Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Technitium DNS Server VS dnsmasq

Compare Technitium DNS Server VS dnsmasq and see what are their differences

Technitium DNS Server logo Technitium DNS Server

Technitium DNS Server is an open source tool that can be used for self hosting a local DNS server for privacy & security or, used for testing by developers on their computer.

dnsmasq logo dnsmasq

Dnsmasq is a lightweight, easy to configure DNS forwarder and DHCP server.
  • Technitium DNS Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-25
  • dnsmasq Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-04-03

Technitium DNS Server features and specs

  • Privacy
    Technitium DNS Server allows users to protect their privacy by encrypting DNS queries using DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) protocols, preventing third-party surveillance.
  • Ad Blocking
    It includes built-in filters to block advertisements and tracking services, enhancing user experience by reducing unwanted content.
  • Customization
    Users have the ability to customize DNS filtering rules, enabling them to tailor the DNS service to their specific needs and preferences.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, Technitium DNS Server allows users to inspect the code for security purposes and contribute to or modify the software as needed.
  • Multi-platform
    The server can be installed on various platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, providing flexibility in deployment.

Possible disadvantages of Technitium DNS Server

  • Complexity
    Setting up and configuring Technitium DNS Server may be complex for users who are not familiar with DNS technology or server management.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running a DNS server can consume significant system resources, which might be a concern for users with limited hardware capabilities.
  • Limited Support
    As an open-source project, users might experience limited formal support options, relying mostly on community support for troubleshooting.
  • Not as Established
    Compared to larger, more established DNS services, Technitium DNS Server may lack the extensive features and reliability of commercial alternatives.
  • Maintenance
    Users are responsible for maintaining the server, including updates and security patches, which requires a certain level of technical expertise.

dnsmasq features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Dnsmasq is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it suitable for small, resource-constrained environments.
  • Easy Configuration
    It has a simple configuration process, which is beneficial for users who need a quick and straightforward setup of DNS and DHCP services.
  • Integrated DNS and DHCP
    Dnsmasq provides both DNS and DHCP services, allowing users to manage these network services in a unified manner.
  • DNS Caching
    It offers DNS caching, which can improve lookup speeds and reduce bandwidth usage for frequently accessed domains.
  • Customizability
    It allows for various custom configurations, including support for domain-specific configurations and conditional forwarding.

Possible disadvantages of dnsmasq

  • Limited Features
    Dnsmasq may lack some advanced features found in more comprehensive DNS and DHCP solutions, which can be a limitation for larger, more complex network setups.
  • Scalability
    While ideal for smaller networks, dnsmasq might not scale well for larger enterprise-level networks with extensive requirements.
  • Security
    As dnsmasq is a simple tool, it may not include advanced security features that are necessary for protecting data in a high-stakes environment.
  • Support
    Being an open-source tool, it might not have the same level of official support and documentation as some commercial DNS/DHCP solutions.

Technitium DNS Server videos

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dnsmasq videos

DHCP Server Setup with Dnsmasq

More videos:

  • Review - Quick Configs Ubiquiti - DNSMASQ & DHCP
  • Review - DD-WRT DNSMasq Setup and Local DNS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Technitium DNS Server and dnsmasq)
Security & Privacy
56 56%
44% 44
Ad Blockers
57 57%
43% 43
Threat Detection And Prevention
Monitoring Tools
39 39%
61% 61

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Technitium DNS Server should be more popular than dnsmasq. It has been mentiond 31 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Technitium DNS Server mentions (31)

  • Pihole v6
    I've been using Technitium for a couple years and been pretty happy with it https://technitium.com/dns/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Overwatch 2 disconnects when using Windows Server 2022 for DHCP/DNS
    You can try using a DNS/DHCP server other than the Windows one, e.g. Technitium I use this on Linux but as it is written in Dotnet it will of course also work on Windows Https://technitium.com/dns/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Has anyone been able to set up dockerized CrowdSec in front of dockerized NPM using official images only?
    I recently made an effort to harden my network due to (technically) exposing more of it with FireZone (WireGuard). For the curious, I shared some details in a recent comment. I didn't mention it in the comment, but I also set up local DNS (Technitium) with block lists. Source: over 1 year ago
  • please help regarding raspberry pi project to block ads
    There's also Technitium DNS. I use that for myself and PiHole for gf's house. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Query regarding custom filter lists
    For Windows, I've found that this software works well, and you can enable the option to block ads and trackers, as well as send encrypted DNS to Quad9: https://technitium.com/dns/. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

dnsmasq mentions (7)

  • East, west, north, south: How to fix your local cluster routes
    One way to handle this is to install dnsmasq, and configure resolving on the host in such a way that .local will use 127.0.0.1 to resolve DNS. Which will then respond with 127.0.0.1. Using the port matching the K3D cluster will then ensure the correct cluster receives the traffic. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Building a Kubernetes Cluster from Scratch With K3s And MetalLB
    MetalLB needs a pool of IP addresses it can use for the cluster. I reserved 5 IP addresses between 10.0.0.5 and 10.0.0.10, which were not part of my dnsmasq DHCP pool. Assigning IPs outside the DHCP range prevents conflicts with dynamically assigned IPs in the network. A single IP address would have sufficed for my simple set-up, but I plan to add more services to the cluster and I might need distinct IPs for... - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Working on Multiple Web Projects with Docker Compose and Traefik
    This seems like an improvement over my current solution in that it can keep multiple projects open simultaneously and route to each of them, but does add more complexity to the setup. I'm using Dnsmasq (https://thekelleys.org.uk/dnsmasq/doc.html) to map anything at .lo to the currently running project, like so:
      brew install dnsmasq.
    - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • easiest way to setup internal DNS routing?
    I would use a simple dns proxy like Blocky if you want adblocking or dnsmasq if you don't. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Frustrated with the hardware I own
    The pervious setup was much the same except the lab was under the UDMP without another gateway. I used UnifiOS to create networks(vLANs) and trusted that segregation to work. It did not. As I progressed in my home lab, I went through a few hypervisors and settled on EXSi and vSphere. 100% overkill but that is what labbing is for right? Again progressing through and adding things like windows AD and many Home... Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Technitium DNS Server and dnsmasq, you can also consider the following products

Pi-hole - Pi-hole is a multi-platform, network-wide ad blocker.

YogaDNS - YogaDNS automatically intercepts DNS requests at the system level and allows you to process them...

AdGuard - Surf the Web Ad-Free and Safely. Shield up!

PowerDNS - PowerDNS offers open source DNS software, services, and support.

NextDNS - Block ads, trackers and malicious websites on all your devices.

BIND - BIND is by far the most widely used DNS software on the Internet.