Enter a URL
A Whois Checker is a tool that allows you to research the public domain registration information, which consists of registrar info, registrar dates, nameservers, and domain status (where available). Whois Checker is a Whois look-up tool provided by Free SEO Pro that has a field for entering a URL and initiating a search. Useful for domain buyers, developers, SEO professionals and website owners when researching a domain. But, sometimes, the owner of the public records is not revealed, and more and more modern registration services are switching from WHOIS to RDAP. Knowing these differences is very important when interpreting the results.
A Whois Checker is a domain checker which gives you the registration details made public by domain registries or domain registrars.
A registrar is the company through which someone registers a domain name. The database is maintained by a "registry" for a given domain extension (e.g., .com, .org).
Domain registration records could comprise domain name creation dates, the domain name registrar, domain name expiry dates, nameservers, and domain name status codes.
The Free SEO Pro page has a field with a text reading: "Enter a URL." Its current explanatory component includes unfilled text and the UI does not give much data on what it supports for input and output.
Traditional WHOIS has been used comprehensively to know about domain registration. RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol) offers the same information, but through a more uniform system.
RDAP became the mandatory registration information source for generic top-level domains (gTLD) with ICANN's new requirements on January 28th, 2025. While some WHOIS services are still available, RDAP will be used.
Visit ICANN's official RDAP documentation for more information.
ICANN
+1
The information available is subject to domain extension, registrar, registry and privacy limitations.
The date created typically indicates the date that the current domain registration record came into existence.
It isn't always obvious when a website began, when a current user of the site purchased it or when the content was created.
The registrar determines the company that should handle the registration.
An EXPIRATION can help domain owners be aware about Renewal dates. But, the expiry dates displayed in the registry might not be the actual dates the domain becomes available for sign up.
Nameservers are used for identifying systems that provide authoritative DNS information concerning a domain.
The re-transfers of updates or deletion can be limited by status code.
For instance, clientTransferProhibited is an entity that means that there are prohibitions on transferring a domain at the registrar level.
Contact details for registration are included on some records. Others map out personal information due to privacy services, relevant laws, or information protection strategies.
The use of a hidden domain name registrar does not necessarily mean that the domain is suspicious.
Domain Registration Lookup Tools ask the pertinent domain name registration data service for information.
The traditional WHOIS queries and the modern RDAP requests employ different technical approaches.
RDAP offers well structured responses and optional functionality for things like access to registration information and internationalization.
Free SEO Pro's Whois Checker unclear what service is being utilized.
So, its backend shouldn't necessarily be called "RDAP-based," or "getting info directly from ICANN.
On the visible page, there is a web address (URL) input box. To begin:
Using Free SEO Pro, you will first open the Whois Checker.
2. Select a publicly registered domain to look into.
3. COPY the domain name (e.g., example.com).
4. type in the address in the URL field provided.
5. on the submission control next request the lookup.
6. Check for reg information returned.
7. Find dates, registrar information, nameservers, and status codes that are relevant.
8. Compare important findings with an authoritative registration lookup.
If the tool fails to accept a full URL, see if the tool will accept just the domain name.
Results interface and accepted variations for inputs have not been tested independently.
WHOIS registration information is for registered domains, not specific articles or web pages.
For instance, looking at example.com/blog/article doesn't necessarily give you article-registration information.
Let's say you wish to research example.com, which is a domain name reserved for example and documentation.
You put the domain into a registration look-up tool.
This could include a registrar, the date registered, nameserver data, and codes for the status of the domain.
You would take each field and study them so you know the registration record.
If this was a real world business domain, you may be asked by the registrar if you are sure you want to renew the settings, when they expire.
When contact information is withheld, then this fact alone would not necessarily confirm that the website is reliable.
This example helps to clarify the use of possible fields. It's not actual Free SEO Pro results.
Registration does not mean this is a full investigation of a web site, it is just administrative information.
The registration date can serve to determine the date of start of a record, and the updated date signifies a date when a change was recorded in the registration service.
Sometimes an update is not a direction of changes of ownership of the website.
The expiration date shown is to make it easier to determine when the registration was performed, but it is not a substitute for checking the status of registration renewal directly in your registrar account.
