Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Best Cloudflare DNS Alternatives in 2026

Freemium#1 of 23 in Anycast DNS ServicesSecondary DNS Services

The top Cloudflare DNS alternatives are Gcore Managed DNS, Alibaba Cloud DNS and ClouDNS: 15 anycast DNS services our editors would look at instead of Cloudflare DNS, in our ranking order.

9.4/10Editor score
Visit Cloudflare
Cloudflare DNS9.4 Visit Cloudflare

Cloudflare DNS: Free authoritative DNS with advanced steering and failover through a separate add-on. Where it falls short: health checks and traffic steering require the load balancing add-on.

Switching from Cloudflare DNS? For most anycast dns services buyers the best Cloudflare DNS alternative is Gcore Managed DNS, built for small teams needing affordable managed Anycast DNS. On a budget, Google Cloud DNS starts at $0.20/mo, against $20/mo for Cloudflare DNS. easyDNS Anycast DNS offers the most anycast locations (15 locations).

Why People Look for a Cloudflare DNS Alternative

  • Health checks and traffic steering require the Load Balancing add-on
  • Secondary DNS is available to Enterprise customers
  • Pro and Business are billed annually at their listed prices
  • Paid from $20/mo — Google Cloud DNS is $0.20/mo

Quick Picks by What You Need

All 15 Cloudflare DNS 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.

  1. Gcore Managed DNS

    Best forSmall teams needing affordable managed Anycast DNS

    Affordable Anycast DNS with routing, health checks, DNSSEC, and automation integrations.

    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    Free plan · 14-day trial Our Gcore Managed DNS verdict → Visit Gcore
    9.2/10★★★★★
    Visit Gcore
  2. Alibaba Cloud DNS

    Best forBudget-conscious teams needing advanced DNS routing

    A low-cost entry point to advanced DNS routing, health checks, and automation.

    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    Free plan Our Alibaba Cloud DNS verdict → Visit Alibaba Cloud
    9.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit Alibaba Cloud
  3. ClouDNS

    Best forLow-cost DNS with broad routing features

    • Better than Cloudflare DNS:
    • Paid from: $2.95/mo vs $20/mo

    Low-cost managed DNS with Anycast, traffic steering, failover, and API access.

    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    Free plan Our ClouDNS verdict → Visit ClouDNS
    8.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit ClouDNS
  4. IBM NS1 Connect

    Best forEnterprises needing deep DNS traffic control

    A traffic-control-focused authoritative DNS service for enterprise operations.

    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    30-day trial Our IBM NS1 Connect verdict → Try IBM NS1 Connect
    8.8/10★★★★☆
    Try IBM NS1 Connect
  5. Akamai Edge DNS

    Best forLarge enterprises needing mature DNS operations

    A mature enterprise DNS service with advanced routing, failover, automation, and analytics.

    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    Pricing on request Our Akamai Edge DNS verdict → Visit Akamai
    8.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit Akamai
  6. DNScale

    Best forTeams wanting free DNS with automation options

    A low-cost managed DNS service with automation, DNSSEC, and basic traffic steering.

    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    Free plan · 7-day trial Our DNScale verdict → Visit DNScale
    8.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit DNScale
  7. Google Cloud DNS

    Best forGoogle Cloud users needing low-cost managed DNS

    • Better than Cloudflare DNS:
    • Paid from: $0.20/mo vs $20/mo

    A paid managed DNS service with advanced routing, DNSSEC, health checks, and Google Cloud integration.

    • DNS health checks
    • DNSSEC signing
    • API access
    From $0.20/mo Our Google Cloud DNS verdict → Try Google Cloud DNS
    8.3/10★★★★☆
    Try Google Cloud DNS
  8. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure DNS

    Best forCloud teams needing flexible traffic steering

    Flexible DNS traffic control for cloud teams managing regional applications.

    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    From $1.11 Our Oracle Cloud Infrastructure DNS verdict → Visit Oracle Cloud
    8.1/10★★★★☆
    Visit Oracle Cloud
  9. DNS Made Easy

    Best forTeams wanting managed DNS with a long trial

    A managed Anycast DNS service with advanced routing, failover, DNSSEC, and API access.

