BuddyNS review
A low-cost secondary DNS service with Anycast reserved for higher plans.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
BuddyNS is a secondary DNS service from FrontDam GmbH that replicates zone data from an existing primary DNS server through AXFR and related DNS mechanisms. It is designed for individuals, small businesses, organizations, ISPs, and enterprises that need zone synchronization, DNS continuity, health notifications, and authoritative DNS infrastructure. Access is available through the web and REST API, with support for IPv6 queries, records, AXFR, and NOTIFY operations.
The published plans show a free tier with secondary DNS replication, DNSCurve security, and permitted commercial use. Pro costs $3 per month and adds priority zone updates, more than 3 million queries per month, Level-2 technical support, and mobile notifications. Astronaut costs $12 per month and adds Anycast, DNSSEC, DDoS protection, two-factor authentication, and technical support. Enterprise costs $129 per month and adds uncapped traffic, own IP addresses, own locations, OAuth integration, and Level-3 support.
BuddyNS has a focused secondary-DNS feature set rather than a broad traffic-management offering. DNS delegation, zone health checks, troubleshooting tools, health notifications, SyncNOW, and API-based zone management support operational continuity. Anycast and DNSSEC become available on Astronaut and Enterprise, making Astronaut the relevant choice for organizations that need those capabilities without Enterprise-specific infrastructure options. Choose BuddyNS for affordable secondary replication and a clear upgrade path; choose another service if geo steering is central to the deployment or if Anycast is required on a lower-cost plan.
BuddyNS pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free secondary DNS replication permits commercial use
- REST API, health checks, and SyncNOW support zone management
- Astronaut adds Anycast, DNSSEC, DDoS protection, and MFA
- Where it doesn't
- Anycast is limited to Astronaut and Enterprise plans
- DNSSEC is available only on higher plans
- Enterprise pricing and infrastructure are aimed at larger deployments
BuddyNS fact sheet, pricing and score →
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