How To Check if a Domain Name Is Available

Using your browser to attempt to visit a domain name doesn’t guarantee availability; domain names may be registered even without an active website. Checking if your desired domain name is truly available as soon as you’ve got one in mind can help you lock it down or pivot if needed. 

Short names that use real words in your target market’s language are typically easier for people to remember and spell. They also help establish credibility. A 2025 GoDaddy survey reports that 39% of Gen Z respondents and 35% of millennial respondents have stopped shopping because of a company’s untrustworthy domain name.

Learn how to check domain availability and secure an eligible domain name, along with tips on what to do if your first-choice domain name is taken.

How to check if a domain name is available

You can check domain name availability with any domain name checker, such as Shopify’s domain name search. Just enter your desired URL into the search bar and click the “search domains” button to see what’s available. 

If your domain name is available, search results will display the annual price to register the domain name through Shopify. If it’s taken, the tool will suggest alternatives, including variations on your desired name and alternative domain extensions, or top-level domains (TLDs), such as .net, .org, or .ai domain in place of .com. 

How to secure your preferred domain name

1. Pick a name
2. Purchase your domain
3. Consider registering common variations

Follow these steps to secure a domain name:

1. Pick a name 

Select a domain name that reflects your brand identity and business function. If your company name isn’t available, prioritize choosing a short domain that’s easy to spell, pronounce, and remember. Look at your domain name as a whole and try reading it out loud to spot any unintended word or sound combinations. Research search traffic volume and consider opportunities to add SEO keywords.

2. Purchase your domain 

After you’ve identified your ideal web address, purchase and register your domain name through a domain registrar, website hosting service, or website building platform. 

Shopify domains include Automatic SSL certificates for website security and WhoIs privacy features that keep your personal information out of public records on supported top-level domains. Shopify domains include domain name system (DNS) management, renewals, and domain settings accessible from the Shopify admin.

The exact steps for purchasing vary depending on your chosen platform. To register with Shopify, just search your preferred name on the Shopify domains page, click the Get Domain button, and follow the steps on-screen. 

3. Consider registering common variations

Securing multiple domains with common variations on your domain name can help protect your brand and your customers. It prevents competitors from redirecting confused users or bad actors from spoofing your website on a similar domain. Variations may include common misspellings, plural/singular endings, and alternative top-level domains like .co instead of .com.

What to do if a domain name is unavailable

• Try alternative TLDs
• Brainstorm name variations
• Consider aftermarket domains
• Contact the current owners

If your desired domain name is already taken, it’s time to consider your options. Common approaches include variations on your company name, checking resale markets, and contacting the current owners to make an offer:

Try alternative TLDs

Don’t give up hope if <yourbusinessname>.com is taken. In some cases, your preferred name may be available with a different domain extension, such as .net or .co. Shopify’s free domain name search tool automatically searches availability across ten different top-level domains. 

Aim to choose a TLD that’s connected to your business purpose. An ecommerce store, for example, might consider .store or .shop domains. 

Brainstorm name variations 

Brainstorm slight variations on your name that may be available. Adding a small word, such as shop or co, can be a way to secure a domain name that includes your full business name. Focus on maintaining relevancy by choosing variations related to your business name, function, or location. Shopify’s free Domain Name Generator automatically suggests common variations and checks for availability.

The electrolyte company, Magna, for example, has the domain name drinkmagna.com, signalling that they are a purveyor of beverages. The tinned fish company Fishwife similarly uses the domain name eatfishwife.com to signal they are a food company. 

Consider aftermarket domains 

If a domain name is registered but inactive, it may be listed for resale on an aftermarket platform like GoDaddy Auctions or Atom.com. Aftermarket purchases are typically more expensive than new registrations, especially for premium domains. Short, memorable domain names featuring common English language words typically fetch the highest prices.

When electrolyte mix company Waterboy first launched, their preferred domain name (waterboy.com) was taken. Although it was available for resale, the price was steep—around $11,000. 

To test their concept, the brand started operating with the domain waterboycan.com. After their business began to grow, they decided waterboy.com was worth the money. Cofounder Mike Xhaxho says on the Shopify Masters podcast, “If we do podcast ads or if we ever need to tell someone our website address in a video, do we think we can pick up $11,000 worth of simplicity in the future? We saw this as an investment in the company.”

Contact the current owners 

If you have your heart set on a specific domain name that isn’t listed for resale, you can try contacting the current owners to see if they are willing to execute a private sale. Start by conducting a WhoIs search to find out who owns a domain name. WhoIs search results include basic registration information and contact details. You can use the listed email address or telephone number to reach out. Keep in mind that owners aren’t obligated to consider offers. A polite, professional appeal may be most effective. 

This is the approach that cofounder JJ Follano took to secure the domain name for sustainable products marketplace Zero Waste Store. JJ says on Shopify Masters that when he saw that domain wasn’t in active use, he made a personal appeal to the previous owner by sharing his brand’s mission and vision. Luckily, the owner loved what they were doing and agreed to sell them the domain for around $1,500.