Head-to-head · Dynamic DNS Services
DuckDNS vs YDNS
DuckDNS leads on 1 check, YDNS on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreDuckDNS · 6.8/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresDuckDNS · 5 of 5
DuckDNS scores higher on our rubric for dynamic dns services: 6.8 against 6.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #7 and #8.
DuckDNS offers wildcard records; YDNS doesn't publish it.
DuckDNS is the better fit for simple free DDNS for home networks. YDNS is the better fit for free DDNS with unlimited fair-use hosts.
- DuckDNS fits best
Simple free DDNS for home networks
- YDNS fits best
Free DDNS with unlimited fair-use hosts
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Side by side
| Feature | DuckDNS 6.8/10 Visit ↗ | YDNS 6.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 6.8 | 6.7 |
| Ranking | #7 in Dynamic DNS Services | #8 in Dynamic DNS Services |
| Best for | Simple free DDNS for home networks | Free DDNS with unlimited fair-use hosts |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Web |
| Support | Community, Docs | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo, Small business |
| Features DuckDNS 5/5 · YDNS 4/5 | ||
| IPv6 support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom domains | ✓ | ✓ |
| Router support | ✓ | ✓ |
| API access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wildcard records | ✓ (best) | Not published |
| Specs | ||
| Hostname limit | Not published | Not published |
| Update interval | Not published | Not published |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | DuckDNS is a free dynamic DNS service for individuals, home networks, self-hosted services, and small deployments. It maps subdomains under duckdns.org to selected IP addresses, helping users reach changing network endpoints through a… Read the review → |
YDNS is a free DNS hosting service for people who need dynamic hostnames for home networks, DNS hosting for custom domains, or record updates through an HTTP API. Its Free plan combines Dynamic DNS, DNS hosting, Custom-domain DNS hosting,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
DuckDNS — where it wins
- Free dynamic DNS mapping for duckdns.org subdomains
- Supports IPv4, manually supplied IPv6, HTTP/HTTPS, and TXT updates
- Works with OpenWrt, DD-WRT, pfSense, Synology, and DynDNS clients
Where it doesn't
- IPv6 addresses must be supplied manually
- Primary addressing uses duckdns.org subdomains
- No paid tiers for expanded service options
YDNS — where it wins
- Unlimited hosts per user under a fair-use model
- Custom-domain DNS hosting with DNSSEC support
- HTTP API plus Bash and MikroTik updater options
Where it doesn't
- Free service has no paid tier for additional features or support
- Setup may require API or updater configuration
- Focused on DNS hosting rather than broader network management
- DuckDNS6.8/10 · Free plan
A straightforward free DDNS service with router support and practical update APIs.
Visit DuckDNSFull verdict → - YDNS6.7/10 · Free plan
A free DDNS service with custom domains, API updates, DNSSEC, and IPv6 support.
Visit YDNSFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Last updated · How we research and update