Subdomains and addon domains both help expand your web presence but serve different purposes—subdomains are extensions of your main site, while addon domains host entirely separate websites under one account. Subdomains are ideal for blogs or regional versions, whereas addon domains are suited for different brands or businesses. Choosing the right one depends on your goals, content relevance, and branding needs.

Creating a successful web presence goes beyond simply reserving a domain name; it’s also about the way you build and organise your web assets. If you have researched web hosting or managing domains, you are probably familiar with the terms addon domain and subdomain. Although they appear alike, their unique functions significantly affect your website’s performance and scalability.

What is a Subdomain?

A subdomain is an extension of your principal domain name that establishes a distinct area of your website. It uses the format subdomain.yourdomain.com and shares the same hosting account as your primary domain.
A subdomain is, quite literally, a subsection of your original domain. Think of it like adding onto your existing house rather than building a new one. Subdomains are ideal for structuring various sections of your site that need to be separated from your core content. Typical applications are:

  • Creating a blog subdirectory (blog.yourdomain.com)
  • Developing a cellular version of your site (m.yourdomain.com)
  • Developing country-level editions (au.yourdomain.com)
  • Creating a knowledge base or support portal (help.yourdomain.com)
  • Creating testing locations (test.yourdomain.com)

Technically, subdomains are included within your main domain’s DNS records and would usually be located in subdirectories of your main domain’s file system on your hosting server. They will have access to the same hosting resources and will be controlled from the same account.

Also Read: What Is A Subdomain: Understanding Its Importance For Your Website’s SEO

What Is an Addon Domain?

An addon domain is a completely separate domain name that you can host under the same hosting account as your primary domain. It functions as an independent website with its own content, despite sharing server resources with your main domain.

Continuing our previous analogy, this would be similar to constructing an entirely new house on a different block of land, but both houses are being serviced by the same real estate agent. For Example, if your primary domain is “example.com”, an addon domain might be “myotherbusiness.com.au”—an entirely different website with its own identity, content, and purpose.

Addon domains prove especially useful if you want to:

  • Run multiple businesses or brands
  • Create sites for different purposes or user groups
  • Try out new site concepts without affecting your live site
  • Support numerous websites within a single control panel

An addon domain appears as an independent website to users but is hosted within a subdirectory of your main hosting account. What this implies is that you can host several websites without needing to purchase several hosting plans.

Also Read: Domain Purchase in Australia: Tips to Get the Best Deals

Subdomain vs Addon Domain – Differences

To help you make an educated decision, here’s a comparison between addon domains and subdomains:

Feature

 Subdomain Addon Domain
Domain Name Prefix of the main domain Completely unique domain
Registration No extra registration needed Requires domain registration
Website Identity Part of the main website Separate, independent website
File Structure Subfolder of the main site Separate root directory
Use Cases Blogs, regions, sections Multiple brands, unrelated sites
Cost Usually free with hosting Pay for the additional domain name
Email Accounts Shares with the main domain Separate email accounts are possible
SEO Impact Shares some authority Treated as a distinct website
DNS Settings Shared with the main domain Managed separately

Which Option is right for you?

Choosing between an addon domain and a subdomain depends on your personal needs.

Use a subdomain when

  • You need to include various sections in your current site
  • The material is relevant to your main website.
  • You will be required to take advantage of your primary domain.
  • You’re talking to the same target audience with complementary content
  • You don’t want to be charged additional domain registration fees

Subdomains are appropriate for blogs, support forums, or local implementations of your main business.

Use an Addon Domain When:

  • You are creating a completely new business or brand
  • You need a unique identity for a new venture
  • The content or audience differs significantly from your primary site
  • You intend to possibly sell or assign the website in the future

You require completely unique branding

Addon domains are perfect for handling numerous businesses or standalone projects from one affordable web hosting account.

Conclusion

A cost-effective strategy for startups and small firms with limited resources is to use a single primary domain and subdomains for additional ventures. As your various projects grow, you can convert subdomains to add-on domains when necessary.

Addon domains and subdomains are both great options for growing your web presence, but they are used for different purposes. The best option will depend on your business objectives, branding strategy, and available funds. For most growing businesses, the best approach is probably to use a combination of both—subdomains for highly related content and addon domains for separate ventures.

Crazy Domains offers 24/7 support and scalable hosting to accommodate business growth, including subdomain and add-on domain configurations. Its easy-to-use control panel also facilitates easy management of multiple web properties even for newbies. Ready to create your online empire? Start by registering your dream domain name with Crazy Domains, and then choose the right structure for your web empire. Tap into unlimited online possibilities with Crazy Domains today!