Manage DNS & Domains from the command line

Operate your DNSimple account from the terminal. Built for scripting, automation, and AI-assisted workflows.

DNSimple CLI
$ dnsimple domains list
ID    NAME           STATE       EXPIRES AT  AUTO RENEW
2023  example.com    registered  2030-12-01  true
3490  dev-portal.io  hosted

$ dnsimple zones records create example.com --type A --name app --content 1.2.3.4
FIELD          VALUE
ID             75216862
Type           A
Name           app
Content        1.2.3.4
TTL            3600
Regions        global
System Record  false
Created At     2026-04-14T11:43:43Z
Updated At     2026-04-14T11:43:43Z

Install in seconds

Linux and MacOS

Official Homebrew tap for Apple Silicon and Intel:

brew install dnsimple/tap/dnsimple

One-liner installation for MacOS and all major Linux distributions:

curl -fsSL https://dnsimple-cli.netlify.app/install.sh | sh

Windows

Using the PowerShell install script:

irm "https://cli-beta.dnsimple.com/install.ps1" | iex

Get started now

1. Configure access

Create an access token.

2. Authenticate

Authenticate with your access token: dnsimple auth login

3. Run

Retrieve your domains: dnsimple domains list

Everything you can manage

Teams manage infrastructure across terminals, scripts, CI pipelines, and internal tools. The DNSimple CLI lets you operate DNSimple in those environments without relying on the web app.

  • List your domains
  • Inspect, modify, and create DNS records
  • Issue SSL certificates
  • List TLDs and prices

Built by DNSimple

Built and maintained by DNSimple. Uses the same Go foundation as our official client libraries and Terraform provider.

Built for real workflows
Domains
  domains              Manage domains
  registrar            Domain registration operations
  tlds                 List and inspect TLDs
  vanity-name-servers  Manage vanity name servers

DNS
  zones                Manage DNS zones
  records              Manage zone records
  templates            Manage DNS templates
  services             Manage one-click services
  analytics            DNS analytics

Account & Billing
  accounts             Manage accounts
  billing              Billing and charges
  contacts             Manage contacts

Security
  certificates         Manage SSL/TLS certificates

Automation
  webhooks             Manage webhooks

Tooling
  ai                   Print AI-friendly context about this CLI
  auth                 Authenticate with DNSimple
  completion           Generate shell completion scripts
  help                 Help about any command
  whoami               Show the currently authenticated identity

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CLI secured?

Yes. The CLI authenticates using API access tokens, which can be scoped, and supports multiple named contexts, so credentials are stored and managed separately per environment. Destructive operations include built-in confirmation prompts to prevent accidental changes, and Sandbox tokens and production tokens are fully isolated.

How do I use it safely with my domains and DNS settings?

You can set everything to read-only commands, such as listing domains, inspecting certificates, or pulling analytics data. You can also make sure to use the sandbox environment before committing changes.

How does the CLI handle multiple accounts?

The CLI has a named "auth contexts" system, letting you switch between production, sandbox, and client accounts with a single command.

What can I do with the DNSimple CLI?

The CLI covers the full range of DNSimple features: managing domains and DNS records, domain registration and renewals, SSL certificates, contacts, services/templates, webhooks, billing, and DNS analytics. It also generates shell tab-completion scripts and can output structured account info for use with AI tools.

Why use the CLI instead of the browser?

It keeps you in your terminal without context-switching. It's especially useful for CI pipelines and deployment scripts, since it offers structured commands with proper error handling.

Why did the DNSimple team create a CLI?

The DNSimple CLI was built to give developers full control of their domains, DNS records, and certificates directly from the terminal, bringing the entire DNSimple API to your command line without writing raw HTTP requests, eliminating context-switching, and enabling automation, multi-account management, and AI-driven workflows.

Effortless DNS and domain management

Try us free for 30 days Install the DNSimple CLI

Install it and manage your domains and DNS from your terminal.