Alternatives to PowerDNS Recursor

A recursive DNS resolver from the PowerDNS project that you run on your own server. 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 PowerDNS Recursor.

  • Unbound

    Validating, recursive, caching DNS resolver.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted

    Unbound is a BSD-3-Clause recursive resolver with DNSSEC validation and encrypted transports that also runs on Windows and macOS, configured through a text file.

  • Knot Resolver

    A caching DNS resolver with a small core and optional modules, from home routers to resolver farms.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hosted

    Knot Resolver is a GPL caching resolver with a small core and C and Lua modules plus DNS-over-HTTPS, scaling from home routers to large deployments.

Also worth comparing

These listings name PowerDNS Recursor as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • BIND 9

    Open-source DNS server software from ISC that also provides the dig command-line query tool.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    PowerDNS Recursor is a recursive resolver with DNSSEC validation that pairs with PowerDNS Authoritative and dnsdist, configured by hand and without authoritative hosting on its own.

  • CoreDNS

    A DNS server written in Go that builds its behavior from a chain of plugins.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    PowerDNS Recursor is a recursive resolver with tested DNSSEC validation that pairs with dnsdist and PowerDNS Authoritative.

  • Technitium DNS Server

    A self-hosted DNS server that blocks ads network-wide, hosts your own zones, and encrypts upstream queries.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted

    PowerDNS Recursor is a hand-configured recursive resolver for Linux, without built-in ad blocking, DHCP or a dashboard.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.