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Network Solutions bundles domains, hosting and business services. These alternatives range from domain management to Git-based deployments and VPS hosting, so choose based on what you need to replace. Reddit users report missing DNS zone exports, deleted records and a mailbox setup that overwrote MX records. One sysadmin said they had to recreate 150+ records across 12 domains manually. Treat DNS export, rollback and renewal pricing as migration checks, not details to sort out after a transfer.
01Why people leave Network Solutions
DNS zone export gaps
A sysadmin on Reddit said Network Solutions did not support zone exports, forcing manual recreation of 150+ records across 12 domains.
Reported DNS outages
A Reddit user reported that A records were deleted and DNS took two weeks to repopulate.
Bundled-service changes
A Reddit poster said provisioning a mailbox overwrote the domain’s existing MX records without prompting.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Git-based deployments
NetlifyNetlifyNetlify fits a code-first deployment stack better than a registrar bundle: it targets Git-based web app deployments and offers managed functions and storage. Pricing lists a free plan and starts at $9, but usage limits and hosted-service lock-in matter at production scale. Check current quotas and migration paths for functions and storage; this is not simply a domain and DNS replacement.
Trade-off: You take on usage limits and hosted-service lock-in.
7.1/10from
$9/mofree plan - Low-cost VPS
IONOSIONOSIONOS combines domains and hosting and is listed from $1, with a low-cost VPS use case. That may suit a team replacing a small-business bundle while retaining a VPS option. Its technical details are unclear and billing reports are mixed; verify VPS limits, renewal charges, API coverage and DNS export before committing.
Trade-off: Technical details and billing reports call for extra checks.
6.8/10from
$1/mo - Domain bundle
GoDaddyGoDaddyGoDaddy is a plausible domain-and-services replacement if you want a bundle rather than a DNS-only setup. Its listed starting price is $8.90, and it offers a wholesale-pricing use case for domain investors. API detail is limited, so confirm domain, DNS and account operations in its docs before moving automation; do not assume they match your current workflow.
Trade-off: Limited API detail and a poor support reputation.
5.1/10from
€8.90/mo - WordPress and VPS
BluehostBluehostBluehost is relevant if the replacement needs managed WordPress plus hosted VPS root access, rather than registration and DNS alone. Its listed starting price is $3.99. The profile flags renewal pricing and mixed support reports, so price the renewal period and confirm resource limits, DNS export and API coverage before choosing it for a production stack.
Trade-off: Renewal pricing and support reports merit scrutiny.
5.6/10from
$3.99/mo - Domains and hosting
DreamHostDreamHostDreamHost covers domains, hosting and WordPress, making it a closer like-for-like bundle for teams that want to consolidate. It is listed from $2.89, but that entry price is not a production cost estimate. Verify renewal rates, technical limits, DNS export and automation support before transferring domains or building it into deployment workflows.
Trade-off: Verify production limits and renewal rates.
6.5/10from
€2.89/mo - Squarespace sites
Squarespace DomainsSquarespace DomainsSquarespace Domains suits an organization already running its site on Squarespace that wants domain management and included privacy in one platform. No starting price is listed, so compare the actual quote rather than infer savings. Developer controls are weakly documented; confirm DNS automation, record handling and export before making it the source of truth.
Trade-off: Developer controls are weakly documented, and no starting price is listed.
4.4/10from
Custom
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Network Solutions Network Solutions (current) | 4.1 | $1.99/mo | No | Small businesses buying bundled services |
| Netlify Netlify | 7.1 | $9/mo | Yes | Teams deploying from Git |
| IONOS IONOS | 6.8 | $1/mo | No | Small businesses launching a website |
| GoDaddy GoDaddy | 5.1 | €8.90/mo | No | Small businesses needing bundled services |
| Bluehost Bluehost | 5.6 | $3.99/mo | No | Small WordPress sites |
| DreamHost DreamHost | 6.5 | €2.89/mo | No | Small business websites |
| Squarespace Domains Squarespace Domains | 4.4 | Custom | No | Squarespace site owners |
Questions people ask
How should we migrate DNS without a zone export?
Treat the move as a controlled data migration: record every zone and record type, compare the rebuilt zones before changing nameservers, and keep a rollback copy. One Reddit sysadmin said Network Solutions offered no zone export and they had to recreate 150+ records across 12 domains manually.
Which alternative has the best API for automation?
Confirm the operations you need in each vendor’s current API docs before choosing. GoDaddy’s API detail is limited, so check whether its documented endpoints cover your domain and DNS workflows. For every candidate, verify authentication, rate limits, record changes and export support rather than assuming API parity.
Which alternative is cheapest?
IONOS lists a starting price of $1; Netlify lists a free plan and starts at $9. Those prices cover different kinds of services and are not comparable estimates of production cost. Check renewal pricing, usage limits and the specific services your stack needs before treating either as cheaper.