# Domain availability FAQ

Straight answers about checking domain names, RDAP, expired domains and picking a TLD.

## How accurate is AvailableWhois?

For most TLDs, AvailableWhois asks the registry that runs the TLD directly over RDAP, so the answer is the registry's own record, not a guess. A few TLDs don't offer public RDAP; for those we fall back to DNS and label the result as DNS-based. Registries are the final word at checkout, but a registry-sourced "Available" is about as close to certain as you can get before you buy.

## What is RDAP?

RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is the modern, structured replacement for WHOIS. Registries publish an RDAP endpoint that answers "is this domain registered, and if so when, by which registrar, and until when?" in JSON. ICANN requires it for generic TLDs like .com, .dev and .app, and many country-code registries support it too.

## Why does a domain show as taken when there's no website on it?

Registering a domain and putting a website on it are separate things. Plenty of domains are held by investors, parked, reserved by brands, or bought for a project that never shipped. If the registry has a record, the name is taken, whatever is (or isn't) at the address.

## What is a domain hack?

A domain hack uses the TLD as part of the word, so the whole domain reads as one name: del.icio.us, youtu.be or redd.it are famous examples. AvailableWhois suggests hacks by matching the end of your name against real TLDs, which often turns up short options when the .com is long gone.

## Do you sell my searches or register domains I look up?

No. AvailableWhois isn't a registrar and doesn't register, reserve or resell domains. Searches aren't tied to an account and aren't sold or shared. Lookups go straight from our server to the registry, and results may be cached for a short time so repeat checks are fast.

## How can I get a domain that's already taken?

Check who holds it and when it expires (AvailableWhois shows the registrar and expiry date when the registry publishes them). If it's listed for sale, you can buy it through a marketplace or the owner's broker. Otherwise you can contact the owner through the registrar's contact form, use a broker, or wait to see whether it lapses. Be ready to walk away; a good alternative name is often cheaper than a negotiation.

## When do expired domains become available again?

Not on the expiry date. For most generic TLDs, an expired domain usually goes through a grace period (often up to 45 days) where the owner can still renew, then a 30-day redemption period, then about 5 days pending delete before it's released. Country-code TLDs set their own rules. Popular names are often caught by backorder services the moment they drop.

## Which TLD should my startup pick?

If you can get the .com at a sane price, it's still the safest default. Otherwise pick a TLD that fits your audience: .ai for AI products, .dev or .sh for developer tools, .io and .co for tech startups in general, or a country-code TLD if you're focused on one market. Whatever you choose, say it out loud once: if people will type .com by habit, consider owning that too.

## Is AvailableWhois free?

Yes. No signup, no paywall, no limit beyond a fair-use rate limit that keeps the service fast for everyone. When you find an available name, AvailableWhois links to registrars so you can buy it wherever you like.

## Why do some results say "Unsure"?

Sometimes a registry is slow, rate-limits us, or doesn't publish data we can read. Rather than guess, AvailableWhois marks the result as Unsure. Retry in a moment, or check the domain at a registrar before you get attached to it.

More detail: [how AvailableWhois checks a domain](https://availablewhois.com/how-it-works.md), the [TLD guide](https://availablewhois.com/tlds.md) and [domain hacks](https://availablewhois.com/domain-hacks.md).

[Check a domain](https://availablewhois.com/)

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Canonical page: https://availablewhois.com/faq · Check a domain: https://availablewhois.com/ · All docs: https://availablewhois.com/llms.txt