help
Frequently asked questions
Last updated 2026-08-28
Everything you need to know about monitoring domain availability with Vacato — for founders, domain investors, and solo operators.
What is Vacato?
Vacato is an RDAP domain-availability watchlist with multi-channel alerts. Free watches 20 domains every 5 minutes with email, browser push, and Telegram. Pro adds 1-minute checks, Slack/Discord/webhooks, CSV, and API. Vacato does not register or drop-catch names — you register at any registrar when an alert fires.
When should I use Vacato instead of WHOIS, a spreadsheet, or DropCatch?
Use Vacato when you need continuous monitoring and alerts on names you already care about (especially Telegram). Use a free RDAP lookup for a one-off check. Keep a catcher or backorder only for contested deletes. Vacato replaces the spreadsheet and WHOIS refresh — not the catch race.
Is Vacato free to start?
Yes. The free plan includes 20 domain slots, 5-minute checks, and email, push, and Telegram notifications. No credit card required.
How is Vacato different from a domain backorder?
Backorders bid on expiring domains through a registrar and often cost $10–70+ per name. Vacato watches any domain on your list and alerts you when it opens — you register it yourself at normal registrar pricing.
Is Vacato a drop-catching service like DropCatch?
No. Drop-catch services attempt to register the name the instant it deletes, often via auction. Vacato is a watchlist and alert layer: you get notified, then you register at any registrar. Catch platforms are a separate product for contested deletes.
What notification channels does Vacato support?
Vacato sends alerts via email, browser push, and Telegram on all plans. Pro and Business plans also support Slack, Discord, and custom webhooks.
How often does Vacato check domain availability?
Free accounts are checked every 5 minutes. Pro and Business plans receive checks every minute for faster drop detection.
Does Vacato register domains for me?
No. Vacato monitors availability and sends alerts. You register domains at any registrar you choose.
How much does Vacato cost?
Vacato offers a free plan for up to 20 domains with 5-minute checks. Pro is $7/month for 100 domains with 1-minute checks. Business is $19/month for 500 domains. Enterprise plans are available on request.
Can I track any domain extension?
Yes. Vacato supports 1,400+ TLDs via RDAP bootstrap, including .com, .io, .co, .dev, .app, .ai, and country-code domains.
Can domain investors monitor hundreds of domains?
Yes. Business supports 500 domains; Enterprise offers unlimited slots. Combine tags, calendar expiry views, and API access for portfolio-scale monitoring.
How do I check if a domain is available right now?
Use Vacato's free domain checker at vacato.io/tools/domain-check for an instant RDAP lookup. To get alerts when a taken domain drops, add it to your watchlist.
What is pending delete and when do domains actually drop?
After expiry, a domain typically moves through grace and redemption periods, then pending delete (often about five days at Verisign for .com/.net) before returning to the public pool. Vacato watches availability; it does not catch or register the name for you.
Can I import a bulk list of domains?
Yes on Pro and Business. Paste names or upload a CSV, then tag and filter the portfolio. Free includes 20 slots without bulk import.
How fast are Telegram vs email alerts?
Alerts fire as soon as a check sees the name available. Telegram and webhooks are typically faster to notice than email. Check interval is every 5 minutes on Free and every minute on Pro and Business — that interval is the main latency, not the channel.
What if I miss the alert?
Popular names can be registered within minutes of dropping. Vacato does not retry registration for you. Use Telegram, Slack, Discord, or a webhook into a phone that you actually see, and have a registrar account ready.
Can I export my account data?
Yes. Download your watchlist as CSV or JSON from the dashboard. Settings also offers a full-account JSON export (profile, watchlist, notification preferences, organization memberships). API keys, webhook secrets, and invite tokens are omitted. Self-serve account deletion is in Settings.