1. Introduction: Can You Really See Who Created a Website?

At first glance, finding out who created a website sounds simple. You might expect to see a clear “Created by John Doe” label somewhere on the page. In reality, most websites don’t make this information obvious — or public at all. Unlike books or articles, websites don’t follow a universal authorship standard, and creator details are often spread across multiple places or hidden behind privacy protections.

This is partly intentional. Many businesses focus on branding rather than the individuals or agencies behind the site, while others outsource development and don’t credit the creators publicly. Add modern privacy laws and domain-registration protection to the mix, and the trail becomes even less straightforward.

It’s also important to understand that three different roles are often involved:

• Website owner – the individual or company that operates the site and controls its content
• Domain owner – the person or organization that registered and legally owns the domain name
• Developer/designer – the agency or individual who built, designed, or technically implemented the website

These roles can overlap, but they are frequently handled by entirely different parties.

Because there’s no single source that always reveals the creator, the most reliable approach is a multi-method investigation. This guide walks through that process step by step — starting with quick on-site checks, then moving to WHOIS lookups, and finally using deeper technical and historical tools to uncover as much information as possible.

2. Start With the Website Itself (The Fastest Checks)

Before using any external tools, always begin with the website itself. Many sites quietly disclose ownership or creation details in places most visitors overlook. These checks are fast, require no technical skill, and often provide direct answers.

2.1 About, Contact, and Team Pages

The About, Contact, and Team pages are the most obvious starting points. These sections often name:

• The founder or business owner
• The company behind the website
• An in-house development team or external agency

On personal blogs or portfolio sites, the creator is usually identified directly. On business sites, you may find an agency name, studio credit, or leadership team that hints at who commissioned or built the site.

2.2 Footer Credits and Copyright Lines

The footer is one of the most overlooked but valuable areas for creator clues. Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for:

• Copyright notices (for example, “© 2026 Example Agency”)
• Credits such as “Website by…”, “Designed by…”, or “Developed by…”
• CMS references like “Powered by WordPress” or “Built with Shopify”

While a CMS mention doesn’t name a person, it helps narrow down the type of developer or agency likely involved. In some cases, the footer includes a direct link to the design studio’s website or portfolio.

2.3 Privacy Policy and Terms Pages

Legal pages aren’t just about compliance — they’re often a goldmine for ownership information. The Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions pages frequently list:

• The legal name of the company or individual
• Registered business addresses
• Data protection officers or compliance contacts

These details can help you identify the organization behind the site and cross-reference it with domain records, company listings, or developer case studies.

2.4 Following Agency or Designer Links

If the footer or credits mention an agency or designer, don’t stop there. Clicking that link often leads to:

• A design studio’s homepage
• A portfolio page showcasing completed projects
• A case study explicitly naming the website you’re researching

This is one of the fastest ways to confirm who created a site, especially for small businesses and marketing websites that proudly credit their developers.

3. Run a WHOIS / Domain Ownership Lookup

If the website itself doesn’t reveal enough information, the next step is checking the domain’s registration data. WHOIS lookups are a long-standing method for identifying who owns — or manages — a domain.

3.1 What WHOIS Can Tell You

A WHOIS lookup can reveal several useful data points, depending on privacy settings:

• Registrant name or organization
• Contact email address
• Domain registrar
• Registration and expiration dates
• Nameservers and hosting indicators

Even when personal details are hidden, WHOIS data often points you toward the registrar or a proxy contact that can be used to reach the owner.

3.2 How to Use WHOIS Lookup Tools

You can run a WHOIS lookup using several reliable tools by simply entering the domain name:

• ICANN WHOIS – https://whois.icann.org
• GoDaddy WHOIS – https://www.godaddy.com/whois
• Hostinger WHOIS – https://www.hostinger.com/in/whois
• DomainTools WHOIS – https://whois.domaintools.com

Each tool presents the same core data but may format it differently or include extra insights, especially in paid versions.

3.3 WHOIS Privacy and Proxy Records

Many domains now use WHOIS privacy protection, which replaces personal details with proxy information. This means:

• Names and addresses are hidden
• Emails are masked behind forwarding services
• Only the registrar or privacy provider is visible

This protection exists to prevent spam, harassment, and data misuse — not necessarily to hide wrongdoing. As a result, WHOIS results are often incomplete by design.