    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    30-day trial Our DNS Made Easy verdict → Visit DNS Made Easy
    8.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit DNS Made Easy
  10. easyDNS Anycast DNS

    Best forTeams needing multi-cloud Anycast DNS

    A paid managed DNS service for multi-cloud Anycast, failover, and secondary DNS.

    • Geo-based steering
    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    30-day trial Our easyDNS Anycast DNS verdict → Visit easyDNS
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit easyDNS
  11. CloudFloorDNS

    Best forTeams needing affordable Anycast failover and GeoDNS

    • Better than Cloudflare DNS:
    • Paid from: $8/mo vs $20/mo

    CloudFloorDNS combines Anycast, failover, GeoDNS, and API access from $8 per month.

    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    10-day trial Our CloudFloorDNS verdict → Visit CloudFloorDNS
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit CloudFloorDNS
  12. DigiCert UltraDNS

    Best forEnterprises needing managed Anycast DNS failover

    A managed Anycast DNS service for global routing, failover, and DNS security.

    • Geo-based steering
    • DNS health checks
    • Secondary DNS
    Pricing on request Our DigiCert UltraDNS verdict → Visit site
    7.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit site
  13. Azure DNS

    Best forAzure-centric teams needing governed DNS

    Managed public and private DNS for teams operating within Azure.

    • DNSSEC signing
    • API access
    Our Azure DNS verdict → Visit Azure DNS
    7.6/10★★★★☆
    Visit Azure DNS
  14. DNSimple

    Best forVery low-cost users needing basic Anycast DNS

    • Better than Cloudflare DNS:
    • Paid from: $0.50/mo vs $20/mo

    A low-cost Anycast DNS option with strong core features and manual failover limits.

    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    • API access
    Free plan · 30-day trial Our DNSimple verdict → Visit DNSimple
    7.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit DNSimple
  15. CIRA Anycast DNS

    Best forOrganizations needing Canadian and global Anycast

    A managed secondary DNS service with Canadian and global Anycast infrastructure.

    • Secondary DNS
    • DNSSEC signing
    • API access
    Pricing on request Our CIRA Anycast DNS verdict → Visit CIRA
    7.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit CIRA

Cloudflare DNS Alternatives: Common Questions

What is the best alternative to Cloudflare DNS?

Gcore Managed DNS: #2 in our Anycast DNS Services ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. Affordable Anycast DNS with routing, health checks, DNSSEC, and automation integrations.

Is there a free alternative to Cloudflare DNS?

Yes. Gcore Managed DNS, Alibaba Cloud DNS, ClouDNS, DNScale and DNSimple have a free plan or a free tier.

What is the cheapest paid alternative to Cloudflare DNS?

Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Google Cloud DNS starts lowest, at $0.20/mo.

Why do people look for Cloudflare DNS alternatives?

Health checks and traffic steering require the Load Balancing add-on; Secondary DNS is available to Enterprise customers; Pro and Business are billed annually at their listed prices.

Which Cloudflare DNS alternative has the most anycast locations?

easyDNS Anycast DNS, with 15 locations.

How do I switch from Cloudflare DNS?

Export your data from Cloudflare DNS (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 Cloudflare DNS.

How to Switch from Cloudflare DNS

  1. Export your data from Cloudflare DNS (most tools have an export in their settings).
  2. Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
  3. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
  4. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Cloudflare DNS.

Cloudflare DNS vs Each Alternative

#ToolFree planPaid fromDNSSEC signingDNS health checksScore
1Cloudflare DNSYes$20/moYesYes9.4
1Gcore Managed DNSYes€2.49/moYesYes9.2
2Alibaba Cloud DNSYes$7/site/yrYesYes9.0
3ClouDNSYes$2.95/moYesYes8.9
4IBM NS1 ConnectNo$99/moYesYes8.8
5Akamai Edge DNSNoYesYes8.7
6DNScaleYes€4.95/moYesYes8.5
7Google Cloud DNSNo$0.20/moYesYes8.3
8Oracle Cloud Infrastructure DNSNoYesYes8.1
9DNS Made EasyNoYesYes8.0
10easyDNS Anycast DNSNo$19.95/site/yrYesYes7.9
11CloudFloorDNSNo$8/moYesYes7.8
12DigiCert UltraDNSNoYesYes7.7
13Azure DNSNoYesNo7.6
14DNSimpleYes$0.50/moYesNo7.5
15CIRA Anycast DNSYes7.3

Head-to-Head

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update