Duck DNS

DuckDNS is a free dynamic DNS (DDNS) service that enables users to associate custom subdomains under duckdns.org with their dynamic public IP addresses, ideal for self-hosters and homelab enthusiasts.

🚀 Overview

DuckDNS is a straightforward, free dynamic DNS service hosted on AWS that solves the challenge of frequently changing IP addresses from ISPs. This makes it unreliable to access home servers, smart devices, cameras, or self-hosted applications like Home Assistant from the internet. With DuckDNS, users get a custom subdomain (e.g., myhome.duckdns.org) and can automatically update the DNS record via a simple HTTP API whenever their IP changes.

It's built for self-hosters, developers running personal servers, IoT tinkerers, and homelab users who need reliable remote access without paying for commercial DDNS services. Popular integrations include Home Assistant, Unraid, Synology NAS, routers like pfSense, and Docker containers.

Developed by UK software engineers Richard and Steven Harper, it was created to provide a no-frills, community-supported alternative to paid DDNS providers, emphasizing simplicity, reliability, and zero cost.

✨ Key Features

Custom Subdomains: Free domains like yourname.duckdns.org; supports multiple domains in one update.
Simple Update API: HTTPS endpoint (https://www.duckdns.org/update?domains=...&token=...&ip=) for easy cron jobs, scripts, or apps; auto-detects IP or manual override.
Broad Compatibility: Works with Linux/Unix cron, Windows Task Scheduler/PowerShell, macOS, routers (OpenWrt, DD-WRT, TomatoUSB, Fritz!Box), NAS (Synology, FreeNAS), Docker, and more.
Open Source: Server code released under GPL-3.0 (mirror available); logs updates as OK/KO.

Optional: Community GUI tools and integrations for easier setup.

🛠 Tech Stack

Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Backend: Java Servlets, Apache Jetty 9 (production) / Tomcat (dev)
Database: AWS DynamoDB (sessions)
Auth: Token-based
Hosting: AWS VPC, Nginx reverse proxy

👥 Who Is This For?

This project is useful for:

Developers who want to expose local servers or APIs via dynamic DNS
Teams looking for free, reliable DDNS in homelabs or IoT setups
Indie makers building self-hosted apps behind dynamic IPs

📸 Screenshots / Demo

Live demo: https://www.duckdns.org
GitHub: https://github.com/BenjaminHCCarr/duckdns-mirror

🔥 Project Status

🟡 Maintained

Last updated: 2026-03-24

❓ FAQ

Is this project free?

Yes, completely free with no limits or upsells. Voluntary support via Patreon.

Is the source code available?

Yes — https://github.com/BenjaminHCCarr/duckdns-mirror (GPL-3.0 mirror of official server code released by the creators)

Can I contribute?

Support the project through Patreon donations (https://www.patreon.com/duckdns). No official issue tracker, but feedback via community forums (Reddit, Home Assistant, etc.) or LinkedIn profiles of creators Richard and Steven Harper.