Domain expiry check with watchlists and alerts
A domain expiry check tells you when a registered name expires and what state it is in now. Domaining runs that check on every name in your watchlists and alerts you when an expiry date approaches, a status changes or a drop date is set, so you act before the name is gone.
What does a watchlist show for each name?
A watchlist is a list of names you follow, from a handful of targets to a full acquisition list. Each row shows the current state of the name and the alerts attached to it.
| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Name | The watched domain |
| Expiry date | Current expiry date on record |
| Status | Registered, Expired, Grace period, Redemption, Pending delete, Dropped |
| Drop date | Expected drop date, when the name is heading for release |
| Value score | 0 to 100, from appraisal |
| Backorder | None, or the backorder status if you placed one |
| Alerts | Which alert types are on for this name |
Import the names you care about
Paste a list or upload a file, and every name gets an expiry check and alerts from the first day.
Which alerts can I set on a domain expiration lookup?
Every watched name can carry any combination of these alerts.
| Alert | When it fires |
|---|---|
| Expiry approaching | A set number of days before the expiry date |
| Renewed | The expiry date moves forward, so the holder renewed the name |
| Expired | The name passes its expiry date without renewal |
| Status change | The name enters grace period, redemption or pending delete |
| Drop date set | The name has an expected drop date |
| Dropped | The name has been released by the registry |
| Listed for sale | The name appears on the Domaining marketplace |
| Backorder update | Your backorder on the name changes status |
Lifecycle phases and their lengths vary by registry and registrar. The drop catching page walks through each phase from expiry to drop.
How are alerts delivered on each plan?
Delivery speed and watchlist size follow the plan.
| Plan | Watchlist names | Alert delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 500 | daily digest by email |
| Pro | 5,000 | real time by email |
| Portfolio | 50,000 | real time by email plus webhooks |
| Enterprise | custom | custom |
Webhooks on Portfolio send each alert to your own systems as it happens, next to API access of 50,000 requests per month. Compare plans on the domaining pricing page.
What can I do when an alert fires?
An alert is a starting point, not the end. From the alert you open the name, see its status, expiry date and value score in one view, and choose the next step. Acting early matters most in the last days before a drop, when a name moves from pending delete to release.
- Backorder the name before it drops, see backorder domain
- Check its value with domain appraisal before you commit
- Turn a pattern into a rule with find domains that are expiring
- Make an offer if the name appears on the domain marketplace
What do I pay if I backorder a watched name?
Watchlists and alerts are part of your plan. If you backorder a watched name and it succeeds, you pay the registration fee of the name. Plan limits are on the domaining pricing page.
Questions about domain expiry alerts
How often is the expiry check updated?
Every watched name is checked continuously. Starter sends the changes as one daily digest, while Pro and Portfolio send each alert in real time.
Can I check names I already own?
Yes. Add your own names to a watchlist and set an expiry approaching alert, so a name never lapses by accident.
Does an alert mean I will get the name?
No. An alert tells you what is happening to a name. Nobody can guarantee a drop, and you only pay the registration fee when a name is yours.
Can I send alerts to my own systems?
Yes, on Portfolio. Webhooks deliver each alert as it happens, and the API gives access to watchlists and statuses.
Never miss an expiry date again
Build a watchlist, choose your alerts and act on each name at the right moment.