KnowEm alternative: what KnowEm did, and a free option that works today
By WhatsMyName Apps · Reviewed · Editorial policy
KnowEm was one of the first username availability checkers, aimed at brands that wanted the same name everywhere. If knowem.com does not load for you, it did not load for us either. Below is what KnowEm offered, what happened to the site and what to use instead.
Username, domain and trademark check (offline). Project: knowem.com
What is KnowEm?
According to its own homepage (last archived working copy, January 2024), KnowEm let you "search over 500 popular social networks, over 150 domain names, and the entire USPTO Trademark Database". The basic availability search was free.
Its business was done-for-you sign-ups. The same page listed paid packages from $84.95 (profiles on the top 25 sites for personal branding) to $649 (profiles on 300 sites), and an enterprise dashboard for agencies.
When we checked in October 2026, the knowem.com domain did not resolve at all. Archived copies show a hosting error page in its place by April 2024. We found no announcement explaining why, so we only report what we could see. CheckUsernames, its smaller sister site, is also offline.
How to use KnowEm
- Try knowem.com. As of October 2026 it does not load, so plan for an alternative.
- For a free username check, use a checker that is online today and covers many sites.
- For US trademarks, search the official USPTO trademark database directly.
- For domain names, check with a registrar or a public RDAP lookup.
KnowEm vs WhatsMyName Apps
| Feature | KnowEm | WhatsMyName Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Status (October 2026) | Domain does not resolve | Online and free |
| Social sites | 500+ (per its archived homepage) | 3,165+ sites, merged from the WhatsMyName, Sherlock and Maigret lists |
| Domains | 150+ domain names (archived) | .com, .net, .org, .io, .us, .app and .dev through public RDAP |
| Trademarks | US trademark database (archived) | No trademark check |
| Profile registration service | Paid packages from $84.95 (archived) | No. We only check |
| Export | Not confirmed | JSON and CSV (no PDF) |
| Price of a check | Free basic search (archived) | Free, no sign-up |
Based on KnowEm's own documentation as of 2026-10-18. Tools change; the project page is the final word.
Pros and cons of KnowEm
Pros
- Combined social, domain and trademark checks in one place.
- Offered paid help registering profiles for you.
- Wide coverage for its time: 500+ social networks.
Cons
- The site does not load as of October 2026.
- Profile registration packages were paid.
- No visible updates since its last archived working copy.
Who KnowEm is for
KnowEm suited brands and agencies that wanted a name checked and then claimed for them on hundreds of sites. With the site offline, a free username checker plus a direct trademark search covers the checking part.
Try a username search in your browser
Free, no sign-up. Checks 3,165+ sites; the username is not stored or logged.
Frequently asked questions
Is KnowEm still working?
Not as of October 2026. The knowem.com domain did not resolve when we checked, and archived copies show it stopped serving its homepage in 2024.
What is a good free KnowEm alternative?
WhatsMyName Apps is a free username checker with no sign-up. It covers 3,165+ sites and seven domain endings. For trademarks, search the USPTO database directly.
Did KnowEm cost money?
The basic availability search was free. Its profile registration packages were paid, from $84.95 to $649 according to its archived homepage.
Is CheckUsernames the same as KnowEm?
CheckUsernames described itself as a username search from KnowEm.com that checked 160 social networks. It is also offline as of October 2026.
Related tools and guides
- CheckUsernames: Username availability (offline)
- Namechk: Username and domain availability
- Namecheckup: Username and domain availability
- Instant Username Search: Username availability (search as you type)
- All OSINT tools compared
- OSINT username search · Reverse username lookup · Platform username checkers
- Username OSINT for beginners
Names and trademarks belong to their owners. WhatsMyName Apps is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by KnowEm or its authors.