WHOIS / Domain expiry
Check a domain - when it expires, who owns it, or if it is still available. No registration. Free.
How the WHOIS lookup works
The tool queries RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol), the structured JSON successor to the classic port-43 WHOIS protocol. RDAP is served by the registries themselves, so the registration dates, registrar and domain status come straight from the authoritative source.
For top-level domains that do not offer public RDAP yet, the tool falls back to a DNS check: if the domain has NS records delegated, it is registered, even when the registry hides the details. In that case verify the expiry date with your registrar.
Since GDPR (2018), registrant names, addresses and emails are redacted for most domains, especially in the EU. WHOIS today is primarily about lifecycle data: when the domain was registered, when it expires, which registrar manages it and which status flags protect it.
How to read the results
The fields that matter most:
- Expires - the renewal deadline. The warning thresholds (30/14/7/3/1 days) match typical registrar reminder windows; an expired domain usually goes through a paid restore phase before anyone else can register it.
- Status flags - clientTransferProhibited is a normal state and protects against domain hijacking; redemptionPeriod or pendingDelete means the domain has already expired and is heading toward release.
- Name servers - show which DNS provider the domain delegates to; a sudden change here is a classic sign of a domain takeover.
Common problems
No owner shown. That is expected: privacy rules (GDPR) and registrar privacy services redact registrant contacts. To reach the owner, use the registrar's abuse contact or the web form many registries provide.
Expiry date missing. Some country-code registries (ccTLD) do not publish expiry via RDAP or limit the data. The DNS fallback note in the result tells you when this happened - your registrar account remains the authoritative source.
Domain shows as registered although the site is gone. Registration and hosting are independent. A domain can be registered for years while no A record or website exists - and conversely, an expired domain takes a perfectly healthy website offline.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when a domain expires?
Typically: a grace period of 0-45 days when the original owner can renew at the normal price, then a redemption period (about 30 days) with a higher restore fee, then a few days of pendingDelete, after which the domain is released for public registration. Exact timing varies per TLD and registrar.
Why is the owner's name not shown in WHOIS?
Since GDPR took effect in 2018, registries and registrars redact registrants' personal data. Many domains additionally use a paid or free privacy service. Public WHOIS therefore shows the registrar and the dates, not the person.
What is RDAP and how does it differ from WHOIS?
RDAP is the modern replacement protocol: the same registration data, but delivered as structured JSON over HTTPS, with consistent fields across registries and proper support for international characters. Classic WHOIS returns free-form text that every registry formats differently.
How do I find out if a domain is available?
Enter it above - if it is not registered, the tool says so. For a definitive answer and the registration itself, check with a registrar, because some registries reserve or block names that look free.
Want to be notified before expiry?
ePulz.io monitors SSL and domain expiry - get email + Telegram alerts 30/14/7/3/1 days in advance.
Try free for 7 days →No login required. No query logs. No tracking cookies.
About this tool
WHOIS reveals who stands behind a domain and, most importantly, when it expires - a lapsed domain takes the whole site and email down with it, often silently. Use it to confirm a renewal deadline, check whether a name you want is still free, or see the registrar.