PowerDNS Recursor

powerdns.com · checked 30 Sept 2026

#7 · DNS Server Software

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How it plugs in

YesPublic API

NoOpen source

YesFree tier

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PowerDNS Recursor is a recursive DNS resolver and caching server that resolves client queries through the global DNS system.

Pricing

PowerDNS Recursor (open-source)Commercial support and services are available separatelyFree

As powerdns.com lists them, checked 30 Sept 2026.

Near it

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Runs on

Web
Windows
Mac
Linux
iOS
Android

Facts

Website: powerdns.com
Price: Free tier
Free trial: Not stated
Company history: PowerDNS says its development started in 1999 and PowerDNS.com B.V. was registered on October 31, 2000.
Deployment: Recursor can be installed on bare metal, virtual machines, or as a virtualized or cloud-native network function.
Downloads: PowerDNS provides the Recursor as source code, installable Linux packages, and Docker images.
Headquarters: PowerDNS.com B.V. lists its address in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Intended users: PowerDNS describes Recursor as a DNS service for internet service providers and their subscribers, and says it is used in large-scale DNS deployments.
Monitoring and integration: Recursor exposes metrics for integration with existing monitoring and alerting solutions and can provide automated periodic DNS status reports.
Open source: PowerDNS identifies Recursor as open-source software and says it released its code under the GPL license in 2002.
Performance: Its threaded architecture is designed to use system resources efficiently and minimize contention between CPU cores.
Scripting: Lua scripts can modify resolving behavior, including load balancing, blocking dangerous domains, and overriding problematic responses.
Security: The Recursor supports DNSSEC processing and validation, with configurable validation modes.
Support: Commercial support offers multiple SLA-defined service levels, including office-hours and 24/7 availability; community users have separate support resources.
Threat intelligence: The product annex says Recursor supports major threat intelligence and content categorization providers, with feeds offering blocklists and allowlists.

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