Bulk Domain Availability Check: 200 Names, One Free Formula
DOMAINCHECK checks domain availability for a whole column of names in Google Sheets, free on every plan: no credits, no tokens. In our example, 200 names go from over 3 hours of registrar searches to one dragged formula, so you shortlist only names you can actually register.
Phil Nguyen · 15 min read · Updated
=DOMAINCHECK() checks whether a domain is available for every name in a Google Sheets column, and it is free on every plan: no scraping credits, no AI tokens. Two hundred brainstormed names come back as AVAILABLE or TAKEN from one dragged formula, so you only shortlist names you can actually buy.
Say you are naming a new product and the brainstorm sheet has 200 candidates. Typing each one into a registrar's search box, waiting, and closing the upsell for privacy protection takes about a minute a name. That is over 3 hours, and by name 80 you have lost track of which ones you already checked. This guide replaces that with one formula, then adds AI name generation, multi-extension checks and brand-conflict checks in the same sheet.
You have a list of 200 brand names. Now you need to check every .com.
You brainstormed all morning. Your spreadsheet has columns of creative brand names, keyword combos, and mashups. Each one could be the name of your next project, product, or side hustle. But before you fall in love with any of them, you need to know one thing: is the domain available?
Checking domains one at a time on GoDaddy or Namecheap takes forever. And those sites love to upsell you on premium domains, SSL certificates, and hosting plans while you search. You lose track of which names you already checked. The whole process is slow and frustrating.
SheetMagic has a formula called =DOMAINCHECK() that checks domain availability right inside Google Sheets. Put your domain names in a column. Write one formula. Drag it down. You get availability results for your entire list without opening a registrar.
Formula
=DOMAINCHECK("mybrandname.com")Returns whether the domain is available for registration. One formula, one answer.
Getting started: your first bulk domain check
The setup takes about sixty seconds. You need a list of potential domain names and a Google Sheet with SheetMagic installed.
Add your domain names to column A
Type or paste your domain names into column A. Include the extension (.com, .io, .co, etc.). If you only have brand names without extensions, we will add those automatically in the next section.
For example:
- A2:
coolproject.com - A3:
brightlabs.com - A4:
dataflow.io
Write the DOMAINCHECK formula
Formula
=DOMAINCHECK(A2)Checks whether the domain in A2 is available for registration. Returns the availability status.
Type this in cell B2. The result tells you if that domain is available or taken.
Drag the formula down
Click the small blue square at the bottom-right corner of cell B2. Drag it down to match the length of your domain list. SheetMagic checks each domain and fills in the results.
Each row is a direct lookup at the registry, so the list fills in far faster than checking one by one on a registrar site.
=DOMAINCHECK() is free. It uses no scraping credits and no AI tokens, on every plan including Free, so re-running your list while you tweak it costs nothing.
Generate brand names and check domains in one sheet
The real power comes when you combine =DOMAINCHECK() with AI formulas. You can generate hundreds of brand name ideas and check their domains in a single spreadsheet. No switching between tabs or apps.
Step 1: Generate brand name ideas with AI
Formula
=AILIST("Generate 20 short, memorable brand names for a sustainable clothing company. Each name should be one or two words, easy to spell, and easy to pronounce.")Returns a list of 20 brand name ideas in separate rows. Change the description to match your industry.
This fills rows with creative name suggestions. You can run it multiple times with different prompts to build a big list.
Note
Keep Formula is on by default, so AILIST keeps its formula as text and writes the list into the column to its right. Paste the list into column A as values (Ctrl+Shift+V) before you add the next two columns, or turn Keep Formula off in the sidebar first.
Step 2: Add the .com extension
In the next column, combine each name with ".com":
Formula
=LOWER(SUBSTITUTE(A2, " ", ""))&".com"Converts the brand name to lowercase, removes spaces, and adds .com. Turns Blue Harbor into blueharbor.com.
Step 3: Check availability for every name
Formula
=DOMAINCHECK(B2)Checks the domain you built in the previous step. Drag down to check your entire list at once.
Now you have three columns: brand name, domain, and availability status. Filter column C to show only available domains. You just narrowed 200 ideas down to the ones you can actually register.
Note
You can try all of this on the free tier. No credit card needed. Free comes with 20,000 AI tokens and 100 scraping credits, one time, with no expiry.
Check multiple extensions at once
Most people want to check more than just .com. Maybe you want .io for a tech startup, .co for something short, or .app for a mobile product. You can check all of them in one sheet.
Set up your columns like this:
- Column A: the base brand name (e.g., "brightlabs")
- Column B:
=DOMAINCHECK(A2&".com") - Column C:
=DOMAINCHECK(A2&".io") - Column D:
=DOMAINCHECK(A2&".co") - Column E:
=DOMAINCHECK(A2&".app")
Formula
=DOMAINCHECK(A2&".io")Checks the .io version of the brand name in A2. Add more columns for more extensions.
Drag all four formulas down your list. You can see at a glance which extensions are open for each name. This is especially helpful when your top .com choice is taken but the .io or .co is available.
