2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST SITES TO SEARCH DOMAIN NAMES


What Should You Know Before You Search Domain Names?

If you’re going to start a website or blog of any kind, whether it’s for business or personal purposes, one of the first steps you need to take is to choose a domain name. Before you can do that, you need to check domain availability by conducting a domain name search.

A domain is also called a DNS, and basically, this is just the human-friendly name web servers and pages are given. When you search domain names, it’s important because this is how your site visitors are going to remember you.

For example, when you want to visit a website, you type in the domain name, and you’re directed to the site.

Best Sites For Domain Name Search

Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Sites For Domain Name Search

The following is a ranking of the best tools to check domain availability and conduct a domain name search. There is also information included in this ranking that will show you how to come up with the ideal domain name as you start your domain name search.

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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Sites to Search Domain Names

List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that domain finder):


Top 6 Best Sites to Check Domain Availability | Brief Comparison

Top Sites to Get Domain Names From

URL

Key Feature

Domizedomize.comFeatures Advanced and Power Search options
GoDaddy Advanced Domain Search Toolgodaddy.com/domains/domain-name-searchYou can do a bulk search or arrange for a deal to buy a domain you want from an existing owner
Google Domainsdomains.googleIntegrates with website creators after you purchase a domain name
Lean Domain Searchleandomainsearch.comFast tool to find domain names using just one search word
NameCheapNamecheap.comAffordable registering, hosting and managing of domains
Name MeshNamemesh.comFeatures more than 20 domain name generators
Table: Top 6 Best Sites for Domain Name Search | Above list is sorted alphabetically


How Should You Choose a Domain Name?

Before you ever start your domain name search and domain name lookup, it’s important that you have some general idea of what you’d like your domain to be. Some sites can help you can come up with available names, but you still should have a general idea of what you’d like to use.

domain name search

Image Source: Pexels

Below are some tips that can help you choose a domain name during your domain search.

(1) First and foremost, when you are looking for domain name availability, keep in mind that it needs to be memorable. If it’s too long or complicated, people aren’t going to remember, and then they’re not going to find your site. Avoid things that make your domain overly complicated as well, such as numbers or hyphens.

(2) When you search domain names, think about how to find a domain name that will be brandable. You want to be able to build your entire brand around your domain name, which is why a domain search is so important when you’re launching a website.

When you’re doing a domain name search, the shorter, the better. The fewer characters your domain has, the easier it will be for people to remember and to type in.

(3) Be careful of other companies. When you are doing a search for domain name availability, you need to keep in mind other companies that could potentially claim you’re infringing on their trademarks because of your name. You can own the name, but there could still be legal issues from other companies.

Think about SEO and keywords when you check domain availability and search domain names.

(4) Also important to keep in mind is the fact that when you’re doing a domain name lookup to find domain options, you may end up having to use an alternate TLD extension. This refers to what’s after the . in your domain. For example, you might most commonly think of the TLD extension as being .com. but there are other options which can allow you to get the domain you want if it’s not available as a .com.



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Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.


Detailed Review – Top Ranking Sites to Check Domain Availability

Below, please find the detailed review of each of the best sites to search domain names and check domain name availability. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these domain name search sites to score so well in our selection ranking.



Domize Review


Key Factors That Led To Our Ranking of This As One of the Best Sites to Do a Domain Name Search

Domize is a domain name search tool that lets users do a website name search quickly, as soon as they start typing it. Details of Domize that led to its ranking on this list of the best tools to search domain names are below.

Privacy

When you conduct a domain name search with this domain finder, you get complete privacy, along with a speedy search. Every time a user starts to search domain names, their search is encrypted over SSL, and the search information never leaves Domize’s servers.

Power Search

One of the unique features of Domize that landed it a top spot on our ranking of the best tools to find domain names and do a website name search is their Power Search. This is one of the newer features of Domize that lets users bulk-search lists that include hundreds of possible domain names. It also features tools such as URL importers, synonym, and set generators, and built-in commonly used lists.

