DacatDHCP

DacatDHCP is a Windows DHCP service managed through a web interface, aimed at small or isolated networks that need a lightweight IPv4 setup. Its appeal is a bundled, free application for configuring pools and viewing leases; its in-memory lease handling and narrow network scope rule it out for many persistent or larger deployments.

Overview

DacatDHCP packages its DHCP service and management interface in a single-file application. Administrators can select a network interface, set an address range and configure gateway, DNS and lease duration from a browser. That compact arrangement suits temporary LANs, labs and troubleshooting work better than networks that need durable lease state or broader address management.

The interface listens only on 127.0.0.1, and write endpoints use CSRF and origin checks. These are useful safeguards for a local management interface, but they do not remove the need to run the application with administrator privileges. The product focuses on IPv4 and cannot serve IPv6 or DHCPv6 clients.

Key features

Pool setup and lease visibility

Network-interface selection and controls for ranges, gateway, DNS and lease duration cover the basic configuration needs of a small IPv4 DHCP service. The interface also shows assigned addresses and client information, making it useful when diagnosing which devices received leases. Recent releases add fixed MAC-to-IP mappings and matching logs, a practical aid when particular devices need predictable addresses.

Operational limits

An address pool must belong to the selected interface’s subnet. That makes DacatDHCP unsuitable for cross-subnet address pools, regardless of how simple its local setup may be. Leases stay in memory and are not restored after a restart, so a service restart loses lease state. Active IP-conflict detection is also absent; administrators needing those protections should choose another DHCP solution.

Pricing

DacatDHCP’s Official version is permanently free: free. It includes a Windows amd64 local DHCP service for IPv4, with no paid tier or trial to weigh against the free edition. The trade-off is not a reduced plan but the product’s technical limits: IPv4 only, same-subnet pools, in-memory leases and no active conflict detection.

The v1.0.0 release is published under the Apache License 2.0. Source code, releases, documentation and issue feedback are directed to GitHub.

Platforms

The main version supports Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server 2016 or later, with Windows amd64 releases. Management runs in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and other modern Chromium-based browsers; Internet Explorer 11 is no longer supported. The application requires administrator privileges, so it is not a browser-only service that can be operated without elevated access to its host.

Who it's for

DacatDHCP is best suited to administrators setting up a lab, test environment, temporary LAN, small network or isolated troubleshooting network on Windows. Its single-file packaging and local web controls keep the job focused, while fixed mappings and lease visibility help with device-level diagnosis.

It is a poor fit for IPv6 environments, cross-subnet pools, or networks that depend on leases surviving restarts. The absence of active conflict detection also makes it a less compelling choice where address conflicts need to be caught automatically.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Permanently free and open source: there is no paid tier or trial deadline for the Windows IPv4 service.
• Compact deployment: service and management interface come together in a single-file application, which suits temporary or isolated setups.
• Useful local administration: configurable pool settings, lease and client visibility, plus fixed MAC-to-IP mappings and logs support basic network management and troubleshooting.
• Local management safeguards: the interface listens on loopback, and write endpoints use CSRF and origin checks.

Cons

• No IPv6 or DHCPv6: it cannot serve networks that require either protocol.
• Subnet restriction: pools must match the selected interface’s subnet, excluding cross-subnet setups.
• Volatile lease state: leases are lost on restart, which weakens its fit for persistent service.
• No active conflict detection: administrators do not get automatic detection of competing IP assignments.
• Windows and elevated access required: the main version targets Windows amd64 and needs administrator privileges to run.

Alternatives

DHCP Management Software is the broader category directory for comparing options. Choose Subnetly instead if you want a freemium service with a free monthly plan covering 256 IPAM addresses, 10 subnets, two DHCP pools, one private DNS zone, one public DNS zone and 100 DNS records; it also spans API, iOS, Linux, web and Windows.

ISC Stork is a free, open-source option for Linux, macOS, self-hosted and web environments, with professional support also offered at custom pricing. FluxDHCP is a free, self-hosted Linux and web alternative under the AGPL-3.0 license. SagaOS Kea Pilot is free MIT-licensed software for API, Linux, self-hosted and web environments, with no paid tiers or usage limits stated.

teemIP offers a free Community edition with open-source code, download and installation, plus GitHub, wiki and community-forum access; it supports API, Linux, self-hosted, web and Windows. Danbyte is a free, open-source, self-hosted option for API, Linux and web, with all features included and no seat license or license expiry. Jen Kea DHCP Management Console is free GPL v3 software for Linux, self-hosted and web use, requiring Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 or Docker, and ISC Kea with MySQL or MariaDB. OpenIPAM is a free, open-source option for API, Linux, self-hosted and web, with browser-only or self-hosted-backend use.

Verdict

Choose DacatDHCP for a small, isolated Windows network when a free, compact IPv4 service and straightforward local controls matter more than durable leases or advanced network scope. Its simple packaging and device-level lease tools are useful for labs and troubleshooting, but IPv4-only support, same-subnet pools and volatile leases make it a poor choice for dependable, persistent DHCP service.