How Best Domain Finder checks availability and prices
Search a name and Best Domain Finder asks three registrars what it costs. This page explains what is live, how best route is chosen, and what we cannot tell you.
What is live
Three providers are connected through their APIs: Porkbun, NameSilo, and Cloudflare Registrar. A result can be one of two kinds:
- Verified: that registrar's live check reports the exact name as available, taken, or premium.
- Price list: we have the registrar's rate for the extension, but no exact check came back for this name.
Responses can be cached for a few minutes.
What is not live
Spaceship, Namecheap, Dynadot, GoDaddy, Sedo, and Atom are not connected. We show no price or availability for them and generate no estimates. Marketplace and aftermarket listings are not live-connected either.
Live checks run in batches
Each search generates up to 96 candidate names. We check 8 at a time, or 12 in Bulk Check. Names outside the batch show Not checked yet, and Check more runs the next batch.
How best route is chosen
Best route is the lowest first-year price among registrar quotes. A quote qualifies if:
- that registrar reports the name available, or
- it is a price-list quote, and at least one registrar has verified the name available.
So the winner may not be the registrar that verified the name. Taken names and quotes with no price can never win. Referral status plays no part in best route or sorting.
How 3-year cost is calculated
3-year cost is the first-year price plus two renewals, all from the same provider. For example, a name at $10 for the first year that renews at $15 costs $40 over three years. Expanded results also show the transfer price where the provider returns one.
What we cannot tell you
Prices exclude taxes and fees. Availability can change between our check and your purchase. Our links open the provider's own search or dashboard, where the final price and availability are confirmed. See real figures in our dated price table.