.at domain taken: what can you do next?
Your preferred name is already taken? Check its status, find clear alternatives and avoid confusion when choosing a different web address.
Read guide ↗The essentials
A useful domain name is clear, memorable and close to your actual business or project. Check pronunciation, spelling, availability and possible naming rights separately before registering.
Start with your name
Start with your company, project or brand name. Choose the shortest clear version your audience recognises. Read it aloud and ask someone to type it without further explanation. Confusing numbers and words or several hyphens can make a name needlessly difficult.
- Can someone understand the address after hearing it once?
- Will the name still fit if your service expands?
- Can people spell the name, umlaut and hyphen positions reliably?
Check availability and rights separately
An availability check tells you whether a name can currently be registered. It does not check trademark rights or grant permission to use another party’s name. Research existing brands and businesses separately. If uncertain, obtain a qualified review before investing in logos, print or a website.
Find alternatives when the name is taken ↗Use internationalised names thoughtfully
.at supports internationalised domain names with permitted characters. These are represented technically by an ASCII form beginning with xn--. A version without an umlaut can be useful when sharing a name by phone or with international contacts. Check both spellings and compatibility with your services.
Read it once more before registering
Check the full address, including its extension, in the basket. A typo creates a different domain name and cannot simply be renamed after registration. Use the correct individual or full legal organisation as the holder and provide contact details you can receive messages at.
Choose one primary address for your business
Before publishing, decide which spelling appears on business cards, invoices and your shop sign. Decide who manages the domain and receives renewal notices. Organisation details should match the intended holder. Document additional domains and their purpose so you do not accidentally cancel the primary address later.