Free Bulk Domain Availability Checker (Official RDAP Data)
Check if up to 5 domain names are free to register. For taken names, see the registrar, registration date and expiry date, straight from the registry.
- ✓ Free
- ✓ No sign-up
- ✓ Official RDAP data
- ✓ 5 names per check
- ✓ No sales pressure
- ✓ CSV export
By Sheikh Shadi Shuvo, Founder of Backlink Express · Updated
Domain availability in one sentence
A domain is available when the registry for its extension has no registration record for it. RDAP, the official successor to WHOIS, is how registries publish that record.
How to check domain availability
- Enter up to 5 domain names, one per line, e.g.
mybrand.com,mybrand.io. A name without an extension is checked as .com. - Click "Check Availability". Each name is checked live with its registry.
- Read the result and download the list as a CSV if you're comparing options.
What the results mean
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Likely available | The registry has no record of the name | Register it at a registrar. Confirm the price; a few names are premium or reserved. |
| Registered | Someone owns it. We show the registrar and dates. | Pick another name, or contact the owner through the registrar if it's for sale. |
| Registered, in redemption or pending delete | The owner let it expire and it's being deleted | It may come back to the market, but the owner can still restore it during redemption. |
| Couldn't check | The extension has no public RDAP service, or the registry didn't answer | Try again later, or search at a registrar. |
A registry answers "not found" (HTTP 404, as defined in the RDAP standard) when it has no record of a name. That's the best public signal that a domain is unregistered, but it isn't a promise: the registrar checkout is the final word.
RDAP vs WHOIS
For decades, domain lookups used WHOIS. ICANN created RDAP as its replacement: it returns structured data, supports international characters, and routes each query to the authoritative server for that extension. ICANN says that from 28 January 2025, gTLD registries and registrars are no longer required to provide WHOIS.
| RDAP | WHOIS | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Structured JSON | Free text, differs by registry |
| Finds the right server | Yes, via the IANA bootstrap list | Often needs manual server choice |
| International names | Supported | Limited |
| Status for gTLDs | The current standard | No longer required since 28 Jan 2025 |
Source: ICANN, 'Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP)' (checked October 2026).
When does an expired domain become available?
An expired domain goes through several stages before anyone else can register it:
| Stage | How long | Can the old owner renew? |
|---|---|---|
| Expired / renewal grace | Set by the registrar | Yes, usually at the normal price |
| Redemption Grace Period | 30 days | Yes, usually with an extra redemption fee |
| Pending Delete | 5 days | No |
| Released | — | Available to anyone, first come, first served |
Source: ICANN, 'Domain Name Renewal and Expiration FAQs' (checked October 2026). Registrars set their own prices.
Registries, registrars and resellers
- Registry: runs the database for an extension, such as .com or .io, and publishes the RDAP data this tool reads.
- Registrar: an accredited company that registers names for customers.
- Reseller: a company that sells domains through a registrar.
- Registrant: you, the person or business holding the rights to the name.
Prices differ between registrars for the same domain, so it's worth comparing before you buy.
Premium and reserved domains
- Premium domains are unregistered names that the registry or registrar sells at a higher price, typically short, dictionary or keyword names. They can show as available here.
- Reserved names are held back by the registry and can't be registered. ICANN notes that reserved names vary from one extension to another.
- Aftermarket domains are registered names that their owners are willing to sell.
Expired domains and SEO
Expired domains are popular in SEO because some still have backlinks. Google's spam policies cover this directly: "expired domain abuse" is buying an expired domain and repurposing it mainly to manipulate rankings with content that gives little value to users. Google's examples include casino content on a former school's site.
If you're considering an expired domain:
- Use it for something related to what it was before.
- Check its link profile: see its Domain Rating and spam score.
- Check its past content in an archive, and avoid names with a spammy history.
- Don't expect old rankings to transfer. Value comes from what you build on it.
What to do if the domain you want is taken
- Check its status. If the result shows redemption or pending delete, the owner let it lapse and it may come back to the market soon.
