Why choose OnlyDNS as an alternative to Cloudflare DNS?

OnlyDNS is engineered strictly for high-performance authoritative DNS. Unlike Cloudflare, OnlyDNS does not force you into HTTP reverse proxying (Orange Cloud), supports standard RFC 2136 TSIG dynamic DNS updates, provides native Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers for AI agents, and offers transparent, predictable developer pricing.

Does OnlyDNS support Dynamic DNS like RFC 2136?

Yes. OnlyDNS provides native RFC 2136 dynamic DNS support with HMAC-SHA256 TSIG authentication, allowing nsupdate, Kubernetes ExternalDNS, and autonomous scripts to update DNS records directly over standard DNS protocols.

Can I migrate my DNS zones from Cloudflare to OnlyDNS without downtime?

Yes. You can export your BIND zone file from Cloudflare and import it directly into OnlyDNS via our web portal, REST API, or CLI. Once imported, update your registrar nameservers to OnlyDNS with zero downtime.

// Competitor Comparison

The Pure Authoritative Cloudflare DNS Alternative

Tired of forced reverse proxies, ecosystem lock-in, and complex dashboard friction? OnlyDNS provides developer-first, rapid Anycast DNS (typically 0.2–5s) with native RFC 2136 dynamic updates, MCP agent tool calling, and automated DNSSEC.

Start Free with OnlyDNS Explore API Docs AI Agent Hub

0.2–5s

Global Edge Sync

RFC 2136

TSIG Dynamic Updates

Native MCP

Claude/Cursor Tooling

100% Pure

Authoritative DNS (No Proxy)

// Why Switch

Where Cloudflare Falls Short for Modern Infrastructure

While Cloudflare excels as a global CDN and web application firewall, using it purely for DNS introduces architectural friction, forced CDN features, and limitations for programmatic workloads.

The Cloudflare DNS Compromises

Ecosystem lock-in & proxy bundling: Default "Orange Cloud" proxying alters packet headers, terminates SSL, and breaks non-HTTP protocols unless bypassed.
No standard RFC 2136 / TSIG: Incompatible with standard IETF dynamic DNS protocols, forcing reliance on proprietary REST APIs for record changes.
No native MCP agent support: Lacks official Model Context Protocol servers for AI coding assistants and autonomous agent workflows.
Rate limits on unproxied DNS: Restrictive API rate limits on high-frequency programmatic record creation and zone management.

The OnlyDNS Advantage

Pure authoritative resolution: Clean, unadulterated DNS responses across 20+ global Anycast Tier 1 PoPs with zero MITM proxying.
Native RFC 2136 & TSIG keys: Standard Dynamic DNS support for container environments, Kubernetes ExternalDNS, and nsupdate scripts.
Official Model Context Protocol (MCP) server: Plug and play DNS management directly inside Claude Desktop, Cursor, and agent frameworks.
Rapid Anycast edge propagation: Changes propagate globally in 0.2 to 5 seconds with token-optimized /llms.txt documentation.

// Direct Comparison

OnlyDNS vs Cloudflare DNS Feature Matrix

A detailed side-by-side analysis of features, protocols, and capabilities.

Capability / Feature	OnlyDNS	Cloudflare DNS
Primary Architecture	Pure Authoritative Anycast DNS	Reverse Proxy & CDN Hybrid
Dynamic DNS Protocol (RFC 2136)	✅ Native with HMAC-SHA256 TSIG	❌ Not Supported (Proprietary API only)
Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server	✅ Official (`@onlydns/mcp`)	❌ Community / Custom Proxies Only
Global Propagation Latency	⚡ Rapid (0.2–5s)	~ 2 - 5 seconds
Machine Documentation Format	✅ `/llms.txt` & OpenAPI 3.1	❌ Standard HTML Developer Portal
DNSSEC Automation	✅ 1-Click Automated Signing & Zone Key Rollover	✅ Supported
Multi-Language SDKs	✅ Python, Go, PHP, TypeScript, CLI	✅ Multiple SDKs available
Free Developer Tier	✅ 250,000 queries/mo + API access	✅ Free tier with proxy upsells
Non-HTTP Protocol Support	✅ Full (All RFC DNS record types)	⚠️ Requires Spectrum add-on for raw TCP/UDP proxying
Historical Uptime Track Record	🛡️ 99.99999% (26 Years Infrastructure)	⚠️ Periodic global control plane / dashboard outages

// Effortless Transition

How to Migrate from Cloudflare to OnlyDNS in 3 Simple Steps

Transition your DNS zones seamlessly without a single millisecond of downtime.

Export Your Cloudflare Zone File

Log into the Cloudflare dashboard, navigate to your domain's DNS settings, and click Export DNS Records to download your standard BIND-formatted zone file.

Import into OnlyDNS

Create a free OnlyDNS account, click Import Zone, and upload your BIND file or use the OnlyDNS CLI:

onlydns zones import --file zone.txt

Update Nameservers at Registrar

Point your domain's nameservers at your registrar to OnlyDNS (ns1.onlydns.com and ns2.onlydns.us). Global resolution shifts seamlessly with zero dropped queries.

💡

Automated Migration via REST API

Managing hundreds of domains? Use our OpenAPI 3.1 endpoints or Python SDK to programmatically migrate bulk zones in seconds. Read our API Documentation for migration scripts.

// Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use a CDN if I switch my DNS to OnlyDNS?

Absolutely. You can point your CNAME and A records to Fastly, AWS CloudFront, BunnyCDN, or any CDN provider of your choice without being forced into a single vendor's proxy ecosystem.

How does OnlyDNS handle DDoS attacks compared to Cloudflare?

OnlyDNS operates on a globally distributed Anycast network spanning 20+ Tier 1 PoPs with multi-terabit upstream DDoS scrubbing. DNS queries are absorbed at edge nodes without impacting upstream application servers.

Is DNSSEC supported automatically?

Yes. OnlyDNS provides one-click automated DNSSEC signing and automatic Zone Signing Key (ZSK) rollover. For domains registered with OnlyDNS, parent DS updates are rolled over automatically, while for external registrars, updated DS record parameters are provided in your control panel.

What is the Free Tier query limit and how do paid plans scale?

Our Free Tier includes 1 domain, 25 records, and 250,000 queries per month with full REST API and MCP access. Paid plans start at just $4.99/month for 5 domains and 5 Million queries, and scale seamlessly up to custom Enterprise tiers for workloads requiring 100M+ queries or unlimited domains.

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