Question 1

Is the Westmore WHOIS lookup free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Anyone can run 3 free WHOIS and RDAP lookups without signing up. A membership adds more monthly searches, alerts and deeper ownership signals.

Question 2

Why does WHOIS say REDACTED or show a privacy service?

Accepted Answer

Since GDPR took effect in May 2018, registrars redact most personal registrant data by default, and many owners add a privacy or proxy service. The domain is still owned by someone; the contact details are simply withheld from the public record.

Question 3

How can I contact a domain owner if WHOIS is private?

Accepted Answer

Most registrars provide a relay email address or web form in the record. Messages through a relay are often ignored, which is why buyers use a confidential, buyer-side acquisition service to reach the real decision-maker without revealing who is asking.

Question 4

What is the difference between WHOIS and RDAP?

Accepted Answer

Both return domain registration data. RDAP is the modern, structured protocol that ICANN made the definitive source for generic top-level domains in January 2025. WHOIS is the older plain-text protocol still used by some country-code registries.

Question 5

Can WHOIS tell me if a domain is for sale?

Accepted Answer

Not directly, but it gives strong clues. Parking or marketplace nameservers, a long-held registration and a for-sale landing page all suggest a willing seller. Westmore's lookup reads these signals for you and flags when a name looks acquirable.

Question 6

How do I find out when a domain expires?

Accepted Answer

The expiry date is in the WHOIS or RDAP record. Note that many registrars auto-renew names, so a near expiry date rarely means the domain will become available. Expired names usually pass through grace and redemption periods first.