Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Our APIs transform raw domain data into machine readable outputs. Click on the API for a more detailed view, with instructions on how to use the function and the output.
Account questions
Q: Why is my account suspended?
A: There was a breach of TOS. Please open a support ticket for more detailed information. Account suspension is handled on a case-by-case basis.
Q: How can I change my main account email address?
A: You need to log in to the WhoAPI dashboard. After you are logged in, in the main menu look for the “Account” option. Click the “Change email” button next to your email address and enter the desired email address.
Q: I have created a new account and tried to make an API request using my API key. It’s responding with an Account Suspended message?
A: There was a breach of TOS. Please contact support for more detailed information. Account suspension is handled on a case-by-case basis.
Billing questions
Q: I forgot to cancel my subscription, can I get a refund?
A: We will grant you a full refund only if you haven’t made any requests, and only for the last 30 days.
Q: I wish to use the API access only for one month, but WhoAPI created a subscription! What now?
A: If you don’t need a subscription, you can cancel the API subscription at any point in time without penalties. The API requests remain at your disposal until the end of 30 days from your subscription.
Q: I’ve purchased the wrong API plan, can I get a refund?
A: Yes, you can get a full refund, but here’s what you can do. Cancel the subscription, and start a new subscription with the right API plan. The first payment will be refunded, just notify us.
Q: Can I transfer available API requests from my subscription to another API?
A: Unfortunately, this is no longer available. Please open a support ticket so that we can investigate how we can further assist you, and what are your short-term and long-term specific needs, projects, and budget.
Q: Can I buy a plan with more than one API in the same purchase?
A: Yes, you can combine as many API subscriptions as you want.
Q: I’m looking for the monthly invoice that I need to send to our accountant. Can you tell me where can I find it?
A: You need to log in to the WhoAPI dashboard. After you are logged in, in the main menu look for “Invoices”. There you will see a list of all the invoices, and you can download them.
Q: Am I being charged for unsuccessful API requests?
A: We must first explain what we think is an “unsuccessful API request”. If you get an error, such as “Timeout getting the result from a node.” you will not be charged for this request. However, if the data is incomplete, but the response is successful, you will be charged. If you are unhappy with this, you can open a support ticket, and we can investigate further (how often this happens, how much the data is incomplete). Then we can determine if you need a complete or partial refund.
Q: I need to change the billing details. Where are those located on the online profile screen?
A: You need to log in to the WhoAPI dashboard. After you are logged in, in the main menu look for the “Account” option.
Q: If I cancel my subscription now, will I be able to use the rest of the requests that I have available?
A: Yes! If you have any requests available before you cancel your subscription, you will be able to use them until your subscription was originally set to expire.
Q: If I don’t use all of my requests, are they carried over to the next month? If not, why?
A: No they are not carried over to the next month. It is set up this way because you are not buying only requests, you are buying a package that includes other services as well. We don’t charge any setup fee, and there are no cancellation fees on your subscriptions.
Q: I need to update my credit card information. How should I do that?
A: You need to log in to the WhoAPI dashboard. After you are logged in, in the main menu look for the “Account” option. Once you are on the “Account” page, look for “update payment method” on the package / API / active subscription.
Q: Which payment methods are available?
A: You can pay with any credit card. For annual subscriptions, you can pay with a wire transfer. For our USA clients, you can pay through ACH.
Q: Do I get charged if my application makes more requests than I paid for? For example, I purchased a plan with 100,000 requests, and after 100,000 requests, my application is still making requests?
A: You will not be charged, and we will not return a successful response. You will get “Code 36 – You run out of monthly requests. Query limit exceeded.” This and other codes are available in our API Documentation. We will also email you ahead of time when you are approaching 0 available requests.
General API questions
Q: I am looking for Backorder Domain API services?
A: We do not offer backorder service.
Q: I am looking for Domain Registration API services?
A: We do not offer Domain Registration services.
Q: We’re getting a bad response from your API. “Timeout getting the result from a node.”.
A: Thank you for reporting this to us, we are working as hard as we can to bring the service online. If you would like to personally know the exact moment it comes back online, please open a support ticket.
Q: When a new API key is generated, will the old API key become inactive?
A: Yes, as soon as you generate a new API key, the old one will become inactive.
Q: Can there be 2 or more API keys per account?
A: No, only 1 API key per account.
Q: Can I whitelist an IP address?
A: Yes, you can whitelist an IP address. From then on, you can make API requests only from that IP address.
Q: How to whitelist an IP address, so that only this IP address can make requests?
