9 Best OpenDNS Alternatives & Competitors

If you’ve been relying on OpenDNS for years, you might be feeling the strain of its transformation. 

Since being acquired by Cisco in 2015, the business-facing solution was rebranded to Cisco Umbrella, introducing paid tiers, while the free personal use option retained the OpenDNS name. But this shift hasn’t been without its hiccups.

Cisco Umbrella, in particular, has faced criticism for its lack of advanced features, subpar customer support, and complicated onboarding process, leaving many businesses frustrated. 

And now, with the impending end-of-life for its Roaming Client, users are being pushed to migrate to the Cisco Secure Client/Center – a change that likely involves price increases and its fair share of headaches.

Whether you’re looking for better support, less labor-intensive solutions, or simply a service that offers more value, this article will help you find the best OpenDNS alternatives.

1. Control D (Best All-Round Solution)

Pricing

Cisco Umbrella offers six plans: Umbrella DNS Essentials, Umbrella DNS Advantage, Umbrella SIG Essentials, Umbrella SIG Advantage, Secure Access Essentials, and Secure Access Advantage.

Although the pricing structure is not disclosed, there are reports online suggesting costs range from $2.50/user/month to as high as $28/user/month, depending on the plan and length of the contract.

This is mainly because they target large enterprises with substantial budgets, pricing themselves out for small to medium businesses.

Control D takes a simpler approach, offering a standard rate depending on your organization type:

• Businesses qualify for $2/endpoint/month
• MSPs qualify for $1/endpoint/month
• Non-profits and schools qualify for an even lower rate (contact for details) 

An important thing to note is that since Control D does not have tiered plans, all features are made available to all organizations. This means you never have to worry about missing out on future releases or paying extra for additional functionality down the line.

Features

Both services offer the typical features you’d expect with a DNS filtering service, such as:

• Basic Malware and Phishing Protection
• Blockable Services (apps) – 1,000+ with Control D, less than 100 with Umbrella
• Active Directory Support and RMM integration
• Per-user Policies and Reporting
• Scheduled Reports

However, when looking at the differences between the two, Control D eclipses Umbrella when it comes to the breadth and depth of features available. 

Here’s a list of what Cisco Umbrella offers that Control D does not:

• Single Sign-On (SSO) – on the Control D roadmap
• Enhanced SLA
• Remote Browser Isoltion

In comparison, here’s a list of what Control D offers that Umbrella does not:

• Blocks Ads & Trackers
• Advanced ML-based Malware Protection
• Advanced Geo-Custom Rules
  • Umbrella can only enforce Geo-IP block rules but does not include ASNs
• Traffic Redirection
• Advanced Chatbot Barry can answer almost all queries within seconds
• Custom Data Storage Regions

It should be mentioned that based on independent performance data, Control D outperforms Cisco Umbrella in DNS speed, server uptime, and server quality.

Onboarding & UX

As mentioned earlier, Cisco is notorious for its complex onboarding, which can be quite daunting due to its steep learning curve. This may present issues for those not already in the Cisco ecosystem or for businesses with smaller IT teams.

Conversely, users have frequently expressed their positive experience with Control D, with many complimenting how user-friendly the UI is and how easy it is to add multiple devices within minutes.

👉 Read our short guide on how to set up Control D for businesses

Analytics & Reporting

Both services offer similar features in this category, including:

• SIEM Log Streaming
• Full Query Logging and Exporting
• Admin Action Logs
• Per-User Reporting
• Scheduled Reports

Where both differ is in their data storage regions. Cisco Umbrella allows you to choose from two regions – NA and EU – whereas Control D offers three – NA, EU, and ANZ. Control D also gives you the option to choose a custom data storage region, however this incurs an additional cost.

Support

Cisco Umbrella has developed a reputation for providing lackluster after-sales support, often leaving users in the dark where they cannot contact someone. It would be easy to dismiss this as a one-off, but this is a recurring theme expressed by users across multiple years.

This is in contrast to Control D, where all queries are answered within 24 hours – often in just a few – and are frequently done by the engineers themselves. This ensures that not only are user queries answered in a timely manner, but they are done by qualified personnel who can rectify issues immediately.

Final Thoughts

OpenDNS is a well-known provider in the DNS space. But since its acquisition by Cisco, the service has seen a downturn.

The business-oriented Cisco Umbrella service falls short in key areas like advanced features, user-friendly onboarding, and responsive customer support – essential elements for effective DNS filtering. 

Control D, on the other hand, not only addresses these gaps but excels in them.

