NSD + Knot DNS
Open-source · self-hostable · replaces 1 SaaS tool on os-alt
NLnetLabs/nsd · alive · ★ 545 · last commit 1d ago · 65 open issues
License: BSD-3-Clause
Good fit for Authoritative-only deployments where minimal attack surface and high performance per CPU matter (TLDs, DNS providers).
Weak at No bundled UI; less common in tutorials than BIND/PowerDNS.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli cloudflare-dns prints
the Cloudflare DNS comparison table including NSD + Knot DNS.
how the CLI works →
Replaces these SaaS
- Cloudflare DNS · Authoritative DNS hosting
NSD is authoritative-only (smaller attack surface than BIND, which combines authoritative + recursive). Install `nsd` from your distro, write zone files in `/etc/nsd/zones/`, list each zone in `/etc/nsd/nsd.conf` under a `zone:` block. Knot DNS is similar but supports DNS-over-TLS / QUIC for modern privacy hardening. Cloudflare export → BIND-format zone file is consumable by both.
README badges for the SaaS this replaces
Maintainers and forks: drop a badge in your README to link readers from the SaaS-comparison page back to your repo.
FAQ
Is NSD + Knot DNS actively maintained?
Yes — last commit 1d ago. The repository is alive (commit activity within the past 90 days).
What does NSD + Knot DNS cost to self-host?
NSD + Knot DNS is free and open source under BSD-3-Clause. Typical self-host VPS cost: $5/mo VPS minimum.
Which SaaS does NSD + Knot DNS replace?
NSD + Knot DNS is listed as an open-source self-host alternative to: Cloudflare DNS.