Domain Checker - A Convenient Tool for Finding Available Domains

The Domain Checker is a valuable tool when searching for the perfect domain name. Learn more about what it is, how domain checks work, and the types of information you can retrieve:

What is a Domain Checker?

A Domain Checker or domain check is an online query tool used to verify the availability of domain names on the internet and, in some cases, retrieve additional information. Typically, a small search field is provided where you can enter the desired name to be checked. Some Domain Checkers allow you to refine the domain search based on specific criteria. For example, you can limit the search to certain domain extensions (only new TLDs or only the most popular domain extensions), making the results more manageable. For webmasters planning a new online project, the Domain Checker is usually the first point of reference.

What is the Purpose of a Domain Checker?

Domains are often compared to a company's location or a person's address for good reason. Just like in real life, there are desirable addresses online — such as short URLs like NAME.COM or NAME.DE — and less appealing ones like NAME-NAME-123.DE, which are cumbersome and hard to remember. Some domains may also give an unprofessional first impression. Additionally, domains may be hidden behind a subdomain to save costs, similar to a property tucked away behind a main building. Lastly, there are free domains, which can be likened to undeveloped land. The Domain Checker’s job is to verify the availability of a domain and suggest possible alternatives. To continue the analogy, it acts as a commission-free real estate agent.

Tasks of a Domain Checker include:

• Finding domain names available for registration
• Suggesting alternative domain extensions for already-registered names
• Providing alternative domain names for unavailable desired domains
• Retrieving additional information about specific domains

How Does a Domain Checker Work?

Every internet address is registered multiple times under its owner’s name. It is first stored in the database of the institution responsible for the top-level domain (TLD), such as international or national non-profit organizations like ICANN (for TLDs like .org, .net, .com, or .biz) or DENIC (for .de domains). Free domains are identifiable because they do not appear in these databases. A Domain Checker automates the process of querying the databases of various TLD administrators for a chosen name. It then visually presents the availability of different extensions and suggests alternatives if applicable. This allows users to check a large number of names and TLDs for free domains in a short time without manually querying each database server. Instead, the Domain Checker aggregates results from different sources and presents them almost in real time.

What Information Does the Domain Checker Provide?

A Domain Checker focuses exclusively on verifying the availability of an address and generally does not provide additional information, such as the owner’s details. In some cases, a desired domain may already be registered but available for sale on the open market. This is particularly common for "premium" domains containing key terms that are attractive to a general or specific audience.

Information provided by the Domain Checker includes:

• The availability of a free domain
• The cost of a one-year registration with a specific provider
• The cost of a one-year registration with multiple providers
• Other possible domain extensions
• Alternative suggestions for popular domain names

Although most providers suggest alternatives to the desired domain and display registration costs from specific providers, the list is only a selection due to the vast number of TLDs. Some Domain Checkers allow manual selection of additional TLDs, while others do so automatically. Therefore, it is advisable to review the list of included TLDs and, if necessary, use more than one Domain Checker.

Does Using a Domain Checker Cost Anything?

In most cases, using a Domain Checker is free of charge. The service is usually funded through advertisements, partnerships with domain providers, or a combination of both. Unlike the example above, no additional commission is charged for using a Domain Checker. The cost of domain registration primarily depends on the TLD and can range from a few euros to several thousand euros per year. Significant price differences may exist between domain providers (registrars). A price comparison of service providers is therefore highly recommended to find the best rate for a specific TLD. Many Domain Checkers include this comparison feature, but it is often limited to a selection of companies due to the large number of providers. If a free domain is found but the costs seem unusually high, conducting a manual domain comparison may help identify more affordable providers.