Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is freerice.com legit or a scam?
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 freerice.com?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for freerice.com. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
Registered 2002 · site is live · HTTPS valid
FreeRice is a vocabulary-training game that donates rice to hunger-relief organizations for each correct answer. Players improve their language skills while generating donations—the site reports 20 grains of rice per correct answer, funded by advertising revenue. Available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Korean.
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
Registered 24 years ago · on AboutUs since 2007 · 1 registrar change since Jan 6, 2012 · 1 ownership change since 2009 · last checked Oct 31, 2026.
Registration
RegisteredMar 4, 2002freerice.com was registered on Mar 4, 2002.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 21, 2026
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageOct 11, 2007 – Sep 18, 2014An AboutUs wiki page described freerice.com from Oct 11, 2007 to Sep 18, 2014 (8 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Registrar
PSI-USA, Inc. dba Domain RobotPSI-USA, Inc. dba Domain RobotJan 6, 2012 – May 22, 2023Registrar PSI-USA, Inc. dba Domain Robot (IANA 151) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for freerice.com, from Jan 6, 2012 to May 22, 2023.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)Amazon Registrar, Inc.
Ownership
Ownership recordsJan 28, 2009 – Mar 5, 2026Registration records for freerice.com are held from Jan 28, 2009 to Mar 5, 2026 (196 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: fastservers.netJan 28, 2009 – Feb 3, 2009Registration records listed fastservers.net nameservers (ns3.fastservers.net, ns4.fastservers.net) for freerice.com from Jan 28, 2009 to Feb 3, 2009.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Certificate
AmazonAmazonAug 27, 2025 – Oct 31, 2026Amazon issued 9 certificates for freerice.com from Aug 27, 2025, the latest valid until Mar 5, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
20052010201520202025Apr ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (19)
Mar 4, 2002Registration: freerice.com was registered on Mar 4, 2002.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 21, 2026
Jul 1, 2007AboutUs record: “Awesome site where when you work on your vocabulary skills, you are simultaneously generating a donation of 20 grains of rice per correct answer.”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2007
Oct 11, 2007 – Sep 18, 2014AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described freerice.com from Oct 11, 2007 to Sep 18, 2014 (8 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jan 28, 2009 – Mar 5, 2026Ownership: Registration records for freerice.com are held from Jan 28, 2009 to Mar 5, 2026 (196 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
Jan 28, 2009 – Feb 3, 2009Zone file: Registration records listed fastservers.net nameservers (ns3.fastservers.net, ns4.fastservers.net) for freerice.com from Jan 28, 2009 to Feb 3, 2009.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Mar 13, 2009 – Jun 6, 2009
Said about itself in 2007
Jul 1, 2007
“Awesome site where when you work on your vocabulary skills, you are simultaneously generating a donation of 20 grains of rice per correct answer.”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2007
Current AboutUs recordJul 3, 2026 – Aug 21, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Aug 21, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Amazon Registrar, Inc.Jul 15, 2023 – Oct 3, 2026 (latest)Registrar Amazon Registrar, Inc. (IANA 468) in the registration data recorded, first on Jul 15, 2023 and most recently on Oct 3, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 21, 2026
Ownership change
Nov 7, 2013
The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Nov 7, 2013. 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, 2009–2026
Nameservers: worldnic.com
Mar 13, 2009 – Jun 6, 2009
Registration records listed worldnic.com nameservers (ns39.worldnic.com, ns40.worldnic.com) for freerice.com from Mar 13, 2009 to Jun 6, 2009.
Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to worldnic.comMar 13, 2009freerice.com's nameservers moved from fastservers.net to worldnic.com between Feb 3, 2009 and Mar 13, 2009. Last seen at fastservers.net: Feb 3, 2009 (registration record). First seen at worldnic.com: Mar 13, 2009 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: colt.netNameservers: colt.netJun 8, 2009 – Oct 17, 2013Registration records listed colt.net nameservers (ns.it.colt.net, ns2.it.colt.net) for freerice.com from Jun 8, 2009 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)
DNS moved to colt.netJun 8, 2009freerice.com's nameservers moved from worldnic.com to colt.net between Jun 6, 2009 and Jun 8, 2009. Last seen at worldnic.com: Jun 6, 2009 (registration record). First seen at colt.net: Jun 8, 2009 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: colt.netNameservers: colt.netOct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018colt.net (ns.it.colt.net, ns2.it.colt.net) were the nameservers listed for freerice.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: colt.netApr 4, 2018 – Feb 7, 2020Registration records listed colt.net nameservers (ns.it.colt.net, ns2.it.colt.net) for freerice.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Feb 7, 2020. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nameservers: Amazon Route 53Nameservers: Amazon Route 53Mar 30, 2020 – Mar 5, 2026Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1353.awsdns-41.org, ns-2019.awsdns-60.co.uk, ns-269.awsdns-33.com…) for freerice.com from Mar 30, 2020 to Mar 5, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to Amazon Route 53Mar 30, 2020freerice.com's nameservers moved from colt.net to Amazon Route 53 at some point between Feb 7, 2020 and Mar 30, 2020. Last seen at colt.net: Feb 7, 2020 (registration record). First seen at Amazon Route 53: Mar 30, 2020 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 52 days in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Seen in the .com zone fileSep 8, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026 (latest)First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Sep 8, 2026; latest sighting Oct 31, 2026. Nameservers on Oct 31, 2026: ns-1353.awsdns-41.org, ns-2019.awsdns-60.co.uk, ns-269.awsdns-33.com, ns-950.awsdns-54.net.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Oct 31, 2026
