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Pricing, plan names, free plan availability, and trial details are checked against official provider pages before being used in ProPicked scores. Vendor relationships do not change rankings, scores, or recommendations.
Provider Pricing Facts
Provider pricing facts: Cloudflare DNS offers a free plan; NS1 (IBM) offers a free plan.
Source and Freshness Note
Source and freshness note: pricing, free-plan, and feature signals are compared from public provider data and updated comparison records. Last checked May 2026.
Cloudflare DNS vs NS1 (IBM): Honest Comparison (2026)
Cloudflare DNS
Free authoritative DNS with global anycast network and DDoS protection
NS1 (IBM)
Enterprise intelligent DNS with traffic steering and real-time analytics
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Quick Verdict:
Cloudflare DNS wins with 9.2/10 vs 8.3/10. Choose Cloudflare DNS for ease of use. Choose NS1 (IBM) for its unique strengths.
Cloudflare DNS wins this comparison with a score of 9.2/10 vs 8.3/10. Both offer free plans. Choose Cloudflare DNS for ease of use, or NS1 (IBM) for its strengths. However, NS1 (IBM) leads in our detailed feature analysis (8.7 vs 6.7).
| Feature | Cloudflare DNS | NS1 (IBM) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.2/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Ease of Use | 9.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| Features | 9.0/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Value for Money | 9.8/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Customer Support | 8.0/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Free Plan | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ |
| Starting Price | $20/mo | $175/mo |
| Feature Score | 6.7/10 | 8.7/10 |
| Best For | - | NS1 (IBM) is best forteams that need dns management with proven reliability and a clear pricing model. With a generous free tier and starting price of $175/mo |
| Winner | Cloudflare DNS (9.2/10) | |
What is Cloudflare DNS?
Free authoritative DNS with global anycast network and DDoS protectionCloudflare DNS is the world's fastest authoritative DNS, hosting domains for 25M+ websites with sub-millisecond global response times via Cloudflare's 330+ city network. Free tier includes unlimited records, DNSSEC, full DDoS protection, and analytics. Combined with Cloudflare's CDN, WAF, and Workers, it's the default for performance-conscious developers. Free for unlimited domains.
What is NS1 (IBM)?
Enterprise intelligent DNS with traffic steering and real-time analyticsNS1 (now part of IBM) provides an intelligent DNS and traffic management platform. Its filter chain technology enables sophisticated traffic steering decisions based on real-time data, making it the choice for high-traffic applications requiring intelligent load balancing. Rated 8.3/10 across 290+ reviews. With a free plan available. And paid plans starting at $175/mo.
- •NS1 (IBM) is best forteams that need dns management with proven reliability and a clear pricing model. With a generous free tier and starting price of $175/mo
- •it suits individuals exploring the category as well as small businesses through enterprise.Specifically
- •NS1 (IBM) works well for:(1)hosting authoritative DNS
Cloudflare DNS vs NS1 (IBM): Key Differences
Cloudflare DNS vs NS1 (IBM): Quick Verdict
Decision Summary
Who wins in each scenario? A quick look at how Cloudflare DNS and NS1 (IBM) compare across different buyer needs.
Scores 9.2/10 vs 8.3/10
Scores 9.8/10 on value vs 7.5/10
Ease of use: 9.0/10 vs 7.8/10
Features + support avg: 8.7/10 vs 8.5/10
Free plan available + 9.8/10 value
Both offer free plans
Choose Cloudflare DNS if you need...
- ✓Better ease of use (9.0/10)
- ✓More comprehensive features (9.0/10)
- ✓Good value for money (9.8/10)
- ✓Free plan available
- ✓Lower starting price ($20/mo vs $175/mo)
Choose NS1 (IBM) if you need...
- ✓Strong features (8.8/10)
- ✓Free plan available
Our Take: Cloudflare DNS vs NS1 (IBM)
Cloudflare DNS edges ahead with a 9.2/10 vs 8.3/10. The gap is noticeable but not dramatic — both are legitimate options depending on what you prioritize.
Where they differ: Cloudflare DNS wins on ease of use and value for money, while NS1 (IBM) takes the lead in support quality. These aren't minor differences — they reflect fundamentally different product philosophies.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each one with zero risk before committing. We recommend trying both for a week with real data.
