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CoreDNS logo

Alternatives to CoreDNS

CoreDNS is a flexible, extensible DNS server written in Go that can serve as a replacement for any DNS server, with a focus on service discovery and cloud-native environments. Find open source and proprietary alternatives that serve similar purposes.

License:Apache-2.0
Stars:13,208
Difficulty:Easy
Pricing:Free
Hosting:Self-Hosted

Self-hosted alternatives to CoreDNS

Open source projects that can replace CoreDNS:

Unbound logo

Unbound

3,699
BSD-3-Clause
Unbound screenshot

Unbound is a security-focused recursive DNS resolver that prioritizes user privacy and data integrity. Developed by NLnetLabs, it's designed to be fast, lightweight, and secure with modern DNS features built-in from the ground up.

Key Features

  • Security First:

    • Built-in DNSSEC validation
    • DNS over TLS (DoT) support
    • DNS over HTTPS (DoH) support
    • Query name minimization
    • Aggressive NSEC caching
    • Cryptographic validation

  • Privacy Protection:

    • Query privacy protection
    • Minimal data disclosure
    • No query logging by default
    • Local root server support
    • DNS filtering capabilities
    • Response policy zones (RPZ)

  • High Performance:

    • Multi-threaded architecture
    • Efficient caching algorithms
    • Prefetching popular domains
    • Memory-optimized design
    • Fast recursive resolution
    • Load balancing support

  • Modern DNS Standards:

    • Full IPv6 support
    • EDNS(0) implementation
    • TCP fallback support
    • QNAME minimization
    • Aggressive NSEC caching
    • DNS cookies support
BIND logo

BIND

699
MPL-2.0
BIND screenshot

BIND is the most widely deployed DNS server software in the world, trusted by enterprises, service providers, and organizations globally. It provides a complete, robust, and standards-compliant DNS solution with decades of proven reliability.

Key Features

  • Complete DNS Solution:

    • Authoritative name server
    • Recursive resolver
    • Caching name server
    • Forwarding resolver
    • Split-horizon DNS
    • Dynamic DNS updates

  • Industry Standards:

    • Full RFC compliance
    • DNSSEC implementation
    • IPv6 support
    • EDNS(0) support
    • DNS over TLS (DoT)
    • Response Rate Limiting (RRL)

  • Enterprise Features:

    • Geographic load balancing
    • Split DNS views
    • Access control lists
    • Query rate limiting
    • Comprehensive logging
    • Statistics collection

  • Security & Reliability:

    • DNSSEC signing and validation
    • TSIG transaction signatures
    • Response policy zones (RPZ)
    • Blackhole and whitelist support
    • Secure zone transfers
    • DDoS protection
Knot DNS logo

Knot DNS

Unknown
Knot DNS screenshot

Knot DNS is a modern, high-performance authoritative DNS server developed by the .CZ registry. It's designed for mission-critical environments where performance, security, and reliability are paramount, with particular strength in DNSSEC implementation.

Key Features

  • Exceptional Performance:

    • High-speed query processing
    • Multi-threaded architecture
    • Memory-efficient design
    • Fast zone compilation
    • Optimized data structures
    • Minimal resource footprint

  • Advanced DNSSEC:

    • Automatic DNSSEC signing
    • Intelligent key management
    • Algorithm agility support
    • NSEC3 implementation
    • Key rollover automation
    • Policy-based signing

  • Modern DNS Features:

    • Zone file compilation
    • Dynamic DNS updates
    • Catalog zones support
    • Response rate limiting
    • Query processing modules
    • Event-driven architecture

  • Enterprise Reliability:

    • Master-slave replication
    • Automatic failover
    • Zone transfer optimization
    • Configuration validation
    • Comprehensive monitoring
    • Professional support

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