How do I check the age of a domain name?

The easiest way is to use a free domain age checker tool like DNSFly's Domain Age tool. Enter any domain name, and it will instantly show you the registration date, domain age, expiration date, and last updated date. You can also check manually using a WHOIS lookup or the Wayback Machine.

Is domain age a Google ranking factor?

No. Google's John Mueller has clearly stated that domain age is not a direct ranking factor. However, older domains often perform better in search because they've had more time to build backlinks, publish content, and earn trust — all of which are real ranking signals.

What is the difference between domain age and active age?

Domain age is the time since the domain was first registered (creation date in WHOIS). Active age is the time since the domain first had a live website that search engines could crawl. A domain registered in 2010 but only used since 2023 has a 16-year domain age but only a 3-year active age. Google cares more about active age.

Can I check domain age in bulk?

Yes. Some tools allow bulk domain age checking for up to 10 domains at once. For individual checks, DNSFly's Domain Age tool provides detailed results including registration date, expiration date, registrar information, and nameserver details alongside the domain's age.

Does buying an old domain help with SEO?

Not automatically. An old domain only helps if it has a clean history, quality backlinks, and relevant content history. If the domain was previously used for spam or penalized by Google, buying it could actually hurt your SEO. Always check a domain's backlink profile and history before purchasing.

How to Check Domain Age (3 Easy Methods)

What is Domain Age?

Domain age is simply how long a domain name has existed since it was first registered. If someone registered example.com on March 15, 2010, then as of today, that domain is roughly 16 years old.

This date comes from the WHOIS database — a public record maintained by ICANN that stores registration information for every domain on the internet. Every time someone registers a domain through a registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Cloudflare, that registration date gets recorded.

There are two types of domain age worth understanding:

Registered Age

The time since the domain was first purchased and registered. This is what WHOIS records show.

Active Age

The time since the domain actually had a live website that search engines could find and crawl. This is what Google cares about more.

A domain could be 15 years old according to WHOIS, but if it sat parked with no real website until last year, its active age is only one year. This distinction matters — especially for SEO.

Method 1: Use a Domain Age Checker Tool

The fastest way to check domain age is with a dedicated checker tool. These query the WHOIS database automatically and present results in a clean format — no technical knowledge needed.

Step 1: Go to DNSFly's Domain Age Checker

Step 2: Enter any domain name (e.g. google.com)

Step 3: Click Check

Step 4: View the results — registration date, domain age, expiration date, last updated date, and registrar info

The whole process takes about 2 seconds. No account creation, no payment, no installation.

Field	Example (google.com)	What It Means
Creation Date	September 15, 1997	When the domain was first registered
Domain Age	28 years, 5 months	How old the domain is today
Expiration Date	September 14, 2028	When the registration expires
Last Updated	Various	Last time domain settings were changed
Registrar	MarkMonitor Inc.	Company managing the registration

Method 2: Run a WHOIS Lookup

If you want the full registration record — not just the age — a WHOIS lookup gives you everything. WHOIS is the public database maintained by ICANN containing registration details for every domain.

Step 1: Go to DNSFly WHOIS Lookup (or who.is, ICANN Lookup)

Step 2: Enter the domain name (e.g. wikipedia.org)

Step 3: Look for the "Creation Date" or "Registered On" field

Step 4: Calculate the age from that date to today

A typical WHOIS result looks like this:

Domain Name: WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Registry Domain ID: D51687756-LROR
Creation Date: 2001-01-13T00:12:14Z
Updated Date: 2024-12-12T10:26:58Z
Registry Expiry Date: 2025-01-13T00:12:14Z
Registrar: MarkMonitor Inc.
Domain Status: clientDeleteProhibited

The Creation Date line tells you exactly when the domain was first registered. In this example, wikipedia.org was registered on January 13, 2001 — making it over 25 years old.

