Best BuddyNS Alternatives in 2026
The top BuddyNS alternatives are Cloudflare DNS, Gcore Managed DNS and Alibaba Cloud DNS: 15 anycast DNS services our editors would look at instead of BuddyNS, in our ranking order.
BuddyNS: A low-cost secondary DNS service with Anycast reserved for higher plans. Where it falls short: anycast is limited to astronaut and enterprise plans.
Switching from BuddyNS? For most anycast dns services buyers the best BuddyNS alternative is Cloudflare DNS, built for teams seeking managed anycast DNS and API automation. On a budget, Google Cloud DNS starts at $0.20/mo, against $3/mo for BuddyNS. easyDNS Anycast DNS offers the most anycast locations (15 locations).
Why People Look for a BuddyNS Alternative
- Anycast is limited to Astronaut and Enterprise plans
- DNSSEC is available only on higher plans
- Enterprise pricing and infrastructure are aimed at larger deployments
- No geo-based steering — 2 of the alternatives below have it
- Paid from $3/mo — Google Cloud DNS is $0.20/mo
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallCloudflare DNS9.4
Teams seeking managed anycast DNS and API automation
Visit Cloudflare DNS - Lowest priceGoogle Cloud DNS8.3
Paid plans from $0.20/mo
Visit Google Cloud DNS - Best free optionCloudflare DNS9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Cloudflare DNS - Most anycast locationseasyDNS Anycast DNS7.9
15 locations
Visit easyDNS Anycast DNS - Best for geo-based steeringeasyDNS Anycast DNS7.9
Geo-based steering (BuddyNS: no)
Visit easyDNS Anycast DNS
All 15 BuddyNS Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forTeams seeking managed anycast DNS and API automation
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 6.8
Free authoritative DNS with advanced steering and failover through a separate add-on.
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Cloudflare -
Best forSmall teams needing affordable managed Anycast DNS
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 6.8
Affordable Anycast DNS with routing, health checks, DNSSEC, and automation integrations.
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Gcore -
Best forBudget-conscious teams needing advanced DNS routing
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 6.8
A low-cost entry point to advanced DNS routing, health checks, and automation.
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Alibaba Cloud -
Best forLow-cost DNS with broad routing features
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Paid from: $2.95/mo vs $3/mo
- Editor score 8.9 vs 6.8
Low-cost managed DNS with Anycast, traffic steering, failover, and API access.
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit ClouDNS -
Best forEnterprises needing deep DNS traffic control
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 6.8
A traffic-control-focused authoritative DNS service for enterprise operations.
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
8.8/10★★★★☆Try IBM NS1 Connect -
Best forLarge enterprises needing mature DNS operations
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 6.8
A mature enterprise DNS service with advanced routing, failover, automation, and analytics.
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Akamai -
Best forTeams wanting free DNS with automation options
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 6.8
A low-cost managed DNS service with automation, DNSSEC, and basic traffic steering.
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit DNScale -
Best forGoogle Cloud users needing low-cost managed DNS
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Paid from: $0.20/mo vs $3/mo
- Editor score 8.3 vs 6.8
A paid managed DNS service with advanced routing, DNSSEC, health checks, and Google Cloud integration.
- DNS health checks
- DNSSEC signing
- API access
8.3/10★★★★☆Try Google Cloud DNS -
Best forCloud teams needing flexible traffic steering
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 6.8
Flexible DNS traffic control for cloud teams managing regional applications.
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Oracle Cloud -
Best forTeams wanting managed DNS with a long trial
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 6.8
A managed Anycast DNS service with advanced routing, failover, DNSSEC, and API access.
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit DNS Made Easy -
Best forTeams needing multi-cloud Anycast DNS
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Geo-based steering
- Anycast locations: 15 locations vs 0 locations
- Editor score 7.9 vs 6.8
A paid managed DNS service for multi-cloud Anycast, failover, and secondary DNS.
- Geo-based steering
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit easyDNS -
Best forTeams needing affordable Anycast failover and GeoDNS
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 6.8
CloudFloorDNS combines Anycast, failover, GeoDNS, and API access from $8 per month.
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit CloudFloorDNS -
Best forEnterprises needing managed Anycast DNS failover
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Geo-based steering
- Editor score 7.7 vs 6.8
A managed Anycast DNS service for global routing, failover, and DNS security.
- Geo-based steering
- DNS health checks
- Secondary DNS
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forAzure-centric teams needing governed DNS
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Editor score 7.6 vs 6.8
Managed public and private DNS for teams operating within Azure.
- DNSSEC signing
- API access
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Azure DNS -
Best forVery low-cost users needing basic Anycast DNS
- Better than BuddyNS:
- Paid from: $0.50/mo vs $3/mo
- Editor score 7.5 vs 6.8
A low-cost Anycast DNS option with strong core features and manual failover limits.
- Secondary DNS
- DNSSEC signing
- API access
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit DNSimple
BuddyNS Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to BuddyNS?
Cloudflare DNS: #1 in our Anycast DNS Services ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. Free authoritative DNS with advanced steering and failover through a separate add-on.
Is there a free alternative to BuddyNS?
Yes. Cloudflare DNS, Gcore Managed DNS, Alibaba Cloud DNS, ClouDNS and DNScale have a free plan or a free tier (6 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to BuddyNS?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Google Cloud DNS starts lowest, at $0.20/mo.
Why do people look for BuddyNS alternatives?
Anycast is limited to Astronaut and Enterprise plans; DNSSEC is available only on higher plans; Enterprise pricing and infrastructure are aimed at larger deployments.
Which BuddyNS alternative has the most anycast locations?
easyDNS Anycast DNS, with 15 locations.
How do I switch from BuddyNS?
Export your data from BuddyNS (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel BuddyNS.
How to Switch from BuddyNS
- Export your data from BuddyNS (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel BuddyNS.
BuddyNS vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | DNSSEC signing | DNS health checks | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | BuddyNS | Yes | $3/mo | Yes | Yes | 6.8 |
| 1 | Cloudflare DNS | Yes | $20/mo | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Gcore Managed DNS | Yes | €2.49/mo | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | Alibaba Cloud DNS | Yes | $7/site/yr | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 4 | ClouDNS | Yes | $2.95/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 5 | IBM NS1 Connect | No | $99/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.8 |
| 6 | Akamai Edge DNS | No | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 7 | DNScale | Yes | €4.95/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 8 | Google Cloud DNS | No | $0.20/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.3 |
| 9 | Oracle Cloud Infrastructure DNS | No | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 10 | DNS Made Easy | No | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 11 | easyDNS Anycast DNS | No | $19.95/site/yr | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 12 | CloudFloorDNS | No | $8/mo | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 13 | DigiCert UltraDNS | No | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 14 | Azure DNS | No | Yes | No | 7.6 | |
| 15 | DNSimple | Yes | $0.50/mo | Yes | No | 7.5 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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