Domain investing: find available domains in bulk
Domain investors need to check hundreds or thousands of domains regularly. SheetMagic makes this fast and organized. =DOMAINCHECK() reports only AVAILABLE or TAKEN: a domain in its redemption or pending-delete period counts as TAKEN, so it does not flag expiring names for you.
Check domains from a keyword list
Start with keywords in your niche. Use =AILIST() to generate domain-style combinations, then check them all.
Formula
=AILIST("Generate 30 two-word domain-style combinations using these keywords: solar, green, eco, power, bright. Each combination should be catchy and brandable. Return only the name, no extension.")Creates 30 potential domain names from your seed keywords. Feed these into DOMAINCHECK to find available ones.
Then in the next column:
Formula
=DOMAINCHECK(A2&".com")Checks each generated name as a .com domain.
Build a domain research dashboard
For serious domain research, add more context to each available domain:
Formula
=AITEXT("Rate this domain name on a scale of 1-10 for brandability. Consider: length, pronunciation, memorability, and commercial appeal. Return only the number.", A2)Scores each domain name for brandability. Use this to prioritize which available domains to register first.
Formula
=SERP(A2)Searches for the domain name as a keyword. If search results are full of established brands, the name might be harder to rank for.
This gives you a complete research spreadsheet. Available domains, brandability scores, and competitive landscape, all in one place.
Check if a website is active or parked
A domain being "registered" does not mean someone is using it. Millions of registered domains sit idle. They show parking pages with ads, "coming soon" placeholders, or "for sale" notices. For brand naming, a parked domain might still be purchasable. For domain investing, parked domains with good names are potential acquisitions.
You can check what a registered domain actually shows with =VISIT().
Formula
=VISIT("https://"&A2)Pulls the text content from the website at that domain. If the page is parked or for sale, the content usually says so.
Then use =AITEXT() to classify what you find:
Formula
=AITEXT("Based on this webpage content, classify the domain status as one of: active-business, parked, for-sale, under-construction, empty, or error. Return only the classification.", B2)Reads the VISIT result in B2 and tells you if the site is actually in use or just sitting there. VISIT runs in the background, so keep it in its own cell rather than nesting it inside AITEXT.
This is gold for domain investors. A domain showing a "for sale" page is a negotiation opportunity. One running a real business is probably off the table. And a parked page full of ads might mean the owner forgot about it.
You can go even deeper. Pull the meta title to see if there is any branding on the site:
Formula
=GETMETATITLE("https://"&A2)Returns the title tag. Parked domains usually have generic titles like 'Domain For Sale' or the registrar name.
Combine the classification with the meta title for a quick snapshot of every registered domain on your list. Sort by "for-sale" to find your best acquisition targets.
Caveat
Some domains block automated access or return very little content. If VISIT returns an error or empty result, the site may have bot protection or no web server running. That is still useful information for your research.
Validate domain names with SERP data
Before you register a domain, check if the name already belongs to an established brand. A technically "available" domain can still be a bad choice if a well-known company owns the same name on a different extension. Or if the name is so generic that search results are crowded.
Formula
=SERP(SUBSTITUTE(A2,".com",""))Searches for the brand name (without the extension). Shows you what already exists in search results for that term.
If the first page of results shows a Fortune 500 company, a popular app, or a well-known brand with that exact name, you probably want a different domain. You will struggle to rank in search results. And people might confuse your brand with the existing one.
Use =AITEXT() to automate this analysis:
Formula
=AITEXT("Based on these search results, is the brand name already associated with an established company or product? Return: clear (no major brand conflict), caution (some existing usage), or conflict (strong existing brand). Return only the label.", SERP(SUBSTITUTE(A2,".com","")))Scans search results and flags potential brand conflicts. Filter for 'clear' to find names with open competitive space.
This adds a "brand conflict" column to your research. Combined with availability and brandability scores, you now have a complete picture for every name on your list.
Niche-specific domain research workflows
Workflow 1: Local business domains
Looking for domains in a specific city or industry? Generate location-based names and check them.
Formula
=AILIST("Generate 15 domain-friendly names for a dog grooming business in Portland. Use combinations of: portland, pdx, paw, groom, bark, wag. One or two words each, no extension.")Creates location-specific brand names. Perfect for local service businesses looking for a memorable web address.
Check each one with =DOMAINCHECK(A2&".com") and you have a list of available local business domains.
Workflow 2: Trend-based domain hunting
Spot a trending topic? Move fast and check domain variations before everyone else.
Formula
=AILIST("Generate 20 short, brandable domain names related to AI agents and automation. Think startup-style names: punchy, modern, easy to type. No extension.")Generates trend-based domain ideas. Replace the topic with whatever is trending in your space.
Formula
=DOMAINCHECK(A2&".ai")Checks the .ai extension, popular for AI-related projects.
Workflow 3: Portfolio monitoring for domain investors
If you own a portfolio of domains, track their status in a spreadsheet. List your domains in column A, then:
Formula
=GETMETATITLE("https://"&A2)Pulls the title tag from your domain. If you have set up a landing page or redirect, this confirms it is working.
