Domain Availability Checker
See at a glance whether a name is free in .com, .io, .ai, .app and other extensions. Type one or more names, pick extensions and get live status from each registry, plus the registrar and expiry date of names that are already taken.
Last updated:
Name ideas for
Variations to try if your first choice is taken. Click one to check it.
Status comes live from each registry's official RDAP server (the modern WHOIS). "Available" means the registry has no registration for the name; some names are reserved or sold at premium prices, so confirm at a registrar before you buy. Lookups go from your browser straight to the registries.
How to use the Domain Availability Checker
- Type a name such as mybakery, or several separated by commas or new lines. A full name like example.io is checked exactly as typed.
- Pick the extensions to check with the checkboxes or a preset, and add others like studio or nyc in More extensions.
- Click Check availability. Each card turns green (Available), red (Registered) or orange (Unknown) as the registry answers.
- Look at taken names for the registrar and expiry date, or click a name idea to check a variation.
- Copy or download the available domains, then register your favourite at any registrar before someone else does.
Reading the results
| Status | Registry answer | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Available | HTTP 404: no registration exists for the name | Register it at any accredited registrar. Check whether it is listed as a premium name, which costs more. |
| Registered | A domain record with registrar, status and dates | Pick another extension or a variation, or note the expiry date and contact the owner through the registrar. |
| Expiring | Registered with status redemption period or pending delete | The owner did not renew. If they do not restore it, the name is usually released about 35 days after expiry. |
| Unknown | No public RDAP server, a rate limit, or the request was blocked | Press Check again after a minute, or search the name at a registrar. |
Popular extensions at a glance
| Extension | Type | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| .com | Generic (1985) | The default for businesses worldwide; the most trusted and most taken |
| .net / .org | Generic (1985) | Networks and tech services / non-profits and communities, open to anyone |
| .io | Country code (British Indian Ocean Territory) | Startups, developer tools and SaaS |
| .ai | Country code (Anguilla) | Artificial intelligence products and services |
| .co | Country code (Colombia) | Short alternative to .com for companies |
| .app / .dev | Generic (Google Registry) | Apps and developer sites; HTTPS is required because both are on the HSTS preload list |
| .us | Country code (United States) | US-based people and organizations (a US nexus is required) |
| .shop / .store | Generic | Online shops and e-commerce |
Tips for choosing a domain name
- Short and spoken easily: a name people can spell after hearing it once beats a clever one. Avoid double letters across word boundaries (like shopping-goods vs shoppinggoods).
- Check the .com first, even if you plan to use another extension; visitors often type .com by habit.
- Hyphens are allowed but hard to say aloud. Use them only when the unhyphenated name is ambiguous.
- Check trademarks and social handles before you buy, so the name is usable everywhere.
- Turn on auto-renew once you register: an expired domain can be picked up by anyone after the grace periods end.
Frequently asked questions
How does the checker know if a domain is available?
It queries the registry's RDAP server, the official replacement for WHOIS that ICANN requires for all generic extensions. The server list comes from IANA's RDAP bootstrap file. If the registry returns a record, the domain is registered; if it answers 404 Not Found, nobody has registered the name.
Does Available mean I can register it right now?
Usually, but not always. Registries can reserve names or sell them at premium prices, and a few names are blocked by policy. A registered name can also reach Available a few seconds after someone else buys it. Always confirm the price and availability at a registrar before you rely on it.
Why do some extensions show Unknown?
Some country-code registries do not run a public RDAP server or do not allow lookups from browsers, and any registry may rate-limit too many requests. In that case the tool cannot see the answer, so it says Unknown instead of guessing. Check those names at a registrar.
What does redemption or pending delete mean?
When a registration expires and is not renewed, most generic domains enter a redemption grace period of about 30 days, during which only the previous owner can restore it, followed by about 5 days of pending delete. After that the name is released and can be registered by anyone.
Does checking a domain let someone register it before me?
This tool only reads public registry data, sends lookups directly from your browser to the registries and stores nothing on a server. It does not go through a registrar, so it does not feed the domain-tasting or front-running that people worry about with some search boxes.
What characters can a domain name contain?
Each label may use letters a to z, digits 0 to 9 and hyphens, up to 63 characters, and cannot start or end with a hyphen. Accented and non-Latin names are allowed in many extensions and are converted to Punycode (starting with xn--), which this checker does automatically.
How is this different from a WHOIS lookup?
A WHOIS lookup shows the full record of one domain you already know is registered. This tool is built for choosing a name: it checks many names across many extensions at once and highlights which ones are free.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.