Domain checker: check domain availability and compare prices
Is your domain name still available? Our free domain search checks availability in seconds – live with the responsible registry. For available domains you see the lowest yearly price from the providers on hosttest straight away.
Is your desired domain still available?
Enter a name or a full domain, e.g. myshop or myshop.co.uk.
Note: The result is a snapshot of the registry data and comes without guarantee. Only the registration with a provider is binding.
How popular is your extension?
All domain statistics →What the domain checker does for you
One name, all important extensions: your domain search shows at a glance which domains are still available and what they cost.
Live with the registry
We query every extension directly with the responsible registry, e.g. Nominet for .uk domains. So you see the current status instead of outdated data.
Lowest price
For available domains we show you the lowest yearly price from the providers on hosttest and take you straight to the domain comparison.
Alternatives and regional extensions
Besides .co.uk and .uk we check popular extensions such as .com, .net or .shop, regional extensions such as .london or .scot and matching name variants.
Taken? Your next steps
If your domain is already taken, the WHOIS lookup shows where it is hosted. If the domain is already yours, you will find providers to transfer it to.
Checklist: what makes a good domain name
A quick check before you register saves you a later domain change or trouble with name rights.
-
Easy to remember
Short and concise, ideally without special characters. Nobody mistypes it, and you can pass it on over the phone without errors.
-
The right extension
For a UK audience .co.uk or .uk is usually the first choice, as visitors trust it most. For an international audience .com is often better.
-
Meaningful
A name that hints at the content or the owner helps visitors and search engines. If you sell aircraft engines, aircraftengines.co.uk works better than engines.info.
-
Secure more extensions
Planning more extensions or want to catch typos? Check and register them right away, before someone else does.
-
Respect third-party rights
If a domain infringes name or trademark rights, it can be taken away even after registration. A quick trademark search beforehand protects you.
Good to know
The key facts about searching for and registering a domain.
Domain checker or WHOIS lookup?
The domain checker shows whether a name is still available under different extensions and what registration costs. A WHOIS lookup gives you details about a domain that is already registered, such as name servers and hosting. For data protection reasons, many registries no longer publish the owner's details.
Classic and new extensions
Besides country extensions like .co.uk there used to be only a few generic extensions such as .com or .net. Today there are hundreds of new extensions, for example .shop, .online or .london. If your name is taken under .co.uk or .com, they are worth a look. Domains also become available again regularly.
How much does a domain cost?
The price depends on the extension and the provider. .co.uk and .com often cost just a few pounds per year, extensions like .io cost considerably more. Also check the renewal price from the second year. If you are planning a website, see the web hosting comparison: many plans include domains.
Articles about domains
Background, guides and news about domains and domain extensions from our magazine.
What is the AUTH or transfer code for a domain?
We explain what the Auth Code is and what it is needed for when transferring a domain.
Set up domain redirects
How to set up domain redirects to control visitor traffic on your own website.
Country-specific or generic domain?
Is a country-specific or a generic domain extension the right choice for your own web project?
Introduction to DNSSEC: What beginners need to know
DNSSEC stands for Domain Name System Security Extensions. Behind the seemingly complicated term are a series of extensions designe…
Security feature Domain Guard: Necessary or unnecessary?
Domain Guard is an additional security feature offered by some web hosts to protect domains from unauthorised access and tampering…
Transfer domain: How to successfully transfer your domain
in-this-guide-you-will-learn-step-by-step-what-to-consider-when-transferring-a-domain
Frequently asked questions about the domain checker
Enter your desired name or the full domain above and start the check. The domain checker queries the registries and shows “Available” or “Taken” for every extension. So you can check many domains at once instead of looking up each extension separately.
Yes, you can use the domain checker for free and without signing up. To prevent automated queries, only the number of searches per hour is limited.
There is no complete list of available domains – there are simply too many possible names. It is quicker to search for your name directly: the domain checker shows under which extensions it is still available, along with suitable alternatives.
We query every extension live with the responsible registry. If a registry does not give a clear answer, we show “Cannot be checked” instead of guessing. You can then look it up directly with the registry via “Check yourself”. Until you register, someone else may still be faster.
No, there is no such thing as a pure reservation. A domain – and with it your website address – goes to whoever registers it first. If your domain name is available, register it with a provider as soon as possible. You can build the website later.
Try other extensions or variants, for example with a hyphen or an addition. The domain checker suggests suitable alternatives. The WHOIS lookup shows whether the domain is actively used. Some taken domains are for sale or become available again if the owner does not renew them.
No. hosttest is a comparison portal and does not register domains itself. Via “Compare offers” you will find providers where you can order the domain – on its own or together with web hosting.
That depends on the extension and the provider. .co.uk and .com often cost just a few pounds per year. The domain checker shows the lowest yearly price from the providers on hosttest for every available domain. You will find more offers in the domain comparison.
For some extensions the registry assigns particularly popular names, such as short words, as premium domains at a higher price. You only see the final price when ordering from the provider.
Letters, digits and hyphens are allowed, with a maximum of 63 characters. A hyphen cannot be at the start or end. Some extensions also allow accented letters, which are converted technically (e.g. xn--mller-kva.de for müller.de).