Formula
=AITEXT("Search interest level for this keyword on a scale of 1-10, based on commercial potential and market demand. Return only the number.", SUBSTITUTE(SUBSTITUTE(A2,".com",""),".io",""))Estimates the commercial value of each domain name in your portfolio.
Tips for better domain research
Keep your names short. Domains under 12 characters are easier to type, remember, and brand. Use =LEN(A2) to measure each name and filter out the long ones. Anything over 15 characters is going to be hard for people to type from memory.
Check spelling confusion. Names that sound like common words but are spelled differently (like "flickr" or "tumblr") can cause problems. Your customers might type the wrong URL. Stick with intuitive spelling when possible. Try saying the name out loud and asking a friend to spell it.
Avoid hyphens and numbers. When you tell someone your domain name in a conversation, you do not want to say "dash" or "the number 3." These domains are harder to share verbally and look less professional.
Batch your checks. If you have 500+ domains to check, process them in groups of 50 to 100. This keeps your sheet responsive and makes it easy to spot patterns in the results. Finish one batch before starting the next.
Save your results. Copy and paste the availability column as values (Ctrl+Shift+V) after each batch. Domain availability changes fast. Someone could register your dream domain while you are still reviewing your list. Saving a snapshot means you can compare results over time and act quickly on the best finds.
Think about the brand, not just the domain. A perfect domain with a confusing brand name is worse than a good domain with a great brand name. Use the =AITEXT() scoring formula from earlier to evaluate names on brandability before you rush to register.
Tip
Use conditional formatting to highlight available domains in green and taken domains in red. Select your results column, go to Format > Conditional formatting, and set rules based on the cell value. This makes scanning long lists much faster.
Combine domain checks with full brand research
The best brand naming workflow goes beyond just domain availability. Here is a complete process you can run in one spreadsheet.
Generate name ideas
Formula
=AILIST("Generate 30 brand names for a productivity app for remote teams. Names should be short, positive, and easy to spell. No extension.")Creates your initial list of candidates.
Check domain availability
Formula
=DOMAINCHECK(LOWER(SUBSTITUTE(A2," ",""))&".com")Checks .com availability for each name. Removes spaces and converts to lowercase automatically.
Score each name
Formula
=AITEXT("Rate this brand name for a productivity app: "&A2&". Score it 1-10 on: memorability, ease of spelling, positive associations, and uniqueness. Return a single average score.", "")Gives each name an overall brandability score.
Pick your winner
Sort by score (highest first), then filter for available domains. Your top options float to the top, and you go from 200 ideas to a handful of finalists without a single registrar search. Check the social handles for those few finalists by hand.
What can you do with the availability results?
A column of AVAILABLE and TAKEN is a decision tool. Four ways it saves time or money:
Shortlist only names you can buy. Filter for AVAILABLE before the naming meeting. Nobody spends a week attached to a name whose .com is gone, and the logo designer only sketches names that survive.
Avoid paying for a name that is already a brand. Run the SERP brand-conflict check on the shortlist. At 1 scraping credit per search, 20 finalists cost 20 credits, which is cheap next to registering a domain, printing it on packaging and renaming after a cease-and-desist.
Register the extensions you need the same day. The multi-extension columns show which names are open on .com, .io and .co at once. Buy the set while it is open, so a squatter does not register the .io after your launch post and ask you to pay to get it back.
Find acquisition targets as an investor. For TAKEN names, the =VISIT() plus =AITEXT() classification sorts parked and for-sale pages from real businesses. Each page check costs 1 scraping credit on a basic page, 2 if it needs JavaScript rendering, so you only email the owners who might sell.
How many credits does this use?
None for the domain checks. =DOMAINCHECK() is free on every plan, including Free, and does not touch your scraping credit pool. Check 10 domains or 1,000: the credit count stays where it was.
AI formulas like =AITEXT() and =AILIST() use AI tokens, and =VISIT(), =GETMETATITLE() and =SERP() use scraping credits (=SERP() costs 1 credit per search). Those two quotas are tracked independently in your plan. Check your remaining balance anytime in the SheetMagic dashboard or the sidebar under Extensions > SheetMagic.
Start checking domains today
You can run your first domain check in under a minute. Install SheetMagic, open a Google Sheet, and type:
Formula
=DOMAINCHECK("yourdreamname.com")Replace with any domain you are curious about. The result shows up right in your cell.
Then build out from there. Generate names with =AILIST(). Check multiple extensions. Score your favorites. The entire brand naming workflow fits in one spreadsheet.
No more bouncing between registrar websites. No more losing track of which names you already checked. Just formulas, results, and a clear list of your best options.
Install SheetMagic free and check your first domain right now.
More web scraping guides: Complete scraping guide | Extract content from any page | Getting started
Text and scraping formulas run on the free allowance. Install from the Google Workspace Marketplace, no card, no expiry.
Install free for Google SheetsAbout the author
Phil NguyenPhil builds SheetMagic, the Google Sheets add-on that brings AI and web scraping into the spreadsheet, used by 6,300+ people. He writes these guides from the formulas he runs on his own sheets.