Advanced Search

While Domize does offer a Premium search option, they also have a free Advanced Search option. Some of the criteria you can include in the Advanced Search filters include:

  • Users can search an extensive combination of terms quickly by entering comma-separated lists
  • You can enter multiple lists in one query
  • There are list generating commands such as options showing synonyms of the words you enter, rhyming words, and search commands that let you extract a list of words from the given URL
  • There are also pre-made lists such as common word endings, common English prepositions, and lists of common colors

domize domain search

Image Source: Domize



GoDaddy Advanced Domain Search Tool Review


Key Factors That Led To Our Ranking of This As One of 2017’s Best Car Manufacturers

GoDaddy is the world’s largest domain name registrar and web hosting company, and they feature domain search tools that are advanced and convenient. The following are some specific features of the Advanced Domain Search Tool from GoDaddy that landed it on this ranking of the best domain name finder options.

Widest Selection

Along with having more than 60 million domains under management, GoDaddy is also one recognized as the world’s largest registrar.

Additionally, when you rely on GoDaddy as your domain search tool of choice, you are gaining access to the widest selection on the web. GoDaddy is powered by a robust engine with the web’s largest pool of names.

This is all backed by expert 24/7 support if you ever need help during your domain search.

Bulk Search

When you use GoDaddy, you can take advantage of their convenient bulk domain search tool and domain finder. It lets you enter up to 500 domains in one search box, and the only requirement is that they’re all listed on separate lines.

You can select which extensions you are willing to search for based on a wide variety of options including .com, .net, .org, .bz, and .me, among many others.

You can also choose up to 100 subdomains to customize your site if you purchase a domain through GoDaddy.

Domain Broker Service

With GoDaddy’s Domain Broker Service, you can go well beyond a simple domain name lookup. You can use this service to work with a domain broker who will negotiate a deal with the current owner of the domain you want.

If you take advantage of this unique way to find a domain name, GoDaddy guarantees you stay anonymous throughout the process, and they say domain owners are more likely to engage with a request from GoDaddy than they are to interact with individual buyers.

To use this service, you enter the domain you want in the search box, and then add Domain Buy Service to your cart. You then receive an email asking about your budget.

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Google Domains Review


Key Factors That Led To Our Ranking of This As 2017’s Best Domain Name Search Tools

When you want to check domain name availability and do a website name search, Google Domains is a great tool for a number of reasons, like the ones highlighted below.

Information Resources

Google Domains is included on this list of the best tools to search domain options and find a domain name not just for the search features, but also because it’s a comprehensive resource that gives you everything you need to choose the right domain name, and to create a website.

Google Domain features a variety of exclusive educational resources that can guide you through the process of choosing and buying a domain name. Some of the content they currently feature related to domain name lookup searches include:

  • How to Come Up with a Good Domain Name
  • How To Choose: Traditional vs. New Domain Endings
  • Web Terms 101: The Difference Between a URL, domain, website and more
  • Be Aware: 5 Things To Watch Out For When Buying a Domain
  • What To Do After Buying a Domain

Search Results

When you use Google Domains to do a domain name lookup and search domain options, your results are organized according to the main options that are available, including ending options such as .business and .expert. They’re shown with pricing, and you can add them directly to your cart and make a purchase.

The search results for this tool to search domain options will also show you related domains that are available.

domain name availability

Image Source: Google Domains

Creating a Site

Google Domains isn’t just a research mechanism to find domain name options and check domain availability. You can also purchase the domain directly through Google Domains, and then create your site using services including Blogger, Shopify, Squarespace, Weebly, and Wix.

With Google Domains, you can also take advantage of an optional service that gives you a custom email address and includes business tools such as video meetings and online storage.

Also with domain purchases from Google you get private registration at no extra cost, customizable sub-domains, and easy domain management tools.

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Lean Domain Search Review


Key Factors That Led To Our Ranking of This As One of the Sites to Check Domain Name Availability

Features of Lean Domain, ranked as one of the best domain finder tools to search for domain name availability, are detailed below.

Simple Searching

With Lean Domain, your domain name lookup and website name search are both fast and simple. With this efficient site, all you have to do is enter a single word that you’d like your domain to include.

