Domain lookup
How to find who owns a domain
Need to know who registered a domain, which registrar holds it, or where a site is hosted? Here are the free tools and what they can (and cannot) tell you.
- 5/5 from owners I've worked with
- 10+
- Years working on websites
- ~24h
- Typical first response
What working together looks like
- Tell me what's going on. A short reply, no forms or sales calls.
- Honest scope and a clear quote, usually within 24 hours.
- Work done by Charlie. One person from start to finish.
How it works
Find out where a domain is hosted
Hosting lookup is separate from ownership. These steps show where the website files live, which is useful for migrations or troubleshooting.
- 01
1. Look up DNS records
Use a DNS lookup tool (MXToolbox, whatsmydns.net, or your registrar DNS checker). A records and nameservers often reveal the hosting provider. Nameservers like ns1.siteground.com or dns.parkingpage.io point to specific hosts.
- 02
2. Check the nameserver host
WHOIS shows nameservers even when owner details are hidden. Search the nameserver hostname: it usually maps to a hosting company or CDN (Cloudflare, AWS, etc.).
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3. Use a hosting checker
Sites like HostingChecker or BuiltWith guess hosting from IP and headers. Results are not always perfect for sites behind Cloudflare or custom setups, but they are a useful starting point.
How it works
How to find the domain registrar and owner
WHOIS is the standard public directory for domain registration data. Privacy laws and redaction mean you may not see a person name or email.
- 01
1. Run a WHOIS lookup
Search the domain on whois.auda.org.au for .au domains, or whois.icann.org for global TLDs. Many registrars also offer a WHOIS search on their site. You will see registrar name, creation date, expiry, and nameservers.
- 02
2. Read what is redacted
Most domains hide registrant name, email, and phone behind privacy or GDPR redaction. You will still see the registrar and often an abuse contact email for reporting spam or trademark issues.
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3. Contact via registrar proxy
If you need to reach the owner (to buy the domain, report a problem), use the registrar contact form or proxy email shown in WHOIS. There is no guaranteed way to get private details without a legal process.
How to get the domain of a website
The domain is in the browser address bar. If you only have a company name, search Google for the business plus "official site" or check their email signature, ABN lookup listing, or social profiles.
For technical confirmation, the site SSL certificate sometimes lists the primary domain. Developer tools show the hostname on network requests. For most people, a search engine and a click on the official result is enough.
How to find a company domain name or email domain
Check the business website footer, contact page, or invoices. LinkedIn and Google Business Profile often list the web address.
To find which mail provider a company uses, look up MX records for their domain. MX records point to services like Google (aspmx.l.google.com) or Microsoft (mail.protection.outlook.com). That tells you where email is hosted, not individual mailbox addresses.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Ready when you are
Starting fresh instead?
If you are researching domains because you need your own site, I build custom business websites with managed hosting. You register the domain; I help connect it.
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