Domain availability monitor with Porkbun, Google Sheets & multi-channel alerts

Description

Never lose a domain to slow checking again. This workflow watches your domain wishlist every 30 minutes with the Porkbun API and Google Sheets. The second a domain becomes available, Gmail and Discord alerts fire with pricing and a direct registration link. You move before anyone else.

Last updated: September 2026.

Why Use This Workflow?

Time Savings: Weekly hours of manual domain checking disappear. Set your list once, monitoring runs 24/7.

Competitive Edge: A critical speed advantage on high-value or expiring domains, the second they drop.

Scalability: Hundreds of domains monitored simultaneously with no extra effort or slowdown.

Ideal For

Domain Investors:** Track and snipe valuable expiring domains for a portfolio without constant manual checks.
Marketing Agencies & SEO Specialists:** Secure brandable domains for new clients or build private blog networks by catching drops fast.
Startups & Entrepreneurs:** Watch desired brand names without daily hassle, grabbing the perfect domain the moment it frees up.

How It Works

Trigger: A schedule trigger initiates the workflow every 30 minutes.
Data Collection: It retrieves a list of domains to monitor from a designated Google Sheet, specifically targeting rows marked as "no" for availability.
Processing: The workflow iterates through each domain one by one.
Intelligence Layer: It makes an API call to Porkbun to check the current availability of the domain. An IF node then determines if the domain is available (avail == yes).
Output & Delivery: If a domain is available, the workflow sends a rich HTML email via Gmail and a formatted message to a Discord channel, complete with pricing details and a direct registration link.
Storage & Logging: The Google Sheet is automatically updated to mark the domain as "available," preventing redundant notifications on future runs.

Setup Guide

Prerequisites

| Requirement | Type | Purpose |
|-------------|------|---------|
| n8n instance | Essential | Workflow execution platform |
| Porkbun Account | Essential | API Access for domain checks |
| Google Cloud Platform | Essential | Storing domain list (Sheets) & sending alerts (Gmail) |
| Discord Server | Optional | Real-time channel notifications |

Installation Steps

Import the JSON file to your n8n instance.
Create a Google Sheet with two columns: Domain (e.g., example.com) and isAvailable (e.g., no).
Configure credentials:
Porkbun: Log in to Porkbun, go to API Access, create a new key, and copy the API Key and Secret Key into the HTTP Request nodes. A "Validate API KEY" node is included for testing your credentials.
Google Sheets/Gmail: Authenticate your Google account for the Google Sheets and Gmail nodes.
Discord: Create a Discord Bot and add the credentials to the Discord node.
Update environment-specific values:
Get Domains from Sheet: Enter your Google Sheet ID and select the correct sheet name.
Send Email Alert: Set your recipient's email address in the "To" field.
Send Discord Notification: Select your desired Server and Channel ID.
Test execution:
Add a domain you know is available to your Google Sheet (with isAvailable set to "no"). Run the workflow manually to verify that all connections work and you receive notifications.

Technical Details

Core Nodes

| Node | Purpose | Key Configuration |
|------|---------|-------------------|
| Schedule Trigger | Initiates the workflow on a recurring basis. | Set the desired interval (default: 30 minutes). |
| Google Sheets | Reads the domain list and updates its status. | Sheet ID, Sheet Name, and column mapping. |
| SplitInBatches | Processes each domain from the list individually. | Batch size is set to 1 to check domains sequentially. |
| HTTP Request | Queries the Porkbun API for domain availability. | Porkbun API endpoint and credentials. |
| IF | Routes the workflow based on the API response. | Checks if response.avail equals "yes". |
| Gmail | Sends a detailed email alert for available domains. | Recipient email, subject, and HTML body. |
| Discord | Sends a concise notification to a Discord channel. | Server ID, Channel ID, and message content. |
| Wait | Prevents API rate-limiting. | Pauses for 10 seconds between checking domains. |

Workflow Logic

The workflow is triggered by a schedule, fetching a list of domains from a Google Sheet.

It uses the SplitInBatches node to loop through each domain sequentially.

For every domain, it calls the Porkbun API. An IF node checks the response; if available, it triggers notifications and updates the Google Sheet.

A Wait node is crucial for respecting API rate limits, ensuring the workflow runs smoothly even with large domain lists.

Customization Options

Basic Adjustments:
Check Frequency**: Modify the "Schedule Trigger" node to run more or less frequently.
Notification Channels**: Remove the Gmail or Discord nodes, or add new ones like Slack or Telegram.
Email Content**: Customize the HTML in the Gmail node to match your branding.

Advanced Enhancements:
Auto-Registration**: Extend the workflow to use Porkbun's domain registration API endpoint to automatically purchase the domain when it becomes available (use with caution).
Advanced Filtering**: Add logic to only send notifications for domains with specific TLDs (.com, .io, etc.) or that are not marked as "premium."
Tiered Notifications**: Set up different notification channels based on the perceived value of the domain, sending high-priority alerts via SMS for critical domains.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues:

| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---------|-------|----------|
| Workflow fails at HTTP Request node | Invalid Porkbun API credentials. | Use the separate "Validate API KEY" node to test your keys directly. Regenerate them if needed. |
| No domains are processed | Google Sheets node configuration error or the sheet is empty. | Verify the Sheet ID is correct and that the isAvailable column contains "no" for the domains you want to check. |
| Authentication errors | Google or Discord credentials have expired or lack permissions. | Re-authenticate the respective nodes in the n8n credentials panel. |

Quick Answers
How often does it check?
Every 30 minutes by default. Adjust the Schedule Trigger freely.
How do alerts stop repeating?
The sheet flips to "available" after the first alert, so re-runs stay quiet.
What protects the API quota?
A 10-second Wait between domains plus sequential batch processing.

Made by: khmuhtadin

Category: Monitoring
Tags: Porkbun, Domain, Automation, Google Sheets, Notifications

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Additional info
Built with n8n. Need an assessment on your business? Feel free to reach out at https://khmuhtadin.com/consultation/