Setting up a new website and want to see whether the domain name you like is registered? Or vetting an affiliate network and want to know how old its domain really is? This free tool queries the public RDAP registry service (the modern successor to WHOIS).
How to use
- Type the exact domain, including the extension, such as
.comor.co.uk. - Click Check. If the domain is registered you will see its registrar, creation and expiry dates, status and name servers.
- If no record is found, the domain may be available to register. Confirm with a registrar before buying.
Not every extension publishes RDAP data. If a lookup fails, try the ICANN lookup service.
What to do once you've found a domain
Once you find a domain nobody owns, you can register it and become the registrant until it expires. Shop around for the lowest registration and renewal fees, keep auto-renew switched on and enable registrar lock and two-factor authentication on your account.
Using domain age to vet networks
A network that claims a long history should have a domain registered many years ago. A very recent domain isn't proof of a problem, but it's a reason to dig deeper. See ways to detect affiliate scams.