WHOIS Lookup

Find domain owner and registration details — registrar, creation date, expiry, nameservers, and registrant info. Free WHOIS domain lookup via WHOIS protocol.

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APIPOST /api/v1/dns/whois
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Try also: Domain Age
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Key Features

100% Free

No registration required, unlimited checks

Instant Results

Real-time analysis with detailed output

REST API Access

Integrate into your workflow via API

Accurate Data

Live queries to authoritative sources

What is WHOIS Lookup?

WHOIS lookup queries the public domain registration database to retrieve detailed ownership, administrative, and technical information about any domain name. The results include the registrar name, domain creation and expiration dates, last update timestamp, nameserver assignments, domain status codes (like clientTransferProhibited or serverHold), and — when not hidden by privacy services — registrant contact details including name, organization, email, and phone number. This free WHOIS domain lookup tool is invaluable for multiple use cases: domain investors researching domain history and ownership chains, brand protection teams identifying potential trademark infringements, cybersecurity professionals investigating suspicious domains, businesses verifying the legitimacy of partner or vendor websites, and anyone checking when a domain expires to potentially acquire it.

The tool queries WHOIS servers directly using the WHOIS protocol (RFC 3912) and supports all major TLDs including .com, .net, .org, country-code TLDs, and newer gTLDs.

How to Use

  1. 1Enter the domain name you want to look up (e.g., example.com — works with any TLD)
  2. 2Click 'Run Check' to query the WHOIS database via the WHOIS protocol
  3. 3Review the registrant details — owner name, organization, and contact information (if not privacy-protected)
  4. 4Check key dates: creation date, expiration date, and last updated date
  5. 5Review nameserver assignments to identify the DNS provider
  6. 6Check domain status codes to understand any restrictions or locks on the domain

Who Uses This

System Administrators

Monitor and troubleshoot infrastructure

Developers

Debug network issues and integrate via API

SEO Specialists

Verify domain configuration and performance

Security Analysts

Audit and assess network security

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a WHOIS lookup and what information does it show?
A WHOIS lookup queries a public database maintained by domain registrars to find detailed information about a registered domain name. The results typically include: the registrant's name and organization (if not privacy-protected), the registrar that manages the domain, the creation date (when the domain was first registered), the expiration date, nameserver assignments, domain status codes, and administrative/technical contact details. WHOIS data is publicly accessible for most domains as part of ICANN's transparency requirements.
How do I find out who owns a domain name?
Enter the domain name in the WHOIS lookup tool and run the check. If the domain owner hasn't enabled WHOIS privacy protection, you'll see their name, organization, email address, and sometimes phone number and physical address. However, many domain owners now use privacy services (offered by most registrars) that replace personal information with the privacy service's details. In such cases, you may still be able to contact the owner through the privacy service's forwarding email address.
Why is WHOIS information hidden or redacted?
There are two main reasons. First, WHOIS privacy protection services (also called domain privacy or ID protection) are offered by registrars to hide personal contact details from the public database. This helps prevent spam, phishing attempts, identity theft, and unwanted solicitations. Second, since GDPR came into effect in 2018, European registrars are required to redact personal data from WHOIS results to comply with data protection regulations. Many registrars worldwide have adopted similar privacy practices.
How do I check when a domain expires?
Enter the domain in the WHOIS lookup tool — the expiration date is one of the standard fields returned in every WHOIS query, regardless of privacy settings. This information is useful if you're interested in acquiring an expired domain, monitoring your competitors' domains, or making sure your own domains don't lapse. Most registrars send renewal reminders, but WHOIS gives you an independent way to verify the expiration date.
What do domain status codes mean in WHOIS results?
Domain status codes indicate the current state and restrictions on a domain. Common codes include: clientTransferProhibited (transfer lock enabled by the registrant), serverHold (domain suspended by the registry, won't resolve), clientDeleteProhibited (cannot be deleted without authorization), pendingDelete (scheduled for deletion after expiration grace period), and redemptionPeriod (expired domain in grace period, can be renewed at extra cost). A domain with 'ok' or 'active' status has no restrictions and is functioning normally.
What is the difference between WHOIS and RDAP?
RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is the modern successor to the WHOIS protocol. While WHOIS returns unstructured plain text that varies between registrars, RDAP returns standardized JSON data with consistent formatting. RDAP also supports secure HTTPS connections, internationalized text, and better access control for complying with privacy regulations like GDPR. Most registries now support both protocols, and ICANN is gradually transitioning from WHOIS to RDAP as the primary lookup method.

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API Endpoint

POST /api/v1/dns/whois
View Documentation