Compare software

q vs DNSDataView: catalog facts
q	DNSDataView
Best for: Testing DNS records and encrypted DNS resolvers from the terminal	Best for: Checking DNS and mail records for several domains from a Windows PC
Free Free and open source under GPL-3.0.	Free Freeware from NirSoft, free to use and distribute unmodified.
macOS, Linux, Command line	Windows
Supports DoT, DoH, DoQ, ODoH and DNSCrypt Recursive AXFR and IP whois lookups All 3 strengths for q Supports DoT, DoH, DoQ, ODoH and DNSCrypt Recursive AXFR and IP whois lookups Packaged for Homebrew, apt, yum and the AUR	Bulk lookups for many domains at once Choice of DNS server and reverse PTR lookups All 4 strengths for DNSDataView Bulk lookups for many domains at once Choice of DNS server and reverse PTR lookups Views and clears the Windows DNS cache Command-line export to CSV and other formats
Output and flags differ from dig Command line only	Supports Windows XP to Windows 11 only
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Not open source
License: GPL-3.0	License: Freeware
No account needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for q github.com/natesales/q Catalog checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for DNSDataView nirsoft.net/utils/dns_records_viewer.html Catalog checked October 8, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.