Zone file: Registration records listed worldnic.com nameservers (ns39.worldnic.com, ns40.worldnic.com) for freerice.com from Mar 13, 2009 to Jun 6, 2009.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Mar 13, 2009Zone file: freerice.com's nameservers moved from fastservers.net to worldnic.com between Feb 3, 2009 and Mar 13, 2009. Last seen at fastservers.net: Feb 3, 2009 (registration record). First seen at worldnic.com: Mar 13, 2009 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jun 8, 2009 – Oct 17, 2013Zone file: Registration records listed colt.net nameservers (ns.it.colt.net, ns2.it.colt.net) for freerice.com from Jun 8, 2009 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)
Jun 8, 2009Zone file: freerice.com's nameservers moved from worldnic.com to colt.net between Jun 6, 2009 and Jun 8, 2009. Last seen at worldnic.com: Jun 6, 2009 (registration record). First seen at colt.net: Jun 8, 2009 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jan 6, 2012 – May 22, 2023Registrar: Registrar PSI-USA, Inc. dba Domain Robot (IANA 151) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for freerice.com, from Jan 6, 2012 to May 22, 2023.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Oct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018Zone file: colt.net (ns.it.colt.net, ns2.it.colt.net) were the nameservers listed for freerice.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 7, 2013Ownership: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Nov 7, 2013. Who it changed to is in the full report.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Apr 4, 2018 – Feb 7, 2020Zone file: Registration records listed colt.net nameservers (ns.it.colt.net, ns2.it.colt.net) for freerice.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Feb 7, 2020. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Mar 30, 2020 – Mar 5, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1353.awsdns-41.org, ns-2019.awsdns-60.co.uk, ns-269.awsdns-33.com…) for freerice.com from Mar 30, 2020 to Mar 5, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Mar 30, 2020Zone file: freerice.com's nameservers moved from colt.net to Amazon Route 53 at some point between Feb 7, 2020 and Mar 30, 2020. Last seen at colt.net: Feb 7, 2020 (registration record). First seen at Amazon Route 53: Mar 30, 2020 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 52 days in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jul 15, 2023 – Oct 3, 2026Registrar: Registrar Amazon Registrar, Inc. (IANA 468) in the registration data recorded, first on Jul 15, 2023 and most recently on Oct 3, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 21, 2026
Aug 27, 2025 – Oct 31, 2026Certificate: Amazon issued 9 certificates for freerice.com from Aug 27, 2025, the latest valid until Mar 5, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jul 3, 2026 – Aug 21, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Aug 21, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Sep 8, 2026 – Oct 31, 2026Zone file: First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Sep 8, 2026; latest sighting Oct 31, 2026. Nameservers on Oct 31, 2026: ns-1353.awsdns-41.org, ns-2019.awsdns-60.co.uk, ns-269.awsdns-33.com, ns-950.awsdns-54.net.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Oct 31, 2026
All 4 safety checks passed (Oct 31, 2026).
Automated safety checks
DNS (passed)
HTTPS (passed)
Page metadata (passed)
Security headers (passed)
Current facts
Latest available measurements; dated entries retain their dates. These are measurements, not an endorsement of the site.
latest result
Domain registered Mar 4, 2002 — 24 years old.
latest result
Registrar on record: Amazon Registrar, Inc. — unchanged since AboutUs began tracking (Sep 24, 2026).
latest result
HTTPS request succeeded for freerice.com.
checked Sep 30, 2026
The live front page reads as a non-profit, association or religious site, mainly for a general audience.
Authority 59/100— ahead of 59% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
59 is a percentile: higher than 59% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #55,623)+7
Verified continuity: 24.7 years (RDAP registration)+11
Security & email hygiene+2
Calibration adjustment (published map)+11
Model score: 31/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 59/100 — 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 71 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 71 days ago). This is evidence coverage, not a probability that a website is safe.
What freerice.com said about itself, 2007
Quoted from the site's AboutUs wiki page in each year it changed (1 version). These are the page's own words at the time, not AboutUs's assessment. New words · dropped words
2007
Awesome site where when you work on your vocabulary skills, you are simultaneously generating a donation of 20 grains of rice per correct answer.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date; self-description below is the 2014 record.
2002
Domain registered (Mar 4, 2002).
2007
First tracked by AboutUs (Oct 11, 2007); profile edited 8 times through 2014.
2014
Self-description at the time:
“FreeRice.com Vocabulary game that benefits the UN World Food Program”