DNSimple
Developer-focused domain registrar and managed DNS host with an API, Terraform provider and Let's Encrypt automation.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web
Is DNSimple free?
No, it's a paid product
- Starting price:
- Solo Pro $19 USD/month
- Free trial:
- 30 days
Checked on DNSimple's site Nov 8, 2026
Full DNSimple pricing and plansSwitch from DNSimple to
All 5- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About DNSimple
DNSimple combines domain registration, managed anycast DNS and SSL certificates in one service aimed at developers and operations teams. It launched in 2010 and introduced the ALIAS record, which lets the bare domain point at a hostname the way a CNAME does. Every plan includes DNSSEC, DDoS protection, WHOIS privacy, full API access and Let's Encrypt certificates; higher plans add wildcard certificates, regional and pool records, reverse DNS, more records per zone and scoped API tokens. One-click services and templates set up records for common providers, and a CLI, webhooks and Terraform provider support infrastructure-as-code. Pricing is a monthly plan fee plus a small charge per hosted zone and per million queries, with domains billed at their registration price, so it costs more than budget registrars for someone holding a few personal domains. A 30-day free trial is available, and it can also act as secondary DNS alongside another provider.
Best for: Developers and ops teams who manage domains and DNS through APIs and infrastructure-as-code.
DNSimple pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from DNSimple's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Solo Pro $19 USD/month | Nov 8, 2026 | dnsimple.com |
| Hosted zone fee | $0.50 per zone/month | Nov 8, 2026 | dnsimple.com |
| Free trial | 30 days | Nov 8, 2026 | dnsimple.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- Full API, CLI, webhooks and Terraform provider on every plan
- DNSSEC, DDoS protection and WHOIS privacy included
- ALIAS records and Let's Encrypt certificates built in
Why people leave
- Per-zone and per-query fees on top of the plan add up for many domains
- Pricier than budget registrars for a handful of personal domains
- Pool, regional and reverse DNS records need a paid tier above Solo
DNSimple vs Cloudflare Registrar, Porkbun and Name.com
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | DNSimple | Cloudflare Registrar | Porkbun | Name.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid | Paid | Paid |
| Verified price | Solo Pro $19 USD/month | — | — | — |
| Free plan | No | No | No | No |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web | Web | Web |
Top DNSimple alternatives
See all 5- 1
Cloudflare Registrar83.8Free DNS hosting and at-cost domain renewals, with an API and Terraform support too.
- 2
Porkbun79.8Much cheaper registrar with free DNS and an API, if you don't need per-query SLAs.
- 3
Name.com59.4Registrar with a reseller-grade API and no per-zone DNS fees.
- 4
Gandi57.5A long-running registrar with an API, DNS hosting, email and many TLDs, for those who want a similar developer-friendly option.
- 5
Hover55.9Simple domain management with free WHOIS privacy and no upsells, for people who want fewer features at lower prices.
Why people left DNSimple
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from DNSimple, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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DNSimple: common questions
What is DNSimple?
DNSimple: Developer-focused domain registrar and managed DNS host with an API, Terraform provider and Let's Encrypt automation. Best for developers and ops teams who manage domains and DNS through APIs and infrastructure-as-code. Available for Web.
Is DNSimple free?
No, DNSimple is a paid product. Starting price: Solo Pro $19 USD/month (checked on DNSimple's own site).
How much does DNSimple cost?
DNSimple is a paid product. Starting price: Solo Pro $19 USD/month; Hosted zone fee: $0.50 per zone/month; Free trial: 30 days. Checked on DNSimple's own site, November 2026.
Does DNSimple have a free trial or refund?
Free trial: 30 days. Source: DNSimple's own site.
Is DNSimple open source?
No, DNSimple is not open source.
What platforms does DNSimple run on?
DNSimple is available for Web.
What are the best alternatives to DNSimple?
The highest-ranked DNSimple alternatives right now are Cloudflare Registrar, Porkbun and Name.com. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
DNSimple vs Cloudflare Registrar: what's the difference?
Both DNSimple and Cloudflare Registrar are paid products. Both run on Web.