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Free domain name search

Domain name search: check if your domain is available

Enter the domain name you want and we will check its availability instantly. Supports .co.za, .com, .net, .org, .africa and South African city domains, and you can register it with us from R200 a year.

Type a domain name with or without an extension. If you leave the extension off, we will check .co.za by default.

Domain pricing

.co.za

South Africa

R200/yr

.com

Global

R350/yr

.net

Networks

R350/yr

.org

Organisations

R350/yr

.africa

Continental

R300/yr

.capetown

Cape Town

R450/yr

.joburg

Johannesburg

R450/yr

.durban

Durban

R450/yr

Prices include registration only. Domain + hosting packages start at R1,150/year for .co.za and R1,300/year for .com, with email included.

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How the domain checker works

This tool queries the official WHOIS registry servers to check whether a domain name has been registered. A .co.za domain is checked against the official .co.za registry, run by the ZA Registry Consortium (ZARC). A .com or .net domain is checked against Verisign, and a .org against Public Interest Registry. The result tells you instantly whether the name is free to register or already taken, and for a taken name it shows the current registrar and the expiry date. For a full walkthrough of what WHOIS actually shows and what to do if your name is taken, read our domain availability guide.

Tips for choosing a domain

  • 1. Keep it short and easy to spell - people will type it from memory
  • 2. Avoid hyphens and numbers where possible
  • 3. Use .co.za if your customers are mainly South African
  • 4. Register both .co.za and .com if budget allows, to protect your brand
  • 5. Make sure the name matches or relates to your business name

.co.za domain rules at a glance

  • • Run by the ZA Registry Consortium (ZARC), which also operates .org.za, .net.za and .web.za
  • • 1 to 69 characters before the .co.za
  • • Letters a to z, numbers 0 to 9 and hyphens only
  • • Must start with a letter or number, and cannot end with a hyphen
  • • No accented or internationalised characters
  • • Registered for 1 to 5 years, and renews automatically by default
  • • An expired name has a 20 day window in which it can be reinstated, for an extra fee, before it is released

Source: ZARC Published Policies and Procedures, version 12.0, 2025.

Domain guides

Domain FAQ

Is the JWD domain checker free to use? +
Yes, it is a free tool with no signup needed. Just enter the domain name you want and we instantly check whether it is available. It supports .co.za, .com, .net, .org and South African city domains like .capetown, .joburg and .durban. There is nothing to install and no account to create.
How does the domain availability checker actually work? +
The tool queries the official WHOIS registry servers to check whether a name is already registered. A .co.za domain is checked against the official .co.za registry, run by the ZA Registry Consortium (ZARC). A .com or .net domain is checked against Verisign, and a .org against Public Interest Registry. The result tells you instantly whether the name is free to register or already taken, and for a taken name it shows the current registrar and the expiry date.
What does it cost to register a .co.za or .com domain? +
Registration is R200 a year for a .co.za domain and R350 a year for .com, .net and .org. Continental .africa domains are R300 a year, and South African city domains (.capetown, .joburg, .durban) are R450 a year. These prices cover registration only.
Do you offer domain and hosting together? +
Yes. Domain plus hosting packages start at R1,150 a year for .co.za and R1,300 a year for .com, with email included. If you find a domain you want, we can register it and set up hosting so you get online fast. You can view our hosting packages or request a quote.
How long can a .co.za domain name be, and which characters are allowed? +
Under the published policies of the ZA Registry Consortium (ZARC), which runs .co.za, a name can be 1 to 69 characters before the .co.za. It can use the letters a to z, the numbers 0 to 9 and hyphens, but it must start with a letter or number and cannot end with a hyphen. Accented and other internationalised characters are not accepted.
What happens if my domain is taken? +
The checker shows the current registrar and the expiry date for a taken name, which tells you whether it is actively held and when it next comes up for renewal. Registry domains renew automatically by default, so an expiry date alone rarely means it will become free. Usually the better move is a variation of the name or a different extension, and our domain availability guide walks through the options.
Can I register a .co.za for more than one year? +
The .co.za registry allows registration periods of 1 to 5 years. Our prices on this page are per year. If you want to secure a name for longer, ask us when you register.
What should I look for when choosing a domain name? +
Keep it short and easy to spell so people can type it from memory, and avoid hyphens and numbers where possible. Use .co.za if your customers are mainly South African, and register both .co.za and .com if budget allows to protect your brand. Make sure the name matches or relates to your business name.

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