Combined with a more affordable pricing structure, unparalleled customization options, and seamless user experience, Control D stands out as the smarter choice for those seeking a modern, flexible, and cost-effective DNS filtering solution.

2. Cloudflare Gateway

Cloudflare Gateway is almost a one-for-one swap for Cisco Umbrella as they offer a similar feature set, and both target large enterprises. This is also its drawback since it is priced as such, with the cheapest plan starting at $7/user/month.

The defining feature of Gateway is its performance; it has one of the fastest DNS query speeds on the market, thanks to its global server network. This makes it a great choice for those prioritizing speed and performance.

The downsides are that it has one of the worst malware filters, and essential features such as SIEM log streaming and per-user reporting are reserved for the Contract plan, bumping up your monthly cost further.

Pros:

• Fast and reliable performance 
• Strong content filtering features
• Integration with all device types

Cons:

• Ineffective malware filter
• Access to advanced analytics features requires upgrading plans
• Cost

👉 Explore our article on the best Cloudflare alternatives

3. WebTitan

WebTitan is a great tool for those who want essential DNS-based security in a no-nonsense platform. It’s known for its advanced malware detection and customizable content filtering, offering users core functionality when it comes to DNS-based filtering. However, it lacks some of the advanced features provided by services such as Control D.

Pros:

• Modern DNS protocol support
• Full API access
• Data exporting and SIEM log streaming capabilities

Cons:

• No list of blockable services for granular control
• No geo-based blocking
• Outdated UI

4. DNSFilter

Another solution known for its performance is DNSFilter, competing against Cloudflare Gateway for the number one spot for the fastest DNS query speeds. They also offer strong content filtering features with malware and phishing protection, a list of 80+ blockable services, and protection for mobile devices.

Pros:

• AI-powered malware protection
• 80+ blockable services
• User-friendly interface

Cons:

• Subpar server uptime and quality
• SIEM integration and data exporting must be purchased as add-ons
• Does not support Linux systems or modern DNS protocols, and isn’t dual-stack ready

5. Zorus

Zorus is an MSP-only service that simplifies DNS management, providing basic filtering and protection features without the fluff. While this is exactly what some businesses are looking for, it can hinder those who require compatibility across multiple devices and advanced analytics features. 

Pros:

• Malware and phishing protection
• Customizable content blocking
• Geo-IP restrictions

Cons:

• Lacks advanced analytics features such as SIEM log streaming
• Lacks support for mobile devices
• MacOS client is in beta

6. NextDNS

NextDNS is a privacy-focused solution that targets both businesses and personal users. It blocks ads and trackers, offers real-time threat detection, and is compatible with most device types. 

Pros:

• Real-time threat detection and analytics
• Large focus on parental control
• Supports all modern DNS protocols

Cons:

• Does not offer geo-blocking features
• Does not support custom blocklists
• Limited documentation for non-technical users

👉 Read our blog on NextDNS vs Control D.

7. SafeDNS

SafeDNS also offers its service to personal users and businesses alike, providing features such as real-time monitoring of DNS traffic, full API access, and quality customer support. However, the absence of advanced filtering features is a limiting factor.

Pros:

• Affordable pricing structure
• Quality customer support
• Malware and phishing protection and app category blocking

Cons:

• Lacks advanced features such as Geo-Custom Rules and Traffic Redirection
• SIEM integration reserved for higher-priced plans

8. DefensX

DefensX is a notable name in the DNS space thanks to its Remote Browser Isolation, file protection, and extensive content-blocking categorization. It also supports all modern DNS protocols. But, there are some limitations.

Features like API access and SIEM log streaming are only available for higher-tiered plans, and they exclude all businesses besides MSPs. 

Pros:

• Straightforward onboarding
• Offers a secure web browser and file protection
• Integrates with RMM tools and Active Directory

Cons:

• Only serve MSPs
• Full API access, scheduled reporting, and SIEM log streaming reserved for higher-priced plans
• Slow product development cycle

9. ScoutDNS

ScoutDNS is a simple DNS filtering solution for more basic needs, providing essential features such as AI-powered malware protection, per-user policies, and per-user reporting. However, it’s not the most scalable service since it lacks many of the advanced features necessary for organizations with more comprehensive use cases.

Pros:

• Customization of allow and blocklists for specific clients/policies
• Full API access and Active Directory support
• Customizable content filtering

Cons:

• Not compatible with iOS or Android devices
• Does not support all modern DNS protocols
• Lacks advanced features like Geo-Custom Rules and Traffic Redirection

How Should You Choose the Right OpenDNS Alternative?

The best DNS solution for your use case should be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Pricing
• Features
• Customizability
• Onboarding & UX
• Analytics
• Support