In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to build a dynamic WordPress form that checks if a domain name is available — and lets customers purchase it directly through WooCommerce.
We’ll use WS Form PRO, the GoDaddy API (OTE environment), and optionally Make or Zapier to automate the registration process after payment. This setup ensures you don’t lose a domain to another buyer between the time of search and checkout.
Whether you’re a web designer, hosting reseller, or domain provider, this flexible approach lets you:
- Check domain availability in real-time
- Offer add-ons like hosting, email, and backups
- Trigger domain registration automatically after payment
Checking Domain Availability
When selling domain names through WooCommerce, it’s important to first verify whether the domain is actually available for registration. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a form that checks domain availability using the free GoDaddy OTE (Operational Test Environment) API. This setup allows you to let users search for domain names directly from your WooCommerce store.
If the domain is available, the user can proceed to purchase it as a product. Actual registration of the domain can then be handled automatically in a later step — for example via Make (formerly Integromat) or a custom integration with your preferred registrar.
Although this guide uses the GoDaddy API for availability checking, you can easily adapt the same method for other providers that offer similar APIs. The goal is to offer a smooth customer experience for domain sales — without having to worry about registration until after payment is confirmed.
Creating a Free GoDaddy OTE API Account
To use the GoDaddy API in test mode, you’ll first need to create an OTE (Operational Test Environment) account. This allows you to simulate domain availability checks and registrations without spending money or affecting real domain names. Click here to read the blog with detailed instructions.
Building a Simple Test Form in WS Form
Before styling the form and integrating it into your WooCommerce store, we’ll first create a basic test form to check whether the GoDaddy API connection works correctly.
This form will include:
- A text input for entering the desired domain name
- A custom button to trigger the availability check
- A text field to display the response (true or false)
Want to read more?
Visit this blog. In it, we go into detail about the steps you need to take to sell domain names in WooCommerce using WS Form and the GoDaddy API.
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