9 Best Enterprise Web Filtering Software & Tools 2025

Just one malicious link can take down an entire enterprise network, making advanced web filtering a critical line of defense. 

Businesses need more than basic protection; they need smart web access controls that allow safe browsing while automatically blocking access to harmful or suspicious sites in the background.

In this guide, we will identify the top 9 enterprise web filtering solutions and detail their pros and cons, so you can find the right solution for your specific needs.

TL;DR

1. Control D

Best-in-Class Malware Protection

Control D protects against malicious websites, phishing scams, and malware-infected domains. Its real-time, comprehensive threat protection blocks malicious web pages before they can harm your network, ensuring enterprise-grade web security.

Independent testing shows that Control D has a 99.98% malware block rate, the highest amongst all competitors, beating major players such as Quad9, Cloudflare, and Google.

Granular Filtering & Customization

The platform’s filtering rules are highly customizable. They enable admins to block or allow content from 20 categories at the click of a toggle and have precise control over 1,000+ individual Services (specific apps, tools, and platforms). 

Third-Party Blocklists

Control D supports external blocklists to help businesses that are transitioning from another web content filtering solution. 

Users can choose from 15 third-party blocklists, such as those from Hagezi, StevenBlack, and OISD, or choose to integrate their own custom blocklists as a built-in filter in their dashboard. 

Advanced Geo-Custom Rules

Control D’s Geo-Custom Rules let organizations restrict access based on geographic location, allowing them to:

• Block queries resolving to IPs in a specific country or ASN
• Redirect queries that don't resolve to IPs in a specific country or ASN
• Bypass queries made from IPs in a specific country or ASN
• Block queries made from IPs not in a specific country or ASN
• Or any combination of the above

Traffic Redirection

Traffic Redirection gives admins complete authority over the path their DNS traffic takes, letting them decide exactly where it's routed. 

With access to more than 100 proxy servers spread across over 60+ countries, they can easily set a global default location for DNS requests or craft custom rules tailored to specific services and domains with a single toggle.

Multi-Tenancy

The multi-tenancy feature enables centralized management of multiple clients, departments, and users, each with distinct web filtering policies. This allows specific teams and clients to have tailored user access without compromising on security.

Ad & Tracker Blocking

Control D stops intrusive ads and trackers in their tracks right at the DNS level, cutting off unwanted connections before they ever reach your devices. This not only conserves bandwidth and boosts browsing speed but also shields you from privacy-invasive scripts, providing a smoother and more private online experience.

With three adjustable filtering modes – Relaxed, Balanced, and Strict – you have the freedom to customize the level of blocking, allowing you to find the ideal balance of protection and everyday usability.

Dual-Stack Ready & Modern Protocol Support

Control D supports both IPv4 and IPv6, which makes it a dual-stack service. It also supports all modern DNS protocols, such as DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH), DNS-over-TLS (DoT), DNS-over-HTTPS/3, and DNS-over-Quic for secure, encrypted traffic.

Comprehensive Analytics & Monitoring

Control D features powerful analytics and reporting capabilities, providing complete visibility into network traffic. This includes real-time and historical logs, as well as information on which Filters and Services are blocked and allowed, from which Endpoint, and much more.

Cross-Platform Compatability

Control D works across all devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browsers, and most routers, ensuring consistent protection everywhere.

Full API Access

From the moment you sign up, Control D provides you with immediate access to its API, making it easy to integrate directly into your existing systems and workflows. 

Whether you're automating policy enforcement, managing Profiles and Endpoints, updating authorized IPs, or tightening network security, you can handle it all programmatically without having to touch the dashboard.

Transparent & Affordable Pricing

Control D’s pricing is straightforward, with no plans, meaning no upsells or gated features. You gain access to Control D’s full feature set from day one.

• Enterprises – $2/Endpoint/month
• MSPs – $1/Endpoint/month
• Schools & Non-Profits – Further discounted rates available

Summary

✅ Pros:

• Blocks malicious websites, phishing scams, and malware in real time 
• Constantly updated threat intelligence
• Granular control over Filters and Services, custom blocklists, and geo-based restrictions  
• Works on all devices (Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile)  
• Ad and tracker blocking 

❌ Cons:

• No free plan other than a 30-day free trial (no credit card required)
• Does not offer URL filtering

2. Cisco Umbrella

Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-based security platform that provides DNS-layer protection, blocking threats before they reach your network. It combines web content filtering, malware prevention, and Cisco Talos threat intelligence to stop phishing, ransomware, and malicious domains in real time.

However, its complexity and cost may be overkill for smaller businesses, and the service has garnered a reputation for poor post-sales support.

✅ Pros:

• Stops malware, phishing, and ransomware 
• Integrates well with Cisco infrastructure 

❌ Cons:

• Pricing is extremely high for SMBs
• Requires IT expertise to configure and optimize
• No built-in ad blocker

3. Cloudflare Gateway

Cloudflare Gateway is a secure web gateway (SWG) service that combines DNS filtering, HTTPS inspection, and Zero Trust security in one cloud-native platform. Built on Cloudflare's global network, it offers fast, low-latency speeds and data exfiltration while enabling detailed access controls. 

