Domain Availability Checker

What is Domain Availability Checker?

Domain Availability Checker is a free online tool that lets you instantly verify whether a domain name is available for registration or already taken. You enter a domain name (for example, "myproject"), and the tool checks that name across ten popular top-level domains (TLDs): .com, .net, .org, .io, .co, .info, .dev, .app, .me, and .xyz. For each extension, the tool performs a real-time DNS lookup and reports the result as "Available" or "Taken." If the .com version is registered, the tool also retrieves WHOIS information including the registrar, creation date, expiration date, and name servers. No account or signup is required. The results are displayed in a visual grid with green cards for available domains and red cards for taken ones, making it easy to see your options at a glance.

Choosing the right domain name is one of the first and most important steps when launching a website, blog, startup, or online project. A good domain name is memorable, brandable, and easy to type. However, with millions of domains already registered, finding an available one can be challenging. The Domain Availability Checker simplifies this process by testing multiple extensions simultaneously. Instead of visiting individual registrars and searching one extension at a time, you enter your desired name once and get results for ten TLDs in seconds. This saves time and helps you discover alternative extensions you might not have considered.

The tool uses DNS-based checking, which queries the Domain Name System to determine whether a domain resolves to an IP address. If DNS records exist (A or CNAME), the domain is considered taken. If no records are found, the domain is likely available. This method is fast and does not require external API keys, making the tool free and accessible. For the primary .com domain, the tool also performs a WHOIS lookup to provide additional context: who registered the domain, when it was created, when it expires, and which name servers it uses. This information helps you assess whether a taken domain might become available soon or whether it is actively maintained.

The checker is designed with a clean, responsive interface that works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. The results grid adapts to your screen size: four columns on desktop, three on tablet, and two on mobile. Each domain card shows the full domain name, a color-coded status indicator, and a badge showing "Available" or "Taken." The summary section at the top provides counts of total domains checked, available domains, and taken domains. This visual approach makes it easy to compare options and make a decision quickly.

Who Benefits from This Tool

Entrepreneurs and startup founders benefit when brainstorming business names. Before committing to a brand name, checking domain availability ensures you can secure a matching web presence. The tool lets you test variations quickly: try "brandname" and see which extensions are free. Finding that .com is taken but .io or .co is available may influence your naming decision. The WHOIS data helps you understand whether the .com holder is a squatter, an active business, or a parked domain that might be purchasable.

Web developers and designers use the tool when setting up projects for clients. Before proposing a domain name, they can verify availability and present options with confidence. The multi-TLD check is especially useful for clients who want alternatives beyond .com. Freelancers building portfolios or personal sites also benefit from checking availability across modern extensions like .dev, .app, and .io.

Digital marketers and SEO professionals use it when planning campaigns, microsites, or landing pages. A unique domain for a campaign can improve tracking and branding. Checking availability across multiple TLDs helps find the best option. The WHOIS data is useful for competitor research: you can see when a competitor registered their domain and which registrar they use.

Domain investors and resellers use it to scout available domains worth registering. By checking a keyword across all popular extensions, they can identify unregistered combinations with commercial potential. The tool provides a quick first pass; serious investors may follow up with deeper research using full WHOIS tools and domain appraisal services.

Bloggers, content creators, and small business owners use it to find a suitable domain before starting their online journey. Many non-technical users find registrar search tools confusing. The Domain Availability Checker provides a simple, visual interface: type a name, click check, and see results immediately. No technical knowledge is required.

Key Features

Multi-TLD Checking

The tool checks your domain name against ten popular TLDs simultaneously: .com, .net, .org, .io, .co, .info, .dev, .app, .me, and .xyz. These cover the most commonly used extensions for businesses, technology projects, personal sites, and creative ventures. You get a comprehensive view of availability without needing to search each extension separately.

DNS-Based Availability Detection

Availability is determined by querying DNS records (A and CNAME). If the domain resolves to an IP address, it is marked as "Taken." If no records exist, it is marked as "Available." This method is fast, free, and works for all TLDs without requiring API keys or paid services. DNS checks typically complete in milliseconds per domain.