3.4 Domain Owner vs Website Creator

One of the most common mistakes is assuming the domain owner is the website creator. In reality:

• A business may own the domain
• A freelance developer or agency may have built the site
• A third party may still maintain or host it

WHOIS tells you who controls the domain, not who designed or developed the website. This distinction is critical when interpreting results.

3.5 Using Historical WHOIS Records

If current WHOIS data is heavily redacted, historical records can help. Services like DomainTools offer domain history, which may show:

• Previous owners
• Older registration details
• Past contact information before privacy was enabled

These older records can sometimes reveal clearer ownership or management details, especially for domains that have existed for many years.

4. Use Google Search Operators and Social Media

When a website doesn’t openly credit its creator, search engines and social platforms can uncover mentions that never appear on the site itself. With the right queries, you can often trace a website back to the agency, developer, or creator who built it.

4.1 Google Search Operators for Creator Clues

Google search operators allow you to narrow results to very specific mentions of a website. Start by combining the domain name with creator-related phrases.

Common and effective examples include:

• site:example.com “designed by”
• site:example.com “developed by”
• site:example.com “web design”
• example.com + “website design”

These searches can reveal hidden pages, old blog posts, or credit mentions that aren’t linked from the main navigation. They also help surface PDFs, press releases, or archived pages where the developer or agency was credited.

In many cases, the most useful results aren’t on the website itself, but on external pages where agencies mention the project by name.

4.2 Finding Agency Case Studies and Portfolios

Web design and development agencies actively promote their work. Once you have a suspected agency name or domain, search for:

• Agency portfolio pages
• “Case study” or “Our work” sections
• Blog posts describing the project build

Agencies often list the client’s website URL, screenshots, and a breakdown of what they contributed — design, development, SEO, or maintenance. This is one of the strongest forms of confirmation because the agency is publicly claiming responsibility for the site.

Even if the site has since been redesigned, older portfolio entries can still provide accurate historical attribution.

4.3 Checking Linked Social Media Profiles

Social media profiles connected to a website frequently reveal who owns or manages it — and sometimes who built it.

Start by clicking social icons in the site’s header or footer, then check:

• LinkedIn – company pages often list founders, employees, or agencies involved
• Facebook – “About” sections may name administrators or businesses
• X (Twitter) – bios sometimes mention who runs or built the site
• Instagram – business profiles often link back to creators or agencies

You can also search these platforms directly using the domain name. Developers and agencies regularly announce launches with posts like “We just launched a new website for…” followed by a link.

4.4 Using Email Discovery Tools

If public mentions fall short, email discovery tools can help you identify domain-based email addresses associated with a website.

Tools like Hunter.io analyze a domain and surface:

• Common email formats (e.g., name@domain.com)
• Publicly indexed contact emails
• Department-based addresses (info@, admin@, support@)

While these tools don’t directly name the creator, they give you a direct contact path. A polite, professional email asking who designed or developed the site often yields better results than further guesswork — especially for business websites.

5. Inspect the HTML Source Code and Key Files

When surface-level research doesn’t produce answers, it’s time to look under the hood. Website source code often contains metadata, comments, or file headers that quietly credit the creator.

5.1 Viewing Page Source and Inspecting Elements

Accessing a site’s HTML is simple and requires no special tools:

• Right-click on the page and select “View Page Source”
• Or press Ctrl + U (Windows) / Cmd + Option + U (Mac)
• Use Inspect / Developer Tools to explore specific elements

Once the source is open, use your browser’s search function to scan for relevant terms.

5.2 Searching for Author and Creator Tags

Within the source code, look for common indicators of authorship or development:

• <meta name=”author”> tags that may list a person or company
• HTML comments containing names, URLs, or agency credits
• References to designers, developers, or studios in comment blocks

These details aren’t visible on the page itself, but they can provide clear attribution if present.

