dnsmasq Alternatives

dnsmasq is described as 'Dnsmasq is a lightweight, easy to configure DNS forwarder and DHCP server. It is designed to provide DNS and, optionally, DHCP, to a small network. It can serve the names of local machines which are not in the global DNS' and is an app in the network & admin category. There are more than 10 alternatives to dnsmasq for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Android, Mac and BSD apps. The best dnsmasq alternative is AdGuard, which is free. Other great apps like dnsmasq are NextDNS, Acrylic DNS Proxy, hBlock and Technitium DNS Server.

dnsmasq alternatives are mainly Ad Blockers but may also be VPN Services or Privacy Tools. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of dnsmasq.

dnsmasq alternatives page was last updated

dnsmasq

Free • Open Source

Dnsmasq is a lightweight, easy to configure DNS forwarder and DHCP server. It is designed to provide DNS and, optionally,...

More about dnsmasq

AdGuard
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Ad Blocker
Privacy Tool
Mac
Windows
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
Android Tablet
iPad
Vivaldi Browser
Google Chrome
Safari
Yandex.Browser
Opera
Firefox
104 AdGuard alternatives
AdGuard is the best way to get rid of intrusive ads and online tracking, and to protect your computer from malware. Make your web surfing faster, safer and more comfortable with AdGuard!.
- - AdGuard is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to dnsmasq.
- - AdGuard is the most popular free alternative to dnsmasq.
Suggest and vote on features
AdGuard Features
1. Block TrackersAdGuard has a feature to block trackers from tracking you.
2. Dark ModeAdGuard supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
3. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in AdGuard without registration.
4. Ad-freeAdGuard doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Privacy focusedAdGuard is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
6. No LogsAdGuard doesn't keep any logs of your activities.
7. LightweightAdGuard consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
8. No TrackingAdGuard will not track you or use your personal data.
Built-in Ad-blocker
DNS over HTTPS
Pop up blocker
DNS-over-TLS
Custom DNS
Comments about AdGuard as a Alternative to dnsmasq
This alternative is disputed. AdGuard is still a legitimate dnsmasq alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.
Guest
One is a DNS server, the other is SPYWARE / REMOVER. Not even close.
Negative comment•
1

Taurolyon
dnsmasq is a configurable DNS forwarder, DHCP, and BOOTP/TFTP server. AdGuard is an adblocking service.
Negative comment•
1

Guest
Dnsmasq is a DNS service, and AdGuard is an adblocker. Completely different things
Negative comment•
1

Guest
dnsmasq is far more configurable and supports custom DNS servers and host based blocklists.
Negative comment•
-1
NextDNS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Ad Blocker
DNS Resolver
Anti-Malware App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
BSD
iPad
UC Browser
Vivaldi Browser
Google Chrome
Ubiquiti UniFi
Safari
Yandex.Browser
Software as a Service (SaaS)
OpenWrt
Opera
Alpine Linux
pfSense
Firefox
DD-WRT
127 NextDNS alternatives
NextDNS protects you from all kinds of security threats, blocks ads and trackers on websites and in apps and provides a safe and supervised Internet for kids — on all devices and on all networks.
- - NextDNS is the most popular Web-based, Linux & SaaS alternative to dnsmasq.
- - NextDNS is the most popular Open Source alternative to dnsmasq.
Suggest and vote on features
NextDNS Features
1. Privacy focusedNextDNS is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
2. Block TrackersNextDNS has a feature to block trackers from tracking you.
3. Ad-freeNextDNS doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. Distraction-freeNextDNS has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
5. Malware AnalysisNextDNS can inspect a suspicious file or URL to detect potential threats.
6. Two-factor AuthenticationNextDNS supports two-factor authentication (2FA).
DNS Server
DNS over HTTPS
DNS-over-TLS
Real-time analytics
Data analytics
DNSSEC
Dns
Customizable
Acrylic DNS Proxy
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
10 Acrylic DNS Proxy alternatives
Acrylic is a local DNS proxy for Windows which improves the performance of your computer by caching the responses coming from your DNS servers and helps you fight unwanted ads through a custom HOSTS file.
Suggest and vote on features
Acrylic DNS Proxy Features
DNS Proxy
DNS Server
Custom DNS
Dns leak blockage
DNS Caching
DNS over HTTPS
Opinions about Acrylic DNS Proxy as a Alternative to dnsmasq
Most users think Acrylic DNS Proxy is a great dnsmasq alternative.
hBlock
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Ad Blocker
Mac
Linux
BSD
Homebrew
32 hBlock alternatives
hBlock is a POSIX-compliant shell script, designed for Unix-like systems, that gets a list of domains that serve ads, tracking scripts and malware from multiple sources and creates a hosts file (alternative formats are also supported) that prevents your system from connecting to...
Suggest and vote on features
hBlock Features
1. Block TrackershBlock has a feature to block trackers from tracking you.
2. Ad-freehBlock doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. LightweighthBlock consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Add a screenshot
Technitium DNS Server
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Ad Blocker
Mac
Windows
Linux
23 Technitium DNS Server alternatives
Technitium DNS Server is an open source tool that can be used as a personal local DNS server for privacy & security. It includes Ad blocking feature combined with DNS-over-TLS and DNS-over-HTTPS support.
Suggest and vote on features
Technitium DNS Server Features
1. PortableTechnitium DNS Server can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
DHCP Server
Configurable
DNS Server
Custom DNS
Graphical User Interface
DNS Proxy
Website testing
Comments about Technitium DNS Server as a Alternative to dnsmasq
pros, cons and recent comments
onyo
dnsmasq can only forward DNS queries, Technitium also has the option to resolve them itself

