Free tool
WHOIS domain lookup
Enter a domain and see who it’s registered with, when it expires and which nameservers it uses. Answers come straight from the domain’s registry, over RDAP (the modern replacement for WHOIS) wherever it’s offered.
How to read the results
- Registrar
- The company the domain is registered through. Renewals, transfers and nameserver changes are made in your account there.
- Registered, updated and expires
- When the domain was first registered, when its record last changed, and the date it must be renewed by. We work out its age and the days left, and flag anything under 30 days.
- Status codes
- Short codes set by the registrar or the registry, each explained in plain English. clientTransferProhibited is a normal lock against unwanted transfers; codes such as clientHold or redemptionPeriod mean something needs attention.
- Nameservers
- The servers that answer DNS queries for the domain. They usually belong to your web host or your DNS provider.
- DNSSEC
- Signed means the domain’s DNS answers carry a signature that resolvers can check, which protects visitors from forged replies. Unsigned is common and not a fault.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I see the owner’s name or email address?
Since data protection rules such as the GDPR took effect in 2018, most registries and registrars hide the owner’s personal details. You’ll usually see the registrar, the dates and the nameservers, but not the owner. To reach an owner, use the registrar’s contact or abuse address.
What is RDAP?
The Registration Data Access Protocol is the standard that replaces WHOIS. It returns the same registration data in a structured format over HTTPS. For generic domains such as .com, ICANN now treats it as the official source. Where a registry has no RDAP service yet, we fall back to classic WHOIS.
The lookup says a domain isn’t registered. Can I buy it?
Probably, but check with a registrar before you count on it. Some names are reserved or sold at premium prices, and a subdomain such as blog.example.com never shows up as registered on its own.
Why does my domain show clientTransferProhibited?
It’s a lock your registrar sets so the domain can’t be moved to another registrar without your say-so. It’s normal and worth keeping on. Turn it off in your registrar account only when you’re ready to transfer.
How up to date are the results?
Every lookup asks the registry directly. We keep each answer for 30 minutes so repeat checks are quick, so a change you’ve just made can take that long to show here.