DNSimple

Developer-Friendly DNS and Domain Management

DNSimple is a premium DNS hosting and domain management platform built specifically for developers, system administrators, and technical teams who demand simplicity, automation, and reliability. Founded in 2010, DNSimple has earned a reputation as the "developer's choice" for DNS management by eliminating complexity and providing best-in-class APIs, extensive automation tools, and straightforward pricing.

Unlike traditional domain registrars cluttered with upsells and confusing interfaces, DNSimple focuses on what matters: fast DNS, clean APIs, powerful automation, and exceptional developer experience. With features like one-click service connections, ALIAS records for apex domains, automated SSL certificates via Let's Encrypt, and comprehensive API libraries for nine programming languages, DNSimple makes domain and DNS management actually enjoyable.

Built for Developers and Automation

DNSimple's core philosophy is automation-first:

• Full REST API: Complete control over domains, DNS, SSL certificates via clean, well-documented API
• 9 official API clients: Ruby, Go, Elixir, Node.js, .NET, Java, PHP, Python, Rust
• Infrastructure as Code: Native Terraform provider for managing DNS as code
• Webhooks: Real-time notifications for domain, DNS, and certificate events
• Command-line tools: CLI for managing domains and DNS from terminal
• Import automation: Automatic DNS record import when transferring domains
• Zero-downtime transfers: Import existing DNS records before switching nameservers
• Version-controlled DNS: Treat DNS like code with Git integration patterns

Companies like Linux Foundation, ClickFunnels, RubyGems, Travis CI, and Thoughtbot rely on DNSimple because their APIs are battle-tested, their documentation is excellent, and automation "just works" without surprises.

Blazing Fast Anycast DNS Network

DNSimple operates a globally distributed Anycast DNS network:

• Multiple points of presence: Servers across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific
• Anycast routing: Queries automatically routed to nearest location
• Ultra-low latency: Sub-50ms response times globally
• DDoS protection: Multi-layered defense against DNS attacks
• 99.95% uptime SLA: Teams plan, 100% SLA available on Enterprise
• Real-time propagation: DNS changes propagate within seconds
• IPv6 support: Full support for modern IPv6 infrastructure

The Anycast network ensures your domains resolve fast from anywhere in the world, with automatic failover if a location goes down.

ALIAS Records for Apex Domains

DNSimple pioneered ALIAS records to solve the apex domain CNAME problem:

• CNAME-like behavior: Point apex domains (yourdomain.com) to CDNs, load balancers, etc.
• Standards-compliant: Works within DNS specifications using virtual record technology
• Cloud-friendly: Perfect for AWS ELB, Heroku, Cloudflare, Netlify, Vercel
• Automatic resolution: DNSimple resolves the target and returns A/AAAA records
• Performance optimized: Intelligent caching and refresh intervals

This was a game-changer for modern infrastructure where apex domains need to point to dynamic cloud resources that don't provide static IP addresses.

One-Click Service Connections

DNSimple's one-click services eliminate manual DNS configuration:

• 44+ pre-configured services: G Suite, Office 365, Shopify, Heroku, AWS, and more
• One-click setup: Apply complex DNS configurations instantly
• Automatic updates: Services keep configurations current
• Email providers: G Suite, Office 365, Zoho, FastMail, ProtonMail
• Hosting platforms: Heroku, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Netlify, Vercel
• E-commerce: Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce integrations
• Marketing tools: Mailchimp, ConvertKit, HubSpot
• CDN services: Cloudflare, Fastly, KeyCDN

Instead of copying MX, TXT, CNAME records manually (and getting them wrong), click once and DNSimple applies the correct configuration.

Automated SSL Certificates with Let's Encrypt

DNSimple provides free SSL automation via Let's Encrypt integration:

• Automatic issuance: Request SSL certificates with one click
• DNS validation: Automatic domain validation via DNS challenges
• Auto-renewal: Certificates renew automatically 30 days before expiration
• Wildcard support: Free wildcard SSL certificates (Teams/Enterprise plans)
• SAN certificates: Secure multiple subdomains with one certificate
• Zero downtime: Renewals happen seamlessly in background
• Installation-ready: Download certificates in any format needed
• Certificate management: View expiration dates, renewal status at a glance

You can also purchase premium SSL certificates from Sectigo/Comodo for OV/EV validation needs, all managed through the same simple interface.

Advanced DNS Record Types

DNSimple supports all modern DNS record types:

• Standard records: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, SOA, SRV, PTR
• ALIAS records: Proprietary solution for apex domain CNAMEs
• CAA records: Certificate Authority Authorization for security
• SSHFP records: SSH fingerprint records for enhanced security
• NAPTR records: For telecom and ENUM applications
• DNSKEY/DS records: DNSSEC key management
• TLSA records: DANE (DNS-based Authentication of Named Entities)
• HTTPS/SVCB records: Modern service binding records

All record types are supported via both the web interface and API.

