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Knot Resolver vs Hickory DNS: catalog facts
Knot Resolver	Hickory DNS
Free Free to download and use under the GPL.	Free Free to use from its GitHub repository.
Linux, Self-hosted	Linux, Self-hosted, Command line
Small core with features in optional C and Lua modules Scales from home routers to large deployments	Written in memory-safe Rust Server and resolver in one project
Configured by hand, with no graphical dashboard Some newer features, such as unencrypted DoH mode, are still alpha	Configured by file with no graphical interface Renamed from Trust-DNS, so older guides use the previous name
Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Open source	Closed source
License: GPL	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.