How to check if a domain name is available

Just want to check? Search for available domain names here to see the price and order right away.

The simplest question after you've decided to start a business, launch a new product or build a new website is often also the most decisive: is the domain name available? You can have the answer in under 30 seconds – whether the name is already clear in your head or you only have a vague idea of what the site should be called.

We've built a domain search that checks .no, .com, .net and more extensions at once, so you don't have to jump between different websites. And if you're struggling to land on a name, you can let artificial intelligence suggest alternatives based on a short description of your business.

Two ways to search

Our domain search has two modes, and which one you use depends on how far you've come in the naming process.

Classic search – when you have a name in mind

Enter the name without an extension (we add several automatically), and get an overview of which extensions are available and which are taken. .no, .com, .net and more show up on one screen. If a domain is available, you add it straight to your cart and continue to checkout.

We also show a selection of creative variations you may not have thought of – the same root word with a small tweak, or alternative extensions that may be available even if your first choice is taken.

AI-assisted search – when you haven't landed on a name yet

The second mode is newer, and more fun. Describe your business in a sentence or two – for example "We make and sell handmade chocolate" or "Carpentry business focused on restoration" – and an AI model generates a handful of creative domain names that might fit. Click a suggestion, and we check its availability right away. Try AI mode →

It's free to try, and you're not committing to anything. Quite a few businesses end up with a better name than the one they first had in mind.

What do the results mean?

When you search, you get one of these statuses for each extension:

• Available: the domain can be registered immediately. Click "Add" to put it in your cart, and continue to checkout when you're ready.
• Taken: the domain is already registered. It may belong to an active business, a private individual, or be a parked domain waiting for an offer.
• Reserved or in quarantine: typically happens with .no domains after they've been canceled. The domain often stays in quarantine for a few weeks before it becomes available again.

If you need to understand the difference between the extensions before you choose, we have a separate article on what .no, .com and .org mean.

Check trademarks and company names too

An available domain doesn't automatically mean you're allowed to use the name commercially. Before you invest heavily in a name, also check:

• Brønnøysundregistrene (the Norwegian business register): is the name available as a legal company name?
• Patentstyret (the Norwegian Industrial Property Office): are there registered trademarks that could clash with your industry?
• A regular Google search: what comes up if someone searches for the name?

We've gathered more of these considerations in the guide on how to choose the right domain name for your business.

What do you do if your first choice is taken?

It happens often, especially with short names. Here are four routes to consider:

• Other extensions. If .no is taken, .as or .com may be available. For Norwegian businesses, .no still signals the strongest local roots – but it isn't always decisive.
• A small variation. Add "as" (from AS, the company type), a place name or an industry word. "glassmesteren-mandal.no" can work fine if "glassmesteren.no" is taken.
• A completely new name. Use AI mode and describe your business – the model often finds angles you hadn't thought of yourself.
• Buy out the current owner. Possible, but rarely cheap. We can help with contact and advice if this becomes relevant.

Hyphens work technically, but they're hard to dictate over the phone and often get forgotten when people type in the address. Use them only as a last resort.

Once you've found an available name

We're an accredited Norid registrar, so .no domains are registered directly with us – no middlemen. You add the domain to your cart on the same page you searched from, go to checkout, and the domain is typically up and running the same day. If you want a more thorough walkthrough of the registration itself, we have a step-by-step guide to registering a domain name.

Once the domain is in place, you're ready for the next step: professional email on your own domain, web hosting for your website, and the rest of the infrastructure that goes with it.

Ready to check?

Enter the name you're considering, or describe your business – we check availability in seconds and help you take it from there. Search for domain names →

Need to talk to us first? Send us a message, or call +47 38 27 80 00. We're based in Mandal and help businesses in Sørlandet (southern Norway) every day.