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PowerDNS Recursor vs CoreDNS: catalog facts
PowerDNS Recursor	CoreDNS
Free Free and open source with no paid tier required.	Free Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 licence.
Linux, Self-hosted	Linux, Self-hosted, Command line
Long-running, actively developed project DNSSEC validation covered by dedicated regression tests	Plugin chain handles rewriting, zone files, metrics and service discovery Custom builds can include only needed plugins
Server software configured by hand, with no built-in dashboard Suits administrators more than casual home users	Ad or content blocking needs manual plugin setup rather than a ready interface No graphical dashboard
Self-hosted	Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: Apache-2.0
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 September 23, 2026

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