Best DNS Filtering Software in 2026
Updated
In short: AdGuard DNS is ranked #1 of 22 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of NextDNS and Control D. The best-ranked option with a free plan is NextDNS. The lowest first paid tier on this page is ScoutDNS at $0.21/mo.
When you want to control which domains devices or networks can reach, DNS filtering software offers several policy and deployment choices to weigh. Compared on category filtering and custom domain policies, these tools can be considered for both broad rules and domain-specific settings. Deployment modes and roaming protection help frame where filtering may operate, while encrypted DNS support, activity reports, and device limits add other points of comparison. AdGuard DNS, NextDNS, and Quad9 are among the named options. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the capabilities you need, then consider how the listed controls fit your devices and approach to managing access.
22 DNS filtering software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 AdGuard DNS iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.7Free
- 2 NextDNS iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.4£1.79/mo
- 3 Control D iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.0$2/mo
- 4 CleanBrowsing iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.6$6.25/mo
- 5 DNSFilter iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.5
- 6 SafeDNS iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.2$1.20/mo
- 7 Quad9 iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.2Free Category filtering: NoCustom domain policies: No
- 8 GoGuardian DNS iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9 Deployment modes: dnsCategory filtering: YesCustom domain policies: Yes
- 9 RethinkDNS Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4$1.75/mo Category filtering: YesCustom domain policies: Yes
- 10 Technitium DNS Server No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3Free
- 11 AdGuard iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1
- 12 CloudVeil iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Category filtering: YesCustom domain policies: Yes
- 13 Smart DNS Proxy iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8$4.61/mo
- 14 Blocky No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7Free Deployment modes: dnsCategory filtering: YesCustom domain policies: Yes
- 15 ScoutDNS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.6$0.21/mo Category filtering: YesCustom domain policies: Yes
- 16 Pi-hole No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4
- 17 NxFilter No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9
- 18 Webroot DNS Protection No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Category filtering: YesCustom domain policies: Yes
- 19 WebTitan Cloud No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.7
- 20 OpenDNS FamilyShield No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Category filtering: YesCustom domain policies: No
- 21 RAV Endpoint Protection No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2
- 22 Comodo Secure DNS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.0
Compare all 22 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment modes | Category filtering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AdGuard DNS | 9.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | NextDNS | 9.4 | Free plan | £1.79/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | Control D | 9.0 | No | $2/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | CleanBrowsing | 8.6 | No | $6.25/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | DNSFilter | 8.5 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 6 | SafeDNS | 8.2 | No | $1.20/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 7 | Quad9 | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | No |
| 8 | GoGuardian DNS | 7.9 | No | — | — | — | dns | Yes |
| 9 | RethinkDNS | 7.4 | Free plan | $1.75/mo | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 10 | Technitium DNS Server | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 11 | AdGuard | 7.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 12 | CloudVeil | 6.8 | No | — | No | — | — | Yes |
| 13 | Smart DNS Proxy | 6.8 | No | $4.61/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 14 | Blocky | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | — | — | dns | Yes |
| 15 | ScoutDNS | 6.6 | No | $0.21/mo | No | — | — | Yes |
| 16 | Pi-hole | 6.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | NxFilter | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 18 | Webroot DNS Protection | 5.8 | No | — | No | — | — | Yes |
| 19 | WebTitan Cloud | 5.7 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 20 | OpenDNS FamilyShield | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 21 | RAV Endpoint Protection | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 22 | Comodo Secure DNS | 5.0 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which DNS filtering software is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
AdGuard DNS is ranked #1 of 22 with a score of 9.7. NextDNS is second and Control D third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 22 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, ScoutDNS has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.21/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.