Alternatives to dnsproxy

A simple DNS proxy server supporting DNS-over-TLS, DNS-over-HTTPS, DNSCrypt and DNS-over-QUIC. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as dnsproxy.

  • dnscrypt-proxy

    Encrypts your DNS lookups so your internet provider cannot read or tamper with them, and blocks domains while it is there.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    dnscrypt-proxy adds Anonymized DNS, Oblivious DoH, filtering and resolver speed balancing, configured through a TOML file.

  • AdGuard DNS CLI

    A lightweight cross-platform DNS client that forwards a machine's DNS requests to AdGuard DNS.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsCommand line

    AdGuard DNS CLI is a lightweight forwarder with an MSI installer for Windows, but it is built around the AdGuard DNS service.

  • RouteDNS

    A DNS stub resolver, proxy and router with blocklists and DoT, DoH, DoQ and DTLS support.

    FreeProprietaryLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    RouteDNS adds DTLS upstreams, flexible query routing and built-in blocklists, with file-based configuration.

  • Stubby

    Local DNS stub resolver that encrypts queries with DNS-over-TLS.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    Stubby is BSD-3-Clause licensed and encrypts DNS with DNS-over-TLS only, with a strict profile that refuses unencrypted fallback.

  • mosdns

    A plugin-based DNS forwarder with rule-based routing, domain blocking and encrypted DNS support.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hostedCommand line

    mosdns adds rule-based routing to different upstreams and domain blocking with DoT, DoH and DoQ, but its documentation is in Chinese.

  • SmartDNS

    A local DNS server that queries several upstream resolvers and returns the fastest-responding IP address.

    FreeProprietaryLinuxSelf-hosted

    SmartDNS returns the fastest upstream answer from DoT, DoH, DoQ and DoH3 resolvers and can block ad domains through rules.

  • YogaDNS

    A Windows DNS client that intercepts system DNS requests and sends them over encrypted protocols by rule.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindows

    YogaDNS is a closed-source freemium Windows client that captures system DNS automatically and routes it by per-hostname rules.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.