For example, you could simply enter the Dog, and in less than one second you’ll have thousands of available domain options.

You can then sort your domain search results on this domain name finder and website name search tool by popularity, length and alphabetically.

The results when you use this domain name finder are organized into an easy to understand chart, where available domains are highlighted in green, pink are registered domains, and yellow are domains you favorite during your search to find domain names.

domain name lookup

Image Source: Lean Domain Search

Numbers and Hyphens

When you use this domain finder, you aren’t able to enter numbers, hyphens or other special characters as part of your website name search. The reason is what’s mentioned above.

When these are included in domain names, it makes it difficult for users to remember your site, so not allowing hyphens, characters and numbers in the domain finder simplifies the process to find a good, valuable domain name for users of Lean Domain Search.

Search Tools

Since the primary advantage of Lean Domain is how fast you can search domain names, with this domain finder the results are cached. That means that when you perform a search and then search those results again, the results are saved, which eliminates the need to calculate the results again.

However, since domain names are constantly being registered, with cached search results, the name might not be available even if it shows up. To remedy potential problems that could come from this, this tool to search domain name options lets users click on specific domain names to verify they’re still available.

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NameCheap Review


Key Factors That Led To Our Ranking of This As One of the Best Sites to Check Domain Availability

The following are some of the distinctive features of NameCheap, one of the best tools to find domain names and do a website name search.

Whois Lookup

One of the many specific tools available, when you use NameCheap to find domain names and search for domain name availability, is called Whois. Whois is a search database that stores contact information for the owners of all registered domains.

Users can directly search on the NameCheap site to find site owners using the Whois database.

At the same time, while this search domain tool is available, users of NameCheap can also take advantage of WhoIsGuard privacy protection, which replaces your contact information with NameCheap contact information on the Whois database, so your personal information isn’t part of public record.

Affordability

NameCheap is unique among many domain name finder sites because they put a lot of emphasis on affordability. Their belief is that the internet isn’t just for people who can write code or maintain server hardware, but is instead for anyone with an idea, regardless of how big or small it may be.

They strive to offer the most competitive prices in the business, along with honesty and transparency.

Search Options

When you use this domain finder to check domain availability, there are a lot of creative search tools and filters you can take advantage of, which are great as you search domain names, particularly if you need some inspiration.

You can show based on category, as well as by pricing breakdown.

You can also search domain options based on the content of the actual domain, or the maximum length you want.

There are also featured category listings, as well as options to find domain names that are closing that day.



Name Mesh Review


Key Factors That Led To Our Ranking of This As One of the Best Sites to Check Domain Availability

Reasons Name Mesh is included as one of the best sites to search domain name availability and find a domain name are listed below.

Brandable Searches

Name Mesh is unique even from the other domain name finder tools on this ranking because they feature more than 20 name generators, so you’re not just searching for a domain name, but you can build a domain from scratch.

One of the generator options is called “Fun,” which is essentially a way to search specifically for quirky, highly brandable domain names.

For example, this could include misspellings, short URLs, and acronyms, as well as phonetic variations.

SEO

Users can also take advantage of SEO-specific domain finder tools with Name Mesh. You can enter keywords and have them preserved in the final name to make sure you stay on track with your SEO goals. This also includes popular prefix searches and derived words that use the keywords as the root word.

Registrars

When you search with Name Mesh, you can also filter your search based on many of the most common registrars.

These registrars include:

  • GoDaddy
  • BlueHost
  • Iwantmyname
  • 1and1
  • 101Domain
  • NameCheap

Conclusion—Top 6 Best Sites to Check Domain Name Availability

Choosing a domain name and the process to find a domain name that’s available is incredibly important when you’re starting a website.

With that in mind, it’s important that you use a domain search tool that will offer rich features and functionality to ensure you’re getting the best possible name at a good price.

Each of the domain name search sites on this ranking excels regarding their broad, diverse search tools, their ease-of-use, and their resources that help users not just search for domain name availability, but also generate a domain that meets their specific objectives and criteria.

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Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.

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