WHOIS lookup: who owns this domain?
A WHOIS lookup (or its modern replacement, RDAP) shows a domain’s registrar, registration and expiry dates, status and name servers. Since GDPR, the owner’s name and contact details are hidden for most domains, so to reach an owner you usually go through the registrar’s contact form instead.
What a WHOIS lookup shows today
Every registered domain has a record at its registry. A WHOIS lookup reads that record and typically shows:
- The registrar, the company the domain was bought through
- The creation date, the last update and the expiry date
- The domain status, for example whether it is locked against transfers or about to be deleted
- The name servers, which tell you where the domain’s DNS is hosted
- The registrant’s organisation or country, if not redacted
WHOIS vs RDAP
WHOIS is an old text protocol with no standard format, so every registry answered differently. RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) is its successor: it returns structured data over the web, supports modern character sets and makes it clear which fields are hidden. For generic endings like .com, RDAP is now the official source, and many “WHOIS” tools quietly use RDAP behind the scenes.
Our domain search uses the registries’ public RDAP services directly from your browser, so you can see whether a name is taken without your search passing through a third party.
Why the owner is usually hidden
Since GDPR took effect in 2018, registries and registrars redact personal data of domain owners by default, and many registrars add free WHOIS privacy on top. For most domains you will see “REDACTED FOR PRIVACY” or the details of a privacy service instead of a name, email and address.
That is intended. If you need to contact an owner, look for the registrar’s contact form or anonymised email address in the record, which forwards your message without revealing theirs. For legal disputes, such as trademark or abuse issues, registrars have formal request procedures, and generic endings have dispute-resolution policies such as the UDRP.
Country endings have their own lookups
Country-code domains are run by national registries, and many offer their own WHOIS or domain lookup with local rules on what is shown. A few examples: NASK for .pl, CZ.NIC for .cz, SIDN for .nl, Registro.br for .br and PANDI for .id. For a UK, German or other country domain, search for that country’s registry and use its official lookup; it is often more complete than general tools.
Registries also decide what counts as personal data. For some country endings a company’s name is still shown while a private person’s details are hidden; for others almost everything is redacted. If a lookup shows nothing useful, that is usually the rule working as designed, not a broken tool.
The domain you want is taken: what now?
First look at the record. If the expiry date is close and the site is empty, the owner may let it lapse, but most domains are renewed automatically, so don’t count on it. Even an expired domain usually goes through a grace and redemption period before it is released, during which only the old owner can renew it.
Before you buy any alternative, run it through our domain search and check for trademarks in your market. Then choose from these options:
- Backorder: many registrars and drop-catching services try to register a name the moment it is deleted
- Make an offer: contact the owner through the registrar’s form or a broker; be polite and name a realistic budget
- Check marketplaces: if the domain shows a “for sale” page, the price is often listed there
- Pick another name: a different ending, a short prefix or suffix, or a new word is often faster and cheaper
Check .com, .ai, .io and more in one goTry the tool →
Questions people ask
How do I do a WHOIS lookup?
Use your registrar’s WHOIS tool, an RDAP client or the national registry’s lookup for country endings. Enter the domain without “www” or “https”.
How can I find out who owns a domain if WHOIS is private?
Use the contact form or anonymised email listed by the registrar in the record. The registrar forwards your message; the owner decides whether to reply.
Is WHOIS lookup free?
Yes, basic WHOIS and RDAP lookups are free at registries and registrars. Paid services mainly sell historical records and bulk data.
What does “clientTransferProhibited” mean?
It is a status that locks the domain against transfers to another registrar. It is normal and protects the owner; the owner can remove it in their registrar account.