Transfer restrictions can be typical security measures.
Other statuses may show a need for administrative action or limitations that need to be addressed.
If unsure about the code that is being investigated, consult the registrar or ICANN but don't rush into a decision.
It's normal to have redacted contact data.
Not all look-ups will yield a name, email, phone numbers or street address.
Check registration information and determine if the domain is available for registration.
Information about registrations does not run into information about domain's availability for sale.
Use registrar, important dates and nameserver information to resolve registration or renewal issues.
Check the information on a person's registration against previous records you have made.
Be mindful an updated date does not always mean an updated owner.
Registration information may help give a background of the site, however that information alone proves nothing as to the validity, security or safety of the site.
It is not uncommon to see people getting the age of a domain and the age of the site mixed up.
One is using redactions in place of ownership information as proof of fraud.
If a look-up fails, strip down unnecessary URL paths, try the registered domain name alone and check the spelling.
Some top level domain extensions may have a different registrar or may not allow full disclosure of public records.
If results are not complete review against ICANN Registration Data Lookup.
Don't assume anything about the status without knowing what it means.
A Whois Checker does not assure accuracy of all information published in the WhoIs record.
It couldn't produce highly accurate determination of hidden owners, validity of business, website quality, and Google rankings.
Information about the processing method of the tool, which extensions are supported, usage limits, export, registration and submitted domain retention is not verified.
Never put confidential data or sensitive parameters of URL in!
ICANN has a formal Registration Data Request Service available for parties that have an eligible request for nonpublic registration information. Disclosure isn't automatic.
Free SEO Pro includes extra features for finding out about web site structure.
Check DNS records using a tool to view DNS information alone from registration information.
This Domain into IP tool assists in the investigation, checking IP addresses associated with a domain.
Use the Server Status Checker to investigate web server response codes for accessibility problems.
XML Sitemap Generator can help you find website URLs and prepare a sitemap.
These utilities are designed to respond to various inquiries. Use their findings—don't consider it a full-fledged technical or SEO audit.
Who Is Checker is an internet software for searching information about the domain name registration. Records could also be available for registrar, registration dates, nameservers and administrative status code, etc.
Type a domain into the "visible-url" box and submit the look up. Review the returned information and get critical information back with trusted registration service providers.
Sometimes. The public registries may reveal a registrant, though private information and redaction of data often means that a personal ownership history does not show up.
However, a few traditional WHOIS services still exist. In January 2025, however, the termination of the previous options for generic TLDs (gTLDs) gave RDAP its ascendancy as the key source for registration data under ICANN's new requirements.
Both offer sign up details. RDAP adopts a standard set of structured answers, and generalizes WHOIS in support of internationalization and service discovery and access controls.
Yes if it is published by the registration service. Just be aware than the date a domain has been introduced does not necessarily mean when the current website or business started.
Many records of registration contain details on the registration's expiry. Domain owners would be wise to check specific arrangements relating to renewal with their registrar (not just for guaranteed results based on third-party lookups).
Personal registration information may be redacted due to privacy laws, registry policies and/or privacy services. By themselves, hidden contact information does not imply suspicious activity when it comes to mobile apps.
A 'Lookup' can be used to know if any record of registration exists. But domain availability as well as the eligibility for purchasing a domain should be checked with a domain registrar at the moment.
Aging of Domains does not automatically means higher rankings. The results of a search will vary based on a number of things, such as relevance and content quality, accessibility and other ranking systems.
Nameservers are used to identify authoritative DNS systems for a domain. They assist in gathering domain services and address DNS requests to the records required to locate websites and other domain services.
This may occur because one of the following: you entered an incorrect domain name, the domain extension is not supported, the registration service is not available, request restrictions, or there were some technical problems. Test the domain, perform an authoritative look-up.
A URL field is present in the Free SEO Pro inspected user interface and bulk support was not established. Test what you think are individual domains in case it doesn't offer multiple-domain testing explicitly.
Registration information is not conclusive evidence that a Web site is fraudulent, but can be used to help with an investigation. Review other details related to security, reputation and business information.
Verify key registration info, research domain status codes you don't understand, check domain renewal options (if you're the owner), and find out how to check the domain server / DNS to troubleshoot aggravating issues.
