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Best Internet Filtering Software 2026
Internet filtering software helps manage which websites and online services a person or household can reach. This guide helps buyers compare controls, pricing, reports and device coverage.
The list appears in its current page order without a published scoring basis. Compare the maker-stated free plan, paid starting price, device limit, blocklists, safe search, schedules, reports and supported platforms.
NextDNS
DNS service that blocks ads, trackers and security threats, with supervised access for kids.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+6Cloudflare Gateway
Cloud gateway that filters DNS, HTTP and network requests for office and remote workers.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+4CleanBrowsing
It suits households, organizations, and administrators who want DNS-based filtering across devices or networks.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+4Control D
Control D suits individuals, IT administrators, SMBs, and enterprises seeking customizable DNS security and internet controls.
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+6Protective DNS service with content controls and threat filtering for organizations.
NxFilter suits network administrators who need DNS filtering, user or group policies, reports, or filtering for remote Windows and Android devices.
DNS-layer internet filtering with AI domain categories and real-time blocking of malicious domains and DNS attacks.
Network DNS service blocks ads, trackers and malware, with category controls, custom lists and SafeSearch.
OpenBLD Free is aimed at personal use, home networks, and small offices.
OpenDNS Home suits home internet users who want customizable filtering and protection across devices connected to their network.
On-premise DNS filtering for business networks with malware, phishing and content controls.
FilterDNS suits people who want to self-host DNS filtering and manage separate rules for different devices or use cases.
DNS-level cybersecurity service that blocks phishing, malware, botnets, ransomware and other listed threats.
Cloud platform for school classroom, network, safeguarding and asset management across large device fleets.
Family DNS servers that block adult and harmful domains and enforce Safe Search.
Yandex DNS may suit people seeking free DNS filtering on personal devices or supported routers.
Hosted DNS web filtering for organizations with over 60 categories, custom lists and portal-managed policies.
Desktop and mobile app with custom filter lists for blocking unwanted web content.
Before you choose
Compare free access, trials and paid plans
Some tools provide a free plan, while others use a free trial or a paid subscription. Check what the maker includes in the free plan before choosing a service.
Published starting prices vary. Examples include OpenBLD at $15 per month, Cloudflare Gateway at $7 per user per month and Control D at $2 per month.
Check the controls you need
Compare custom blocklists, safe search controls and filtering schedules. These settings determine how you shape access for your situation.
Activity reports can show browsing activity. Confirm that the report functions match the way you want to review access.
Match the software to your devices
Platform support includes Windows, web, macOS, iOS, Android and Linux across the list. Check the supported platform details for the devices you plan to manage.
A service that works through the web may differ from one with device-specific apps. Review platform coverage before paying.
Consider open-source options
Open-source tools can suit readers who want code they can inspect or change. FilterDNS is listed as open source and has a free plan.
If you need to read or change code, check the tool's licence and the platform support it publishes.
Review the service model
DNS-based services on the list include AdGuard DNS, NextDNS, OpenDNS Home and Yandex DNS. Their plans and controls differ, so compare the published fields rather than the service name.
Some services publish trial periods, such as AdGuard DNS with 30 days, NxFilter with 30 days and Control D with 14 days.