Why Should I Use DNSimple as a DNS Hosting Provider?
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DNS hosting
DNS hosting at DNSimple serves your domain’s records from a global Anycast network of name servers, and you manage those records in the record editor or through the API. For a concise overview of why teams choose DNSimple for DNS, see Why Should I Host My DNS with DNSimple?. If you want to use DNSimple to manage your domain’s DNS, you have a few options, depending on whether you already have a domain and where it is registered.
Options for DNS hosting with DNSimple
There are several ways to use DNSimple as your DNS hosting provider:
Keep your domain registration with your current registrar
If you have an existing domain registered with another provider, you can choose to manage only its DNS with DNSimple. This means your domain registration remains with your current registrar, but all your DNS records (A, CNAME, MX, etc.) will be configured and served by DNSimple’s name servers.
How to proceed: To use DNSimple for DNS hosting while keeping your registrar separate, you will need to update your domain’s name servers at your current registrar to point to DNSimple’s name servers.
Instructions: For detailed steps, please refer to our instructions on how to point your domain to our name servers.
Transfer your domain registration to DNSimple
For streamlined management, you can transfer both your domain’s registration and DNS management to DNSimple. This consolidates your domain’s registration and DNS records under one account and one interface, simplifying renewals and updates.
How to proceed: This process involves initiating a domain transfer to DNSimple. Once the transfer is complete, DNSimple will become both your domain registrar and your DNS hosting provider.
Note
DNSimple does not automatically change your domain’s name servers when you transfer it, because doing so could cause downtime. If you want the domain to use DNSimple’s name servers when the transfer completes, select on the transfer page. If you do not select this option, your domain will continue using its current name servers after the transfer, and you will need to update the delegation manually later if you want to host DNS with us.
Instructions: For detailed steps, please refer to our instructions on how to transfer your domain to DNSimple. To finish the setup, follow the steps to change your name servers to DNSimple.
Register a new domain with DNSimple
If you do not yet have a domain name, you can register a new domain directly through DNSimple. When you register a domain with us, you can manage your DNS by using DNSimple’s name servers from day one, giving you immediate control over your DNS records.
How to proceed: Sign up or log in to your DNSimple account and proceed with the domain registration process.
Instructions: For detailed steps, please refer to Register a Domain.
Park a Domain for Future Use
If you are reserving a domain name for a project that is not ready yet, you can register or transfer it to DNSimple simply to secure the name and park it until you are ready to build a site or set up email.
How to proceed: Register or transfer the domain. Until you add records, its DNS zone only has the system SOA and NS records that DNSimple manages.
Instructions: Refer to the instructions for registering or transferring a domain.
Have more questions?
If you have additional questions or need any assistance setting up DNS hosting, just contact support, and we will be happy to help.