Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google Cloud DNS VS Cloudflare DNS

Compare Google Cloud DNS VS Cloudflare DNS and see what are their differences

Google Cloud DNS logo Google Cloud DNS

Reliable, resilient, low-latency DNS serving from Google’s worldwide network of Anycast DNS servers.

Cloudflare DNS logo Cloudflare DNS

Install the free app that makes your phone’s Internet more fast, private, and reliable.
  • Google Cloud DNS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-30
  • Cloudflare DNS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22

Google Cloud DNS features and specs

  • Scalability
    Google Cloud DNS can efficiently handle a large number of DNS queries, making it suitable for applications with high traffic volumes.
  • Global Anycast Network
    Google Cloud DNS uses Google’s global Anycast network, which ensures low latency and high availability by routing the queries to the nearest location.
  • Integration with Google Cloud Platform
    Seamless integration with other Google Cloud services simplifies the management and deployment of resources.
  • Security
    DNSSEC support for verification of DNS records, combined with Google's robust security infrastructure, offers great protection against common DNS attacks.
  • High Availability
    99.99% SLA for uptime ensures reliable service with minimal disruptions.
  • User-friendly Interface
    Google Cloud DNS provides an easy-to-use interface along with comprehensive API support for automated and manual management.
  • Detailed Logging and Monitoring
    Integrated logging and monitoring capabilities allow for better tracking and troubleshooting of DNS queries.

Possible disadvantages of Google Cloud DNS

  • Pricing
    While competitive, the cost can add up for small businesses or individual developers, especially when handling a large volume of queries.
  • Complexity
    Complex configurations can be challenging for users who are not familiar with the Google Cloud Platform ecosystem.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Heavy reliance on Google Cloud services may result in vendor lock-in, making it difficult to migrate to other providers.
  • Limited Geo-targeting Options
    It currently lacks advanced geo-targeting features found in other DNS providers, limiting more granular control over DNS traffic routing.
  • Learning Curve
    New users or those less familiar with DNS management might face a learning curve when navigating the interface and configuring settings.

Cloudflare DNS features and specs

  • Privacy
    Cloudflare DNS offers robust privacy protections by not logging your IP address and anonymizing DNS queries. This helps ensure that your browsing habits are not tracked or sold to advertisers.
  • Speed
    Cloudflare DNS is one of the fastest DNS services available, ensuring quick resolution of domain names and improved overall internet experience.
  • Security
    Cloudflare DNS includes built-in security features like DNSSEC support to protect against DNS spoofing and other types of DNS attacks.
  • Reliability
    With a globally distributed network of data centers, Cloudflare provides a highly reliable DNS service with minimal downtime.
  • Free Service
    Cloudflare DNS is entirely free to use, making it an accessible option for individuals and small businesses.

Possible disadvantages of Cloudflare DNS

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While Cloudflare DNS provides essential DNS functionality, it may lack some advanced features and customization options offered by other premium DNS services.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Despite its strong privacy policies, some users may still be concerned about trusting a third-party provider with their DNS queries.
  • Potential Blocking
    Cloudflare DNS has been known to block certain websites, which can lead to accessibility issues for users trying to reach these sites.

Analysis of Cloudflare DNS

Overall verdict

  • Cloudflare DNS is considered a top-tier DNS service due to its exceptional speed, commitment to privacy, and robust security features. It is suitable for most users seeking a reliable and private DNS solution.

Why this product is good

  • Privacy
    Cloudflare emphasizes privacy by not logging personal data and deleting DNS logs within 24 hours. It also supports encryption protocols like DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT), which provide additional layers of security against eavesdropping.
  • Features
    Cloudflare DNS provides various features like support for DNSSEC, which adds an additional layer of security to prevent DNS spoofing. It's also relatively easy to set up on most devices and supports IPv6.
  • Performance
    Cloudflare DNS is known for its speed and reliability. It consistently ranks among the fastest public DNS services due to its extensive network infrastructure. This ensures quicker domain name resolution and thus potentially faster internet browsing.
  • Reliability
    With a vast global network, Cloudflare can provide consistent uptime and handle high traffic loads, making it a dependable choice for users around the world.

