Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is alibaba.com legit or a scam?
alibaba.com was registered Apr 15, 1999 (27 years old), per public registration records. AboutUs doesn't label sites "legit" or "a scam": this page lists the dated registration, DNS, HTTPS, mail-authentication and safety checks we could verify, each with its source, so you can decide for yourself.
Who owns alibaba.com?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for alibaba.com. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
When was alibaba.com registered?
alibaba.com's registration dates to Apr 15, 1999 (27 years old), per public registration records. Alibaba Cloud Computing (Beijing) Co., Ltd. is the registrar on record today.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
Alibaba.com: Manufacturers, Suppliers, Exporters & Importers from the world's largest online B2B marketplace
Alibaba.com is an online B2B marketplace connecting manufacturers, suppliers, and exporters with importers and buyers worldwide. The platform serves businesses sourcing products for wholesale, import, and export, offering product listings, supplier directories, and trade services. The site includes an AI sourcing agent and logistics support for international trade.
AboutUs Site Facts
Independent record by AboutUs · not written by alibaba.com
alibaba.com
aboutus.com/alibaba.comScores refreshed Oct 25, 2026Not an official or audited rating
SignalMeasured
Authority
Link-graph prominence, 0–99
98
Safety
No known risk flags
Known risk signals, not a check pass rate
90
Registered
Apr 15, 199927 years old · RDAP fetched Oct 25, 2026
Registrar
Alibaba Cloud Computing (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Measurements, not a verdict about the site. Authority scores draw on Open PageRank link-graph data.
Authority 98/100— ahead of 98% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
98 is a percentile: higher than 98% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #305)+12
Verified continuity: 27.5 years (RDAP registration)+11
Identity corroboration (capped)+4
Security & email hygiene+5
Prominence × continuity interaction+1
Calibration adjustment (published map)+21
Model score: 54/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
What alibaba.com said about itself, 2006–2007
Quoted from the site's AboutUs wiki page in each year it changed (2 versions). These are the page's own words at the time, not AboutUs's assessment. New words · dropped words
2006
(www.alibaba.com) is an English-language website primarily serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's) in the international trade community, with more than two million registered users from over 200 countries and territories.
2007
Alibaba.com is the largest online marketplace for both imports and exports. This is the site known for leading the e-commerce of China on both an international and domestic level. Alibaba.com is also the parent company for China’s most used payment method called AliPay and Yahoo! China.rewritten
Now
Alibaba.com is an online B2B marketplace connecting manufacturers, suppliers, and exporters with importers and buyers worldwide. The platform serves businesses sourcing products for wholesale, import, and export, offering product listings, supplier directories, and trade services. The site includes an AI sourcing agent and logistics support for international trade.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date.
1999
Domain registered (Apr 15, 1999).
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 19, 2006); profile edited 64 times through 2019.
✓ domain continuity 27 years registered✓ live verified Oct 28, 2026
Published Authority (percentile): 98/100 — this site's rank against the August 2026 scored sample. Public Authority is capped at 99.
Safety evidence
No unexpired threat-feed result; name-similarity check available (recorded about 3 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 3 days ago). This is evidence coverage, not a probability that a website is safe.
No caution flags in the available scoring observations; this is not a complete safety assessment
AboutUs summary of the current website, Sep 30, 2026.
Lifeline · alibaba.com over time
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
Registered 27 years ago · on AboutUs since 2006 · 2 registrar changes since May 23, 2010 · 1 ownership change since 2007 · last checked Oct 25, 2026.
Registration
RegisteredApr 15, 1999alibaba.com was registered on Apr 15, 1999.Source: RDAP, fetched Oct 25, 2026
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageJun 19, 2006 – Jul 15, 2019An AboutUs wiki page described alibaba.com from Jun 19, 2006 to Jul 15, 2019 (64 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Registrar
Markmonitor.comMay 23, 2010 – Nov 13, 2013Registrar Markmonitor.com in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for alibaba.com, from May 23, 2010 to Nov 13, 2013.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)MarkMonitor, Inc.MarkMonitor, Inc.
