Website preview tools compared
Several tools give you a link that loads your site from a new server under its real domain, before DNS points there. They differ a lot on how long free links last, what paid plans cost, and extras like APIs and control panel plugins. This page puts them side by side.
skipdns.dev is an independent project, not affiliated with SkipDNS, WithoutDNS, SkipNS or hosts.click. We build skipdns.dev, so read this with that in mind. Everything about the other tools comes from their public websites as of October 2026. Prices and plans change, so check their sites before you buy.
Comparison table
As of October 2026. "Not listed" means we didn't find it on their public pages, not that it's definitely missing.
| Feature | skipdns.dev | SkipDNS | WithoutDNS | SkipNS | hosts.click |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes, no account | No, paid plans with trials | Trial links, 3 per day, branded | Yes, no stated usage limit | Yes |
| Free link lifetime | 7 days | n/a | 15 minutes | 60 minutes | Temporary (length not stated) |
| Cheapest paid | $5/mo (Pro) | $9.90/mo (Hobbyist, 3 links) | $4.99/mo (Starter, 3 links, 24h) | None listed | "Pro" section, no public prices |
| Permanent links from | $5/mo (Pro) | $9.90/mo, while subscribed; deleted when the plan ends | $19.99/mo (Standard, 25 links) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Password | Pro | All plans | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Custom subdomain | Pro | Not listed | Whitelabel domains on Business 3 ($299/mo) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Bulk creation | Pro, 50 at once | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| API | No, not yet | All plans | From Business 1 ($69/mo) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Panel plugins | No | Not listed | cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin, PanelAlpha, WHMCS | Not listed | Not listed |
| Extras | Pro key works on 3 devices, no account | Chrome/Firefox extension, link on/off, yearly billing = 2 months free | Teams; up to 1,000 links (Business 3) | Works with WordPress or any site | Free migration tools: server diff, DNS propagation, SSL, email DNS, cache checker, checklist |
skipdns.dev, SkipDNS and WithoutDNS all state HTTPS support. skipdns.dev Free allows up to 10 new links per day from one IP address; Pro isn't subject to that cap. Full plan details: skipdns.dev pricing.
Which should you use?
- A free link that lasts long enough to share with a client: skipdns.dev Free. Links last 7 days with no account. The other free options expire after 15 or 60 minutes, or don't state a lifetime.
- A quick look for a few minutes: SkipNS (60-minute links, no stated usage limit) or skipdns.dev both do it for free.
- Permanent, password-protected or custom-named client previews on a budget: skipdns.dev Pro at $5/month. If you cancel, links fall back to a 7-day expiry instead of being deleted.
- Creating previews from your own code: SkipDNS (API on every plan, from $9.90/month) or WithoutDNS (API from $69/month). skipdns.dev has no API yet.
- Previews inside cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin, PanelAlpha or WHMCS: WithoutDNS. It's the only one here with control panel plugins.
- Hundreds of long-lived links or your own branded domain: WithoutDNS (Business 2 and 3, up to 1,000 links, whitelabel domains on Business 3) or SkipDNS (Partner, 300 links).
- Working from a browser extension: SkipDNS, which has Chrome and Firefox extensions.
- Checking the rest of a migration (server diff, propagation, SSL, email DNS): hosts.click's free tools, alongside whichever previewer you pick.
Not sure an online tool fits? The curl --resolve guide covers testing a new server from the command line, and the website migration checklist shows where previews fit in a move.
FAQ
Which website preview tool is free?
As of October 2026: skipdns.dev (7-day links, no account), SkipNS (60-minute links) and hosts.click (temporary links) have free previewers. WithoutDNS has free trial links that last 15 minutes, 3 per day. SkipDNS is paid, with trials.
Which tool has an API?
SkipDNS lists API access on all of its plans, and WithoutDNS from its Business 1 plan ($69/month). skipdns.dev has no API yet.
Which tool works with cPanel or Plesk?
WithoutDNS lists plugins for cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin, PanelAlpha and WHMCS. skipdns.dev has no control panel plugins.
Is skipdns.dev affiliated with any of these tools?
No. skipdns.dev is an independent project, not affiliated with SkipDNS, WithoutDNS, SkipNS or hosts.click.