Recommended for

    {"businesses" => "Organizations that need reliable DNS performance and robust security to ensure secure and fast access to their online resources.", "general_users" => "Individuals looking for a fast and dependable DNS service with a strong focus on privacy.", "tech-savvy_users" => "People interested in leveraging advanced DNS protocols and who value the infrastructural strength of a large network like Cloudflare's.", "security_conscious_users" => "Users who want enhanced security features such as DNSSEC and encrypted DNS queries."}

Google Cloud DNS videos

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Cloudflare DNS videos

1.1.1.1 | CloudFlare DNS Service

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google Cloud DNS and Cloudflare DNS)
Domain Name Registrar
45 45%
55% 55
Cloud Computing
54 54%
46% 46
DNS Services
48 48%
52% 52
Domain Names
47 47%
53% 53

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Cloudflare DNS should be more popular than Google Cloud DNS. It has been mentiond 16 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Google Cloud DNS mentions (5)

  • Understanding Amazon Route 53: An In-depth Guide
    Google Cloud DNS: This is Google Cloud's offering, designed to provide high-performance and premium networking. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Squarespace Enters Definitive Agreement to Acquire Google Domains Assets
    Google's enterprise-grade DNS is "Google Cloud DNS" [1]. It's not going anywhere. Google Domains is a consumer-grade product, in the sense that it is lacking most of the features (access control, bulk management) that a large company needs, though it was not lacking in stability / availability. And you could easily hook Google Domains up to Google Workspace to light up email for a small business. Feels like a good... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • One week and I already dislike GC
    Why not use Cloud DNS and Cloud Storage to host a static website? Source: over 2 years ago
  • Taking Your Database Beyond a Single Kubernetes Cluster
    Another solution similar to DNS stubs is to use a managed DNS product. In the case of GCP there is the Cloud DNS product, which handles replicating local DNS entries up to the VPC level for resolution by outside clusters, or even virtual machines within the same VPC. This option offers a lot of benefits, including:. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • A practical guide to securing Google Workspace for a startup
    You are 100% right that the domain is the keys to the kingdom. Definitely only use registrars and DNS providers that have 2FA. Google has a registrar now, as well as DNS in GCP https://cloud.google.com/domains/docs/register-domain and https://cloud.google.com/dns. By using those you can leverage your Google account's security (use separate accounts for admin level access on GCP and enforce hardware 2FA), and... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago

Cloudflare DNS mentions (16)

  • RethinkDNS Resolver That Deploys to CF Workers, Deno Deploy, Fastly, Fly.io
    - https://check-host.net/check-ping?host=https://cloudflare-dns.com If CPU time isn't the bottleneck of response time, any idea what the reason is behind the difference in response time? - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Mikrotik Leaks DNS When Using DoH
    I added cloudflare-dns.com as a static entry and cleared cache. Cleared cache on my machine and pinged google.com. There were 2 DNS requests against both dynamic servers. I then pinged yahoo.com and 2 more DNS requests were created. I have not looked in Wireshark to see if the DNS requests are requests to the destination URL or if it's to cloudflare-dns.com. However, the fact that I have cloudflare-dns.com defined... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Cloudflare-dns.com (DoH) not working since tuesday on Android
    I'm having an issue with cloudflare DoH (using cloudflare-dns.com) not working since tuesday on Android. As you can see in this post, it doesn't affect only me. Source: about 2 years ago
  • DoH Cloudflare changed from dns-cloudflare.com?
    I know but DoH with cloudflare-dns.com isn't working so I mentioned an alternative that is working that still uses cloudflare, albeit DoT. Source: about 2 years ago
  • cloudflare-dns.com not working anymore for DoH on A13 ?
    I am using cloudflare as DoH method on my phone (s22, Android13) with the following URL : cloudflare-dns.com . It was working well until earlier today, when it stoped working, and nothing I tried fixes it. Other DNS providers work, and cloudflare DoT works... Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google Cloud DNS and Cloudflare DNS, you can also consider the following products

Amazon Route 53 - Amazon Route 53 is a highly available and scalable DNS web service.

ClouDNS - ClouDNS is a platform that allows users to keep their websites, data, and network security all the time.

DNS Made Easy - DNS performance, reliability, and security have never been easier.

DNSimple - Domain Name Service with low cost hosted DNS, an easy to use web interface, and a REST API for automation. Hosting DNS has never been so simple.

Azure DNS - Azure DNS is a hosting service for DNS domains, providing name resolution using Microsoft Azure infrastructure.

GoDaddy Premium DNS - Sell your domain name in the Premium Domain Names section of the domain search page of the world's largest Domain Name Registrar - GoDaddy.