ZoneEdit Secondary DNS review
A credit-based Anycast secondary DNS service for externally operated primaries.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
ZoneEdit Secondary DNS provides redundancy for organizations and technical users that operate their own primary DNS server. The primary remains the source of truth, while ZoneEdit retrieves zones through standard AXFR transfers and serves them from its Anycast network. It supports DNS NOTIFY-triggered retransfers, SOA-timer-based refreshes, and registrar delegation to ZoneEdit nameservers. The service fits teams using BIND, PowerDNS, Windows DNS, or another authoritative server that supports standard zone transfers.
Pricing uses prepaid credits rather than separate feature tiers. The 1-credit pack costs $1.40 as a one-time credit pack, and one credit covers one month of Tertiary / Secondary DNS use. The 5-credit pack costs $5, while the 12-credit pack costs $12. Larger options are 36 credits for $30 with a 17% discount, 120 credits for $75 with a 38% discount, 600 credits for $285 with a 52% discount, and 1200 credits for $500 with a 58% discount. This structure suits customers who want a simple per-zone cost and can plan usage across prepaid balances.
Setup is centered on the primary server rather than a hosted DNS control plane. Administrators need to allow ZoneEdit transfer traffic through the primary server’s firewall and configure the relevant ACLs; ZoneEdit provides guidance for that work. Zone cache visibility adds a way to inspect the secondary service’s stored zone state, while AXFR, NOTIFY, and SOA refreshes cover the main synchronization paths described for the product. Pick ZoneEdit Secondary DNS if you already operate an authoritative primary and want Anycast secondary serving at a credit-based price. Choose another option if you need a broader DNS platform beyond secondary zones or prefer a conventional subscription structure.
ZoneEdit Secondary DNS pros and cons
- Where it wins
- AXFR, DNS NOTIFY, and SOA-timer refresh support
- Anycast serving for externally operated primary DNS
- Works with BIND, PowerDNS, Windows DNS, and standard servers
- Where it doesn't
- Requires firewall and ACL configuration on the primary server
- Uses prepaid credits rather than a conventional subscription plan
- Focused on secondary DNS, with no described DNSSEC feature
ZoneEdit Secondary DNS fact sheet, pricing and score →
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