Best Acrylic DNS Proxy Alternatives in 2026

Free#22 of 23 in DNS Server Software

The top Acrylic DNS Proxy alternatives are BIND 9, PowerDNS Authoritative Server and Technitium DNS Server: 15 DNS server software our editors would look at instead of Acrylic DNS Proxy, in our ranking order.

6.7/10★★★☆☆Editor score

Visit site

Acrylic DNS Proxy6.7 Visit site

• 15 alternatives
• Updated Oct 2026
• Our Acrylic DNS Proxy verdict

Acrylic DNS Proxy: A free Windows DNS proxy for local caching, filtering, and flexible upstream forwarding. Where it falls short: runs on windows only.

All 15 Acrylic DNS Proxy Alternatives, Ranked

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

1. 1
   
   BIND 9 9.4

   Best forFull-featured authoritative and recursive DNS

   • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
   • Editor score 9.4 vs 6.7

   A broad, self-hosted DNS platform for teams managing authoritative and recursive service.

   Free plan Our BIND 9 verdict → + Compare Visit ISC
   9.4/10★★★★★

   Visit ISC
2. 2
   
   PowerDNS Authoritative Server 9.2

   Best forAPI-driven authoritative DNS operations

   • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
   • Editor score 9.2 vs 6.7

   A flexible, API-driven authoritative DNS server for scalable hosting operations.

   Open source Our PowerDNS Authoritative Server verdict → + Compare Visit PowerDNS
   9.2/10★★★★★

   Visit PowerDNS
3. 3
   
   Technitium DNS Server 9.0

   Best forCross-platform DNS with blocking and clustering

   • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
   • Editor score 9.0 vs 6.7

   A capable open-source DNS server for administrators managing networks across platforms.

   Free plan Our Technitium DNS Server verdict → + Compare Visit Technitium
   9.0/10★★★★☆

   Visit Technitium
4. 4
   
   Simple DNS Plus 8.8

   Best forWindows teams needing a managed DNS server

   • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
   • Editor score 8.8 vs 6.7

   A capable Windows DNS server with strong automation, but no free plan.

   14-day trial Our Simple DNS Plus verdict → + Compare Try Simple DNS Plus
   8.8/10★★★★☆

   Try Simple DNS Plus
5. 5
   
   Knot DNS 8.7

   Best forHigh-performance authoritative DNS deployments

   • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
   • Editor score 8.7 vs 6.7

   A free, open-source authoritative DNS server for demanding zone operations.

   Free plan Our Knot DNS verdict → + Compare Visit Knot DNS
   8.7/10★★★★☆

   Visit Knot DNS
6. 6
   
   CoreDNS 8.5

   Best forKubernetes and plugin-based DNS

   • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
   • Editor score 8.5 vs 6.7

   A flexible self-hosted DNS server for Kubernetes and plugin-driven environments.

   Free plan Our CoreDNS verdict → + Compare Visit CoreDNS
   8.5/10★★★★☆

   Visit CoreDNS
7. 7
   
   NSD (Name Server Daemon) 8.3

   Best forLean authoritative DNS serving

   • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
   • Editor score 8.3 vs 6.7

   A focused, open-source choice for authoritative DNS without recursive caching.

   Free plan Our NSD (Name Server Daemon) verdict → + Compare Visit NLnet Labs
   8.3/10★★★★☆

   Visit NLnet Labs
8. 8
   D
   dnsmasq 8.1

   Best forSmall networks needing DNS and DHCP

   • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
   • Authoritative DNS
   • Editor score 8.1 vs 6.7

   A focused open-source choice for small networks needing DNS, DHCP, and boot services.

   • Authoritative DNS
   • DNSSEC support

   Free plan Our dnsmasq verdict → + Compare Visit dnsmasq
   8.1/10★★★★☆

   Visit dnsmasq
9. 9
   
   Unbound 8.0

   Best forSecure recursive DNS across major platforms

   • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
   • Authoritative DNS
   • Recursive DNS
   • Editor score 8.0 vs 6.7

   A free, open-source resolver for secure recursive DNS across major platforms.

