YouTube Channel Name Checker
Type a handle. See if it is free on YouTube and 13 more sites, who has it if not, and free ones close to it.
Example Type a handle and your answer appears here.
@chef
TakenA channel already has this handle. Pick a free one close to it below.
Free ones close to it
Each was free a moment ago. Press one to check it again, then claim it.
None of the close ones are free. Add a word that says what your channel is about, or get ideas from the Channel Name Generator.
The same name elsewhere
Free on 1 of 13 sites checked
A page saying the account cannot be found usually means that name is free there.
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Type the handle you want above to see if it is free on YouTube. If a channel has it, you see which one, plus free handles close to it. The same name is checked on 13 more sites, free.
How to Check YouTube Channel Name Availability
It takes a few seconds. There is nothing to install and no account to make.
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Type the handle you want
With or without the @. You can also paste a youtube.com/@ link. YouTube's rules are checked as you type.
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Press Check name
It says Free, or shows the channel that has it, with its subscribers and videos.
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Taken? Pick a free one close to it
We check up to eight close handles and list the free ones. Press one to check it again, then claim it on YouTube.
YouTube Handle Rules
A handle is the @name in your channel link. Only one channel can have each one.
| Rule | What YouTube allows |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 to 30 characters. |
| Characters | Letters and numbers in 75 languages, plus underscores (_), dashes (-), dots (.) and the middle dot (·) |
| Start and end | A letter or a number. Never _ - . or · first or last. |
| Capitals | Do not matter: @Chef and @chef are one handle. |
| Not allowed | Anything that looks like a web address or a phone number. |
| Chinese, Korean | 1 to 10 characters. |
| Japanese kana, Ethiopic | 2 to 20 characters. |
| Mixed scripts | Never Arabic or Hebrew letters with English letters in one handle. |
What Free and Taken Mean
- Free: no channel uses it right now
- Taken: a channel has it, and we show which
- Not allowed: it breaks a rule, and we say which
Free is not a promise. YouTube makes the final check when you claim it, and it can hold a handle back. Claim a good one soon.
Why Check Username Availability Across Multiple Platforms
One name everywhere makes you easy to find. A viewer who sees @yourname on YouTube can type it on X and land on you.
We check 13 more sites at once: X, Twitch, Kick, Snapchat, Bluesky, Patreon, Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, Linktree, SoundCloud, Vimeo, Substack and GitHub.
Each site has its own rules. X allows 15 characters at most, Twitch at least 4. We say when a name breaks a site's rules.
Instagram and TikTok block checks from other sites, so we give you a link to each instead. A page saying the account cannot be found usually means the name is free there.
Claim it everywhere, even where you are not active yet. It stops someone else using your name.
Common YouTube Handle Mistakes to Avoid
- Hard to say: people hear it before they type it
- Marks people forget: was it an underscore, a dash or a dot?
- A year or your age: it dates your channel
- Too close to a big channel: it can read as copying
- A web address: YouTube refuses these
Need ideas first? Try our free Channel Name Generator, then check them here.
After Claiming Your YouTube Handle: Next Steps
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Claim it in YouTube Studio
Open Customization, then Profile. Type it under Handle and press Publish. Or go to youtube.com/handle.
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Give it a little time
A new handle can take a little time to show everywhere on YouTube.
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Change it only if you must
You can change it twice in 14 days. YouTube keeps your old one for you for 14 days, then anyone can claim it.
Changing the name of a verified channel removes its badge, so pick carefully.
Next, set up your channel page: a banner, a channel description and a subscribe link. See all free tools.
Channel Name Checker Compared to Other Ways
| Way | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| This checker | Checking before you claim, with who has it and free close ones | YouTube makes the final check |
| YouTube Studio | The final word, as you claim it | Needs a channel, one name at a time |
| Typing the link | A quick look at one name | No rules check and no close ones |
Sources, checked in October 2026: YouTube handles, changing your channel name and handle and what happens to an old handle.
Frequently asked questions
What creators ask most about YouTube channel names and handles.
How do I check if a YouTube channel name is available?
Type the handle above and press Check name. We open youtube.com/@ that name right now. If no channel uses it, it says Free. If one does, it shows which channel has it. Free, no sign-up.
What is the difference between a channel name and a handle?
Your channel name is the title on your channel and videos, and many channels can share one. Your handle is the @name in your link, like youtube.com/@CollabPals, and only one channel can have it. This tool checks handles.
What are the rules for a YouTube handle?
3 to 30 characters: letters and numbers in 75 languages, plus underscores, dashes, dots and the middle dot ·. It must start and end with a letter or number, and cannot look like a web address or a phone number. Capitals do not matter.
If it says free, is the handle mine to take?
Almost always, but not for certain. Free means no channel uses it right now. YouTube makes the final check when you claim it, and it can hold a handle back, like one a channel gave up in the last 14 days.
What if the handle I want is taken?
We show which channel has it, then check up to eight close ones, like adding tv, hq or its, and list the free ones. Press one to check it again. For new ideas, try the free Channel Name Generator.
How do I claim a YouTube handle?
Open YouTube Studio, then Customization, then Profile. Type it under Handle and press Publish. You can also go to youtube.com/handle. It can take a little time to show everywhere on YouTube.
How often can I change my YouTube handle?
Twice in 14 days. YouTube keeps your old handle for you for 14 days, then anyone can claim it. Your channel name has the same limit, and changing the name of a verified channel removes its badge.
Does it check other sites, like Twitch, Kick and X?
Yes, 13 more at once: X, Twitch, Kick, Snapchat, Bluesky, Patreon, Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, Linktree, SoundCloud, Vimeo, Substack and GitHub. Instagram and TikTok block checks from other sites, so we link you there to look.
Why does it say my handle is not allowed?
It breaks one of YouTube's rules, and the line under the box names which one: too short, too long, a character YouTube does not allow, a mark at the start or end, or letters that read in two directions. Fix that and check again.
Is the YouTube channel name checker free?
Yes. No sign-up and nothing to install. Check up to 40 names every 10 minutes.
Does it work for a Shorts channel?
Yes. Shorts and long videos share one channel and one handle, so the same @name shows on your Shorts, your comments and your channel link.
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