Secondary DNS for Maximum Redundancy

DNSimple offers Secondary DNS to add redundancy:

• Multiple providers: Use DNSimple alongside other DNS providers
• Automatic zone transfer: AXFR/IXFR zone transfers to secondaries
• Failover protection: If primary DNS fails, secondaries continue serving
• Best practice compliance: Follow RFC recommendations for DNS redundancy
• Integrated providers: Partner integrations with other DNS services

Or use DNSimple as a secondary to your primary DNS provider for maximum availability.

DNSSEC Support for Enhanced Security

DNSimple supports DNSSEC to protect against DNS spoofing:

• One-click enablement: Enable DNSSEC with a single click
• Automatic signing: Zone signing handled automatically
• DS record management: Easy DS record addition at registrar
• Key rotation: Automated key rotation for security
• Validation monitoring: Alerts if DNSSEC validation fails
• Algorithm support: Modern DNSSEC algorithms

Domain Registration and Transfer

DNSimple is an ICANN-accredited registrar supporting 400+ TLDs:

• 400+ TLDs: .com, .net, .org, .io, .ai, .dev, country codes, new gTLDs
• Competitive pricing: Transparent pricing, no hidden fees
• One-year extension: Transfers include free 1-year extension
• Bulk operations: Register or transfer multiple domains at once
• Auto-renew: Never lose domains to accidental expiration
• Transfer lock: Protect domains from unauthorized transfers
• Domain push: Transfer domains between DNSimple accounts
• WHOIS privacy: Free WHOIS privacy on supported TLDs
• Easy management: All domains in one clean interface

DNSimple's domain management is refreshingly simple compared to traditional registrars - no aggressive upsells, no confusing renewal flows, just straightforward domain management.

Email Forwarding and Redirects

Built-in convenience features:

• Email forwarding: Forward emails from your domain to any inbox
• Catch-all forwarding: Forward all emails to a single address
• HTTP redirects: 301/302 redirects from your domain
• HTTPS redirects: SSL-enabled redirects (Teams plan+)
• URL forwarding: Redirect specific paths or entire domains
• Frame forwarding: Display another site within your domain

Domain Control Plane

DNSimple's new Domain Control Plane provides unified visibility:

• Single pane of glass: View all domains across multiple accounts
• Multi-account management: Manage domains at DNSimple, AWS Route 53, Cloudflare, etc.
• Centralized monitoring: Track expiration dates, DNS health, SSL status
• Policy enforcement: Ensure consistent security policies across domains
• Compliance reporting: Generate reports for audits
• Change tracking: Activity history across all managed domains

This is particularly valuable for enterprises managing thousands of domains across multiple providers and cloud accounts.

Transparent, Simple Pricing

DNSimple uses usage-based pricing that's actually understandable:

Solo Plan (Free):

• Free base plan for individuals
• $0.50/month per hosted DNS zone
• $0.10 per million queries per zone
• 100 DNS records per zone
• 1 user account
• Let's Encrypt SSL certificates
• Anycast DNS included
• No SLA

Teams Plan ($29/month):

• $29/month base + zone fees
• Same zone pricing ($0.50/zone)
• 1,000 DNS records per zone
• Domain Access Control
• SSO with Okta/Google
• Let's Encrypt Wildcard SSL
• HTTPS redirects
• Unlimited activity history
• 99.95% SLA

Enterprise Plan (Custom):

• Custom pricing with volume discounts
• High-volume zone discounts
• SSO with Microsoft Entra
• Vanity nameservers
• Multiple payment options
• Priority support
• 100% SLA available
• Dedicated account manager

Domain Registration: Separate from subscription, varies by TLD (e.g., .com ~$14/year, .io ~$39/year)

Exceptional Documentation and Support

DNSimple is known for outstanding documentation:

• Comprehensive help articles: Step-by-step guides for every feature
• API documentation: Clear, example-rich API docs with tutorials
• Educational content: "How DNS Works" and "How HTTPS Works" comics
• Email support: Responsive, knowledgeable support team
• Priority support: Faster response times on Teams/Enterprise
• Community resources: Open-source contributions and examples
• Status page: Real-time service status and incident history
• Changelog: Detailed product updates and improvements

Support responses are typically fast, technical, and helpful - written by people who actually understand DNS.

