Domain age is one of the most debated ranking factors in SEO. Google says age alone is not a direct signal — but older domains tend to have the things Google does reward: backlinks, history, and trust.

A ten-year-old domain with zero backlinks will not outrank a two-year-old domain with strong links. Age is a proxy for authority, not authority itself. What really matters is the domain's history: was it ever penalized, spammed, or dropped?

Before buying an expired or aged domain, check three things: its age, its backlink profile, and its archive history. A clean ten-year history is an asset; a history of spam is a liability wearing a disguise.

You can check any domain's age free in seconds — registration date, years active, and expiry all come from public WHOIS data. Run the check before every domain purchase.