Ownership
Ownership recordsJun 21, 2007 – Jun 15, 2026Registration records for alibaba.com are held from Jun 21, 2007 to Jun 15, 2026 (3,581 records). 1 change of registrant name or organization is marked. Privacy-service and redaction changes are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Zone file
Nameservers: alibabaonline.comNameservers: alibabaonline.comJun 21, 2007 – Oct 17, 2013Registration records listed alibabaonline.com nameservers (ns8.alibabaonline.com, nshz.alibabaonline.com, nsp.alibabaonline.com) for alibaba.com from Jun 21, 2007 to Oct 17, 2013. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Certificate
DigiCert IncDigiCert IncNov 9, 2025 – Oct 28, 2026DigiCert Inc issued 66 certificates for alibaba.com from Nov 9, 2025, the latest valid until Apr 30, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)GlobalSign nv-sa
200020102020Jan ’26Oct ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (21)
Apr 15, 1999Registration: alibaba.com was registered on Apr 15, 1999.Source: RDAP, fetched Oct 25, 2026
Jun 19, 2006 – Jul 15, 2019AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described alibaba.com from Jun 19, 2006 to Jul 15, 2019 (64 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “(www.alibaba.com) is an English-language website primarily serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's) in the international trade community, with more than two million registered users from over 200 countries and…”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Jun 21, 2007 – Jun 15, 2026Ownership: Registration records for alibaba.com are held from Jun 21, 2007 to Jun 15, 2026 (3,581 records). 1 change of registrant name or organization is marked. Privacy-service and redaction changes are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Jun 21, 2007 – Oct 17, 2013Zone file: Registration records listed alibabaonline.com nameservers (ns8.alibabaonline.com, nshz.alibabaonline.com, nsp.alibabaonline.com) for alibaba.com from Jun 21, 2007 to Oct 17, 2013. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Said about itself in 2006
Jul 1, 2006
“(www.alibaba.com) is an English-language website primarily serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's) in the international trade community, with more than two million registered users from over 200 countries and…”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Said about itself in 2007Jul 1, 2007“Alibaba.com is the largest online marketplace for both imports and exports. This is the site known for leading the e-commerce of China on both an international and domestic level. Alibaba.com is also the parent company …”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2007
Said about itself in 2010Jul 1, 2010“Alibaba.com is the largest online marketplace for both imports and exports. This is the site known for leading the e-commerce of China on both an international and domestic level. Alibaba.com is also the parent company …”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2010
Said about itself in 2012Jul 1, 2012“Alibaba.com is the largest online marketplace for both imports and exports. This is the site known for leading the e-commerce of China on both an international and domestic level. Alibaba.com is also the parent company …”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2012
Current AboutUs recordJun 18, 2026 – Oct 25, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Oct 25, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Nov 14, 2013 – Nov 17, 2018
Registrar MarkMonitor, Inc. (IANA 292) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for alibaba.com, from Nov 14, 2013 to Nov 17, 2018.
Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Alibaba Cloud Computing (Beijing) Co., Ltd.Alibaba Cloud Computing (Beijing) Co., Ltd.Nov 20, 2018 – Oct 28, 2026 (latest)Registrar Alibaba Cloud Computing (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (IANA 420) in the registration data recorded, first on Nov 20, 2018 and most recently on Oct 28, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Oct 25, 2026
Ownership change
May 23, 2010
The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded May 23, 2010. Who it changed to is in the full report.
Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
1 ownership change, 2007–2026
Nameservers: alibabaonline.comOct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018alibabaonline.com (ns8.alibabaonline.com, nshz.alibabaonline.com, nsp.alibabaonline.com…) were the nameservers listed for alibaba.com at every ICANN zone-file snapshot AboutUs holds from Oct 18, 2013 to Apr 3, 2018 (snapshots exist for only part of 2013–2018).Source: ICANN zone-file snapshots, 2013–2018 (legacy archive)
Nameservers: alibabaonline.comApr 4, 2018 – Nov 17, 2018Registration records listed alibabaonline.com nameservers (ns8.alibabaonline.com, nshz.alibabaonline.com, nsp.alibabaonline.com) for alibaba.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Nov 17, 2018. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nameservers: alibabadns.comNameservers: alibabadns.comNov 20, 2018 – Jun 15, 2026Registration records listed alibabadns.com nameservers (ns1.alibabadns.com, ns2.alibabadns.com) for alibaba.com from Nov 20, 2018 to Jun 15, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to alibabadns.comNov 20, 2018alibaba.com's nameservers moved from alibabaonline.com to alibabadns.com between Nov 17, 2018 and Nov 20, 2018. Last seen at alibabaonline.com: Nov 17, 2018 (registration record). First seen at alibabadns.com: Nov 20, 2018 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Seen in the .com zone fileJul 28, 2026 – Oct 21, 2026 (latest)First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Jul 28, 2026; latest sighting Oct 21, 2026. Nameservers on Oct 21, 2026: ns1.alibabadns.cn, ns1.alibabadns.com, ns2.alibabadns.cn, ns2.alibabadns.com.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Oct 21, 2026
