SmartDNS

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

FreeProprietaryLinuxSelf-hosted
Official websitegithub.com

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About SmartDNS

SmartDNS runs on your own machine or network and answers DNS queries from local clients. It sends each query to several upstream DNS servers and returns the result with the fastest access speed. This differs from dnsmasq's all-servers mode, which returns whichever answer arrives first.

It can assign specific IP addresses to chosen domains with fast matching, which lets it block ad domains. Upstream queries can use DNS over TLS, DNS over HTTPS, DNS over QUIC and DoH3 for privacy. The repository includes a Dockerfile and systemd units.

Strengths

  • Picks the fastest upstream answer rather than the first reply
  • Supports DoT, DoH, DoQ and DoH3 upstreams
  • Domain-to-IP rules can block ad domains
  • Docker and systemd setups included

Limitations

  • Main readme is in Chinese, with a separate English version
  • Needs manual configuration with no graphical interface

Details

Pricing
FreeFree to use, with source code published on GitHub.
License
Proprietary
Developer
pymumu
Platforms
Linux, Self-hosted
How it runs
Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Account
Not required
Best suited for
Home networks and routers that want faster DNS resolution with basic ad blocking
Last verified
Added
Provenance
Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.

Alternatives to SmartDNS

Compare all

Software that can replace SmartDNS for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.

  • mosdns

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

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hostedCommand line

    mosdns focuses on rule-based routing of domains to different upstreams with domain blocking and encrypted DNS, is GPL-3.0 licensed, and its documentation is in Chinese.

  • 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 also measures resolver speed and balances across the fastest, adds DNSCrypt and Anonymized DNS with filtering, and runs on Windows and macOS.

  • RouteDNS

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

    FreeProprietaryLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    RouteDNS offers flexible routing between resolvers with built-in blocklists and DTLS upstreams, with English documentation, though it also needs file-based configuration.

  • AdGuard Home

    Network-wide ad and tracker blocking in a single binary, with encrypted DNS built in rather than bolted on.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxWebSelf-hosted

    AdGuard Home provides a web interface, full blocklist management, per-client rules and parental controls in one open source binary, rather than fastest-answer selection.

  • Blocky

    Lightweight DNS proxy with blocklists, written for container deployments.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    Blocky is an Apache-2.0 proxy for containers with blocklists, per-group rules and encrypted upstreams, configured in YAML without picking the fastest upstream answer.

  • dnsmasq

    Lightweight DNS forwarder, DHCP server and TFTP server in one.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hosted

    dnsmasq is a GPL-2.0 forwarder that also provides DHCP and network boot, with automatic local hostnames, but lacks encrypted upstreams and fastest-answer selection.

SmartDNS as an alternative

Listings that name SmartDNS as an alternative.

  • Diversion

    A DNS-based ad blocker that runs on Asus routers with Asuswrt-Merlin firmware.

    FreeProprietarySelf-hostedCommand line

    SmartDNS runs on routers and home servers, returning the fastest upstream answer with basic ad blocking through domain rules.

  • dnsproxy

    A simple DNS proxy server supporting DNS-over-TLS, DNS-over-HTTPS, DNSCrypt and DNS-over-QUIC.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hostedCommand line

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

  • Technitium DNS Server

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted

    SmartDNS picks the fastest upstream answer and supports encrypted upstreams with basic ad blocking, but runs on Linux without a graphical interface.

Similar software

Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.

Report a wrong fact or a dead link on this listing