WHOIS / RDAP
Availability checks use public RDAP and WHOIS — on a timer.
How Vacato checks domain availability with RDAP and WHOIS. Repeated lookups on your watchlist — not a one-off WHOIS page. Link to the free checker and how-it-works docs.
Last updated 2026-08-22
RDAP vs WHOIS
WHOIS is the older text protocol. RDAP is the JSON successor most registries now expose. Vacato uses these public sources to decide if a name is still registered. A single lookup is a snapshot; drops need a loop. That loop is the watchlist.
How often we check
Free accounts: every 5 minutes, 5 names. Pro and Business: every 1 minute, 100 or 500 names. When status flips to available, we send email, Telegram, and (on Pro) Slack, Discord, or a webhook. Product walkthrough: how it works.
What a lookup cannot do
RDAP will not tell you if a drop-catch cluster already queued the name, and it is not a registrar cart. “Available” means unregistered at check time. Vacato does not register for you. See drop catching and pending delete.
Run one lookup without an account: domain checker (add ?q=example.com). Investor plans: for investors · pricing · FAQ · vs backorders.
FAQ
Does Vacato use WHOIS or RDAP?
Both. RDAP is the modern JSON protocol most registries expose; WHOIS is the older text protocol. Vacato uses public RDAP/WHOIS to decide if a name is registered.
Is a single RDAP lookup enough to catch a drop?
No. One lookup is a snapshot. Drops need repeated checks. That is what the watchlist is for — 5-minute or 1-minute intervals plus alerts.
Can I check a name without signing up?
Yes. The free checker at /tools/domain-check runs a live RDAP lookup. Add the name to a watchlist if it is taken.
Start a watchlist free
5 domains, 5-minute checks, email and Telegram. No credit card. Vacato does not register domains for you.