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Head-to-head · WHOIS Lookup Tools

WhoisXML API WHOIS API vs WhoisJSON API

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score WhoisXML API WHOIS API #2 in WHOIS Lookup Tools 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit WhoisXML API
WhoisJSON API #4 in WHOIS Lookup Tools 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit WhoisJSON

WhoisXML API WHOIS API leads on 0 checks, WhoisJSON API on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreWhoisXML API WHOIS API · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresWhoisXML API WHOIS API · 2 of 3

WhoisXML API WHOIS API scores higher on our rubric for whois lookup tools: 9.2 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

WhoisXML API WHOIS API is the better fit for API users needing broad lookup and integrations. WhoisJSON API is the better fit for API users needing WHOIS plus domain intelligence.

  • WhoisXML API WHOIS API fits best

    API users needing broad lookup and integrations

  • WhoisJSON API fits best

    API users needing WHOIS plus domain intelligence

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Side by side

Feature WhoisXML API WHOIS API 9.2/10 Visit ↗ WhoisJSON API 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.8
Ranking #2 in WHOIS Lookup Tools #4 in WHOIS Lookup Tools
Best for API users needing broad lookup and integrations API users needing WHOIS plus domain intelligence
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan $10/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Support Email, Phone, Docs Docs
Compliance GDPR, PCI DSS GDPR
Integrations 14 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features WhoisXML API WHOIS API 2/3 · WhoisJSON API 0/3
Bulk lookup ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Historical WHOIS — Not checked yet
RDAP support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
API access Full Not checked yet
Monthly lookup limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Export formats JSON, XML Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports WHOIS, RDAP, or automatic protocol selection
  • Returns parsed and raw data in JSON or XML
  • Connects with security, data, and workflow platforms
  • Combines WHOIS, DNS, SSL, availability, and monitoring endpoints
  • Adds subdomain discovery and email-domain signup risk scoring
  • Supports JSON output with integrations for PHP, Python, and Node.js
Cons
  • Historical WHOIS is not included
  • Bulk lookup uses a separate Bulk WHOIS API
  • Paid access is handled through a contact form
  • It is an API service rather than a conventional API client
  • XML support is limited to qualifying plans
  • Higher-volume access requires moving through multiple paid tiers
Our verdict

WhoisXML API WHOIS API is a hosted REST service for retrieving registration data about domains, IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, and email addresses. It is aimed at developers, security teams, analysts, and workflows that need programmatic lookup…

Read the review →

WhoisJSON API is a hosted REST API for developers and businesses that need structured domain intelligence. Its endpoints cover WHOIS and RDAP registration lookups, DNS record resolution, SSL/TLS certificate validation, real-time domain…

Read the review →
  1. WhoisXML API WHOIS APIWHOIS Lookup Tools 9.2Free plan
  2. WhoisJSON APIWHOIS Lookup Tools 8.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • WhoisXML API WHOIS API — where it wins

    • Supports WHOIS, RDAP, or automatic protocol selection
    • Returns parsed and raw data in JSON or XML
    • Connects with security, data, and workflow platforms

    Where it doesn't

    • Historical WHOIS is not included
    • Bulk lookup uses a separate Bulk WHOIS API
    • Paid access is handled through a contact form
  • WhoisJSON API — where it wins

    • Combines WHOIS, DNS, SSL, availability, and monitoring endpoints
    • Adds subdomain discovery and email-domain signup risk scoring
    • Supports JSON output with integrations for PHP, Python, and Node.js

    Where it doesn't

    • It is an API service rather than a conventional API client
    • XML support is limited to qualifying plans
    • Higher-volume access requires moving through multiple paid tiers

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update