What are the best websites to check domain availability without the risk of price gouging?

You can try using ICANN's lookup tool at lookup.icann.org. It works for most TLDs, but for unsupported country-code TLDs, look for the registry's own tool.

You can also write a simple script to check WHOIS info locally if you want more control over the process.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I'll definitely look into Cloudflare and Porkbun.

I've had good experiences with Porkbun and Namecheap for years. But lately, I’ve heard mixed things about Namecheap since their buyout. Porkbun is still solid, though. I also recommend giving OVH a shot if you're looking to explore more options.

Cloudflare's registrar is a great option. They sell domains at cost with no markup or front-running. Porkbun and Namecheap have also been reliable, although some say Namecheap has changed since the buyout. Another way to check is using a direct WHOIS lookup, like whois.domaintools.com or just a terminal command, which doesn’t involve going through any registrar.