# WHOIS Domain Lookup – Registrar, Expiry, DNS (RDAP) (`datataskflow/whois-domain-lookup-scraper`) Actor

Bulk WHOIS lookup via official RDAP: registrar, registration & expiry dates, status, nameservers, DNSSEC, availability and days until expiry. Optional DNS, SPF and DMARC records. Clean JSON, automatic retries.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/datataskflow/whois-domain-lookup-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [DataTaskFlow](https://apify.com/datataskflow) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, SEO tools, Lead generation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.70 / 1,000 domain looked ups

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## WHOIS Domain Lookup – Registrar, Expiry Dates, Nameservers & DNS

Look up WHOIS registration data for hundreds or thousands of domains and get clean JSON, CSV or Excel. The Actor uses **RDAP**, the official, standardized successor of WHOIS run by the domain registries themselves, so the data is structured and reliable.

For every domain you get the registrar, registration and expiry dates, status codes, nameservers and DNSSEC. On top of that you get ready-made analysis fields (**days until expiry**, **domain age**, **expiry status**, **transfer lock**) and a clear **available** flag for unregistered domains. An optional add-on returns live **DNS records** including SPF and DMARC.

### What you get

| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Registration data | Registrar name, IANA ID, registrar abuse contact, status codes, registry handle |
| 📅 Dates | Registration, expiry, last change (ISO 8601, UTC) |
| ⏳ Analysis | Days until expiry, domain age, expiry status (active / expiring-soon / expired), transfer lock, redemption flag |
| 🌐 Nameservers & DNSSEC | Sorted lowercase nameservers, DNSSEC signed yes/no |
| ✅ Availability | Unregistered domains are reported as `available: true` |
| 📡 DNS records (add-on) | A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, plus SPF and DMARC policy |
| 🔗 Flexible input | Domains, URLs or subdomains; internationalized (IDN) names are converted automatically |
| 🛡️ Reliability | Retries with backoff and fresh proxy IPs, clear error rows instead of crashes |

### Use cases

- **Brand protection:** monitor look-alike domains and see who registered them and when.
- **Domain investing:** find domains that are expiring soon or are available.
- **Security teams:** check domain age and nameservers of suspicious domains, enrich indicator lists.
- **Sales and research:** enrich company lists with registrar, domain age and mail setup.
- **Portfolio management:** watch expiry dates and transfer locks across many domains.

### How to use it

1. Enter your **domains** (one per line).
2. Optionally enable **Include DNS records**.
3. Click **Start** and download the results as JSON, CSV or Excel, or call the Actor via API.

The Actor also works with empty input (it looks up `example.com`).

#### Input example

```json
{
  "domains": ["github.com", "https://www.apify.com/store", "my-new-idea-123.com"],
  "includeDnsRecords": true
}
```

#### Output example

```json
{
  "domain": "github.com",
  "input": "github.com",
  "registered": true,
  "available": false,
  "ldhName": "github.com",
  "handle": "1264983250_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN",
  "status": ["client delete prohibited", "client transfer prohibited", "client update prohibited"],
  "registrationDate": "2007-10-09T18:20:50Z",
  "expirationDate": "2026-10-09T18:20:50Z",
  "lastChangedDate": "2025-09-07T09:10:11Z",
  "nameservers": ["dns1.p08.nsone.net", "dns2.p08.nsone.net"],
  "dnssecSigned": false,
  "registrar": {
    "name": "MarkMonitor Inc.",
    "ianaId": "292",
    "url": "http://www.markmonitor.com",
    "abuseEmail": "abusecomplaints@markmonitor.com",
    "abusePhone": "+1.2086851750"
  },
  "daysUntilExpiry": 352,
  "domainAgeDays": 6944,
  "domainAgeYears": 19.0,
  "expiryStatus": "active",
  "transferLocked": true,
  "inRedemption": false,
  "rdapUrl": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/github.com",
  "dnsRecords": {
    "a": ["140.82.112.3"],
    "aaaa": [],
    "mx": [{"priority": 1, "host": "aspmx.l.google.com"}],
    "ns": ["dns1.p08.nsone.net"],
    "txt": ["v=spf1 ip4:192.30.252.0/22 ~all"],
    "spf": "v=spf1 ip4:192.30.252.0/22 ~all",
    "dmarc": "v=DMARC1; p=reject; pct=100"
  },
  "scrapedAt": "2026-10-22T10:00:00Z"
}
```

A domain that is not registered returns `registered: false` and `available: true`. A failed lookup returns a row with `domain`, `error` and `scrapedAt`.

### Pricing (pay per event)

| Event | What it covers | Relative price |
|---|---|---|
| Domain looked up | One domain with registration data, or confirmed as available | 1× |
| DNS records add-on | DNS records found for a domain (only when you enable the option) | 0.4× |

You pay only for results. Failed lookups and invalid input are never charged. You can set a maximum cost per run on Apify and the Actor stops when it is reached.

### FAQ

**Which domains are supported?**
All top-level domains whose registry publishes an RDAP service (.com, .net, .org, .uk, .eu, .shop and most others in the IANA RDAP list). For TLDs without RDAP (for example .io or .de) the Actor falls back to classic WHOIS where the registry allows it; fields are parsed on a best-effort basis there. If neither works, you get an error row explaining why, and it is not charged.

**Why are owner names and emails missing?**
Since GDPR, registries redact personal registrant data. This Actor does not collect personal data of individuals; it returns company-level registration data such as the registrar and its abuse contact.

**Is this legal?**
RDAP is a public protocol designed by ICANN and the registries for automated access to domain registration data, and no login is needed. Use the data in line with the registries' terms of use and applicable privacy laws.

**Can fields be empty?**
Yes. Some registries do not publish every date or the DNSSEC flag; such fields are `null`.

**Something doesn't work?** Open an issue in the Issues tab of this Actor and we will look into it.

# Actor input Schema

## `domains` (type: `array`):

Domain names to look up, one per line. URLs and subdomains are reduced to the registered domain (https://www.example.com/page becomes example.com). Up to 5,000 per run. Unregistered domains are reported as available.

## `includeDnsRecords` (type: `boolean`):

Adds live DNS data: A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT records plus SPF and DMARC policies. Charged as an add-on only when records are found.

## `includeRawRdap` (type: `boolean`):

Adds the full unmodified registry response in the field rawRdap. Not charged extra.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Registries are queried directly first. If a registry rate-limits the request, the Actor retries through a fresh proxy IP.

## `maxRetries` (type: `integer`):

How many times to retry a failed registry request.

## `maxConcurrency` (type: `integer`):

How many domains to look up at the same time. Lower it if a registry rate-limits you.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "domains": [
    "example.com",
    "github.com",
    "apify.com"
  ],
  "includeDnsRecords": false,
  "includeRawRdap": false,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  },
  "maxRetries": 4,
  "maxConcurrency": 5
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

## `runStats` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "domains": [
        "example.com",
        "github.com",
        "apify.com"
    ],
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": true
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("datataskflow/whois-domain-lookup-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "domains": [
        "example.com",
        "github.com",
        "apify.com",
    ],
    "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("datataskflow/whois-domain-lookup-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "domains": [
    "example.com",
    "github.com",
    "apify.com"
  ],
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}' |
apify call datataskflow/whois-domain-lookup-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,datataskflow/whois-domain-lookup-scraper"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/7043wZveRK3aM8Pur/builds/fwAEf6C0vecAiz6qJ/openapi.json