WHOIS Information

For the .com version of your domain, the tool retrieves WHOIS data including the registrar name, creation date, expiration date, last updated date, and name servers. This helps you understand who owns the domain, how long it has been registered, and whether it might expire soon. WHOIS data is fetched using the Iodev WHOIS library, which queries the appropriate WHOIS server for the domain.

Visual Results Grid

Results are displayed in a responsive card grid. Available domains show a green background with a checkmark icon. Taken domains show a red background with an X icon. Each card displays the full domain name and a status badge. The grid layout is responsive: it shows four columns on large screens, three on medium, and two on small devices. This makes results easy to scan on any device.

Summary Statistics

Above the results grid, a summary bar shows three metrics: total domains checked, number available, and number taken. These counters provide an instant overview before you examine individual results. The summary uses icon-labeled cards that are easy to read on both light and dark themes.

Smart Domain Parsing

You can enter just a name (e.g., "myproject") or a full domain (e.g., "myproject.com"). The tool strips protocols, "www" prefixes, paths, query strings, and known TLDs to extract the base domain name. It then appends each of the ten TLDs for checking. This flexibility means you do not need to format your input precisely; the tool handles variations gracefully.

How to Use

1. Enter a domain name in the input field. You can type just the name (e.g., "mycompany") or a full domain (e.g., "mycompany.com"). The tool will extract the base name automatically.
2. Complete any required verification (e.g., reCAPTCHA) if prompted.
3. Click the "Check Availability" button. The tool will check your domain across all ten TLDs.
4. Review the summary bar at the top: total checked, available, and taken counts.
5. Scan the results grid. Green cards indicate available domains; red cards indicate taken domains.
6. If the .com version is taken, scroll down to the WHOIS section to see registrar, creation date, and expiration date.
7. Use the "Sample" button to test with a demo domain ("softseotools") or "Reset" to clear and try another name.

Common Use Cases

• Checking if a business or brand name is available as a domain before registering a company
• Finding alternative TLDs when your preferred .com is already taken
• Verifying domain availability before presenting options to a client
• Scouting domains for a new blog, podcast, or YouTube channel
• Checking whether a campaign or product name is available for a microsite
• Researching competitor domains and their registration details via WHOIS
• Finding available domains for portfolio or personal branding sites
• Identifying expired or soon-to-expire domains from WHOIS data
• Comparing availability across modern TLDs (.io, .dev, .app) for tech projects
• Quick domain research before purchasing from a registrar

Tips & Best Practices

Start with a clear, short, and memorable name. Domains under 15 characters are easier to type and remember. Avoid hyphens and numbers unless they are part of your brand. If your preferred .com is taken, consider .io for tech projects, .co for startups, or .me for personal brands. These alternatives are widely recognized and trusted.

Check the WHOIS data before giving up on a taken domain. If the domain expires soon and is not actively used, you may be able to register it after expiration or use a backorder service. If the domain is parked (showing ads but no real content), the owner might be willing to sell it.

Register your domain promptly after finding it available. Domain names can be registered by anyone at any time. If you find a good name, secure it before someone else does. Most registrars offer registration for one or more years at reasonable prices.

Consider registering multiple extensions for brand protection. If you register "mybrand.com," also consider registering "mybrand.net" and "mybrand.org" to prevent others from using similar domains. Redirect the extras to your primary domain.

Limitations & Notes

DNS-based checking is fast but not 100% accurate. A domain with no DNS records may still be registered (some owners do not configure DNS immediately). Conversely, some expired domains may still have cached DNS records temporarily. For authoritative results, confirm availability with your preferred registrar before purchasing.

WHOIS data is fetched for the .com version only. Other TLDs may have different WHOIS servers and policies. Some TLDs restrict WHOIS data for privacy. The tool provides WHOIS as supplementary information, not as a comprehensive domain intelligence service.

The tool checks the ten most popular TLDs. Country-code TLDs (e.g., .uk, .de, .in) and newer gTLDs (e.g., .store, .tech, .online) are not included in the default check. For those, use a registrar's search tool or a specialized domain search engine.

Results reflect the current state of DNS at the time of the check. Domain availability can change at any moment. If you check and find a domain available, register it promptly. Do not assume it will remain available indefinitely.

FAQs