Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is reason.com legit or a scam?
reason.com was registered Aug 22, 1997 (29 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 reason.com?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for reason.com. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
When was reason.com registered?
reason.com's registration dates to Aug 22, 1997 (29 years old), per public registration records. Network Solutions, LLC is the registrar on record today.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
3 of 4 safety checks passed (Nov 7, 2026).
Registered 1997 · site is live · HTTPS valid
Reason.com
Reason is a monthly print magazine and daily-updated website covering politics, culture, and ideas from a libertarian perspective. It serves readers seeking alternatives to conventional left-wing and right-wing opinion media. Founded over 25 years ago, the site offers free access to current articles and the full archive of past print issues.
Add the HSTS, Content-Security-Policy, and X-Frame-Options response headers.
AboutUs has not vetted this site. Everything below is what we could measure automatically. Anything you do on the site — paying, sharing personal details, downloading — is between you and the site, not AboutUs.
Current facts
Latest available measurements; dated entries retain their dates. These are measurements, not an endorsement of the site.
latest result
Domain registered Aug 22, 1997 — 29 years old.
latest result
Registrar on record: Network Solutions, LLC — unchanged since AboutUs began tracking (Jul 21, 2026).
latest result
HTTPS request succeeded for reason.com.
checked Oct 3, 2026
The site names Reason Foundation as the organisation behind it.
checked Oct 3, 2026
The live front page reads as a news or media site that is funded by donations or members, mainly for a general audience.
Authority 89/100— ahead of 89% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
89 is a percentile: higher than 89% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #10,667)+8
Verified continuity: 29.2 years (RDAP registration)+11
Identity corroboration (capped)+4
Security & email hygiene+5
Calibration adjustment (published map)+17
Model score: 45/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 89/100 — this site's rank against the August 2026 scored sample. Public Authority is capped at 99.
What reason.com said about itself, 2006
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
2006
Reason is the monthly print magazine of “free minds and free markets.” It covers politics, culture, and ideas through a provocative mix of news, analysis, commentary, and reviews. Reason provides a refreshing alternative to right-wing and left-wing opinion magazines by making a principled case for liberty and individual choice in all areas of human activity.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date.
1997
Domain registered (Aug 22, 1997).
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 21, 2006); profile edited 2 times through 2007.
✓ domain continuity 29 years registered✓ live verified Nov 7, 2026
Safety evidence
No unexpired threat-feed result; name-similarity check available (recorded less than a day ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded less than a day 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
Lifeline · reason.com over time
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
Registered 29 years ago · on AboutUs since 2006 · one registrar since Sep 16, 2011 · no registrant change on record since 2007 · last checked Nov 7, 2026.
Registration
RegisteredAug 22, 1997reason.com was registered on Aug 22, 1997.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 7, 2026
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageJun 21, 2006 – Aug 13, 2007An AboutUs wiki page described reason.com from Jun 21, 2006 to Aug 13, 2007 (2 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023Said about itself in 2006Jul 1, 2006
Registrar
Network Solutions, LLCNetwork Solutions, LLCSep 16, 2011 – Nov 6, 2026 (latest)Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (IANA 2) in the registration data recorded, first on Sep 16, 2011 and most recently on Nov 6, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 7, 2026
Registrant
Registrant recordsJul 20, 2007 – Jun 22, 2026Registration records for reason.com are held from Jul 20, 2007 to Jun 22, 2026 (317 records). None shows a change of registrant. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
No registrant changes recorded, 2007–2026
Zone file
Nameservers: rackspace.comNameservers: rackspace.comJul 20, 2007 – Oct 17, 2013Registration records listed rackspace.com nameservers (ns.rackspace.com, ns2.rackspace.com) for reason.com from Jul 20, 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
AmazonAmazonJul 15, 2025 – Nov 7, 2026 (latest)Amazon issued 18 certificates for reason.com from Jul 15, 2025, the latest valid until May 19, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 28, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 28, 2026GlobalSign nv-sa
200020102020Jan ’26Oct ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (16)
Aug 22, 1997Registration: reason.com was registered on Aug 22, 1997.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 7, 2026
Jun 21, 2006 – Aug 13, 2007AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described reason.com from Jun 21, 2006 to Aug 13, 2007 (2 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “Reason is the monthly print magazine of “free minds and free markets.” It covers politics, culture, and ideas through a provocative mix of news, analysis, commentary, and reviews. Reason provides a refreshing alternativ…”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Jul 20, 2007 – Jun 22, 2026Registrant: Registration records for reason.com are held from Jul 20, 2007 to Jun 22, 2026 (317 records). None shows a change of registrant. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Jul 20, 2007 – Oct 17, 2013Zone file: Registration records listed rackspace.com nameservers (ns.rackspace.com, ns2.rackspace.com) for reason.com from Jul 20, 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)
