Scaleway DNS vs Google Cloud DNS: direct, technical comparison focused on EU needs. This analysis evaluates architecture, coverage, security, pricing per-query and per-zone, migration steps (Terraform and CLI examples), practical benchmarking methodology, and decision criteria for European organisations that require data residency, low latency across EU regions, and compliance with GDPR.
Executive summary: Which DNS for EU-first organisations
For EU-first teams prioritising data residency, predictable EU billing, and straightforward integration with European cloud services, Scaleway DNS offers a simpler European-aligned stack and competitive pricing for low-to-medium query volumes. For global scale, advanced enterprise features, and platform-level integrations, Google Cloud DNS brings broader global anycast, mature SLAs and deeper automation. The best choice depends on traffic profile, regulatory constraints, and preferred tooling.
Scaleway DNS architecture
- Scaleway provides DNS as a managed service integrated with its European datacentres and control plane. Documentation is available at Scaleway DNS docs.
- Anycast presence is designed to prioritise EU regions; however, global peering details are limited in public docs.
- Best for customers who want a tight EU-centric stack with simplified governance.
Google Cloud DNS architecture
- Google Cloud DNS uses a global anycast network with DNS resolvers and authoritative servers distributed worldwide. Official overview: Google Cloud DNS docs.
- Backed by Google’s global network and operational SLAs: Google Cloud DNS SLA.
- Best for multi-region global delivery, complex DNS policies and integration with Google Cloud services.
Feature comparison matrix
| Feature |
Scaleway DNS |
Google Cloud DNS |
| Anycast global network |
EU-focused anycast (public docs limited) |
Global anycast with broad edge points |
| DNSSEC support |
Supported (check provider docs) — docs |
Supported with managed keys and import options — docs |
| Private zones / VPC integration |
Private zones available within Scaleway ecosystem |
Private DNS zones integrated with Google VPCs |
| API & IaC support |
REST API + Terraform provider — Terraform |
Full API + Terraform support — Terraform |
| DDoS protection |
Provider-level mitigations; depends on network |
Platform-level protections as part of Google Cloud network |
| SLA |
No dedicated public DNS SLA found; check status: Scaleway status |
Published DNS SLA: Google DNS SLA |
| Pricing model |
Simpler EU billing; typically lower fixed costs for small zones |
Per-zone + per-query model with strong enterprise support |
Pricing deep dive and cost examples (2025-2026 context)
Pricing varies quickly. The following approach helps compare realistic bills.
How to calculate costs
- Identify number of managed zones and average queries per month.
- Use provider pricing pages or API to estimate per-zone and per-query fees.
- Include costs for DNSSEC, private zones, and API automation if billed separately.
Example scenarios (illustrative method — verify live prices)
- Small EU website: 5 zones, 10M queries/month — compute per-zone fees + per-query fees.
- High-query SaaS: 50 zones, 1B queries/month — per-query costs dominate; global providers may offer volume discounts.
Actionable step: fetch prices and run a spreadsheet comparing per-zone + per-query for the expected monthly queries. Links to provider pricing are available in their docs pages above.
Recommended tests (reproducible)
- Tools: dnsperf, DNSPerf data, and dig/host for TTL/propagation checks.
- Regions to test: London, Frankfurt, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Dublin, and also non-EU points for global baseline.
- Metrics: median latency, 95th percentile latency, query success rate, and propagation time after record change.
Example dnsperf command
- Example to send 100k queries from an EU test node:
dnsperf -s SERVER_IP -d queries.txt -l 60 -Q 100
How to interpret results
- Lower median latency in EU regions is crucial for EU-first apps.
- Evaluate propagation time by updating an A record and polling from multiple regions until TTL obeyed.
Note: Public rankings such as DNSPerf provide historical performance context but must be combined with project-specific tests.
Security, compliance and GDPR considerations
Data residency and GDPR
- Scaleway’s EU-focused infrastructure can simplify data jurisdiction for DNS management and logs. Verify contract terms and data processing addenda.