- Note the expiry date. A name that expires in a few weeks might not be renewed, but most active owners renew automatically, so don't count on it.
- See if it's for sale. Visit the domain: many parked names show a "for sale" page. Registrars also offer brokerage services.
- Try a close variation: add a short word (get, try, hq, app), use a different extension, or shorten the brand.
- Run 5 options at once with this tool and shortlist the ones that are free.
Which extension should you choose?
Google treats generic extensions (.com, .net, .org and newer ones like .io or .ai) as not tied to any country. Country-code extensions such as .co.uk, .de or .com.bd tell Google the site is aimed at that country. Pick by audience first:
| Extension type | Examples | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| .com | brand.com | Global brands; people type it by default | Hardest to find short, free names |
| Country code (ccTLD) | .co.uk, .de, .com.bd | Businesses serving one country | Signals that country to Google; some have residency rules |
| Generic alternatives | .net, .org, .co | When the .com is taken | Visitors may still type .com |
| New gTLDs | .io, .ai, .app, .shop | Tech and niche brands | Renewal prices can be higher than .com |
Google Search Central guidance on managing multi-regional sites (checked October 2026). Pricing varies by registrar.
Google has also said a keyword in the domain name isn't a shortcut to rankings, so choose a name people will remember and trust.
How to choose a good domain
- Short and easy to say. If you have to spell it out, it's too hard.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers; they're easy to mistype.
- Brandable over keyword-stuffed. A keyword in the domain won't make up for weak content, and a brand name is easier to remember.
- Check social handles for the same name.
- Protect your brand: consider the .com plus your country extension.
- Check trademarks before you commit.
About this tool and its data
- Source: live RDAP lookups to each extension's registry, found via IANA's official bootstrap list.
- Freshness: results are cached for up to 30 minutes.
- Limits: up to 5 names per check. Some country-code extensions have no public RDAP service yet.
- Independence: Backlink Express doesn't sell domains and doesn't keep your searches.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a domain name is available?
Enter up to 5 names above and click Check Availability. The tool asks each extension's official registry (via RDAP) whether the name is registered, and shows the dates if it is.
Is this domain checker free?
Yes. There's no sign-up and no sales pressure. We don't sell domains; when you find one you like, register it with any registrar you choose.
What does 'Likely available' mean?
The registry has no registration record for the name. That usually means you can register it, but a few names are reserved or sold at premium prices, so always confirm at your registrar.
What is RDAP?
RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is the official replacement for WHOIS. ICANN says gTLD registries and registrars were no longer required to provide WHOIS from 28 January 2025, so RDAP is now the standard way to look up domain registration data.
Why does it say 'Couldn't check'?
Some country-code extensions don't offer a public RDAP service, or the registry was slow or rate-limiting. Try again later or check with a registrar for that extension.
What happens when a domain expires?
It doesn't become available straight away. Registrars often give a renewal grace period, then the name can enter a 30-day Redemption Grace Period and a 5-day Pending Delete before ICANN says it is released for anyone to register.
Can I see who owns a domain?
Usually not. Most RDAP records show the registrar and dates, but the owner's personal details are typically redacted for privacy.
What's the difference between a registry and a registrar?
The registry runs the extension itself (for example the .com registry). Registrars are the companies you buy domains from; they register names with the registry on your behalf.
What are premium and reserved domains?
Premium domains are names the registry or registrar prices higher than normal, usually short or keyword-rich names. Reserved names are held back by the registry and can't be registered; ICANN notes that reserved names vary by extension.
Should I buy an expired domain for SEO?
Be careful. Google's spam policies call out 'expired domain abuse': buying an expired domain to host low-value content that trades on its old reputation. Use an expired domain for a genuinely related project, and check its history first.
Do you store or front-run my searches?
No. Lookups go straight to the official registries and we don't keep a list of what you searched.
Can I check more than 5 domains?
Yes, run another check. Names without an extension are checked as .com.
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See the marketplaceRegistration data from each extension's official RDAP service. Backlink Express is not a domain registrar.