Cheapest .CO.ZA domain prices

The ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA) increased wholesale domain registration prices on 1 October 2024, and a MyBroadband analysis has revealed that Absolute Hosting’s registration price is the lowest of eight prominent providers.

Its registration price is R14 less than the next-most affordable option: Register Domain SA. We compared domain registration and renewal pricing from eight reputable registrars available to South African businesses.

The registrars compared are Absolute Hosting, Afrihost, Axxess, Domains.co.za, Host Africa, Register Domain SA, Xneelo, and 1-grid.

ZADNA announced looming wholesale price hikes for various .ZA domains in June 2024. CEO Molehe Wesi explained that the changes resulted from an extensive financial analysis combined with the impact of inflation and foreign exchange fluctuations.

“This decision follows thorough consultations with industry stakeholders and aligns with current economic developments and operational needs,” said Wesi.

The price hikes took effect on 1 October 2024, and the wholesale cost of .ZA domains increased by 5.23%. These prices will remain until 30 September 2025.

ZADNA also expects price hikes of 6.56% in 2025/26 and 6.15% in 2026/27. The price increases are linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

“These figures will be confirmed annually in July, based on the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI), allowing for industry implementation in October of every year,” Wesi stated.

As the adjustments impacted wholesale prices, registrars were tasked with deciding whether to absorb the price increases or push them on to customers.

Following ZADNA’s announcement of the price increases, MyBroadband asked local hosting providers how they planned to approach the new pricing.

Absolute Hosting managing director Jade Benson said the company had managed to reduce .CO.ZA domain registration and renewal prices for resellers while implementing a slight increase for customers.

“We are aware that our clients are sensitive to price increases overall, and it is because of this that we introduced affordable co.za domain registration pricing at R69 last year,” said Benson.

He added that Absolute Hosting expected to offer a price of around R71, including VAT, and it wasn’t far off.

It initially charged R74 for registrations during a promotion shortly after the adjustments. However, the registration price has now increased to R81.

Hosting provider and registrar 1-Grid said it had increased .CO.ZA domain registrations from R89 to R99.

“This is the only price adjustment we’ve implemented recently,” it added.

.CO.ZA domain price shootout

Absolute Hosting charges R81 for customers to register a new .CO.ZA domain, after which it charges customers R95 each year to renew the domain.

While the annual renewal cost is similar to that of the second-most affordable registrar, Register Domain SA, registration costs R14 less.

1-grid has reduced its .CO.ZA registration fee slightly, from R99 to R97, making it the third-most affordable option in the country. It also charges R97 for renewals annually.

Axxess, Domains.co.za, Xneelo, and Host Africa all charge R99 for .CO.ZA domain registrations. However, Axxess offers a discounted renewal price of R89 per year.

Domains.co.za and Xneelo charge R99 for annual renewals, while Host Africa charges R10 more at R109.

Afrihost charges R197 to register a .CO.ZA domain and R99 per year to renew the domain.

The table below compares .CO.ZA domain registration and renewal prices from eight prominent South African registrars.