- For GDPR guidance see gdpr.eu.
DNSSEC, DDoS, and access controls
- Both providers support DNSSEC. See the IETF specification: RFC 4035.
- Use role-based access, API keys, and audit logs. Google Cloud provides detailed IAM mappings; Scaleway provides API key controls in its console.
provider "scaleway" {
}
resource "scaleway_dns_zone" "example" {
project = "REPLACE_PROJECT"
zone = "example.com"
ttl = 300
description = "Managed zone example"
}
Reference: Scaleway Terraform provider.
provider "google" {
project = "REPLACE_PROJECT"
region = "europe-west1"
}
resource "google_dns_managed_zone" "example" {
name = "example-com"
dns_name = "example.com."
description = "Managed zone example"
}
Reference: Google DNS Terraform.
Migration checklist
- Export current zone files from existing provider.
- Create managed zones and test records in a staging subdomain.
- Use low TTL and parallel updates to reduce propagation time.
- Monitor queries and rollback plan.
Operational limits, quotas and SLAs
- Google Cloud publishes quotas and SLA details at the links above. See quota pages in the Google Cloud console for project-level limits.
- Scaleway publishes operational status at Scaleway status and provider docs for quotas.
- For high-volume enterprise needs, request written quotas and SLA terms from both providers.
Case studies and decision criteria for EU organisations
When to pick Scaleway DNS
- Primary operations in EU with strong preference for Europe-hosted control plane.
- Small-to-medium query volumes where cost predictability matters.
- Desire for simpler EU billing and local support.
When to pick Google Cloud DNS
- Global traffic distribution with need for best-in-class anycast coverage.
- Requirement for enterprise SLA, deep integration with Google Cloud networking, or multi-product orchestration.
- High query volumes where operational maturity and automation are decisive.
Practical gaps in current market coverage (2025-2026)
- Public benchmarks comparing Scaleway authoritative DNS vs Google Cloud authoritative DNS from multiple EU vantage points remain scarce.
- A detailed per-query cost model, including DNSSEC and private zone costs for EU scenarios, is often missing from comparisons.
- Actionable recommendation: run reproducible test suite from EU spots and publish dataset to aid selection.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Does Scaleway DNS support DNSSEC?
Yes, Scaleway supports DNSSEC; check the provider documentation for instructions: Scaleway DNS docs.
Is Google Cloud DNS anycast global?
Yes. Google Cloud DNS uses a global anycast network for authoritative responses. See Google Cloud DNS docs.
Which provider is cheaper for 10M queries/month?
Costs depend on per-query pricing and zones. Use the outlined calculation method and provider pricing pages to estimate exact costs for the specific use case.
Both Scaleway and Google Cloud provide Terraform providers. See Scaleway and Google.
How to test DNS latency from EU regions?
Use tools such as dnsperf and run tests from EU nodes (London, Frankfurt, Paris). Compare median and 95th percentiles.
Are DNS logs subject to GDPR?
Yes. DNS logs can contain personal data in some contexts (e.g., query metadata). Ensure a Data Processing Agreement and check GDPR guidance: gdpr.eu.
What is the recommended TTL strategy during migration?
Lower TTL to a small value (e.g., 60s) before migration to speed propagation. After migration stabilises, raise TTL for caching efficiency.
Is there a public SLA for Scaleway DNS?
Scaleway publishes a status page at status.scaleway.com. For contractual SLA details, request them from Scaleway sales/support.
Conclusion
Decision-making should combine three elements: technical testing from EU vantage points, total cost of ownership for expected query volumes, and compliance constraints. Scaleway DNS is an appealing European-first option for regional control and predictable costs for small-to-medium workloads. Google Cloud DNS provides scalable global reach, enterprise SLA and rich platform integrations. Organisations with strict EU data residency mandates should prioritise EU-focused footprints and contractual terms. Running the reproducible benchmark steps and testing Terraform-based migrations will provide the definitive signal for the final choice.
Resources and recommended links
