About DomainDetails.com
Free domain research tools and education for everyone. We believe understanding domains shouldn't cost a fortune or require a computer science degree.
Our Mission
A Simple Bytes Company
We're on a mission to make domain knowledge accessible to everyone. Whether you're buying your first domain, managing a portfolio, or learning about how the internet works, we believe you shouldn't need to pay premium prices or wade through confusing technical jargon.
Free Education
78 free lessons across 6 courses in Domain Details Academy. Learn at your own pace, no credit card required.
Free Tools
WHOIS lookups, DNS checks, bulk searches, price comparisons, and more. All free, forever.
Privacy-First
Your searches stay on your device. We don't track, log, or sell your data. Period.
Knowledge Base
50+ in-depth articles covering everything from DNS basics to advanced domain investing strategies.
Domain Details Academy
Free domain education for everyone
We launched Domain Details Academy because we believe domain knowledge shouldn't be gatekept behind expensive courses or confusing resources. Our free courses cover:
How domains, DNS, and the internet work
Buying, selling, and valuing domains
Protecting domains from theft and threats
Nameservers, records, and configurations
Solving common domain problems
Understanding domain extensions
100% Free. No Credit Card. No Catch.
78 lessons with progress tracking and certificates. Learn at your own pace.
Free Tools & Privacy First
Our commitment to keeping domain research accessible
Always Free:
- Unlimited WHOIS and RDAP lookups
- DNS record checking
- Registration and renewal price comparisons
- Bulk domain lookup (up to 100 domains)
- Wayback history, SSL checks, TLD availability
- Chrome Extension and MCP Server for AI
- 50+ Knowledge Base articles
- Domain Details Academy (78 lessons)
Privacy Guarantees:
- No tracking - We don't log your searches or build profiles
- No cookies for free users - Browse anonymously without accounts
- Local-first - Your search history stays on your device
The Transition from WHOIS to RDAP
Understanding the evolution of domain registration data protocols
What is WHOIS?
WHOIS (pronounced "who is") is the original protocol for querying domain registration data, developed in the 1980s. It provides information about domain name registration, including registrant details, registration dates, and nameserver information.
WHOIS Limitations:
- No standardized data format
- Limited support for internationalization
- Basic security features
- No built-in privacy protection
- Query rate limiting varies by server
What is RDAP?
Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP) is the modern successor to WHOIS. Developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), RDAP addresses many of WHOIS's limitations and provides a more robust, standardized way to access registration data.
RDAP Advantages:
- Standardized JSON responses
- Full support for internationalized domain names
- Built-in authentication and access control
- Structured query parameters
- Consistent rate limiting
- Better privacy protection mechanisms
RDAP Adoption Timeline
| Date | Milestone | Status |
|---|---|---|
| March 2019 | ICANN requires all gTLD registries and registrars to offer RDAP | Completed |
| 2019-2023 | ccTLD registries begin adopting RDAP | Ongoing |
| 2024-2025 | Expected phase-out of port 43 WHOIS for many TLDs | Planned |
How DomainDetails.com Works
Local-first, privacy-focused domain lookups
Our Lookup Process
We use a multi-protocol approach that prioritizes your privacy while delivering accurate domain information:
- RDAP First: We attempt to fetch data using modern RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol), which provides structured, standardized JSON responses.
- WHOIS Fallback: For TLDs that haven't implemented RDAP yet, we automatically fall back to traditional WHOIS queries via our backend.
- Local Storage: Your search history is saved in IndexedDB on your device, never sent to our servers, giving you instant access to past lookups.
- In-Browser DNS: DNS lookups happen directly in your browser using Cloudflare's DNS-over-HTTPS, no backend required.
Optional Pro Features (Support Development):
- Domain Monitoring: Server-side monitoring with email notifications for domain changes (up to 10 domains)
- Historical Data: 90 days of change tracking with visual diff viewer
- Priority Support: Direct access to our team for questions and feature requests
Pro subscriptions help fund development and keep the core tools free for everyone.
Looking Up a Domain?
Enter a domain name to get comprehensive registration information
Additional Resources
Support Development
Help keep DomainDetails free and private for everyone
DomainDetails will always offer free, privacy-first domain lookups. If you find value in our tools and want to support ongoing development, consider upgrading to Pro. Your subscription helps us:
- Keep the core tools free for everyone
- Build new privacy-focused features
- Maintain and improve existing tools
- Cover server and infrastructure costs
Domain Monitoring
Track up to 10 domains with email alerts
Change History
90 days of tracked changes with visual diffs
Priority Support
Direct access to our team
Become a Community Sponsor
Partner with us to support free domain education
Are you a registrar, hosting company, or domain industry business? Partner with Domain Details to support our mission of free, accessible domain education while reaching thousands of domain enthusiasts, investors, and professionals.
What Sponsors Get
- "Search Sponsored By" branding on all domain results
- Logo placement on Academy and Tools pages
- Visibility to 40,000+ monthly visitors
- Social media recognition
Your Impact
- Keep Academy courses 100% free
- Fund new educational content
- Support privacy-first tools development
- Help democratize domain knowledge
Interested in sponsoring? We'd love to hear from you. Reach out to discuss partnership opportunities.