Is Route 53 free?
Route 53 is pay-per-use: $0.50/month per hosted zone plus a small fee per million queries. It's very affordable but not free like Cloudflare DNS.
What is Route 53?
Route 53 is AWS's DNS service. It handles domain registration, DNS routing, and health checks. Named after the DNS port (53), it integrates tightly with other AWS services.
Route 53 vs Cloudflare DNS?
Route 53 is ideal if you're already on AWS and need tight integration. Cloudflare DNS is free and excellent for everyone else. Most non-AWS users should use Cloudflare.