However, its full potential requires adopting Cloudflare's broader platform, which may not suit all organizations. Additionally, similar to Cisco Umbrella, numerous online reports indicate that support is subpar, with some users not receiving responses at all.

✅ Pros:

• Fast, low latency DNS resolution
• Tight Zero Trust integration with Cloudflare Access and other services

❌ Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Vendor lock-in risks due to ecosystem dependencies
• One of the most expensive DNS management platforms on the market
• Ineffective malware filter

4. DNSFilter

DNSFilter is a cloud-based DNS filtering service. It combines AI-powered threat detection with real-time content filtering. The service blocks malicious domains, phishing attempts, and inappropriate content across all network devices.

However, DNSFilter doesn't offer DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) or provide granular application-level controls. It also lacks some advanced features offered by its competitors, so you may need to purchase additional tools to fill the gaps.

✅ Pros:

• AI-driven threat blocking with real-time updates
• Simple setup with zero hardware requirements
• Fast DNS resolution speeds

❌ Cons:

• Lack of DNS-over-HTTPS
• Basic reporting compared to competitors
• Limited integration options
• Streaming DNS logs to an SIEM tool and exporting data incurs additional costs

5. SafeDNS

SafeDNS is a cloud-based web filtering and DNS security solution for businesses, schools, and ISPs. It enforces internet usage policies and blocks malicious content. SafeDNS has data centers worldwide, ensuring low-latency filtering without the need for on-premises hardware.

Having said that, it lacks some of the advanced threat protection features offered by competitors, and its filtering capabilities aren’t as flexible as other solutions. 

✅ Pros: 

• Easy to deploy with no hardware requirements
• Cost-effective
• Known for strong support and customer service

❌ Cons:

• Lacks advanced features
• Basic reporting compared to competitors
• Limited integration with third-party security tools

6. WebTitan

WebTitan, from TitanHQ, is a cloud-based DNS filtering solution that blocks malware, ransomware, and phishing threats while enforcing acceptable internet usage policies. It’s tailored for those seeking a straightforward approach to web filtering and security.

That said, WebTitan does have some functional gaps. It doesn’t provide more advanced filtering options, such as blocking specific Services or creating location-based routing rules. Additionally, the lack of DNS-over-TLS (DoT) support and limited compatibility with mobile platforms can be a drawback.

✅ Pros:

• Strong threat intelligence with real-time updates
• Multi-tenant controls for MSPs
• Simple deployment

❌ Cons:

• No support for Linux or mobile devices
• Basic features compared to other alternatives
• No blockable Services, geo-custom rules, or traffic redirection capabilities

7. Zorus

Zorus is a web filtering platform powered by real-time AI analysis. It provides MSPs with advanced protection against malware, phishing, and inappropriate content.

It should be noted that Zorus is not compatible with Linux or mobile devices, and its macOS agent is in beta. It also has limited capabilities when it comes to filtering customization.

📌 Note: DNSFilter acquired Zorus in April 2025.

✅ Pros:  

• Strong threat filtering capabilities
• Simple deployment process

❌ Cons:

• Fewer advanced features compared to other solutions
• Does not support Linux or mobile devices
• MSP only

8. DefensX

DefensX provides browser-based web security. The platform combines DNS filtering and zero-trust principles to block sophisticated threats like ransomware, phishing, and malware attacks. While cloud-native, DefensX also supports on-premises and hybrid deployments for organizations with strict compliance requirements.

But since it’s mainly geared toward MSPs and doesn’t offer much in the way of deep customization, it might feel limiting for businesses that want more control over filtering and policies.

✅ Pros:  

• Easy to set up, deploy, and manage
• Also protects against email threats (for higher plans)
• Protects against most threats

❌ Cons:

• Less customization compared to other alternatives
• Only available to MSPs
• Sub-par analytics capabilities

9. ScoutDNS

ScoutDNS is a lightweight, cloud-based DNS filtering service designed for small to mid-sized businesses seeking simple but effective web security. It emphasizes ease of use, with a straightforward dashboard for policy management, and has affordable pricing and minimal setup, making it ideal for organizations that want web protection without the complexity.

But, it should be noted that ScoutDNS has limited features for advanced or complex use cases and does not integrate with Linux or mobile devices. It also reserves capabilities such as SIEM log streaming and Active Directory support for users on higher plans, which will drive up costs.

✅ Pros:  

• Budget-friendly
• Adequate real-time protection against malware and other threats
• Strong reporting and analytics

❌ Cons:

• Fewer advanced features
• Minimal integration capabilities and cross-platform support
• Partial documentation

How to Choose the Right Enterprise Web Filtering Solution For You

The best web content filtering software for your enterprise will depend on your specific use case. However, there are some important factors to keep in mind when making your selection:

• Security and Threat Protection Capabilities
• Customization and Flexibility in Policy Control
• Ease of Deployment, Management, and Integration
• Performance and Reliability
• Customer Support
• Analytics, Reporting, and Visibility
• Scalability
• Cost
• Compliance and Data Privacy