dnsmasq Alternatives for Windows

dnsmasq is not available for Windows but there are some alternatives that runs on Windows with similar functionality. The best Windows alternative is NextDNS, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to dnsmasq and ten of them are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to dnsmasq are AdGuard Home, Unbound, YogaDNS and Acrylic DNS Proxy.

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Alternatives list

  1. NextDNS icon

    NextDNS

     155 likes

    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.

    139 NextDNS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • UC Browser
    • Vivaldi
    • Google Chrome
    • UniFi Network
    • Safari
    • Yandex Browser
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • OpenWrt
    • Opera
    • Alpine Linux
    • pfSense
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • DD-WRT
    NextDNS screenshot 1
     
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    1
    NextDNS vs dnsmasq Comments
    lenaw
    Negative
    0

    dnsmasq is a server you run that is not recursive, nextdns is a recursive server

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • NextDNS is Freemium and Open Sourcednsmasq is Free and Open Source
    • NextDNS is Customizable, Privacy focused, Lightweight and Security-focuseddnsmasq is not according to our users
  2. AdGuard Home icon

    AdGuard Home

     31 likes

    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.

    11 AdGuard Home alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • FreeBSD
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Cloudron
    AdGuard Home screenshot 1
     
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    2
    AdGuard Home vs dnsmasq Comments
    Taurolyon
    Negative
    1

    AdGuard is closer in comparison to Pihole. dnsmasq is a completely different animal.

    Guest
    Negative
    4

    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

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • AdGuard Home is Free and Open Sourcednsmasq is also Free and Open Source
    • AdGuard Home is Customizable, Privacy focused and Lightweightdnsmasq is not according to our users
  4. Unbound icon

    Unbound

     16 likes

    Unbound is a validating, recursive, and caching DNS resolver.

    The C implementation of Unbound is developed and maintained by NLnet Labs. It is based on ideas and algorithms taken from a java prototype developed by Verisign labs, Nominet, Kirei and ep.net.

    Unbound is designed as.

    10 Unbound alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  5. YogaDNS icon

    YogaDNS

     13 likes

    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.

    12 YogaDNS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    YogaDNS screenshot 1
     
  6. Acrylic DNS Proxy icon

    Acrylic DNS Proxy

     18 likes

    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.

    8 Acrylic DNS Proxy alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Acrylic DNS Proxy screenshot 1
     
  7. W

    WireHole

     2 likes

    WireHole is a combination of WireGuard, Pi-hole, and Unbound in a docker-compose project with the intent of enabling users to quickly and easily create a personally managed full or split-tunnel WireGuard VPN with ad blocking capabilities thanks to Pi-hole, and DNS caching...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  9. Technitium DNS Server icon

    Technitium DNS Server

     8 likes

    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.

    26 Technitium DNS Server alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Technitium DNS Server screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Technitium DNS Server vs dnsmasq Comments
    onyo
    Positive
    0

    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]".

    • Technitium DNS Server is Free and Open Sourcednsmasq is also Free and Open Source
  10. M

    MaraDNS

     1 like

    MaraDNS implements the Domain Name System (DNS), an essential internet service. MaraDNS is open source software: This means that anyone is free to download, use, and modify the program free of charge, as per its license.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    MaraDNS screenshot 1
     
  11. D

    dns2socks

     2 likes

    DNS2SOCKS is a command line utility running to forward DNS requests to a DNS server via a SOCKS tunnel.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  12. SecureDNS icon

    SecureDNS

     Like

    SecureDNS Project aims to implements all secure DNS Protocols regardless of being standardized or widely adopted; while maintaining backward compatibility with unsecure DNS-Over-UDP Protocol via Reverse Proxy.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    SecureDNS screenshot 1
     
10 of 10 dnsmasq alternatives