Why Switch from VirusTotal?
VirusTotal is a solid domain API provider, but it's not the only option. Whether you're looking for better pricing, more features, or simply want to explore what else is available - you've come to the right place.
We compare the key differences between VirusTotal and its alternatives. DomScan is one option for teams that value a recurring free tier, a broad toolkit, and remote MCP access.
Common Reasons to Switch
- Need domain availability and registration data
- Want WHOIS lookups and DNS records
- Looking for domain valuation features
- Building domain tools rather than security scanners
Who Should Stay with VirusTotal
VirusTotal is unmatched for malware analysis and threat detection. If security scanning is your primary use case, keep using it alongside DomScan.
Side-by-Side Comparison: DomScan vs VirusTotal
DomScan
DomScan is a developer-first domain intelligence platform offering real-time availability checks, RDAP data, domain valuation, and AI integration via MCP.
Free: 10,000 credits/monthVirusTotal
VirusTotal analyzes domains, URLs, and files for malware and malicious activity using 70+ antivirus engines and security tools.
Noncommercial Public API: 500 requests/day and 4 requests/minutePricing Comparison
| Pricing | DomScan | VirusTotal |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Free: 10,000 credits/month | Noncommercial Public API: 500 requests/day and 4 requests/minute |
| Paid Plans | Pay-as-you-go from $10 | $75,000/year Google Threat Intelligence Standard |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | $1.1 million/year Enterprise+ |
| TLD Coverage | 1,100+ TLDs | All domains analyzed |
Sources
Last updated:
Feature Comparison
| Feature | DomScan | VirusTotal |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Included | Included |
| API Access | Included | Included |
| Bulk Operations | Included | Limited |
| Real-time Data | Included | Included |
| WHOIS Data | Included | Included |
| DNS Lookup | Included | Included |
| Domain Valuation | Included | Not Included |
| Brand Monitoring | Included | Limited |
| MCP/AI Integration | Included | Not Included |
Where VirusTotal Excels
- Industry-leading threat detection
- Google-owned reliability
- Generous free tier
DomScan Advantages
- Free tier with 10,000 credits/month - no credit card required
- 1,100+ TLDs backed by live RDAP coverage
- MCP integration for AI assistants like Claude
- Domain valuation, brand monitoring, and OSINT tools
- Modern REST API with JSON responses
Switching from VirusTotal
Migrating from VirusTotal to DomScan is straightforward. DomScan uses standard REST endpoints with JSON responses and predictable authentication.
Quick example:
# Check domain availability with DomScan
curl "https://domscan.net/v1/status?name=example&tlds=com,net,org" \
-H "X-API-Key: your-api-key"
# Response
{
"name": "example",
"results": [
{ "domain": "example.com", "available": false, "source": "rdap" },
{ "domain": "example.net", "available": false, "source": "rdap" },
{ "domain": "example.org", "available": false, "source": "rdap" }
]
}
Frequently Asked Questions
DomScan uses standard REST APIs with JSON responses, making migration straightforward. Most integrations can be updated in minutes by changing the endpoint URL and adjusting the response parsing.
DomScan offers a generous free tier of 10,000 credits/month with no credit card required. For most use cases, DomScan provides better value with transparent pay-as-you-go pricing.
DomScan covers availability, WHOIS/RDAP, DNS, valuation, monitoring, and security workflows. Feature depth differs by provider, so compare the endpoints and limits your integration needs.
DomScan provides public documentation and email support. Contact us before purchase if you need contractual support or service commitments.
VirusTotal vs Other Providers
More Alternatives Guides
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Get Started with DomScan
10,000 free credits/month • No credit card required
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