A: You need to log in to the WhoAPI dashboard. After you are logged in, in the main menu look for “API IP Whitelist”. Once you are on that page, add the IP address and label it.
Q: How many IP addresses can I whitelist?
A: You can whitelist as many IP addresses as you want.
Q: I upgraded my API subscription, but when I make a request I get this response: “You run out of free requests. Please upgrade in order to make additional requests.”
A: Please be sure that you have upgraded the right API subscription.
Q: How long do the free 10,000 requests last?
A: There is no time limit. Until you reach 0 available requests, you are free to make requests.
Q: Do the “Free 10,000 requests” reset at the end of the month?
A: No, this is a one-time welcome gift for new clients.
Q: Can I make API requests over HTTPS instead of HTTP?
A: Yes, we encourage you to make API requests over HTTPS!
Q: How do I get an API key?
A: You can get an API key when you register.
Q: I need a bulk checker
A: With our APIs you can build a bulk checker, and then make the checks you are looking for. If you are not a developer, you would have to hire one on Upwork, Fiverr or LinkedIn. Otherwise, you can check this list of bulk checkers, maybe one of those can assist you in making the bulk checks you are looking for.
If you plan to build a bulk checker, this article can help you:
Whois API
Q: What are the limits of free whois API?
A: You can make up to 10,000 API requests for free on any of ours APIs.
Q: How many Whois API requests can I get for free?
A: You can make up to 10,000 API requests for free on any of ours APIs.
Q: I see lots of data is not being returned because of GDPR. I’m in the US and all of the data I’m getting back is on websites for businesses in the US. How come?
A: Please read our announcement “Our approach to whois”. We don’t distribute private data, regardless of location.
Q: How often does the whois database get refreshed?
A: If you need access to a fresh whois database, please upgrade to the package that supports live whois.
Q: Which domain extensions (TLDs, Top Level Domains) do you support?
A: Here is a list of domains we support.
Q: Can I check domain age with your Whois API?
A: Yes, on many domains you have the date of domain registration. From there, you can count domain age.
Domain Availability API
Q: How many Domain Availability API requests can I get for free?
A: You can make up to 10,000 API requests for free on any of ours APIs.
Q: Are “Taken” and “Domain Availability API” the same thing?
A: Yes! In the console and when making an API request, you will use the “taken” keyword in order to operate the Domain Availability API.
Q: Which domain extensions (TLDs, Top Level Domains) do you support?
A: Here is a list of domains we support.
Q: Is there any way to get available suggestions for the domain name if the searching domain is not available?
A: No, our API does not give available domain name suggestions.
Q: Can I use your Domain Availability API to check if a domain is available for registration?
A: Yes, this is exactly what the Domain Availability API is doing. Response “0” means the domain is available, and response “1” means the domain is registered.
Domain Score API
Q: How many Domain Score API requests can I get for free?
A: You can make up to 10,000 API requests for free on any of ours APIs.
Q: I make a request to “Domain Score Check” and I get a response “0”, why?
A: You first need to make a request to “Domain Score Set” and set the domain name for scoring. Then after a while send a request to “Domain Score Check”, or use a webhook. Check the documentation on our website for more information.
Email Score API
Q: How many Email Score API requests can I get for free?
A: You can make up to 10,000 API requests for free on any of ours APIs.
Q: I make a request to “Email Score Check” and I get a response “0”, why?
A: You first need to make a request to “Email Score Set” and set the email address for scoring. Then after a while send a request to “Email Score Check”, or use a webhook. Check the documentation on our website for more information.
Email Blacklist API
Q: How many Blacklist API requests can I get for free?
A: You can make up to 10,000 API requests for free on any of ours APIs.
Q: Which blacklists are supported by your Blacklist API?
A: As of August 2021, we support spamhaus.org, sorbs.net, barracudacentral.org, surbl.org. If you think we should add another relevant email blacklist, please let us know by opening a support ticket.
Screenshot API
Q: How many Screenshot API requests can I get for free?
A: You can make up to 10,000 API requests for free on any of ours APIs.
Q: I’m a software developer just trying to implement the screenshot API and wondering what the limit is for querying?
A: When you sign up, you get 10,000 API requests. After you use all the requests, you need to upgrade. Each package has different limits, you can see top 3 packages here. For example, we have packages with limits of 18,000 requests per month, 162,000 requests per month and 486,000 requests per month.
SSL API
Q: How many SSL API requests can I get for free?
A: You can make up to 10,000 API requests for free on any of ours APIs.
Q: Are “Cert” and “SSL API” the same thing?
A: Yes! In the console and when making an API request, you will use the “cert” keyword in order to operate the SSL API.