Before you can register a domain name, you need to know whether anyone else already holds it. The check takes seconds: type the name into a registrar's search and it asks the registry whether the name is free. This guide shows how to check a name at Domain India, what to do when it is taken, and how to pick a name worth registering.
How availability checkers work, why "available" is sometimes wrong, and how to read a WHOIS result: Domain availability checkers.
Search the name at domain registration: it shows which extensions are free and the price of each. If the name is taken, a WHOIS lookup shows who the registrar is and when it expires. Out of ideas? The free AI Domain Advisor suggests names and checks them. When you find a good name that is free, register it promptly.
1. Check a name at Domain India
- Search the name.Go to domain registration and type the name you want, with or without an extension.
- Read the results.You see which extensions are free and the register and renewal price of each.
- Compare the extensions you care about.For a business in India that usually means the .in and the .com together.
- Look up a name that is taken.Run a WHOIS lookup to see the registrar, the registration and expiry dates, the nameservers and the status.
- Register promptly.Add the name to your cart and complete the order rather than coming back next week.
The registrar's own search is the answer that counts, because it asks the registry directly. Third-party checkers are handy for brainstorming, but treat their "available" as a hint and confirm it before you decide.
2. If the name you want is taken
You have more options than you might think:
- Try another extension. If the .com is taken, the .in or .co.in may be free, and for a business serving India it is often the better fit.
- Adjust the name. Add your city or a word that describes what you do, such as
sharmasweets.inbecomingsharmasweetsjaipur.in. - Check whether it is actually used. A WHOIS lookup and a visit to the address tell you whether an active business owns it, or whether it is parked or expiring.
- Beware of pressure. Emails saying someone is about to register "your" name in another extension and that you must buy it today are a sales tactic and sometimes a scam. Check with a WHOIS lookup first.
An expired name is not available straight away. It usually goes through a recovery period during which only the current holder can renew it, and becomes free only after the registry deletes it.
3. Tips for choosing a good name
Before you pay, also search the Trade Marks Registry for the name, Google it, and check whether matching social media handles are free. How to choose the right domain name for your business walks through each check.
Describe your business to the AI Domain Advisor, for example "organic tea shop in Darjeeling", and it suggests names that are available to register. It is free to use.
4. Domain India prices for popular extensions
Domain India is a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar and also registers .com, .org and many other extensions. Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, excluding 18% GST:
| Extension | Register (1 year) | Renew (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| .in | ₹575 | ₹625 |
| .co.in | ₹475 | ₹525 |
| .com | ₹1,150 | ₹1,150 |
Every other extension is on the domain pricing page. For .in and its second-level extensions (.co.in, .net.in, .org.in and others), personal registrant details are not shown in public WHOIS. This is free and automatic; there is nothing to switch on. Every .in registrant also has to complete identity verification after registering; see Mandatory KYC for .IN domains.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a domain name is available?
Type the name into the domain search of the registrar you plan to buy from. At Domain India that is the domain registration page, which shows every extension that is free along with its register and renewal price.
Why does one website say a name is available when another says it is taken?
Some tools answer from a stored list rather than asking the registry live, and some do not show reserved or premium names correctly. The registrar's own search is the answer that counts at checkout.
What can I do if the domain name I want is taken?
Try a different extension such as .in or .co.in, adjust the name with your city or trade, or run a WHOIS lookup to see whether the name is in use, parked or close to expiry.
Is a domain that has expired available to register?
Not straight away. An expired domain usually passes through a recovery period in which only the current holder can renew it. It becomes available only after the registry deletes it.
Is the Domain India domain search free?
Yes. The domain search, the WHOIS lookup and the AI Domain Advisor are free to use. You pay only when you register a name.
Ready to find your name? Search at domain registration, look up a taken name with the WHOIS lookup, or open a support ticket if a result puzzles you. Support is on 24/7 live chat, and tickets get a first response within 15 minutes.
See Indian and global extensions side by side, with register and renewal prices, from a NIXI-accredited .IN registrar.
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