   • Authoritative DNS
   • Recursive DNS
   • DNSSEC support

   Free plan Our Unbound verdict → + Compare Visit Unbound
   8.0/10★★★★☆

   Visit Unbound
10. 10
    
    PowerDNS Recursor 7.9

    Best forProgrammable recursive DNS

    • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
    • Recursive DNS
    • Editor score 7.9 vs 6.7

    A programmable recursive resolver with DNSSEC, Lua policies, APIs, and operational metrics.

    • Recursive DNS
    • DNSSEC support

    Free plan Our PowerDNS Recursor verdict → + Compare Visit PowerDNS
    7.9/10★★★★☆

    Visit PowerDNS
11. 11
    
    BlueCat Integrity 7.8

    Best forEnterprise hybrid DNS, DHCP, and IPAM

    • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
    • Editor score 7.8 vs 6.7

    A governed DDI platform for enterprises managing DNS, DHCP, and IPAM across hybrid environments.

    Pricing on request Our BlueCat Integrity verdict → + Compare Visit BlueCat
    7.8/10★★★★☆

    Visit BlueCat
12. 12
    
    Infoblox NIOS 7.7

    Best forLarge-scale enterprise DDI management

    • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
    • Editor score 7.7 vs 6.7

    A broad DDI platform for enterprises managing complex hybrid and multi-cloud networks.

    Pricing on request Our Infoblox NIOS verdict → + Compare Visit Infoblox
    7.7/10★★★★☆

    Visit Infoblox
13. 13
    
    EfficientIP SOLIDserver DDI 7.6

    Best forAutomated DNS/IPAM with network inventory

    • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
    • Editor score 7.6 vs 6.7

    A broad DDI platform for teams managing DNS, DHCP and network inventory across hybrid environments.

    Pricing on request Our EfficientIP SOLIDserver DDI verdict → + Compare Visit EfficientIP
    7.6/10★★★★☆

    Visit EfficientIP
14. 14
    
    Knot Resolver 7.5

    Best forEncrypted recursive DNS on Linux

    • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
    • Recursive DNS
    • Editor score 7.5 vs 6.7

    A free, open-source recursive resolver for encrypted DNS on Linux.

    • Recursive DNS
    • DNSSEC support

    Free plan Our Knot Resolver verdict → + Compare Visit Knot Resolver
    7.5/10★★★★☆

    Visit Knot Resolver
15. 15
    Y
    YADIFA 7.4

    Best forOpen-source authoritative DNS with multi-master

    • Better than Acrylic DNS Proxy:
    • Editor score 7.4 vs 6.7

    A self-hosted authoritative DNS server for multi-master zones and DNSSEC operations.

    Free plan Our YADIFA verdict → + Compare Visit YADIFA
    7.4/10★★★★☆

    Visit YADIFA

How to Switch from Acrylic DNS Proxy

1. Snapshot or back up the data and configs on your Acrylic DNS Proxy server.
2. Create the new server with the same operating system and size, and add your SSH key.
3. Copy the data across (rsync or your backup tool) and reinstall your apps or containers.
4. Move the DNS records or IP references to the new server, test it, then cancel Acrylic DNS Proxy.

Acrylic DNS Proxy vs Each Alternative

#	Tool	Free plan	Paid from	Score
22	Acrylic DNS Proxy	Yes	Free	6.7
1	BIND 9	Yes	Free	9.4
2	PowerDNS Authoritative Server		Free	9.2
3	Technitium DNS Server	Yes	Free	9.0
4	Simple DNS Plus	No	$69/unit one-time	8.8
5	Knot DNS	Yes	Free	8.7
6	CoreDNS	Yes	Free	8.5
7	NSD (Name Server Daemon)	Yes	Free	8.3
8	Ddnsmasq	Yes	Free	8.1
9	Unbound	Yes	Free	8.0
10	PowerDNS Recursor	Yes	Free	7.9
11	BlueCat Integrity			7.8
12	Infoblox NIOS	No		7.7
13	EfficientIP SOLIDserver DDI			7.6
14	Knot Resolver	Yes	Free	7.5
15	YYADIFA	Yes	Free	7.4

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update