Your domain is your digital address. A good one is memorable, brandable, and available. Here’s how to find it.
Domain Availability Checkers
Quick Availability Check
These tools check if a domain is registered:
Namecheap - Clean interface, shows alternatives, competitive pricing. Best for .com and common TLDs.
Porkbun - Lowest prices on many TLDs, free WHOIS privacy, no upsells.
Cloudflare Registrar - At-cost pricing, no markup. Best for tech-savvy users already using Cloudflare.
Google Domains - Simple, Google integration. Now transferred to Squarespace.
Bulk Domain Search
Checking multiple variations at once:
Domainr - Real-time search as you type. Shows creative TLD hacks.
Lean Domain Search - Enter one word, get hundreds of available .com combinations.
NameMesh - Generates variations by category: common, similar, SEO, short.
Domain Quality Factors
Not all available domains are worth registering. Evaluate these factors:
1. Length
| Length | Quality | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 4-6 characters | Premium | uber.com |
| 7-10 characters | Good | stripe.com |
| 11-14 characters | Acceptable | mailchimp.com |
| 15+ characters | Problematic | bestwebsitebuilder.com |
Shorter is better. Every character adds friction to word-of-mouth sharing.
2. Memorability
Good domains:
- Single dictionary word (rare, expensive)
- Two-word compound (dropbox, facebook)
- Made-up but pronounceable (google, spotify)
- Clear abbreviation (ibm, hbo)
Bad domains:
- Numbers mixed with letters (go2web20.com)
- Hyphens (best-marketing-tools.com)
- Homophones (their/there/they’re confusion)
- Hard to spell (necessary, bureaucracy)
3. Extension (TLD)
| TLD | Perception | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| .com | Most trusted | Any business |
| .co | Startup-y | Tech startups |
| .io | Developer | Dev tools, SaaS |
| .app | App-specific | Mobile apps |
| .ai | AI-related | AI products |
| .dev | Developer | Open source, tools |
| Country codes | Local | Local business |
.com is still king. If the .com is taken, consider a different name rather than an alternative TLD.
Exceptions: .io works well for developer tools. .ai is appropriate for AI products. Country codes work for local businesses.
4. Existing Traffic
Check if the domain was previously used:
Wayback Machine - See historical snapshots. A domain with spam history may have SEO penalties.
Ahrefs - Check domain rating and backlink profile. An aged domain with quality backlinks has value.
SpamZilla - Specifically checks for spam signals in expired domains.
Domain Name Generators
When obvious options are taken, generators help:
AI-Powered
Namelix - AI generates brandable names. Filter by length, style, keywords.
Squadhelp - AI suggestions plus crowdsourced naming contests.
Looka - Combines name generation with logo creation.
Algorithmic
Wordoid - Creates pronounceable made-up words.
Panabee - Shows domain, app store, and social media availability together.
BustAName - Combine word lists to find available combinations.
Premium Domain Marketplaces
If your ideal domain is taken, it might be for sale:
Afternic - GoDaddy’s marketplace. Large inventory.
Sedo - Established marketplace with auction and fixed-price options.
Dan.com - Clean interface, installment payment options.
Brand.dev - Curated premium developer and tech domains.
BrandBucket - Brandable invented names with logos included.
Negotiating Private Sales
If a domain shows a parked page or basic site:
- Use WHOIS lookup to find owner contact
- Send a professional inquiry email
- Don’t reveal your budget upfront
- Use an escrow service (Escrow.com) for the transaction
- Expect 10-100x annual registration cost for decent domains
Domain Pricing Guide
Registration Costs (Annual)
| TLD | Typical Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| .com | $10-15 | Watch for renewal price jumps |
| .io | $30-50 | Higher but established |
| .co | $25-35 | Good .com alternative |
| .ai | $70-100 | Premium pricing |
| .dev | $12-15 | Google-owned, requires HTTPS |
| .app | $14-18 | Google-owned, requires HTTPS |
Warning: Many registrars offer cheap first-year pricing, then triple renewal costs. Always check renewal pricing before registering.
Premium Domain Pricing
| Domain Type | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Short .com (4-5 letters) | $5,000 - $500,000+ |
| Single dictionary word | $50,000 - $5,000,000+ |
| Two-word brandable | $1,000 - $50,000 |
| Expired with traffic | $500 - $10,000 |
| Brandable invented word | $1,000 - $5,000 |
Domain Strategy by Business Type
Startup / Tech Company
- Prioritize .com or .io
- Choose a made-up or compound word
- Budget $0-5,000 for domain
- Verify social handle availability
- Consider trademark implications
Local Business
- Include city or region if helpful (austinplumber.com)
- .com strongly preferred
- Keep it simple and obvious
- Avoid generic keywords alone (plumber.com - too expensive, too competitive)
Personal Brand
- firstname-lastname.com if available
- Add middle initial or descriptor if not
- Consider .me or .co as alternatives
- Own variations to prevent squatting
Side Project / MVP
- Don’t overthink it
- Any available .com or .io works
- You can upgrade later
- Domain shouldn’t delay launch
Common Mistakes
1. Analysis Paralysis
Spending weeks finding the perfect domain delays everything else. Set a 2-hour limit. Pick something good enough and move on.
2. Buying Too Many
“I’ll register these 20 variations to protect the brand” - and spend $200/year on unused domains. Start with one. Expand only if successful.
3. Ignoring Pronunciation
If you can’t say it clearly on a podcast or phone call, it’s a problem. Test by telling 5 people and asking them to spell it back.
4. Keyword Stuffing
“BestCheapWebHostingReviews2025.com” screams spam. Branded names outperform keyword domains for long-term trust.
5. Trademark Violations
Check USPTO (United States), EUIPO (Europe), and local trademark databases. A cease and desist letter is expensive and disruptive.
Quick Decision Framework
Answer these questions:
-
Can someone spell it after hearing it once? If no, reconsider.
-
Is the .com available (or affordable)? If no, change the name.
-
Does it pass the radio test? Say it out loud. Any confusion?
-
Is it unique enough to trademark? Generic words cause problems.
-
Will it still work in 10 years? Avoid trends and dates.
If all yes, register it. Today. Before someone else does.
Recommended Registrars
Based on pricing, features, and reliability:
Best Overall: Porkbun - Lowest prices, free WHOIS privacy, no nonsense.
Best for Cloudflare Users: Cloudflare Registrar - At-cost pricing, seamless DNS integration.
Best for Beginners: Namecheap - User-friendly, good support, reasonable prices.
Avoid: GoDaddy (aggressive upselling, higher renewal prices), any registrar with hidden fees.
Take Action
- Brainstorm 10-20 name ideas
- Check availability in bulk using Domainr or NameMesh
- Verify the best options meet quality criteria
- Check trademark databases
- Register through Porkbun or Cloudflare
- Set up auto-renewal immediately
- Point DNS to your hosting
Your domain is one decision. Make it, then focus on building something worth visiting.