To know whether a domain name is available, you must query the registry behind its extension. You do not have to do that by hand: our domain checker queries several extensions at once and answers immediately.
Checking availability in three steps
- Enter the name on its own, for example
atelierdupont, with nohttps://, nowwwand no extension. - Compare the extensions offered:
.be,.fr,.comor another one that suits your business. - Open the result you care about and register the name if it is free.
An available result means nobody currently holds that exact combination of name and extension.
So atelierdupont.be can be free while atelierdupont.com is already registered: they are two
distinct domains.
Searching reserves nothing. Until you confirm the order, somebody else can register the same domain.
Reading the different results
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Available | The domain accepts registration | Check the name, then register it |
| Already registered | Someone holds the domain | Look for an alternative or contact the holder |
| Premium | The domain is sold at a special price | Weigh it against a simpler variant |
| Reserved or unavailable | The registry blocks or limits registration | Choose another name or extension |
A temporary error proves nothing either way. Run the search again a little later rather than deciding on the basis of a technical message.
Four checks to run before you buy
Search the name on Google
Type the name in quotation marks, then without them. A very well known company, a product, or an awkward meaning already attached to the word will complicate your communication, even if the exact domain is free.
Check trademarks
Technical availability grants you no right to the name. Search for identical and similar marks in the official registers of the territories where you will trade. An earlier mark in the same sector can oppose your use. Where the stakes are high, have the search confirmed by an intellectual property professional.
Look at existing businesses
Check the company register and search for similar trading names. Two businesses sharing a name in different regions and sectors can sometimes coexist; two competitors in the same town almost always create confusion.
Look at the social handles
Check the platforms your customers actually use. You do not need a perfect match, but
atelierdupont everywhere is easier to explain than five different variants.
Checking a domain without getting it wrong
Test the likely misspellings and say the address out loud. If the people you talk to are liable to write the plural, drop a hyphen or hesitate between two spellings, the domain is technically free but commercially fragile.
Avoid stacking up extensions "just in case" as well. For a small business, one main extension and possibly one genuinely useful variant are enough. Our guide .be, .fr or .com helps you choose based on where your customers are.
What to do after the check
If the domain is free and the checks above turn up nothing, register it in the name of your company or your own name. Use an email address you actually read, turn on automatic renewal, and keep access to the registrar account.
If it is already registered, do not immediately add a hyphen or three extra words. Read what to do when someone already holds a name first: changing extension, simplifying the name or approaching the holder often produces a far stronger address.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a domain name for free?
Enter the name you want into a domain checker. The tool queries the registry behind each extension and tells you whether the address remains free. The search is free and commits you to nothing.
Can someone else register a domain shown as available?
Yes. Availability holds at the moment of the search. No registry sets a domain aside until someone pays and confirms the registration. So avoid announcing publicly a name you intend to use before you secure it.
Why does a domain look free but cannot be bought?
The registry reserves some addresses, attaches conditions to others, or sells them as premium domains at a higher price. A final check always happens when you place the order.
Should I check the name on social media too?
Yes, particularly if social platforms are part of how you reach customers. Matching handles are easier to remember, even though their availability is not a technical requirement for registering the domain.
