Top 7 Ways on How to Find Out Who Built a Website

Wondering how to find out who built a website? It’s not always as simple as just identifying the website owner. A lot goes into creating a website—it needs a designer, a developer and sometimes even an entire team to bring it all to life. So, if you’re curious about who’s behind a particular website, there’s a little more detective work involved. 

The journey usually starts with the domain name. When someone registers a domain, they’re essentially reserving their spot on the internet and that information often includes the website owner’s contact details. These can give you a good starting point. 

But here’s the catch: finding the owner doesn’t always tell you who actually built the site. A website can be created by a solo web developer, a design agency or an in-house team.

So, in this guide, we’ll walk you through the top 7 ways to uncover who built a website. From looking at domain registration details to using specialized online tools, you can gather a lot of useful information. This will help you track down the owner, the developer, or the agency behind the website. Let’s get started! 

Why you might want to find the owner of a website

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to find the owner of a website and it’s not always just about accessing its content. One common reason is when you want to purchase a domain name that’s already registered. Checking whether the domain is available is a good first step. 

Let’s say you’ve got a killer idea for a new website and a perfect name in mind. But a quick Bluehost domain search shows that the name is already taken. 

Don’t worry—there’s still a chance you can make it yours. If you’re serious about the domain, reaching out to the current owner is a smart move. Most domain owners are open to selling the domain, especially if it’s not actively used or holds potential value to your business. It’s always worth asking and who knows? You may get a good deal. 

However, finding the website owner isn’t just useful for domain deals. Here are some more common scenarios where this information comes in handy: 

• You might want to collaborate on content or explore a potential partnership. 
• It can help in resolving legal disputes or addressing copyright issues. 
• You may want to learn more about the business or organization behind the site. 
• If you’re building your own website, you could seek tips or suggestions from the creator. 
• Beginners might connect with website owners to learn website-building techniques or gain mentorship. 

In all these cases, knowing who owns the website can help you take the next step. So, no matter what your reason is, understanding who owns a website opens plenty of opportunities. And the good news is that there are ways to track this down! Even if the owner’s details aren’t immediately obvious!  

Are the domain owner and the website owner the same?

The domain owner and the website owner can be the same person or entity, but they don’t necessarily have to be. Here’s a breakdown: 

Domain owner 

The domain owner is the individual or organization that has registered the domain name through a domain registrar. Ownership is tied to the registration details, such as contact information and is usually documented in the WHOIS database. 

Website owner 

Now, the website owner is a bit different. The website owner is the person or organization responsible for the content, management and hosting of the website that is displayed under the domain. 

How they can differ: 

• Leasing or renting domains: A domain owner may lease their domain to someone else who then builds and manages the website. 
• Third-party management: A business might own the domain but outsource website management to a third-party agency. 
• Domain purchases: Someone might purchase a domain for investment purposes but not develop or own any associated website. 

So, while the website’s creator and domain owner could be the same, they don’t always align. If you’re trying to figure out who owns a website, you’ll likely need to dig a little deeper. 

The good news? There are plenty of online tools and methods to help you track down the right info. Let’s dive into seven proven ways to uncover who owns a website. 

How to find the owner of a website

Finding the owner of a website can seem tricky, but don’t worry—there are several ways to get the info you need. Whether you’re hoping to contact the website owner, the web designer or the creator behind the site, there are tools that can help. These tools and techniques can assist you in tracking them down. Below are 7 ways to figure that out: 

Search the website

If you’re looking to find the owner of a domain, the website itself is a great place to start. If the domain is registered but the site isn’t live yet, move on to checking the domain registration history. But if the site is up, there are a few places to check. 

Look at the Contact Us or About pages. Many websites, especially business or professional ones, list contact details here. Resume or sales websites often provide info upfront.  

However, if you don’t find anything on the main pages, scroll down to the footer. This section may have copyright info or mention the agency that built the site, which can help you find the owner. 

Lastly, check the privacy policy page. Sites that collect user data are required to have one and it often includes contact details, such as an email or physical address, which can lead to the website owner. 

Check the WHOIS database 

If you’re trying to find the owner of a domain, a good place to start is the WHOIS database. WHOIS is a public record that provides key details about a domain, such as the owner’s name, contact information and the domain’s registration history. By searching for a domain in WHOIS, you can often uncover the owner’s contact details and other relevant information.

However, it’s important to know that many domain owners use WHOIS privacy protection services to keep their personal information private. In these cases, the WHOIS record may display the contact details of the domain registrar or a third-party service instead of the website owner’s direct information.

Even with privacy protection in place, WHOIS is still one of the best tools for getting started. It gives you a solid first look at the domain’s history and can sometimes lead to more information about the owner.

Note: Keep in mind that access to WHOIS details may be limited due to GDPR regulations and domain privacy policies. 

Use Google search operators 

A smart way to find the owner of a website is by using Google search operators. These special search commands help you uncover information that might not be easy to find immediately. For example, try searching for the website’s domain name with keywords like “owner,” “contact,” or “about.” This can sometimes reveal the owner’s profile or contact info hidden in unexpected places.

