Glesys
Swedish cloud host with unlimited DNS zones included free in every account
Key data
| Company | Glesys AB |
|---|---|
| Category | Managed DNS Providers |
| Headquarters | not stated on the pages we read, Sweden |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Sweden (EU) |
| Data Location | Data centers in Falkenberg, Stockholm, Oulu, Pori and Tampere; partner data centers in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Helsinki, London and Oslo |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Domains and DNS service, unlimited zones, DNS editor, API, globally distributed nameservers, domain forwarding, email routing |
| Pricing | Domains and DNS is included free with an account; Glesys states all listed prices exclude VAT |
| Best For | Teams that already run servers at Glesys and want DNS and domains in the same panel and API |
| Replaces | Amazon Route 53 |
Full review
Glesys AB is the controller named in the Glesys privacy policy, and its terms are governed by Swedish law with arbitration at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. Glesys calls itself a European IaaS provider run under an EU Access Policy.
Glesys offers DNS as part of a Domains and DNS service next to its cloud, bare metal and storage products. The service is included in an account rather than sold as a standalone product.
What is in the Glesys Domains and DNS service?
Glesys describes a control panel where customers forward traffic, manage email routing and update records. A DNS editor and an API cover custom record types and automated workflows.
Glesys says the service includes unlimited zones and a globally distributed nameserver network, so one region failing does not stop resolution.
Can I keep my registrar and use Glesys DNS?
Glesys answers yes in its FAQ: a customer keeps the domain at the current registrar and switches only the nameservers to Glesys. That makes Glesys DNS usable without a domain transfer.
The pages we read do not list DNSSEC, health checks or GeoDNS for the service.
Glesys as a European alternative to Amazon Route 53
Glesys includes DNS at no extra cost in an account, where Amazon Route 53 bills each hosted zone and each million queries. A Swedish company contract and EU personnel access are the Glesys points on jurisdiction.
Glesys lists no routing policies, which Route 53 offers. Glesys fits teams that need plain, API-driven DNS next to European servers.
Where it falls short
Glesys lists no DNSSEC, health checks, GeoDNS or latency routing for its DNS service on the pages we read, and it publishes no DNS-specific price. DNS is tied to having a Glesys account. The headquarters city is not shown in the pages we read. For routing features compare Gcore or bunny.net.
Is Glesys right for you?
Teams that already host servers at Glesys, or want a Swedish provider, and need unlimited zones with an API and no separate DNS bill.
What works, what does not
Pros
- DNS included free with an account
- Unlimited zones stated
- DNS editor and API for automation
- Keep your current registrar and switch nameservers only
- ISO 27001 and EU Access Policy stated by Glesys
Cons
- No DNSSEC or health checks listed
- No routing policies listed
- Requires a Glesys account
- Headquarters city not shown on the pages we read
Pros and Cons
Pros
- DNS included free with an account
- Unlimited zones stated
- DNS editor and API for automation
- Keep your current registrar and switch nameservers only
- ISO 27001 and EU Access Policy stated by Glesys
Cons
- No DNSSEC or health checks listed
- No routing policies listed
- Requires a Glesys account
- Headquarters city not shown on the pages we read
Alternatives to Glesys
Alternatives from Europe in the managed dns providers group:
See all European managed dns providers or compare them directly against Amazon Route 53 on our alternatives page.
Common questions
For plain DNS yes. Glesys AB is a Swedish company that includes unlimited DNS zones in an account. It lists no routing policies or health checks.
Glesys states the Domains and DNS service is included free with your account. Glesys says all its listed prices exclude VAT.
Yes. Glesys says you can keep your registrar and change only the nameservers to Glesys.