Vacant Domains vs Instant Domain Search: Which Fits?
Instant Domain Search is the better starting point if you have a name in mind, want a free shortlist, or need to check hundreds of candidates. Vacant Domains is a paid catalog for browsing available names by TLD, length, language, keyword and prefix or suffix.
Both help you discover names. Instant Domain Search also has generators, dictionary lists and a reverse dictionary. The difference is the workflow and catalog.
We publish Vacant Domains, so weigh this comparison accordingly. We checked the linked Instant Domain Search pages on November 2, 2026. Its features and update schedules below are vendor descriptions, not results from a performance or accuracy benchmark.
What you get
| Instant Domain Search | Vacant Domains | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | A name, concept, list of candidates or curated collection | A stored catalog of dictionary words and prefix and suffix variants |
| Price to search | Free tools, funded by registrar referrals | $79 once for catalog access |
| TLD coverage | Advertises 800+ extensions | 51 TLDs |
| Finding ideas | Generators, reverse dictionary and curated lists advertised at 500 names each | Millions of names, filterable by TLD, length, keyword, language and affix |
| Availability | Says it checks live as you type; dictionary list advertises daily refreshes | Stored registrar checks, with each name rechecked about every two weeks |
| Registrar prices | Bulk page advertises first-year and renewal comparisons across 20+ registrars | Multiple registrars per TLD: registration, renewal and transfer |
| Bulk work | Advertises batches up to 5,000 domains, CSV import and export | No bulk export |
Domain registration and renewal cost extra in either workflow. The $79 buys access to our database, not a domain. Our Terms of Service define access as lasting for the life of the service and refunds as case by case.
When Instant Domain Search is the better pick
You already have a name or concept. Its main search checks names as you type. Its generator suggests variations, including prefixes and suffixes, for free. The reverse dictionary starts from a concept and returns related words with links to availability checks. You do not need our paid catalog to try these approaches.
You want a free list. Its list library advertises collections of 500 names and new lists every Monday. The dictionary list says it checks English words across 15+ popular TLDs, excludes obscure words, slang and negative terms, and refreshes daily. Its list index also describes checks at build time when the site is redeployed. We have not independently measured that cadence. These are narrower collections than its full search coverage.
You need an extension outside our catalog. Its extensions page advertises 800+ TLDs against our 51. Start there if your chosen ending is outside our coverage.
You already have hundreds of candidates. Its bulk checker advertises up to 5,000 names per batch without signup, CSV import and export, dictionary presets, and registrar price comparison. A free batch check may be all you need. It also links results to registrar checkout, so you can move from checking to buying.
When Vacant Domains fits
Choose our catalog when you want to browse the inventory itself. For example, you might want names of a particular length on .io, then narrow them by language, keyword or a specific prefix. You can filter to names with no prefix or suffix, or explore variants using get, go, join, try, use, ai, app, hq, hub or labs.
The value is that set of filters over the stored catalog, rather than a claim that our suggestions are better. Start with the free samples on .com, .io or .ai. If that workflow suits you, browse the catalog with paid access. Samples demonstrate the product; they are not the full list.
Where we are weaker
Our .com inventory is mostly prefix and suffix names, not a large supply of short English dictionary words. Our one-word availability report explains the plain-word subset, its language exclusions and why the headline catalog size should not be read as a count of plain words.
Our coverage is smaller, and our checks are less immediate. Checks run continuously through five registrar APIs, oldest first, so each name is rechecked about every two weeks. A name can be registered between checks. Instant Domain Search's advertised live lookups and daily dictionary-list refresh are stronger starting points when freshness matters most. Neither a stored result nor a prior lookup reserves a name.
We also do not offer bulk export. If you need a CSV of checks on candidates you already have, try its bulk tool before paying us.
Using both
Use Instant Domain Search to explore a concept or check a shortlist. Use Vacant Domains if you want to filter a larger stored catalog. You can then take candidates from either to a live checker and confirm availability, premium status, registration price and renewal cost at your chosen registrar before buying.