5.3 Checking WordPress Theme Files (style.css)

On WordPress websites, theme files are a particularly valuable source of information. The style.css file of an active theme often includes a header comment with:

• Theme name
• Author name
• Author website (Author URI)

This information identifies who created the theme — which may be an independent developer, a theme shop, or a custom agency. While it doesn’t always name the site’s builder, it strongly narrows down the origin of the design.

5.4 When Credits Are Hidden in Code

Not all creators want visible credit, but that doesn’t mean the information isn’t there. Credits are sometimes:

• Hidden in HTML comments
• Buried in CSS or JavaScript files
• Included only in theme or framework metadata

This is why thorough searching matters. A quick scan may miss key details, while a careful review of source files can uncover attribution that’s intentionally kept out of sight for regular visitors.

6. Look for humans.txt and Other Credit Files

Some websites take a more transparent approach and openly publish credits for the people who built them. While not common, these credit files can be one of the most direct ways to identify a website’s creator.

6.1 What Is humans.txt?

humans.txt is an informal, community-driven convention used to list the humans behind a website. Unlike robots.txt, which gives instructions to search engines, humans.txt exists purely to credit contributors.

The file is typically a plain text document that may include:

• Developers and designers
  
• Copywriters and content editors
  
• Project managers
  
• Tools, frameworks, and technologies used
  

Its purpose is recognition, not compliance. Websites that use humans.txt intentionally choose to acknowledge the people behind the project, making it a valuable resource when present.

6.2 How to Find a humans.txt File

There are two simple ways to check whether a site uses humans.txt:

1. Direct URL check
   Manually visit:
   https://example.com/humans.txt
   
2. Head tag reference
   Open the page source and look for a line such as:
   <link rel=”author” href=”/humans.txt”>
   

If the file exists, it will load as plain text and immediately show contributor information without any formatting or navigation.

6.3 What Information humans.txt Can Reveal

When present, humans.txt can be extremely specific. It may list:

• Names of developers and designers
  
• Their roles in the project
  
• Links to personal websites or portfolios
  
• Tools, CMS platforms, and frameworks used
  

Some files even include timestamps or version notes, helping you understand when and by whom the site was created or updated. Few methods offer such direct attribution.

6.4 When humans.txt Is Not Present

Most websites do not use humans.txt, and its absence should not be viewed as suspicious. Adoption of the convention is entirely optional, and many site owners are simply unaware it exists.

In other cases, organizations prefer to keep contributor details private for branding, legal, or security reasons. A missing humans.txt file does not indicate secrecy or bad intent — only that the site chose not to publish public credits in this format.

7. Use Technology-Lookup Tools (Bonus Method)

Technology-lookup tools don’t usually name a person, but they reveal how a website was built. When combined with other methods, this information can help narrow down the likely creator or agency.

7.1 What Tech-Stack Tools Can and Can’t Do

Tools like BuiltWith and Wappalyzer analyze a website and identify:

• Content management systems (CMS)
  
• Frameworks and libraries
  
• Hosting providers and CDNs
  
• Analytics, marketing, and payment tools
  

What they can’t reliably do is name an individual developer. Their strength lies in context — showing the technical fingerprints left behind during development.

7.2 BuiltWith: Identifying Platforms and Services

BuiltWith scans a website and reports detected technologies across categories such as:

• CMS platforms (WordPress, Shopify, Squarespace)
  
• Hosting and infrastructure services
  
• Analytics and tracking tools
  
• Security and performance services
  

This information helps you understand whether a site was likely built using a common platform, a premium theme, or a custom stack — all of which point toward different types of creators.

7.3 Wappalyzer: Technology Detection Explained

Wappalyzer performs similar analysis but often excels at cross-checking and confirming technologies across multiple layers of a site.

It can identify:

• JavaScript frameworks and libraries
  
• CMS and eCommerce platforms
  
• Marketing, SEO, and advertising tools
  

Comparing results from Wappalyzer and BuiltWith increases accuracy and reduces false assumptions about how the site was built.

