Websites · Compared
Custom domain vs subdomain
A custom domain is a web address you register and own, such as kilnandtide.com.au, while a platform subdomain is a free address on the builder's domain, such as kilnandtide.platform.com. The subdomain costs nothing and works at once; a custom domain costs a yearly fee but is shorter, looks established and stays yours if you change platforms.
Most businesses start on a free subdomain to get online, then move to their own domain once the site is worth sharing widely. The move is easy if the builder redirects the old address.
Nuwan Madhusanka · Co-founder
3 min read · Published
| Factor | Custom domain | Platform subdomain |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | A yearly registration fee | Free |
| Setup | DNS records and verification | None, works at once |
| Ownership | Yours, portable between platforms | Belongs to the platform |
| Trust | Looks established, easy to say | Longer, shows the platform name |
| Can carry your own email address | No email of your own | |
| Search | Builds value you keep | Value stays with that address |
What you actually own
You rent a custom domain from a registrar year by year, but while you renew it, it is yours: you can point it at any host. A platform subdomain is a name the platform lends you. If you leave, you cannot take it, and links people saved stop pointing at you.
Cost against benefit
A domain costs a modest yearly fee, plus whatever the builder charges for the plan that allows custom domains. For a business that prints the address on vans, cards or invoices, or wants matching email, it pays for itself quickly. For a hobby or a short campaign, the free address is often enough.
Search and the switch
Search engines index both, and a site can rank on a free subdomain. The issue is the switch later: links and rankings attach to the address. If the builder redirects the old subdomain to your new domain and moves canonical tags, the switch is smooth; if not, you start again.
Common mistakes
Registering a domain through a builder without checking that you can transfer it out, letting a domain lapse and losing it to a squatter, and printing the free subdomain on materials you will keep for years. Register in your own name with auto renew on.
Where it shows up in OneCraft
Every site gets a free onecraft.live address. On a paid plan you connect a domain you bought elsewhere with a TXT and a CNAME record; a managed certificate is issued and the domain goes live. The first domain is primary, and the free address and other domains redirect to it. Free plans allow 0 custom domains, Starter 1, Pro 5.
Questions people ask
Can I start on a subdomain and switch later?
Yes, and it is common. Publish on the free address, then connect your domain when ready. If the old address redirects to the new domain, shared links keep working and search engines follow the move, so starting free costs you little.
Do I need a custom domain for business email?
Yes. An address like hello@kilnandtide.com.au needs a domain you control, with email hosting set up through MX records. A free website subdomain cannot carry your own email, which is one of the strongest reasons small businesses register a domain, even before they need a website.
Is a .com.au better than a .com?
For an Australian business, a .com.au signals a local presence and requires an Australian connection to register, while .com is international. Many businesses register both and point one at the other. Choose the one customers will remember and type, and use it everywhere.
Does a custom domain make my site faster?
No. Speed depends on hosting, page weight and images, not on the name. A custom domain on the same platform loads at the same speed as its free subdomain, because the same files are served from the same network to every visitor.
What happens if I stop paying for the domain?
After a grace period the registration lapses and the name can be bought by someone else, who might use it for anything. Turn on auto renew, keep the registrar account email current and note the renewal date somewhere you will see it.
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Create a website with OneCraftRelated questions
- What is a subdomain?What is a subdomain? The part of a web address in front of the main domain, like shop in shop.example.com. How subdomains work and when to use one.
- What is a CNAME record?What is a CNAME record? A DNS entry that points one name, like www.yourdomain.com, at another name. What it does, why builders ask for one, and the apex catch.
- How long does DNS propagation take?How long does DNS propagation take? Usually minutes to a few hours, up to 48 hours in rare cases. Why changes are slow, how to check them and what to fix.
Written and checked by the OneCraft team. Last checked .