Infrastructure as Code Integration

DNSimple embraces modern DevOps practices:

• Terraform provider: Official Terraform provider for managing DNS records
• Chef cookbook: Automate DNS configuration with Chef
• Ansible integration: Manage DNS via Ansible playbooks
• CI/CD friendly: Integrate DNS changes into deployment pipelines
• GitOps workflows: Treat DNS as code in version control
• Idempotent operations: API calls are safe to retry

You can manage your entire DNS infrastructure through Terraform, with changes reviewed via pull requests just like application code.

Real-Time Webhooks

DNSimple sends webhooks for important events:

• Domain events: Registration, transfer, renewal, expiration warnings
• DNS changes: Record additions, modifications, deletions
• SSL certificates: Issuance, renewal, expiration notifications
• Zone transfers: Secondary DNS transfer notifications
• Account activity: User changes, authentication events
• Flexible routing: Send webhooks to Slack, PagerDuty, custom endpoints

Build custom workflows that react to domain and DNS changes automatically.

Domain Access Control

Fine-grained permissions for team collaboration:

• Per-domain permissions: Grant access to specific domains only
• Role-based access: Different permission levels per user
• User management: Add/remove team members easily
• Activity tracking: Audit log of all changes and who made them
• SSO integration: Single Sign-On with Okta, Google, Microsoft
• Two-factor authentication: 2FA for account security

Use Cases and Customer Success

DNSimple serves diverse technical teams:

• SaaS companies: Manage customer subdomains via API (ClickFunnels use case)
• Agencies: Manage multiple client domains in one account
• DevOps teams: Infrastructure as Code DNS management
• Open source projects: Linux Foundation, RubyGems rely on DNSimple
• Startups: Simple DNS that scales from 1 to 10,000 domains
• Enterprises: Centralized domain management across teams

ClickFunnels testimonial: "We were able to roll out an experience our users love in a very short period. This has increased our stickiness and reduced churn." - Ryan Montgomery, CTO

DNSimple vs. Competitors

vs. Cloudflare:

• DNSimple: Better API/automation, simpler interface, focused on DNS/domains
• Cloudflare: Better for CDN, WAF, DDoS protection combined with DNS

vs. AWS Route 53:

• DNSimple: Friendlier interface, better documentation, easier learning curve
• Route 53: Better for AWS-native infrastructure, geographic routing

vs. GoDaddy/Namecheap:

• DNSimple: Developer-focused, clean UI, excellent APIs, no upsells
• Traditional registrars: More TLDs, sometimes cheaper domains, but cluttered

vs. NS1:

• DNSimple: Simpler, more affordable, better for typical use cases
• NS1: Advanced traffic management, real-time data-driven DNS

Limitations to Consider

DNSimple may not be ideal for:

• Price-sensitive buyers: Per-zone pricing adds up with many domains
• Non-technical users: Designed for developers, may be overkill for simple needs
• Complex routing needs: No geographic/latency-based routing (use Route 53/NS1)
• Budget domain registration: Domain prices competitive but not the absolute cheapest
• Enterprise features: Some advanced features require Enterprise plan

Getting Started with DNSimple

Start using DNSimple in minutes:

1. Sign up: Create account at dnsimple.com (30-day free trial)
2. Choose plan: Solo (free), Teams ($29/month), or Enterprise
3. Add domain: Register new or transfer existing domains
4. Configure DNS: Use one-click services or manually add records
5. Point nameservers: Update domain to use DNSimple nameservers
6. Automate: Integrate with API, Terraform, or webhooks

The 30-day free trial (no credit card required) lets you test all features before committing.

Open Source Commitment

DNSimple actively supports open source:

• Free DNS hosting: For qualified open source projects
• Open-source tools: API clients, Terraform providers all open source
• Educational content: Free comics and educational materials
• Community engagement: Active participation in DNS community
• Sponsorships: Support for Ruby, open-source conferences

The Bottom Line

DNSimple has earned its reputation as the "developer's DNS provider" by relentlessly focusing on simplicity, automation, and excellent APIs. If you're a developer, DevOps engineer, or technical team who values clean interfaces, comprehensive automation, and treating DNS as code, DNSimple is likely your ideal solution.

The transparent pricing, outstanding documentation, responsive support, and "it just works" reliability make DNSimple a pleasure to use compared to traditional domain registrars or complex enterprise DNS solutions. Features like ALIAS records, one-click service connections, automated Let's Encrypt SSL, and best-in-class API libraries eliminate the typical pain points of DNS management.

While per-zone pricing means DNSimple isn't the cheapest option for managing hundreds of low-traffic domains, for teams that value developer experience, automation, and reliability, the pricing is more than justified. The time saved through automation and the confidence gained from excellent documentation and support make DNSimple an investment that pays for itself.

Whether you're managing a handful of personal domains or orchestrating DNS for thousands of customer domains via API, DNSimple provides the tools, reliability, and developer experience to make DNS management actually enjoyable.