7.4 Using Stack Data to Narrow Down the Creator

Once you know a site’s technology stack, you can connect the dots:

• Certain agencies specialize in specific CMS platforms
  
• Custom frameworks suggest in-house or enterprise development
  
• Popular page builders often link back to known developers or studios
  

By combining tech-stack data with search results, portfolios, and social mentions, you can significantly narrow down who likely created the website — even when no direct credit is visible.

8. Try Specialized “Who Built This Website” Tools

Beyond general research methods, there are tools designed specifically to identify creators across platforms. These can be helpful in certain cases, but they should be treated as supporting evidence, not definitive proof.

8.1 Creator-Finder Platforms Explained

Creator-finder platforms attempt to associate websites with creators by scanning public data across the web. They typically work by:

• Indexing domains, social profiles, and creator portfolios
  
• Matching website URLs to known creator or agency profiles
  
• Aggregating mentions from case studies, bios, and public posts
  

Their main limitation is coverage. Many web designers and developers don’t register on these platforms, and attribution depends heavily on publicly available data. As a result, findings can be incomplete or outdated.

8.2 Using FindCreators.io for Website Research

FindCreators.io is one example of a creator-finder tool that can sometimes help link a website to a creator profile.

It is most useful when:

• The site belongs to a content creator, influencer, or personal brand
  
• The creator actively promotes their work online
  
• The website is tied to social or creator platforms
  

It is less effective for:

• Corporate or enterprise websites
  
• White-label agency work
  
• Sites where creators intentionally remain anonymous
  

Because of these limitations, results should always be cross-checked using other methods.

8.3 Combining Creator Tools With WHOIS and Search

Creator-finder tools work best when used alongside:

• WHOIS domain lookups
  
• Google search operators
  
• Agency portfolio searches
  

A tool may suggest a potential creator, but confirmation usually comes from independent evidence — such as a matching case study, portfolio mention, or social post. No single tool provides reliable attribution on its own.

9. When the Information Is Private or Unavailable

In some cases, even a thorough investigation won’t reveal who created a website. This is not a failure of research — it’s often a deliberate choice by the site owner.

9.1 WHOIS Privacy and GDPR Limitations

Modern privacy regulations, including GDPR, have significantly reduced the amount of personal data available through WHOIS records. As a result:

• Names and addresses are frequently hidden
  
• Contact details are replaced with proxies
  
• Only registrars or privacy services are visible
  

This intentional data minimization protects individuals from misuse and harassment, but it also limits public attribution.

9.2 When Owners Choose Not to Disclose Creators

Some website owners deliberately avoid crediting designers or developers. Common reasons include:

• Branding consistency
  
• Security and privacy concerns
  
• Contractual or white-label agreements
  

Even if you manage to contact the owner directly, they are under no obligation to share this information. Ethical research respects those boundaries.

9.3 Knowing When to Stop the Search

There comes a point where continued searching offers diminishing returns. If:

• WHOIS data is fully redacted
  
• No on-site credits exist
  
• No external mentions can be verified
  

The most professional response is to accept that the information is private. Respecting privacy is not only courteous — it’s often legally and ethically necessary.

10. Best Practice: Combining Methods for Accurate Results

Finding out who created a website is rarely about one clever trick. Accuracy comes from layering methods and verifying details across sources.

Suggested order of checks:

1. On-site pages and footer credits
   
2. WHOIS and domain lookup tools
   
3. Google search operators and agency portfolios
   
4. Source-code and theme inspection
   
5. Tech-stack and creator-finder tools
   

Cross-verification strategy:

• Confirm names across multiple independent sources
  
• Match agency claims with technical evidence
  
• Validate timelines using domain history
  

Reducing false assumptions:

• Don’t equate domain ownership with site creation
  
• Treat tool results as indicators, not facts
  
• Prioritize direct evidence over speculation
  

When used together, these methods provide the most reliable way to identify — or responsibly rule out — a website’s creator.

11. Quick Checklist: How to Find Who Created a Website

Use this checklist to move from the fastest checks to deeper investigation methods:

• On-site checks
  Review the About, Contact, Team, footer, Privacy Policy, and Terms pages for creator, agency, or company credits.
  
• WHOIS lookup
  Run a WHOIS search to identify the domain owner, registrar, registration dates, and any available contact information.
  
