PowerDNS
Open-source · self-hostable · replaces 1 SaaS tool on os-alt
PowerDNS/pdns · alive · ★ 4.36k · last commit 1d ago · 956 open issues
License: GPL-2.0
Good fit for Teams that want a battle-tested, RFC-compliant authoritative DNS with a clean web admin and SQL-backed records.
Weak at Anycast story — bring your own (BGP + multiple POPs) or accept regional latency; Cloudflare's free anycast is impossible to match cheaply.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli cloudflare-dns prints
the Cloudflare DNS comparison table including PowerDNS.
how the CLI works →
Replaces these SaaS
- Cloudflare DNS · Authoritative DNS hosting
Install `pdns-server` and `pdns-backend-pgsql` from your distro. Configure `gpgsql-host` and credentials in `/etc/powerdns/pdns.conf`. Add the PowerDNS-Admin web UI (`ngoduykhanh/powerdns-admin` Docker image). Migrate from Cloudflare: export each zone as BIND-format via `cf-terraforming` or by API, then `pdnsutil load-zone example.com example.com.zone`. Update registrar to point at your new NS records.
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 PowerDNS actively maintained?
Yes — last commit 1d ago. The repository is alive (commit activity within the past 90 days).
What does PowerDNS cost to self-host?
PowerDNS is free and open source under GPL-2.0. Typical self-host VPS cost: $5-10/mo per VPS; run 2-3 VPSs in geographically separated regions for redundancy.
Which SaaS does PowerDNS replace?
PowerDNS is listed as an open-source self-host alternative to: Cloudflare DNS.