Thanks to its free plan, NextDNS is a well-known name in the DNS space, lending itself to protecting home networks and devices.
Its business plan, however, lacks the features and integrations necessary for security-conscious businesses. There’s also the topic of slow product development and sub-par customer support – more on this later – forcing users to look elsewhere.
To help you find a DNS management solution that better suits your business needs, this article explores what alternatives you have to choose from and how they compare against NextDNS.
1. Control D (Best NextDNS Alternative)
Control D is a premium DNS security solution that checks all the boxes without a hefty price tag. Let's show you why we think it's the fastest and most versatile alternative to NextDNS.
Features
NextDNS and Control D offer DNS filtering capabilities, but their key features differ.
There are three features NextDNS provides which Control D does not:
- Web3 Domain Registries support (ENS, Handshake, etc.)
- Google Safe Browsing integration
- A bespoke feature is on Control D’s roadmap, which will encompass this functionality but expand on it for better, more accurate threat protection – to be released in Summer 2025
- "Block Parked Domains" feature
- On Control D’s roadmap for Summer 2025
However, there are numerous advanced features provided by Control D that NextDNS does not offer:
- Superior Malware Protection – Independent tests show Control D has a 99.97% malware block rate, the best in the industry
- Larger Selection of Filters – Control D offers 20 blockable content categories, whereas NextDNS only has 7
- Over 1,000 Blockable Services – Control D allows fine-tuned blocking of specific apps, vendors, and tools with over 1,000 to choose from, whereas NextDNS only has 43
- Swappable Configurations – Set up different Profiles (policies) and choose which Endpoints they apply to – whether that’s one, some, or all of them. You can also layer Profiles for tailored filtering rules
- Traffic Redirection – Redirect DNS traffic through one of 100 proxy locations in over 60 countries to spoof your IP address without a VPN
- Geo-Custom Rules – Block, bypass, or redirect DNS queries based on an IP’s country or ASN
- Single Sign-On (SSO) – Integrate Control D with your existing identity provider (e.g., Okta) for better security and access control
- RMM Integration – Deploy, configure, and update DNS settings across your entire fleet of devices in seconds
An important thing to note is how often the product is updated and improved. Numerous reports online suggest that NextDNS updates have become infrequent, with some questioning whether the service is “abandoned” since product development has become “non-existent.”
This is in stark contrast to Control D, which is in continuous active development with weekly updates introducing new features, improvements, and optimizations. The Control D team is also active on its Discord and Reddit, as well as offering a Suggest a Feature service where you can submit feature requests, highlight improvement opportunities, and vote on existing suggestions to fast-track the development process.
While NextDNS may satisfy more basic filtering needs, Control D’s feature set and active development make it better suited for businesses with more complex use cases.
Pricing
Both platforms offer free DNS resolvers, but the biggest difference is in their paid services.
NextDNS has three paid plans:
- Pro – $1.99/month (for personal and family use)
- Business – $19.90/month for every 50 users
- Education – $19.90/month for every 50 users
Instead of plans, Control D’s pricing structure is based on your organization type:
- Enterprise – $2/Endpoint/month
- MSPs – $1/Endpoint/month
- School/Non-Profit – qualify for a further discounted rate
While NextDNS is cheaper than Control D, this can be slightly misleading since their pricing models reflect their capabilities. As we’re about to explore below, Control D outshines NextDNS in terms of functionality and feature set, especially for businesses with advanced use cases. Regardless, NextDNS wins this category.
Onboarding & UX
NextDNS offers a simple UI that includes setup guides, filtering policies, and settings in a user-friendly interface, making onboarding easy.
Similarly, Control D takes a user-experience-first approach to ensure you can get set up in minutes. A recent UI overhaul has revamped the design to not only make it more visually appealing but also improve the UX to make finding essential features easier. Many users praise how straightforward the onboarding experience is, regardless of how many devices they have.
Analytics & Reporting
There is one area where NextDNS stands out, which is its extended query log retention period. NextDNS stores query log data for up to 2 years, whereas Control D only stores it for 7 days.