• Google operators
  Use search queries like site:example.com “designed by” or domain-based searches to uncover external mentions, case studies, or portfolio listings.
  
• Source code inspection
  View the page source and inspect HTML, meta author tags, comments, and WordPress theme files for hidden credits or developer details.
  
• Tech-stack tools
  Analyze the site with tools like BuiltWith or Wappalyzer to identify CMS platforms, frameworks, hosting providers, and development patterns.
  
• Creator-finder tools
  Use specialized creator-finder platforms as a supporting method to associate the site with possible creators or agencies.

12. References and Further Reading

12.1 General Guides

• Bluehost – Top 7 Ways on How to Find Out Who Built a Website
  https://www.bluehost.com/blog/who-built-a-website/
• Ful.io – How to Find the Creator of a Website
  https://ful.io/blog/how-to-find-out-who-designed-a-website
• weDevs – How to Find Out Who Designed a Website (4 Easy Ways)
  https://wedevs.com/blog/502967/how-to-find-out-who-designed-a-website/

12.2 WHOIS and Domain Tools

• ICANN WHOIS Lookup
  https://whois.icann.org
• GoDaddy WHOIS
  https://www.godaddy.com/whois
• Hostinger WHOIS
  https://www.hostinger.com/in/whois
• DomainTools WHOIS
  https://whois.domaintools.com

12.3 Source Code and Theme Identification

• Elementor – How to Find the Author of a Website via Source Code
  https://elementor.com/blog/how-to-find-the-author-of-a-website/
• NewWebOrder – How to Find Out Who Developed a Website
  https://www.newweborder.co/blogs/how-to-find-out-who-developed-a-website

12.4 humans.txt Resources

• humans.txt Official Initiative
  https://humanstxt.org
• How humans.txt Works and How to Create One
  https://mefody.dev/chunks/humans-txt/

12.5 Technology-Lookup Tools

• BuiltWith – Website Technology Lookup
  https://builtwith.com
• Wappalyzer – Technology Detection Tool
  https://www.wappalyzer.com
• Wappalyzer GitHub Project
  https://github.com/developit/wappalyzer

12.6 Creator-Finder Platforms

• Ful.io – Using FindCreators.io and WHOIS Together
  https://ful.io/blog/how-to-find-out-who-designed-a-website
• FindCreators.io
  https://findcreators.io

13. Related Topics

• How to Handle WHOIS Privacy Protection When Information Is Redacted
  https://ful.io/blog/how-to-find-out-who-designed-a-website
• Alternatives to WHOIS for Finding Website Owners
  https://www.bluehost.com/blog/who-built-a-website/
• How to Use BuiltWith to Identify CMS and Developers
  https://builtwith.com
• Step-by-Step Guide to Inspecting Source Code for Creator Clues
  https://elementor.com/blog/how-to-find-the-author-of-a-website/
• How to Contact Website Creators Professionally
  https://www.wedevs.com/blog/502967/how-to-find-out-who-designed-a-website/

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I always find out who created a website?

No. While many websites leave clues through footer credits, portfolios, or domain records, some creators intentionally remain private. Privacy laws, white-label agency work, and WHOIS protection mean that in certain cases, the creator cannot be reliably identified.

2. Does WHOIS show who designed or developed a website?

Not usually. WHOIS data shows who owns or registered the domain, not who designed or built the website. The domain owner, website owner, and developer are often different entities.

3. How do I find the creator of a WordPress website?

You can inspect the site’s source code and check the active theme’s style.css file for author details, look for footer credits, search Google for agency case studies, and use tools like BuiltWith or Wappalyzer to identify WordPress themes or builders linked to known developers.

4. Are tech-stack tools accurate for identifying developers?

Tech-stack tools are accurate for identifying platforms and technologies, but not people. They help narrow down possibilities by revealing CMSs, frameworks, and hosting choices, which can then be matched with agencies or developers known to work with those tools.

5. Is it legal to look up website ownership or creator information?

Yes. Using public sources such as WHOIS records, search engines, and source-code inspection is legal. However, you should respect privacy protections and avoid attempting to bypass safeguards or misuse personal data.