Notes 
(Desktop) A flexible DNS proxy, with support for modern encrypted DNS protocols including DNSCrypt V2, DNS-over-HTTPS and Anonymized DNSCrypt. Also allows for advanced monitoring, filtering, caching and client IP protection through Tor, SOCKS proxies or Anonymized DNS relays.
Reviewed by Marco Wollank
dnscrypt-proxy
github.com/DNSCrypt/dnscrypt-proxy#readme 2 ratings so far*
Rate dnscrypt-proxy: No account needed
Threat level
Hardened
A hardened pick. Worth the effort once you have chosen to shrink your footprint on purpose. Enough for most people. Threat levels
Our take
The enthusiast’s choice for encrypted DNS, with support for DNSCrypt v2, DoH, and Anonymized DNSCrypt that lets you separate who you ask from what you ask. That flexibility is also the barrier: it is a config-file tool, so casual users will find it fiddly compared to flipping a phone setting. Excellent for people who want to route and relay their DNS precisely; too much for those who just want encryption on by default.
GitHub at a glance
DNSCrypt/dnscrypt-proxy ISC anonymizedanonymized-dnsdnsdns-over-httpsdnscryptdnscrypt-proxydnscrypt-proxy2dohoblivious-dns-over-httpsoblivious-dohodohproxy
Stars
13,807
+23 this week
Forks
1,138
312 watching
Last commit
today
healthy
Latest release
2.1.20
13d ago, 99 total
Star history
Issues
100% closed
1
open
1,571
closed
+7 / -7
opened / closed, last 4 weeks
Opened vs closed, last 12 weeks
Commits, last 26 weeks
117 commits, active 20 of 26 weeks
94 contributors since Jan 2018
Languages
- Go 88.3%
- JavaScript 3.6%
- Shell 3.3%
- Other 4.8%
Updated daily from the GitHub API. Star tracking since Jun 15, 2026.
dnscrypt-proxy alternatives
NextDNS The major advantage of NextDNS over AdGuard DNS is to be able to configure the service to your needs via parental controls, website restrictions or block whole categories of…
AdGuard DNS Easy to setup within minutes. Comes with setup guides for all systems. You only need to enter two IP adresses.
Quad9 Based in Switzerland. Supports: DNS-over-TLS (DoT), DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNSCrypt.
Nebulo (Android) Non-root, small-sized DNS changer utilizing DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS.
DNSCloak (iOS) Allows for the use for dnscrypt-proxy on an iPhone or iPad, which gives users the ability to encrypt their DNS requests through the use of an on-device VPN profile.
Control D Customizable encrypted DNS resolver supporting DoH, DoT, DoQ, and legacy DNS. Offers a free no-log tier and paid plans with a dashboard, per-device profiles, and content filtering.
dnscrypt-proxy license, in plain English
ISC Permissive
A permissive license that is functionally identical to MIT, just with shorter wording.
Permits
- Commercial use
- Modification
- Distribution
- Private use
Requires
- License and copyright notice
Does not provide
- Liability cover
- Warranty
Why it matters: Permissive licensing lets anyone reuse this, including inside closed products. That is freedom to build on, but no guarantee that downstream copies stay open.
Plain-language summary of the project's license, not legal advice. Read the full text for the exact terms.
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