# Cloudflare DNS vs your registrar's DNS Source: https://dijituldns.co.uk/compare/cloudflare-vs-registrar-dns/ Updated: 2026-10-08 > Your registrar's DNS is free and fine for simple sites, but features vary and it is often basic. Cloudflare DNS is fast, widely used and adds options such as proxying, caching and DDoS protection. The risk is misconfiguring it. dijitul sets up and manages Cloudflare DNS as part of Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT. ## Key facts - DNS translates a domain name into the server address that hosts the site and email. - Most registrars include free DNS hosting with every domain. - Cloudflare offers DNS with an optional proxy that can cache content and absorb attacks. - Moving DNS to Cloudflare means changing the domain's nameservers at the registrar. - MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records must be copied across exactly or email can break. - dijitul Complete Hosting includes Cloudflare DNS set up and managed, at £1 a day + VAT. ## What DNS does and where it lives DNS is the address book for your domain. It tells browsers which server hosts your website and tells other mail servers where to deliver your email. Records such as A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT and CAA live on a set of **nameservers**. When you buy a domain, the registrar usually points it at its own nameservers for free. You can keep it there, or point the domain at a different DNS provider such as Cloudflare. The domain stays registered where it is: only the DNS moves. For the basics, read [what is DNS, in plain English?](https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/what-is-dns/) ## Cloudflare vs registrar DNS compared | Factor | Registrar DNS | Cloudflare DNS | | Cost | Usually included with the domain | Free plan available, paid plans add features | | Speed of changes | Varies, sometimes slow to update | Changes usually apply quickly | | Record types | Common types, some registrars limit SRV or CAA | Wide support, including SRV, CAA and TXT | | Proxy and caching | Usually none | Optional proxy with caching and attack filtering | | Security options | Varies, DNSSEC not always offered | DNSSEC, firewall rules and bot controls | | Risk | Low, but basic | Easy to misconfigure SSL or email if set up badly | ## When registrar DNS is enough Registrar DNS is perfectly sensible when: - You have a simple site with a handful of records. - Your email is hosted elsewhere and only needs MX and TXT records. - You rarely change anything. - Nobody is available to manage a second account. The main drawback is that every registrar is different. Some interfaces are clumsy, some hide record types, and DNS often ends up tied to whoever bought the domain years ago. If that person leaves, you can lose access to DNS and the domain together. See [how to check who owns your domain](https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/check-domain-ownership/). ## When Cloudflare DNS is worth it Cloudflare makes sense when you want speed, security and control in one place. The proxy can cache images and pages, hide your server's real address and filter abusive traffic. DNS changes during a migration take effect quickly, which helps you [move a website without downtime](https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/move-website-without-downtime/). The catch is setup. Common mistakes include missing email records, proxying the mail hostname, and choosing the wrong SSL mode so the site loops or shows errors. Cloudflare is powerful, but it needs someone who knows what they are doing. ## Switching to Cloudflare safely, step by step If you decide to move DNS from your registrar to Cloudflare, do it in this order: - Export or screenshot every record at the registrar, including MX, TXT, SRV and any CNAMEs for email or Microsoft 365. - Add the domain to Cloudflare and compare its imported records line by line against your list. - Set mail hostnames, FTP and anything that is not a website to **DNS only**, not proxied. - Check SPF, DKIM and DMARC records are present and unchanged. - Pick the SSL mode that matches your server. Full (strict) is right when the server has a valid certificate. - Change the nameservers at your registrar to the two Cloudflare gives you. - Test the website, send and receive email, and check SSL in a private browser window. Keep your registrar login safe. You still need it to renew the domain and to change nameservers in future. ## How dijitul handles DNS dijitul [Complete Hosting](https://dijituldns.co.uk/complete-hosting/) at **£1 a day + VAT** includes [Cloudflare DNS management](https://dijituldns.co.uk/cloudflare-dns-management/). We copy your existing records, check SPF, DKIM and DMARC for email, set the right SSL mode and switch the nameservers at a quiet time. After that, ask us for any change and we make it. Your domain stays in your name. [Order online](https://clients.dijitul.uk/order) or call 01623 650333. ## FAQs ### Is Cloudflare DNS better than my registrar's DNS? For most business sites, Cloudflare DNS offers more: quick updates, wide record support, DNSSEC and an optional proxy for caching and attack filtering. Registrar DNS is simpler and fine for basic needs. The best choice depends on whether someone will set Cloudflare up correctly and look after it. ### Do I have to move my domain to use Cloudflare DNS? No. Your domain stays registered with your current registrar. You only change the domain's nameservers to the ones Cloudflare gives you. The registration, renewal and ownership are unchanged, although you still need to keep the domain renewed with the registrar. ### Will switching to Cloudflare break my email? It can if records are missed. Before switching, copy every MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC and other TXT record exactly. Make sure mail hostnames are set to DNS only, not proxied. Done carefully, email carries on working with no interruption. ### Is Cloudflare DNS free? Cloudflare has a free plan that includes DNS hosting and the basic proxy, which is enough for many small business sites. Paid plans add extra features. The real cost is usually the time needed to set it up correctly and keep it maintained. ### Does dijitul manage Cloudflare DNS for me? Yes. dijitul Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT includes Cloudflare DNS set up and managed. dijitul copies your records, checks email authentication, sets SSL correctly and makes changes for you on request, so you never need to log in to Cloudflare yourself. ### How long do DNS changes take? Changes to individual records often apply within minutes, depending on the TTL set on each record. Changing nameservers can take up to a day or two to be seen everywhere, as other servers cache the old details. Lowering TTLs in advance helps a planned move. ## Pricing and ordering dijitul Complete Hosting is £1 a day + VAT (£365 a year + VAT). Order at https://clients.dijitul.uk/order?product=complete-hosting&ref=dijituldns&src=cloudflare-vs-registrar-dns or call 01623 650333.