The problem: no reliable way to value a domain name in Canada
You registered a domain a few years ago. Someone's offering to buy it — but how do you know if the price is fair? Or maybe you're looking to buy a domain on the secondary market and can't tell if the seller is asking too much.
Most domain valuation tools available today are either English-only (with no Canadian market calibration), paywalled after 3 searches, or so opaque in their methodology that you can't trust the result.
What HostingQC gives you — for free
- Score out of 100 based on 6 weighted criteria
- Estimated market value in Canadian dollars (CAD) with min-max range
- Real-time availability check — .com, .ca, .net, .org, .io simultaneously
- Smart alternative suggestions if your domain is already taken
- Full report: strengths, weaknesses, personalized tip
- 100% client-side calculation — your data never leaves your browser
How the appraisal algorithm works
Unlike tools that use black-box formulas, HostingQC documents its method precisely. The appraisal is built on 6 criteria inspired by the methods used by Sedo, Afternic, and major domain registrars:
- Name length (30%) — A 3-4 letter domain is worth on average 7 to 12× more than a 12+ letter one. Scarcity creates value: all 3-letter .com combinations have been registered for years.
- TLD extension (25%) — .com is the gold standard. In Canada, .ca is worth approximately 70% of an equivalent .com — making it an excellent choice for businesses whose audience is primarily Canadian.
- Pronounceability (15%) — A name you can dictate over the phone without spelling it out is remembered 3× more easily. The ideal vowel-to-consonant ratio is between 28% and 45%.
- Brandability (15%) — No hyphens, no numbers, memorable in under 3 seconds. Each hyphen reduces value by approximately 40%.
- Keyword potential (10%) — Domains containing high-CPC Google Ads keywords (shop, buy, pro, tech, app, insurance) capture a 20–50% premium due to their direct SEO potential.
- Legal clarity (5%) — A name that doesn't mimic a registered trademark can be developed and sold freely, giving it greater commercial value.
Why .ca domains are undervalued by most buyers
The vast majority of domain valuation resources are American and ignore the Canadian market entirely. Yet for a business whose customers are in Quebec or Canada, a strong .ca can be worth as much as an equivalent .com — and sometimes more, because Google gives it a local trust signal that boosts rankings in Canada.
HostingQC is one of the only tools to have calibrated its estimates for the Canadian market, with reference values in CAD rather than USD.
Real-world examples: what domain characteristics are worth
To show how the 6 criteria translate into real market value, here are some reference transactions from the public secondary market:
- voice.com — sold for ~$30M USD: 5 letters, common English word, perfect .com
- shop.ca — ~$150K CAD: e-commerce keyword + premium .ca extension
- pro.ca — ~$80K CAD: 3 letters, short, generic Canadian
- app.io — ~$50K USD: tech premium + ultra-short
These transactions confirm that the same criteria apply whether it's a global .com or a Canadian .ca — length and word relevance drive the majority of value.
How to use the tool to sell your domain at the best price
If you're thinking of selling a domain, here's the recommended approach:
- Get your free HostingQC appraisal to establish an objective price floor
- Screenshot the full report to include in your listing — buyers trust transparent methodology
- List on Sedo, Afternic and Dan.com for maximum reach
- If you have organic traffic, export Google Analytics data — proven monthly visitors can multiply your asking price by 24–36×
- Bundle .com and .ca together if you own both — packages sell faster and for more
Is it really free — no catch?
No catch. Unlimited searches, no account required, no credit card. The entire algorithm runs in your browser — nothing is sent to a server. HostingQC offers this tool as part of its Quebec web hosting services. If you need to host your site after registering a domain, their plans start at $8.99/month with a free .ca domain included in the first year.
Results in under 2 seconds · No sign-up · Value in CAD
Also from the Quebec tech ecosystem
If you're in Quebec and launching a digital project, check out our other articles covering free Quebec-built tools: RabaisVÉ for EV owners, EVNavPro for electric vehicle navigation, and TrocQC for local trading — all free, all made in Quebec.