“Reason is the monthly print magazine of “free minds and free markets.” It covers politics, culture, and ideas through a provocative mix of news, analysis, commentary, and reviews. Reason provides a refreshing alternativ…”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Current AboutUs recordJun 24, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 7, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Nameservers: rackspace.comOct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018rackspace.com (ns.rackspace.com, ns2.rackspace.com) were the nameservers listed for reason.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: rackspace.comApr 4, 2018 – Apr 13, 2021Registration records listed rackspace.com nameservers (ns.rackspace.com, ns2.rackspace.com) for reason.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Apr 13, 2021. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nameservers: Google DomainsNameservers: Google DomainsMay 27, 2021 – Jun 22, 2026Registration records listed Google Domains nameservers (ns-cloud-c1.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c2.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c3.googledomains.com…) for reason.com from May 27, 2021 to Jun 22, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to Google DomainsMay 27, 2021reason.com's nameservers moved from rackspace.com to Google Domains between Apr 13, 2021 and May 27, 2021. Last seen at rackspace.com: Apr 13, 2021 (registration record). First seen at Google Domains: May 27, 2021 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Seen in the .com zone fileSep 8, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026 (latest)First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Sep 8, 2026; latest sighting Nov 1, 2026. Nameservers on Nov 1, 2026: ns-cloud-c1.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c2.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c3.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c4.googledomains.com.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Nov 1, 2026
GlobalSign nv-saAug 20, 2025 – Nov 7, 2026GlobalSign nv-sa issued 2 certificates for reason.com from Aug 20, 2025, the latest valid until Feb 22, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Let's EncryptApr 2, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Let's Encrypt issued 86 certificates for reason.com from Apr 2, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 4, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Google Trust ServicesMay 19, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Google Trust Services issued 4 certificates for reason.com from May 19, 2026, the latest valid until Dec 28, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Sep 16, 2011 – Nov 6, 2026
Registrar: Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (IANA 2) in the registration data recorded, first on Sep 16, 2011 and most recently on Nov 6, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 7, 2026
Oct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018Zone file: rackspace.com (ns.rackspace.com, ns2.rackspace.com) were the nameservers listed for reason.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)
Apr 4, 2018 – Apr 13, 2021Zone file: Registration records listed rackspace.com nameservers (ns.rackspace.com, ns2.rackspace.com) for reason.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Apr 13, 2021. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
May 27, 2021 – Jun 22, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Google Domains nameservers (ns-cloud-c1.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c2.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c3.googledomains.com…) for reason.com from May 27, 2021 to Jun 22, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
May 27, 2021Zone file: reason.com's nameservers moved from rackspace.com to Google Domains between Apr 13, 2021 and May 27, 2021. Last seen at rackspace.com: Apr 13, 2021 (registration record). First seen at Google Domains: May 27, 2021 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jul 15, 2025 – Nov 7, 2026Certificate: Amazon issued 18 certificates for reason.com from Jul 15, 2025, the latest valid until May 19, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 28, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 28, 2026
Aug 20, 2025 – Nov 7, 2026Certificate: GlobalSign nv-sa issued 2 certificates for reason.com from Aug 20, 2025, the latest valid until Feb 22, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Apr 2, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 86 certificates for reason.com from Apr 2, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 4, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
May 19, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services issued 4 certificates for reason.com from May 19, 2026, the latest valid until Dec 28, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 24, 2026 – Nov 7, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 7, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Sep 8, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026Zone file: First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Sep 8, 2026; latest sighting Nov 1, 2026. Nameservers on Nov 1, 2026: ns-cloud-c1.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c2.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c3.googledomains.com, ns-cloud-c4.googledomains.com.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Nov 1, 2026