Registering a domain with CanSpace takes a couple of minutes. This article walks through finding an available name, choosing the right TLD (the part after the dot — .ca, .com, etc.), and completing registration.
Register a domain
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Log in to the client area and open Domains → Register a New Domain. (If you don't have an account yet, you can start the process directly from our domains page and an account will be created during checkout.)
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Enter the name you want in the search field (without a TLD — just the name). Click Search. We'll show you whether your exact request is available, plus suggestions across other popular TLDs.
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Click Register next to the TLD you want. Add any related domains to your cart in the same flow (owning both
.caand.comversions of your name is a good idea — it protects your brand and prevents someone else from registering the twin). -
Click Checkout and complete payment. Your domain is active the moment payment clears — there's no waiting period.
Which TLD should I pick?
Every TLD works the same technically — there's no performance or compatibility difference between .com and .ca for a website or email. What changes is who can register them and what signals they send to visitors.
.ca— $11.99/yr (renewals $12.99/yr). Canada's country-code TLD. Signals that you're Canadian and is the strongest choice for any business targeting Canadian customers. Registration is restricted to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, companies, and a few other categories (we'll ask your CPR legal type during checkout — it's a quick dropdown)..com— $19.99/yr. The most recognized TLD globally. No eligibility restrictions. If your business serves customers outside Canada, or is globally branded,.comis still the default choice..net,.org,.info— $24.99–$29.99/yr. Older "generic" TLDs. Often registered as a defensive secondary, though.orgis still commonly used by nonprofits.- Newer TLDs (
.dev,.shop,.online,.store,.tech,.xyz, etc.) — fine choices when the.comyou want isn't available. Scroll through the TLD list on the registration page to see them with current pricing.
.ca. Canadian customers are increasingly conscious about where their data lives and who hosts their suppliers' sites; a .ca domain combined with Canadian hosting is a strong trust signal. Plus, .ca includes free WHOIS privacy for individuals.Pick a name that works
A few rules of thumb for choosing a domain name:
- Shorter is better. Easier to type, easier to remember, easier to say out loud.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers if possible. They get misread and misheard ("Was that one hyphen or two? And is that the number 4 or the word 'for'?").
- Don't register a name that's confusingly similar to an existing trademark. That's how you end up on the losing end of a cease-and-desist letter.
- Check that the social media handles are available for the same name if that matters to your brand.
- Register defensively. If
yourbrand.comis your main, consider also grabbing the.ca, common misspellings, and the plural/singular forms.
What's included with a new registration?
- Free WHOIS privacy on
.cadomains for Canadian registrants (and available as a paid add-on for other TLDs, currently $4.99/yr). - Free DNS management — we give you a full DNS zone editor in the client area even if you host your website elsewhere.
- Free domain forwarding — point visitors to any URL, useful for redirecting a
.cato a.comor vice versa. - Free email forwarders once the domain is on a hosting plan.
- Free registration or transfer with any annual or longer hosting plan — if you're ordering hosting at the same time, you can skip the registration fee for one domain.
I'm getting an error when I try to register
- "Domain is unavailable" — the name is already registered. Use the domain search tool to see if a different TLD is free, or try a slight variation.
- "CPR legal type is required" (
.caonly) — CIRA requires one of several pre-set categories for every.ca. Pick the one that best matches you (individual / corporation / partnership / etc.) from the dropdown. - Checkout fails / card declined — try a different card or contact your bank; some Canadian banks flag first-time payments to online merchants. See How do I update my credit card information?
- Order flagged for fraud review — sometimes our automated fraud check flags a legitimate order. Open a support ticket and we'll clear it manually within the hour.
Related articles
- How do I renew my domain?
- How do I change WHOIS privacy options?
- How do I transfer a domain to CanSpace?
Still stuck? Open a support ticket
