hostctl is a small CLI tool for managing the Windows hosts file with tagged entries: list, add, edit, remove hosts, manage tags, and create backups. Supports sorting by IP, hostname, and tags.
Publisher’s description
What is hostctl?
hostctl is an open-source terminals & cli tool program for Windows from Natthasath. It is written in C#.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.0.0, released on September 2, 2026. 2 versions are listed since November 15, 2025, each with links to its own installer files.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (natthasath/hostctl) has 1 stars. Similar programs include PowerShell, QPDF and Oh My Posh.
Project description on GitHub: “hostctl is a fast CLI to manage your hosts file with isolated profiles, toggles, and comments. Enable/disable groups, switch environments, import/export entries, and apply changes across Linux, macOS, and Windows. Supports templates, backups & automation.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
- Updated in the last two months
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: hostctl is an open-source terminals & cli tool tool for 64-bit PCs.
Is hostctl safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
044B8F0DC60D369EF8FEB12067027F61B25E2F41504DEA5E7CBA90415F42F5DF· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 2 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0.0Latest | September 2, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.0.0 | November 15, 2025 | — | 64-bit Portable |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Natthasath.hostctl -eProgram files (.exe): hostctl.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Natthasath
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- GPL-2.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/natthasath/hostctl
- Written in
- C#
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 2.0.0
- Released
- September 2, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- November 15, 2025
- Versions listed
- 2
- GitHub stars
- 1
- GitHub forks
- 1
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- Natthasath.hostctl
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to hostctl
See all ›-
PowerShell7.6.9.0PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation solution made up of a command-line shell, a scripting language, and a configuration management framework. PowerShell runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.Open source689.6K ↓ -
QPDF12.4.2QPDF is a command-line tool and C++ library that performs content-preserving transformations on PDF files.Open source2.1M ↓ -
Open source820.8K ↓ -
Open source290.1K ↓ -
Alacritty0.17.0Alacritty is a free and open-source GPU accelerated terminal emulator focused on performance and simplicity.Open source75.9K ↓ -
Open source85.7K ↓ -
Open source1.5M ↓ -
JFrog CLI2.128.0JFrog CLI is a compact and smart client that provides a simple interface that automates access to Artifactory and Mission Control through their respective REST APIs.Open source1.3M ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is hostctl free?
Yes. hostctl is open-source software under the GPL-2.0-or-later licence.
Is hostctl safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install hostctl with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does hostctl run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of hostctl?
The versions page lists all 2 versions with links to their official installer files, back to November 15, 2025.
Can I use hostctl without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to hostctl?
PowerShell, QPDF, Oh My Posh, fzf and Alacritty. The alternatives page compares them.
