At easyDNS, we offer a range of DNS hosting plans—Domain Plus, DNS Standard, DNS Pro, and Enterprise—each tailored to meet varying needs. Every plan includes a specific monthly DNS usage quota, designed to accommodate typical DNS request volumes. Approximately 97% of our customers remain comfortably within these limits. However, if your usage exceeds the allocated quota, overage billing will apply. Here’s how we manage this process:
1. Understanding Your DNS Usage Quota
Each plan comes with a predefined monthly DNS query limit:
- Domain Plus: 250,000 queries/month
- DNS Standard: 1 million queries/month
- DNS Pro: 5 million queries/month
- Enterprise: 10 million queries/month
These quotas are detailed in our DNS Comparison Chart. Selecting a plan that aligns with your anticipated traffic helps prevent overage charges.
2. Proactive Usage Notifications
To keep you informed, we have an automated notification system:
- 80% Usage Alert: We send an automated email alert when your DNS queries reach 80% of your monthly quota.
- Additional Alerts: Further notifications are dispatched as you approach 90% and 100% of your quota.
These alerts provide ample time to assess your DNS activity and consider adjustments or plan upgrades.
3. Billing Process for Overage Charges
If your DNS usage surpasses the monthly quota, overage fees are calculated as follows:
- Monthly Usage Review: At the end of each billing cycle, we assess your total DNS queries.
- Overage Calculation: We take any queries above the base allocation. Overage fees are applied per additional DNS query, with rates specified in our DNS Comparison Chart.
- Seven-Day Invoice Delay: Invoices for overages are issued seven days after the billing cycle concludes at the end of each month.
- Payment Terms: Payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date.
4. Managing or Avoiding Overage Fees
To help you manage or avoid overage charges:
- Plan Upgrades: If you anticipate higher traffic, upgrading to a plan with a larger quota before the invoice is issued can offset or eliminate overage fees.
- Adjusting the TTL (Time-To-Live) on DNS Records: Reducing the frequency of DNS queries is a great way to stay within your usage quota. You can adjust the TTL settings on individual DNS records or modify the SOA (Start of Authority) record to set a default TTL for all records. A higher TTL value means DNS responses are cached for longer periods, reducing the number of queries to our servers and potentially lowering your overall query count.
- Outlier Month Consideration: For unexpected traffic spikes, contact our support team. We review such cases individually and may waive or reduce charges based on the circumstances.
5. DDOS Traffic and NX Domain Exclusion
Our robust DDOS prevention measures ensure that malicious traffic is filtered and does not count toward your DNS usage. This means you’re only billed for legitimate DNS queries.
Key Takeaways
- Monitor Usage: Monitor our usage alerts to proactively manage your DNS traffic.
- Select the Appropriate Plan: Choose a plan that matches your expected traffic to avoid overages.
- Upgrade When Necessary: Upgrading before an invoice is issued can help manage costs during high-traffic periods.
- Reach Out for Support: If you experience unusual traffic spikes, contact us to discuss potential adjustments to your charges.
By staying informed and utilizing our flexible options, you can effectively manage your DNS usage and associated costs.