cnames.dev / compare / approximated alternative
Approximated alternative
Two developer-focused custom-domain proxies. Where cnames.dev adds wildcards, isolation, and a dashboard. Verify current pricing on both sites.
Approximated and cnames.dev occupy the same category: a reverse proxy that terminates SSL for your customers' domains and forwards to your origin, built for developers rather than enterprises. If you're choosing between them, the decision comes down to how much infrastructure depth you need beyond the core proxy.
When to choose which
- Either works for basic custom domains + SSL in front of a single origin.
- Choose cnames.dev if you need wildcard certificates, per-tenant isolation, per-domain header injection/redirects, a dashboard your support team can operate, or one-click DNS via Domain Connect.
Feature comparison
| Capability | Approximated | cnames.dev |
|---|---|---|
| Custom domains + automatic SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Reverse proxy to any origin | Yes | Yes |
| Wildcard domains | Check current docs | Yes (DNS-01) |
| Per-tenant isolation (ACME accounts, quotas) | Check current docs | Built-in |
| Per-domain header profiles + redirects | Basic | Yes |
| Support-team dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Embeddable widget + Domain Connect | Check current docs | Yes (Connect) |
As of July 2026. We've marked items to verify rather than guess — check approximated.app for current capabilities and pricing.
Being fair
Approximated is a capable, developer-friendly product and a reasonable choice for straightforward custom domains. We've deliberately left cells as "check current docs" rather than assert capabilities we can't verify today.
Where cnames.dev focuses
cnames.dev leans into multi-tenant depth: wildcard zones, isolation so one customer can't affect another, data-driven header profiles, and an embeddable onboarding flow that uses the open Domain Connect protocol for one-click DNS. If your platform is growing into those needs, that's the differentiator.
Try cnames.dev. One API call per domain, SSL and edge routing included — free for 25 domains. Start free · Docs · All comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What do cnames.dev and Approximated have in common?
Both are custom-domain reverse proxies with automatic SSL that route your customers' domains to your origin, aimed at developers and indie SaaS. The core job is the same.
What does cnames.dev add?
Per-tenant isolation with dedicated ACME accounts, wildcard domains, per-domain header profiles and redirects, a support-team dashboard, and an embeddable Connect widget with Domain Connect one-click setup.
How should I decide?
Both are solid for straightforward custom domains. Choose based on whether you need wildcards, isolation, and header control (cnames.dev), and compare current per-domain pricing on both sites for your volume.