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CoreDNS vs Hickory DNS: catalog facts
CoreDNS	Hickory DNS
Free Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 licence.	Free Free to use from its GitHub repository.
Linux, Self-hosted, Command line	Linux, Self-hosted, Command line
Plugin chain handles rewriting, zone files, metrics and service discovery Custom builds can include only needed plugins	Written in memory-safe Rust Server and resolver in one project
Ad or content blocking needs manual plugin setup rather than a ready interface No graphical dashboard	Configured by file with no graphical interface Renamed from Trust-DNS, so older guides use the previous name
Downloadable app, Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Open source	Closed source
License: Apache-2.0	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.