DNS moved to alibabadns.cn, alibabadns.comOct 21, 2026alibaba.com's nameservers moved from alibabadns.com to alibabadns.cn, alibabadns.com at some point between Jun 15, 2026 and Oct 21, 2026. Last seen at alibabadns.com: Jun 15, 2026 (registration record). First seen at alibabadns.cn, alibabadns.com: Oct 21, 2026 (ICANN zone file (CZDS)). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 4 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → ICANN zone file (CZDS))
GlobalSign nv-saDec 11, 2025 – Oct 28, 2026 (latest)GlobalSign nv-sa issued 90 certificates for alibaba.com from Dec 11, 2025, the latest valid until May 14, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 20, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 20, 2026
Jul 1, 2007
AboutUs record: “Alibaba.com is the largest online marketplace for both imports and exports. This is the site known for leading the e-commerce of China on both an international and domestic level. Alibaba.com is also the parent company …”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2007
May 23, 2010 – Nov 13, 2013Registrar: Registrar Markmonitor.com in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for alibaba.com, from May 23, 2010 to Nov 13, 2013.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
May 23, 2010Ownership: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded May 23, 2010. Who it changed to is in the full report.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Jul 1, 2010AboutUs record: “Alibaba.com is the largest online marketplace for both imports and exports. This is the site known for leading the e-commerce of China on both an international and domestic level. Alibaba.com is also the parent company …”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2010
Jul 1, 2012AboutUs record: “Alibaba.com is the largest online marketplace for both imports and exports. This is the site known for leading the e-commerce of China on both an international and domestic level. Alibaba.com is also the parent company …”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2012
Oct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018Zone file: alibabaonline.com (ns8.alibabaonline.com, nshz.alibabaonline.com, nsp.alibabaonline.com…) were the nameservers listed for alibaba.com at every ICANN zone-file snapshot AboutUs holds from Oct 18, 2013 to Apr 3, 2018 (snapshots exist for only part of 2013–2018).Source: ICANN zone-file snapshots, 2013–2018 (legacy archive)
Nov 14, 2013 – Nov 17, 2018Registrar: Registrar MarkMonitor, Inc. (IANA 292) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for alibaba.com, from Nov 14, 2013 to Nov 17, 2018.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Apr 4, 2018 – Nov 17, 2018Zone file: Registration records listed alibabaonline.com nameservers (ns8.alibabaonline.com, nshz.alibabaonline.com, nsp.alibabaonline.com) for alibaba.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Nov 17, 2018. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nov 20, 2018 – Oct 28, 2026Registrar: Registrar Alibaba Cloud Computing (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (IANA 420) in the registration data recorded, first on Nov 20, 2018 and most recently on Oct 28, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Oct 25, 2026
Nov 20, 2018 – Jun 15, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed alibabadns.com nameservers (ns1.alibabadns.com, ns2.alibabadns.com) for alibaba.com from Nov 20, 2018 to Jun 15, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nov 20, 2018Zone file: alibaba.com's nameservers moved from alibabaonline.com to alibabadns.com between Nov 17, 2018 and Nov 20, 2018. Last seen at alibabaonline.com: Nov 17, 2018 (registration record). First seen at alibabadns.com: Nov 20, 2018 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nov 9, 2025 – Oct 28, 2026Certificate: DigiCert Inc issued 66 certificates for alibaba.com from Nov 9, 2025, the latest valid until Apr 30, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Dec 11, 2025 – Oct 28, 2026Certificate: GlobalSign nv-sa issued 90 certificates for alibaba.com from Dec 11, 2025, the latest valid until May 14, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 20, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 20, 2026
Jun 18, 2026 – Oct 25, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Oct 25, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Jul 28, 2026 – Oct 21, 2026Zone file: First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Jul 28, 2026; latest sighting Oct 21, 2026. Nameservers on Oct 21, 2026: ns1.alibabadns.cn, ns1.alibabadns.com, ns2.alibabadns.cn, ns2.alibabadns.com.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Oct 21, 2026
Oct 21, 2026Zone file: alibaba.com's nameservers moved from alibabadns.com to alibabadns.cn, alibabadns.com at some point between Jun 15, 2026 and Oct 21, 2026. Last seen at alibabadns.com: Jun 15, 2026 (registration record). First seen at alibabadns.cn, alibabadns.com: Oct 21, 2026 (ICANN zone file (CZDS)). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 4 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → ICANN zone file (CZDS))