Free DNS (Name Server) Hosting Services

Not all domain names registras provides DNS hosting service to the domains purchasers. Normally, to earn extra income revenue, domain name registrars will require domain name registrants to buy additional service for DNS hosting service, or the domain price has been marked up to reflect the “free” DNS server. In this case, the domain owners can either set up own DNS hosting server, or host the DNS entries for the domains in external free or paid DNS hosting services.

There are plenty of free DNS hosting service providers available on Internet, with different level of reliability, number of DNS servers, location of DNS servers, amount and number of DNS records and record types, static or dynamic DNS (DDNS), refresh rate of DNS records, update speed of DNS records, support for dynamic IP address, acceptable usage policy, different control panel user interface, accept top or second level domain (domain.com) or/and third level domain (user.dns.com), spam policy and etc. As free web DNS hosting is free, so everybody can use it for any custom DNS anytime from any place. For various reasons list below, webmasters can use the free DNS hosting for.

• Want to save money or don’t want to pay money to subscribe for a paid DNS hosting service such as DynDNS.com and NoIP.com.
• Want to ensure and improve reliability and accessibility of the domain with secondary secondary DNS servers. In the case of primary DNS servers down or unavailable due to network problems, resolvers will fallback to secondary DNS entries.
• Need DNS name servers that located in USA or closer to North America Internet backbones.
• Newbies who just started in web publishing or new in DNS server administration, so not familiar with workflow or working logic of Internet DNS system. So it’s better not do do it yourself, and using free DNS hosting is good alternative.
• To set up multiple DNS servers at different geographical location to ensure that different regions will have fastest resolution of the domain name.
• Want a publicly-accessible DNS name servers outside of firewall which blocks current name server.
• ISP unable to provide DNS host or going to change ISP in future.
• Just need a specific DNS record such as MX records where setting up a new name server or paid service is too costly.
• Want to have more control over DNS records.
• Own name server unable to take the load of DNS resolving requests.

Whatever is your reason, here’s a list of free DNS hosting or NS service providers if you need one. Not that those DNS service or dynamic DNS services only supports shared third level hostname (i.e username.dns-subdomain.com) and not self own (core) fully qualified top and second level domain name are excluded from the list.

• Bur.st Networking – Provides domain hosting and domain seconding (secondary DNS), complete with mail hosting and backup mail server. Bur.st has a number of redundant name-servers, located at logicaly and physicaly separate sites. Only available to those physically live in Australia.
• dnsEXIT – provides reliable DNS Services free to top level domains for both business and internet users. The DNS supports Dynamic IP that means users will be able to run your own website, ftp, or mail servers via DSL, cable modem lines with dynamic IP. Features DNS Tools record creation wizard.
• DNS Park – Current promotion in AdWords campaign is offering free services just to try DNS Park service. The free service tokens do not expire so users can use them forever. Free services available are DNS Hosting, Mail Guiding, Web Guiding and Web Camping.
• DynDNS.dk – Current pricing for DNS Pro service is free which enables users to manage all name related aspects for own domain names. Include special features such as dynamic updateable IP-addresses and browser request forwarding (to another URL). All the standard name server settings (A-, CNAME-, MX-records etc.) can be controlled.
• EditDNS – Free DNS hosting supports A, CNAME, MX, NS, SRV, TXT, PTR, and AAAA records, backup DNS, dynamic DNS, sub-domains, web forwarding, e-mail forwarding, email hosting, e-mail backup, MX re-routing, and spam and virus email filtering. Europe and US nameservers available.
• EveryDNS – Provides static free DNS services as well as many advanced services such as Dynamic DNS resolution, Secondary service, AXFR service, and domain2web redirection.
• freeDNS.afraid.org – Free dynamic DNS and static DNS services, subdomain hosting, domain hosting, backup DNS, forward and reverse IPv6 DNS hosting (both .int and .arpa) and URL redirection or web forwarding. Support unlimited number of domains per account, all TLD, and record types including CNAME, A, AAAA, MX, NS, TXT, LOC, RP, HINFO, SRV records. Also features round robin DNS supported for load balancing and URL cloaking redirection. Users can edit TTL, Minimum, Allow/Deny AXFR’s, and approve/disapprove others from using hosts on your domain.
• Granite Canyon – The free public DNS service offers both primary and secondary DNS.
• Gratis DNS – Free DNS service in Danish language.
• miniDNS – Provides hosting for your own top-level domain name, support dynamic IP to fixed domain name mapping, and web based DNS record management.
• MyDomain – Sign up and register a free account to use the free web-based DNS Management service. No purchase necessary. Also included free e-mail forwarding, unmasked, masked or banner supported URL forwarding.
• Sitelutions – Free internationally redundant high-quality NS server for DNS (dynamic and static), URL redirection or forwarding). Supports domain parking and domain locking and using easy web-based control for DNS and redirection settings. Allows low TTL settings and instant dynamic updates.
• Twisted4Life – Free secondary DNS for domains which users have control of its DNS settings on primary DNS server.
• VCSWEB – Free DNS Service (a Primary and a Secondary) which support both static or dynamic IP address, with an easy to use interface that even beginners can use, whilst not restricting the more advanced users. All changes has real-time updates.
• VDirect – Offers free virtual web, domain and email redirection service, with cloaking and website statistics features. Advertising supported using a banner at bottom of redirected page, popup banner, or a banner delay page. Paid service for no adverts.
• XName – Provides primary and secondary name servers, which hosted on 3 name servers. Supports IPv6 AAAA records, .in-addr.arpa zones (PTR records), automatic modification of associated reverse (or normal) zone, dynamic update, and automatic refresh.
• ZoneEdit – Provides free managed DNS service and secondary name service with servers in US and Europe. Also offers free WebForward domain forwarding, MailForward email forwarding, starter web page and domain parking. Supports dynamic DNS (DDNS) and failover or load balancing. Free service limited to maximum 5 domains.

Note that most DNS hosts that advertise dynamic DNS support (DDNS) should be able to work with static IP addresses too.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 at 10:37 pm and is filed under Webmaster Resources. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.