Note: Many domain owners use WHOIS privacy protection, which hides personal contact info. However, the creation date and expiration date are almost always still visible.

Method 3: Check the Wayback Machine

The Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) is a digital archive of the internet. It takes snapshots of websites over time, so you can see what any site looked like years ago.

While it doesn't show the exact registration date like WHOIS, it shows when the domain first had an actual live website — the active age rather than the registered age.

Step 1: Go to web.archive.org

Step 2: Enter the domain name in the search bar

Step 3: Look at the timeline — the earliest snapshot shows when the site first went live

Step 4: Click any snapshot to see what the website looked like at that time

This method is especially useful when buying an existing domain. You can see the full history — was it a legitimate business? A blog? A spam site? This context is something WHOIS alone can't give you.

Method	Best For	Shows
Domain Age Checker	Quick age checks	Registration date, age, expiry
WHOIS Lookup	Full registration details	Owner, registrar, nameservers, dates
Wayback Machine	Domain history & content	Website snapshots, active age, usage

Why Check Domain Age?

Checking domain age isn't just a curiosity exercise. There are practical reasons to look up when a domain was first registered.

Competitor Research

See how long competitors have been building their online presence. A 10-year-old domain has had a decade to accumulate backlinks, content, and authority — helping you set realistic expectations.

Buying a Domain

Older domains with a clean history are generally worth more because they may carry existing backlinks and authority. Always check the Wayback Machine to make sure it wasn't used for spam.

Spotting Scams and Phishing

Brand-new domains are frequently used for phishing attacks. A domain registered 3 days ago claiming to be a major financial institution is almost certainly fraudulent.

Email Deliverability

Email providers consider domain age when deciding inbox vs spam. Newer domains are more likely to get flagged — which is why experts recommend "warming up" a new domain before campaigns.

SEO Analysis

While domain age isn't a direct ranking factor, understanding how long a site has been around provides useful context when analyzing SEO performance and planning strategy.

Domain Age and SEO: What Google Really Says

This is one of the most misunderstood topics in SEO. Let's clear it up with what Google has actually said.

The Myth: "Older domains rank higher in Google because domain age is a ranking factor."

The Reality: Google's John Mueller has stated directly: "No, domain age helps nothing." Domain age is not a direct ranking factor.

So why do older domains often rank better? Because age correlates with things that actually matter:

More backlinks: Older domains have had more time to earn links from other websites. Backlinks are a confirmed ranking factor.

More content: Sites that have been around longer typically have more pages covering more topics and keywords.

Established trust: A consistent publishing history builds credibility with both users and search engines.

User engagement: Older, established sites tend to have returning visitors and brand recognition.

The key takeaway: a brand-new domain with excellent content, a solid backlink strategy, and great user experience can absolutely outrank an older domain that's been neglected. Age gives a head start, not a guaranteed advantage.

Google Sandbox: New domains sometimes experience limited visibility in search results for roughly 3–6 months. This isn't a penalty — it's Google evaluating the site's trustworthiness. Focus on quality content and genuine backlinks during this period.

Common Mistakes When Checking Domain Age

Assuming older = better for SEO

A 15-year-old domain used for spam is far worse than a 2-year-old domain with quality content and clean backlinks. Always check history, not just age.

Confusing registration date with Google's index date

Google calculates domain age from when it first discovered and indexed the domain — not the WHOIS registration date. A domain registered in 2010 but only indexed in 2024 is effectively "new" to Google.

Forgetting to check domain history

If buying an aged domain, the creation date alone tells you very little. Use the Wayback Machine to check what it was previously used for — gambling, pharmacy spam, or adult content could carry penalties.

Ignoring the expiration date

A domain nearing expiration without renewal could disappear — breaking your backlinks. Check the expiry date if you're evaluating a domain to buy or link to.

Check Any Domain's Age — Free

Use DNSFly's Domain Age Checker to instantly find the registration date, age, expiration, and registrar for any domain name.

Check Domain Age