SpamZilla is a tool that expired-domain buyers use to check domains for spam signals. But is it the only option? In 2026, several spamzilla alternatives let you inspect spam history from different angles. This guide describes SpamZilla and a few other tools in general terms, explains what a good spam check has to cover, and shows which kind of tool suits which buyer.
One caution first: tools change their features, data sources, limits and prices often, and we do not run them side by side here. Treat every description of another company's tool below as general, and confirm the details on that tool's own site before you pay for anything.
What SpamZilla is
SpamZilla is a third-party tool aimed at people who buy expired domains and want to screen out spam. Which data sources it uses, what it reports, how fast it is and what it costs are questions for SpamZilla itself. Check their site for current features, pricing and availability.
What a spam check for expired domains has to cover
Whatever tool you use, a thorough spam check looks at the same few things. Use this list to judge any of them, SpamZilla included.
Blacklists. Spamhaus DBL and SURBL are domain blocklists that mainly affect email and security filters. Google Safe Browsing status can be checked in Google's Transparency Report. Anything on a major blacklist is off the table.
Archive history. A blacklist verdict does not tell you what the old site was. Wayback Machine snapshots do: what it sold, who it was for, and whether the topic or language changed. If a site sold casino products for years, was parked, and then became an SEO blog, you want to see that timeline yourself. Captures are samples, so a short spam period can fall between them.
Link profile. A domain can have zero blacklist hits and still carry weak or manipulative backlinks. Look at Domain Rating, referring domains and, if you can, the Trust Flow to Citation Flow ratio.
Alerts and watchlists. If you want to be told when a domain matching your criteria becomes available, check whether the tool offers alerts at all, or whether you have to search by hand every day.
Context on risk. Parked periods, topic changes and language changes are red flags too. Google's spam policies now explicitly address expired domain abuse, so understanding what the domain did before matters for your own risk assessment.
Key alternatives
ExpiredDomains.net
ExpiredDomains.net is a long-running expired domain listing and search platform. In general terms, its approach is raw data and flexibility: you get lists and metrics and build your own rules, which appeals to experienced buyers who know what thresholds work for them. Which metrics, filters, free-tier limits and paid plans it offers today is something to confirm on its own site.
A concrete example of a rule you could build on any platform that supports it: DR 40+, at least 20 referring domains, no Spamhaus listing, and a .com extension. Then you review the Wayback snapshots yourself to check the site content and topic. Learn how to set up their filters to reject spam domains.
DomCop
DomCop is another third-party tool for finding and vetting expired domains. Which metrics, data sources and plans it offers is for DomCop to say, so check their site for current features and pricing.
If a tool you use shows a Moz Spam Score, remember what it is: the percentage of sites with similar features that Moz found to be penalised or banned. It is a correlation, not a verdict about the domain in front of you. It is most useful next to a blacklist check and real link metrics: a low score with a clean blacklist result and sensible link metrics is reassuring, while a high score is a reason to look much closer.
hunter.domains
hunter.domains scans the full feeds of GoDaddy Auctions, DropCatch, SnapNames, Sedo, Park.io and the .se/.nu registry every day, about two million listings, and applies a multi-stage filter. It combines Ahrefs DR, Majestic Trust Flow, link-network detection, the Spamhaus DBL and SURBL blacklists, and a Wayback Machine history review across the years (the first year, the middle, the last two years). It looks at page titles, the script the content is written in, and the content itself. Domains that survive this filter get a Hunter score (0–100) built from Ahrefs DR, Majestic TF, referring domains, archive history, Semrush Authority Score, Open PageRank, price and age. Domains below 45 are not listed. The platform rejects gambling, pharma and adult spam, and spam URL patterns in the archive.
On the free plan, you get five unlocked domains a day, core metrics, the full archive of ended domains, a 3-domain watchlist and a weekly email digest. The Pro plan ($9.99/month or $5.99/month billed yearly, 3-day free trial, card required) unlocks the full list, 10 alert rules with instant email notifications, reminders before an auction ends, a detailed report, a revival kit (the old URLs and archived content of the domain), advanced filters and CSV export.
The approach is scored filtering rather than a single pass-or-fail verdict. The system shows risk flags (inflated DR, parked period, topic changed, language changed, archive gap, trademark risk, not in Google). It also states openly what it cannot see: it cannot detect Google manual actions or algorithmic penalties, it does not run a trademark search, and a short spam period can fall between archive samples.
Comparison table
| Question | SpamZilla | ExpiredDomains.net | DomCop | hunter.domains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacklist checks | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Spamhaus DBL and SURBL |
| Link metrics | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Ahrefs DR, Majestic TF, referring domains |
| Archive history | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Wayback Machine review across the years |
| Alerts | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Pro: 10 alert rules, instant email notifications |
| Watchlist | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Free: 3 domains |
| Free tier | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Free plan forever (5 unlocked domains a day) |
| Cost | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Check the tool's site | Pro $9.99/month or $5.99/month billed yearly, at the time of writing |
How to combine these tools
Most experienced buyers don't rely on a single tool. They layer them:
-
Start with alerts or daily lists. Use hunter.domains alerts or ExpiredDomains filters to generate a candidate list automatically, rather than searching manually every day.
-
Check blacklists. Once you have a shortlist, run it through the checker you prefer or verify manually via Spamhaus, SURBL, and Google Safe Browsing. Anything on a major blacklist is off the table.
-
Review archive history. Pull the Wayback Machine snapshots yourself, or review the detailed report in hunter.domains Pro. Take the time to read what the site was, what it sold, and when it last changed.
-
Check link profile. Look at the Domain Rating and referring domain count. A domain with DR 35 and five backlinks needs vetting differently than one with DR 55 and 200 backlinks. Any of the tools above can show these metrics, subject to what each offers. If the referring domains are mostly from low-quality sources, the domain is riskier.
-
Assess fit for your use. Does the old topic align with your new plan? If you're building a fitness niche site and the domain was a casino site for years, that's a bad fit. If the domain was a general financial blog and you're starting a personal-finance niche site, that's closer.
How long this takes depends on how careful you are: a thorough review of one domain takes much longer than a quick scan-and-reject pass.
Which tool suits whom
You want a quick single-domain check: a dedicated spam checker such as SpamZilla may fit. Look at its site to see what it covers.
You're scanning lots of expired domains and filtering manually: a listing platform such as ExpiredDomains.net lets you build your own rules. Check which filters and exports it offers.
You want link-quality and spam indicators in one place: a vetting tool such as DomCop may fit. Check which metrics it includes.
You want automated filtering and alerts: hunter.domains. Set up alert rules and get an instant email when matches appear, instead of searching by hand every day. Alerts are part of the Pro plan.
You're new and want guidance: the hunter.domains free plan. Five unlocked domains a day with core metrics and the full archive of ended domains are enough to learn what to look for. Then start the 3-day Pro trial for alerts if you find patterns.
Frequently asked questions
Is SpamZilla free?
Pricing and free-trial availability for third-party tools change, so check SpamZilla's own site for the latest terms. We do not state its price or free access here.
Is there a free SpamZilla alternative?
hunter.domains has a free plan forever: five unlocked domains a day, core metrics, the full archive of ended domains, a 3-domain watchlist and a weekly email digest. For other tools such as ExpiredDomains.net and DomCop, check their sites for what is free and what is paid at the moment.
