AllZonefiles.io vs ICANN CZDS
If you work with DNS zone files or domain datasets, you’ve likely heard of ICANN’s CZDS (Centralized Zone Data Service). CZDS is the official portal for requesting access to certain TLD zone files from registries. AllZonefiles.io is a domain data platform built to make large-scale access and automation easy.
- AllZonefiles.io: 114+ million domain names across 317 ccTLD domain zones.
- CZDS: no ccTLD domain zones are available for download (CZDS is focused on participating gTLD registries).
What Is ICANN?
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is a nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating the global Domain Name System (DNS).
What Is CZDS?
CZDS is ICANN’s centralized gateway where users can request access to zone files directly from registries. It’s best understood as an access and authorization portal — not a data platform. Access is typically granted per TLD, and approval depends on each registry’s policies.
What Is AllZonefiles.io?
AllZonefiles.io is a commercial domain data platform that aggregates, standardizes, and delivers domain lists and zone files across hundreds of TLDs — designed for developers, security researchers, analysts, and SaaS builders who need data that’s ready to use and easy to automate.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | ICANN CZDS | AllZonefiles.io |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Authorization portal for requesting access from registries | Unified domain data platform (downloads + API) |
| Access model | Per-TLD approvals (manual workflow) | ✅ Instant self-service access |
| TLD access expiration | Per-TLD granted access periodically expires and needs to be manually re-requested and renewed | ✅ Non-expiring access to all zonefiles and domain lists |
| Automation | Limited (manual approvals, registry-dependent delivery) | ✅ API-first + bulk downloads |
| ccTLD zone files | ❌ Not available | ✅ 317 ccTLD zones |
| ccTLD domain count | 0 | ✅ 114M+ domains |
| Data usability | Raw zone files as provided by registries | Standardized downloads + ready-to-use lists (new/expired available) |
| Scale (many TLDs) | Hard (many approvals + different registry processes) | ✅ Easy (single platform) |
| Pricing | Free | Paid (saves time + adds platform value) |
Why ccTLD Coverage Matters
Many important domain intelligence use cases depend on country-code TLDs (ccTLDs), not just .com. That includes regional fraud and phishing campaigns, brand monitoring, market analysis, and local SEO research. If ccTLD data is part of your workflow, CZDS alone won’t be sufficient — because it doesn’t provide ccTLD downloads.
When CZDS Makes Sense
- You only need one or a few specific gTLDs
- You can tolerate manual approvals and registry-specific workflows
- You don’t need ccTLD zone files
- You prefer an official, free access path
When AllZonefiles.io Is a Better Fit
- You need ccTLD coverage (e.g., .ca, .uk, .de, .br, etc.) - see list of all ccTLD domain zones
- You want instant access without per-registry approval friction
- You’re building automation pipelines or products that depend on fresh domain data
- You want unified access across many zones, plus daily “new” and “expired” lists
What Others Say
“CZDS is useful for small, one-off needs — but once you need many zones (especially ccTLDs), a unified platform with automation becomes essential.”
FAQs
CZDS is a helpful official access gateway for some gTLDs — but if you need broad coverage, automation, and especially ccTLD access, AllZonefiles.io is the practical solution.