One helpful operator is “site:”. It allows you to search within a specific website. You can also try adding terms like “portfolio” or “team” to find the agency or person behind the site.

If the website owner has a public online presence or is mentioned in articles or business listings, these search operators can quickly help you find that info. Just try different keywords and combinations to narrow down the results.

Check domain registration history

Domain registration history is also known as the WHOIS lookup history. This is because it collects all WHOIS records associated with a domain, starting with the first registration. Think about domain registration history as the old way of keeping library book records. Each book contained a list of all the people who had checked it out before. It’s similar for domain names, except everything is online. 

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages domain name registration and ownership. ICANN domain registration requires the creation of WHOIS records, which identify domain owners and provide their contact information.

The good news is that WHOIS records are publicly available. ICANN legally requires that this contact information be shared, so performing a URL owner lookup is quite simple.

You’ll need to perform a WHOIS search to find a website owner using domain registration history. 

• Go to https://whois.icann.org/
• Enter the domain name you’re searching for
• Click Lookup

You’ll find the contact information there if the domain is registered. 

The domain ownership history will help you identify the right contact for questions about the domain or website. However, some domain provider services offer private registration. This means that the domain provider is listed as the registrant so that the individual owner can maintain some level of anonymity. 

If there is no contact information section and the registrar information doesn’t list an email or a phone number, then the domain has likely been registered privately. 

You can also find out when the domain is set to expire. If the domain registrant doesn’t have automatic renewal, there’s a chance the domain will be available after the expiration date passes. Doing an expired domain search helps you find newly available domain names.

Contact a domain broker

If your search through the domain registration history didn’t give you the results you were hoping for, you might want to consider contacting a domain broker. Domain brokers are professionals who specialize in helping people buy and sell domain names. They often have access to contact details that aren’t available through public records and can help you contact the domain owner.

Some brokers work on behalf of buyers, assisting with locating domain owners and even negotiating the purchase if you’re interested in buying the domain. However, it’s important to know that domain brokers charge a fee for their services, so this option is best if you’re serious about purchasing the domain.

If you decide to use a domain broker, you can easily find a list of reputable brokers online. Be sure to do some research to choose one that fits your needs and budget!

Use search engines and social media

Another way to track down website owner information is by doing some internet detective work. You can research website owner information online using search engines and social media platforms. LinkedIn, for example, can be useful for locating employees associated with a business, particularly those in marketing or IT roles who may manage the website.

Other social platforms, such as Twitter or Facebook, might also provide clues about the business’s team or the person responsible for the site. Finding the right person may take a little trial and error, but once you identify the right contact, try reaching out directly or via other social media platforms.

If that doesn’t work, a simple Google search might reveal their contact details if they’re listed online. This method can help you track down the website owner or the person managing the site.

Find an email associated with the domain

If domain registration history and social media searches don’t help, you can try finding an email linked to the domain. When a domain is registered, the owner often sets up email addresses with that domain.

You can use tools like Hunter.io to find these email addresses. Just enter the domain URL and Hunter.io will search for associated emails. The tool guesses the email format and sends a test to see if it bounces back, giving you a list of possible contacts. While Hunter.io offers some free searches, you might need to create an account for more.

Note: This works best with business domains, not personal ones. If you find a valid email, you’ll have a direct way to contact the domain owner.

Bonus tip: Use website analytics tools 

If you’re still curious about who built a website, website analytics tools can be super helpful. Tools like BuiltWith or Wappalyzer let you dig into the tech behind the site. They show you the technology stack—basically, the software and platforms used to create the site. You can also find out the site’s content management system (CMS) or website builder.

What to look for

Look for details like the software or platform used to build the site—things like WordPress, Wix or Shopify. For example, if you want to know where is WordPress hosted, you can use website analytics tools to uncover this information. 

These tools will also tell you which tech the website relies on and allow you to access developer tools like frameworks or plugins. 

Why this works

If you spot a specific web design platform or developer tool, it can give you a clue about who built the site. For example, if you notice the site is built on WordPress, you might find a developer specializing in that platform. It could even help you track down the graphic designer or web developer behind it. 

These tools can help you piece together information about who created the website and how it was built. Sometimes, they can even lead you to the right person or agency. 

Final thoughts

There are plenty of reasons why you might want to find the owner of a website. With a bit of detective work and the use of developer tools, you can often uncover clues that point you in the right direction. Whether it’s a graphic designer or an IT company behind the site, understanding the people behind and how websites are built can also inspire your own online projects. 

So, if you’re ready to create your own professional website and take your business online, Bluehost has got you covered. With a free domain for the first year and intuitive site-building tools, Bluehost web hosting plans provide everything you need to design, launch and grow your site with ease. 

However, if you are new to website building, Bluehost WordPress Commerce Solution can simplify the process for you! It offers a plethora of tools like Jetpack Forms for easy enquiries, Yoast SEO for better search visibility, CreativeMail for automated email campaigns and many more. Together, these features ensure your site is professional, engaging and ready to grow. 

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