Domain Search MCP

Fast, local-first domain availability checks for MCP clients. Works with zero configuration using public RDAP/WHOIS, and optionally enriches results with registrar pricing via a backend you control.

Built on the Model Context Protocol for Claude, Codex, VS Code, Cursor, Cline, and other MCP-compatible clients.

What It Does

• Check a single name across multiple TLDs.
• Bulk-check up to 100 names for one TLD.
• Compare registrar pricing (uses backend when configured).
• Suggest names and validate social handles.
• Detect premium/auction signals for search_domain.

How It Works

Availability and pricing are intentionally separated:

• Availability (default):
  • Primary: RDAP
  • Fallback: WHOIS
  • GoDaddy public endpoint is used only to add premium/auction signals in search_domain
• Pricing (optional):
  • Recommended: PRICING_API_BASE_URL (backend with Porkbun keys)
  • Optional BYOK: Porkbun/Namecheap only when backend is not configured

This keeps the server zero-config while letting power users enable pricing.

Pricing Verification

Responses include price_check_url (registrar checkout/search link) and may include price_note when a price is estimated. Always verify the final price on the registrar checkout page before purchase.

If an auction/premium signal is detected, results include an aftermarket block with links to marketplace pages when available. Taken domains may include Sedo auction hints (public feed) and nameserver-based marketplace hints (Sedo/Dan/Afternic).

Quick Start

git clone https://github.com/dorukardahan/domain-search-mcp.git
cd domain-search-mcp
npm install
npm run build

Run locally:

npm start

Or via the CLI entrypoint:

npx domain-search-mcp

MCP Client Config (Claude Desktop example)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "domain-search": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/domain-search-mcp/dist/server.js"]
    }
  }
}

Tools

• search_domain: Check a name across multiple TLDs, adds premium/auction signals.
• bulk_search: Check up to 100 names for a single TLD.
• compare_registrars: Compare pricing across registrars (backend when configured).
• suggest_domains: Generate variations (prefix/suffix/hyphen).
• suggest_domains_smart: AI-assisted suggestions using the semantic engine plus GoDaddy suggestions.
• tld_info: TLD metadata and restrictions.
• check_socials: Username availability across platforms.

Configuration

Pricing Backend (Recommended)

Set a backend URL that owns registrar keys (Porkbun). The MCP will call /api/quote and /api/compare on that backend for pricing.

PRICING_API_BASE_URL=https://your-backend.example.com
PRICING_API_TOKEN=optional_bearer_token

Optional BYOK (Local)

Used only if PRICING_API_BASE_URL is not set.

• Porkbun keys:
  • https://porkbun.com/account/api
  • https://porkbun.com/api/json/v3/documentation
• Namecheap keys (IP whitelist required):
  • https://ap.www.namecheap.com/settings/tools/apiaccess/
  • https://www.namecheap.com/support/api/intro/

PORKBUN_API_KEY=pk1_your_api_key
PORKBUN_API_SECRET=sk1_your_secret
NAMECHEAP_API_KEY=your_api_key
NAMECHEAP_API_USER=your_username
NAMECHEAP_CLIENT_IP=your_whitelisted_ip

Environment Variables

| Variable | Default | Description | |----------|---------|-------------| | PRICING_API_BASE_URL | - | Pricing backend base URL | | PRICING_API_TOKEN | - | Optional bearer token | | PRICING_API_TIMEOUT_MS | 2500 | Backend request timeout | | PRICING_API_MAX_QUOTES_SEARCH | 0 | Max pricing calls per search (0 = unlimited; backend rate limits apply) | | PRICING_API_MAX_QUOTES_BULK | 0 | Max pricing calls per bulk search (0 = unlimited; backend rate limits apply) | | PRICING_API_CONCURRENCY | 4 | Pricing request concurrency | | PORKBUN_API_KEY | - | Porkbun API key | | PORKBUN_API_SECRET | - | Porkbun API secret | | NAMECHEAP_API_KEY | - | Namecheap API key | | NAMECHEAP_API_USER | - | Namecheap username | | NAMECHEAP_CLIENT_IP | - | Namecheap IP whitelist | | OUTPUT_FORMAT | table | table, json, or both for tool output formatting | | LOG_LEVEL | info | Logging level | | CACHE_TTL_AVAILABILITY | 60 | Availability cache TTL (seconds) | | CACHE_TTL_PRICING | 3600 | Pricing cache TTL (seconds) | | CACHE_TTL_SEDO | 3600 | Sedo auctions feed cache TTL (seconds) | | CACHE_TTL_AFTERMARKET_NS | 300 | Nameserver lookup cache TTL (seconds) | | SEDO_FEED_ENABLED | true | Enable Sedo feed lookup for aftermarket hints | | SEDO_FEED_URL | https://sedo.com/txt/auctions_us.txt | Sedo public feed URL | | AFTERMARKET_NS_ENABLED | true | Enable nameserver-based aftermarket hints | | AFTERMARKET_NS_TIMEOUT_MS | 1500 | Nameserver lookup timeout (ms) |

Output Format

Tool responses are returned as Markdown tables by default. If you need raw JSON for programmatic use, set:

OUTPUT_FORMAT=json

Data Sources

| Source | Usage | Pricing | |--------|-------|---------| | Pricing API | Pricing + premium (Porkbun) | Yes (backend) | | Porkbun API | Availability + pricing | Yes (with keys) | | Namecheap API | Availability + pricing | Yes (with keys) | | RDAP | Primary availability | No | | WHOIS | Fallback availability | No | | GoDaddy public endpoint | Premium/auction signal for search_domain | No | | Sedo public feed | Aftermarket auction hints | No |

Pricing Behavior

• Live price is attempted first for every available domain.
• If live quotes fail or are rate-limited, the result falls back to the catalog estimate and includes price_note.
• Always verify pricing via price_check_url before purchase.

Example (No API Keys)

search_domain("myproject", ["com", "io"])

myproject.com - available - price_first_year: null - source: rdap
myproject.io  - taken     - price_first_year: null - source: rdap

Development

npm run dev       # watch mode
npm test          # run Jest
npm run build     # compile to dist/

Release

See docs/RELEASE.md for the canary -> latest publish flow. Tags like v1.2.24 trigger GitHub Releases + npm publish via CI.

Changelog

See CHANGELOG.md for release history.

Security Notes

• Do not commit API keys or .mcpregistry_* files.
• Without PRICING_API_BASE_URL (or BYOK keys), pricing is not available (availability still works).

Links

• MCP Registry: https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io
• Glama page: https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/@dorukardahan/domain-search-mcp
• Context7 index: https://context7.com/dorukardahan/domain-search-mcp
• API reference: docs/API.md
• Configuration: docs/CONFIGURATION.md
• Workflows: docs/WORKFLOWS.md