Both offer a built-in DHCP Server. Even if you use an external DHCP server, you can tell the Technitium authoritative DNS server about the LAN hostnames, provided that your external DHCP server supports "Dynamic DNS Updates [RFC 2136]".
Positive comment•
0
YogaDNS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
DNS Resolver
Windows
10 YogaDNS alternatives
YogaDNS automatically intercepts DNS requests at the system level and allows you to process them over user-defined DNS servers using modern protocols and flexible rules.
Suggest and vote on features
YogaDNS Features
Dns leak blockage
DNS Caching
Encrypted Connection
DNS over HTTPS
DNSSEC
Dns
DNS Proxy
DNS Server
DNS filter
Anti Tampering
AdGuard Home
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Ad Blocker
Mac
Windows
Linux
Self-Hosted
FreeBSD
Raspberry Pi
Cloudron
8 AdGuard Home alternatives
AdGuard Home is a network-wide software for blocking ads & tracking. After you set it up, it'll cover ALL your home devices, and you don't need any client-side software for that.
- - AdGuard Home is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to dnsmasq.
Suggest and vote on features
AdGuard Home Features
DNS Proxy
Customizable
DNS Server
Comments about AdGuard Home as a Alternative to dnsmasq
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
dnsmasq is a service for confiruing DNS requests. ADGuard is a browser tool for blocking ads. One is a low level protocol, the other is a client-facing application. Not remotely the same. Seems like spam / advertising
Negative comment•
3

Taurolyon
AdGuard is closer in comparison to Pihole. dnsmasq is a completely different animal.
Negative comment•
0
TinyProxy
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
29 TinyProxy alternatives
Tinyproxy is a light-weight HTTP/HTTPS proxy daemon for POSIX operating systems. It is free software, and supports transparent and reverse proxying.
Suggest and vote on features
TinyProxy Features
Cascade proxy
Comments about TinyProxy as a Alternative to dnsmasq
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
TinyProxy has nothing to do with DNS, this is not an alternative.
Negative comment•
4
BIND
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Linux
BSD
11 BIND alternatives
BIND is by far the most widely used DNS software on the Internet. On Unix-like operating systems it is the de facto standard. It provides a robust and stable platform on top of which organizations can build distributed computing systems with the knowledge that those systems are...
Suggest and vote on features
BIND Features
DNS Server
DNS Caching
Authoritative DNS
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PaladinVPN
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
VPN Service
VPN Client
Windows
187 PaladinVPN alternatives
PaladinVPN - 100% Unlimited Free VPN Proxy.
Suggest and vote on features
PaladinVPN Features
1. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in PaladinVPN without registration.
2. End-to-End EncryptionPaladinVPN has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
3. Privacy focusedPaladinVPN is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
4. OpenVPNPaladinVPN supports OpenVPN, one of the most secure and reliable VPN protocols.
5. AES-256 EncryptionPaladinVPN has AES-256 Encryption, i.e. very strong security.
6. Anonymous ProxyPaladinVPN protects your personal information by hiding your device identifying information.
7. No LogsPaladinVPN doesn't keep any logs of your activities.
8. No TrackingPaladinVPN will not track you or use your personal data.
9. LightweightPaladinVPN consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
WireGuard
Ad-free
NextDNS Manager
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Android
28 NextDNS Manager alternatives
With this management app, you can manage and change your NextDNS settings, check your connection, test your ping, and see other connection information!
NextDNS Manager has no features, suggest some!
dhcpcd
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
3 dhcpcd alternatives
dhcpcd is an implementation of the DHCP client specified in RFC2131. It strives to be a fully featured, yet very lightweight DHCP client.
dhcpcd has no features, suggest some!
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