year. Hostinger includes one with its annual Premium and Business plans. GoDaddy offers one with annual hosting, WordPress, and website builder plans.
The domain is free for year one, but it renews at the regular price in year two. At Hostinger, that price is $23.69 CAD for a .ca and $27.89 CAD for a .com. Hostinger also locks a free domain for the first 60 days. Check the year two price before choosing the offer.
Route 2: A free subdomain
Website builders often give you a free web address, such as yourname.wordpress.com. CIRA warns that this can affect your credibility with visitors. You do not own the main domain. The website builder does. Read our guide to free website builders to compare your options.
Route 3: If someone else registers it for you
A friend, agency, or hosting company may register the domain for you. That is fine, but make sure the domain is registered in your name. For a .ca domain, use the CIRA WHOIS lookup.
CIRA hides personal contact details, so ask for the registrar login instead. The account should belong to you or your company. Also ask for the authorization code, which you may need to transfer the domain later.
If a domain is registered under someone else’s name, you do not fully control it. They can transfer it or let it expire. Fix this as early as possible.
Other Domain Fees: Transfers, Expiry and Buying a Taken Name
Domain transfers usually come with a fee, so check the registrar’s pricing before moving your domain to another provider.
Transfers
You can move a domain to another registrar. ICANN says a registrar may refuse a transfer within 60 days of the first registration. You need an authorization code. ICANN says the registrar must provide it within five calendar days. Fees vary.
Namecheap lists a .ca transfer at $10.98 USD and a .com transfer at $11.48 USD. Both are sale prices. A transfer usually adds one year to the term, says Cloudflare. Read the ICANN name holder FAQ. Rules for .ca come from CIRA, not ICANN.
Expiry
A domain does not vanish the day it expires. Hostinger says most generic domains get a grace period of up to 30 days. A 30-day redemption period follows. A redemption fee applies then.
About five days later the name is released. Gandi lists a late renewal fee of $52.77 CAD for a .ca after 45 days. CIRA warns about the risk. Let the name lapse and you lose the brand value you built.
Taken names
Your first choice may be taken. CIRA says the aftermarket price can run from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Hostinger suggests checking prices on Sedo and Flippa.
Premium names also cost more every year. Try a small change instead. Add your city or a word that fits your service.
Domain Cost in Canada at a Glance
- A .ca domain usually costs $10 to $20 CAD per year, says CIRA.
- A .ca renews at $21.99 CAD at GoDaddy Canada and $23.69 CAD at Hostinger.
- The answer to how much does a domain cost is the renewal price, not the sale price.
- A free domain renews at the normal price in year two.
Next, read how to build a website. Then read what SEO costs for a small business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a domain name cost per year?
A .ca costs $10 to $20 CAD per year, says CIRA. In our check, .ca renewals ran $21.99 to $23.69 CAD at GoDaddy Canada and Hostinger. A .com renewed at $27.89 CAD at Hostinger. The first year is usually lower. Budget for the renewal price.
Are domains a one-time purchase?
No. You pay every year you keep the name. CIRA lets you register a .ca for one to ten years at a time. Hostinger sells a .com for up to five years. A longer term means fewer renewal dates. Stop paying and the domain expires.
Can I register a domain for several years upfront?
Yes. CIRA allows up to ten years for a .ca. GoDaddy Canada asks for a three year term on its $0.01 CAD offer. Extra years cost $21.99 CAD each. GoDaddy’s agreement says renewal prices can change. A longer term does not always lock the price.
Is domain privacy included in the price?
GoDaddy Canada, Hostinger and Namecheap include domain privacy at no charge. Namecheap excludes a few extensions. CIRA says it does not show an individual’s contact details in the .CA WHOIS. Check Rebel and Sibername in the cart. I found no public privacy terms for either.
Do I need hosting to buy a domain name?
No. A domain is the address. Hosting is the place where your site lives. You can buy the address first. Many people buy both together. GoDaddy Canada and Hostinger offer a free first year domain with some hosting plans. You can point the domain to hosting later.