Cloudflare DNS vs NS1 (IBM) Score Comparison
| Category | Cloudflare DNS | NS1 (IBM) |
|---|---|---|
🏆Overall Score | 9.2▲ | 8.3 |
💫Ease of Use | 9.0▲ | 7.8 |
⚙Features | 9.0▲ | 8.8 |
💰Value for Money | 9.8▲ | 7.5 |
💬Customer Support | 8.0 | ▲8.5 |
Who Should Use Cloudflare DNS vs NS1 (IBM)?
Cloudflare DNS is ideal for
NS1 (IBM) is ideal for
- •NS1 (IBM) is best forteams that need dns management with proven reliability and a clear pricing model. With a generous free tier and starting price of $175/mo
- •it suits individuals exploring the category as well as small businesses through enterprise.Specifically
- •NS1 (IBM) works well for:(1)hosting authoritative DNS
- •(2)managing global DNS routing
- •(3)running DNSSEC.It isless idealfor solo creators on a strict zero-budget setup
Cloudflare DNS vs NS1 (IBM) Decision Framework
Choose based on what matters most to you
Cloudflare DNSCloudflare DNSNS1 (IBM)NS1 (IBM)Cloudflare DNS vs NS1 (IBM) Pricing
| Pricing Feature | Cloudflare DNS | NS1 (IBM) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Starting Price | $20/mo | $175/mo |
| Free Trial | Not available | Not available |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 3 |
| Value Rating | 9.8/10 | 7.5/10 |
Cloudflare DNS Plans
- ✓Unlimited DNS queries
- ✓Global anycast network
- ✓DDoS protection
- ✓DNSSEC
- +1 more
- ✓Everything in Free
- ✓Faster propagation
- ✓Advanced analytics
- ✓WAF rules
- +1 more
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓100% uptime SLA
- ✓Custom SSL
- ✓Priority support
NS1 (IBM) Plans
- ✓500K queries/mo
- ✓50 records
- ✓1 zone
- ✓Basic DNS
- +1 more
- ✓10M queries/mo
- ✓Unlimited records
- ✓Filter chains
- ✓DNS analytics
- +1 more
- ✓Unlimited queries
- ✓Dedicated infrastructure
- ✓24/7 support
- ✓Custom SLA
- +1 more
What You Get: Plan Feature Comparison
Comparing Cloudflare DNS's Free (Free) vs NS1 (IBM)'s Growth ($175/mo)
| Feature | Cloudflare DNS | NS1 (IBM) |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited DNS queries | ✓ | ✗ |
| Global anycast network | ✓ | ✗ |
| DDoS protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| DNSSEC | ✓ | ✗ |
| API access | ✓ | ✗ |
| 10M queries/mo | ✗ | ✓ |
| Unlimited records | ✗ | ✓ |
| Filter chains | ✗ | ✓ |
| DNS analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
| Email support | ✗ | ✓ |
Which Should You Choose?
Cloudflare DNS
NS1 (IBM)
Quick Buyer's Guide
Based on our analysis, here's who each tool is best suited for
Cloudflare DNS is best for:- ✓Users who prioritize ease of use (9.0 vs 7.8)
- ✓Teams that need a more feature-rich platform (9.0 vs 8.8)
- ✓Budget-conscious buyers seeking better value
- ✓Teams with tighter budgets ($20/mo vs $175/mo)
NS1 (IBM) is best for:- ✓NS1 (IBM) is best forteams that need dns management with proven reliability and a clear pricing model. With a generous free tier and starting price of $175/mo
- ✓it suits individuals exploring the category as well as small businesses through enterprise.Specifically
Cloudflare DNS vs NS1 (IBM): The Bottom Line
Cloudflare DNS wins this comparison, but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Cloudflare DNS takes this one with 9.2/10 vs 8.3/10. The gap is meaningful but not enormous. NS1 (IBM) still has strengths — its specific feature set may tip the scales for certain teams. Test both if you can. NS1 (IBM) at 8.3/10 is still competitive and may be the better fit depending on your specific requirements and budget.