In contrast, there are countless analytics features offered by Control D that NextDNS does not provide:
- Admin Action Logs – An audit trail of all administrative actions within your organization
- SIEM Log Streaming – Stream DNS query log data directly to your SIEM tool
- Custom Data Storage Regions – Alongside three default regions (North America, Europe, and Australia), you can choose a custom storage region for an additional fee
- Scheduled Reporting – Schedule daily, weekly, or monthly reports on network activity
- Report Retention – Control D retains reports for either 30 days or 1 year, whereas NextDNS does not offer any kind of report
- Analytics Retention – Control D stores analytics for up to 1 year compared to NextDNS’s 3 months
Support
NextDNS offers documentation, but its content is limited. As such, you would need to rely on two support channels: community support and email support. Community support is available to all users, whereas email support is reserved for the Business or Education plan.
However, there is a growing sentiment that NextDNS’s support is severely lacking, with numerous reports online complaining about the lack of support received and, in some cases, users not getting a response at all.
On the other hand, Control D offers multiple support channels, including chat support. Chat support is provided in the form of Barry, an advanced chatbot designed to answer 99% of queries instantly.
Barry utilizes machine learning technology that consists of all the information in Control D’s extensive documentation, as well as the collective knowledge of all employees.
In addition to chat support, Control D offers community support, where you can see developers actively interacting with users daily. There’s also the traditional email ticket system. While there is a 24-hour response time guarantee, it’s not uncommon to receive a reply in as little as a few hours, with many responses coming from the engineers themselves.
The result is a far better support experience with timely, thorough answers. This view is shared across various online review platforms and forums.
Control D wins this category due to its multiple support channels and superior response times.
Final Thoughts
NextDNS is a solid choice for personal users who want customizable DNS filtering with privacy-focused features, including ad and tracker blocking and flexible blocklists. However, its lack of advanced enterprise features, reports of slow product development, and inadequate customer support can be a significant turnoff.
In contrast, Control D offers a vastly superior feature set with greater flexibility, customizability, and more integrations. Additionally, Control D’s rapid development cycle ensures you have the latest features for complete protection across your entire network and devices, and responsive customer support gives you peace of mind, knowing help is on hand should things go wrong. As such, both individuals and organizations may find Control D to be a better DNS management solution for their needs.
2. AdGuard DNS
AdGuard DNS is a privacy-focused DNS resolver primarily designed for personal users who want an easy way to block ads, trackers, and malicious domains. It competes with NextDNS by offering a simple, free-to-use service with optional paid tiers for additional customization. However, like NextDNS, it lacks the advanced features and scalability required for business use cases.
Pros:
- Customizable content blocking and easy deployment
- Blocks ads & trackers
- Cross-platform support
- Priority customer support (Enterprise plan)
Cons:
- Lacks advanced filtering, integrations, and management tools
- Paid plans have hard limits on monthly DNS queries and devices
- Limited selection of blockable Services
- Basic DNS query logging and reporting
👉 Read our head-to-head comparison of Control D vs AdGuard DNS
3. DNSFilter
DNSFilter provides powerful DNS-based security that uses machine learning to identify and block emerging threats in real time. It provides businesses with customizable filtering options, detailed analytics, and fast DNS query speeds.
Pros:
- Fast DNS resolution speeds (competes with Cloudflare)
- AI-powered threat detection
- Customizable content filtering and quick deployment
- Detailed reporting and analytics dashboard
Cons:
- Higher-tier plans are needed to unlock full functionality
- Extra charges for SIEM integration, data exporting, and API access
- Inconsistent server uptime and quality
- No dual-stack functionality
- User interface could be more intuitive for beginners
While DNSFilter offers strong security and filtering capabilities, its additional costs and feature limitations may be a drawback for some businesses. However, it remains a solid choice for organizations prioritizing AI-based threat detection and fast DNS response times.
👉 Read our head-to-head comparison of Control D vs DNSFilter
4. WebTitan
WebTitan delivers DNS filtering security exclusively for MSPs seeking straightforward protection. It helps protect users from malware, phishing attacks, and unwanted content while offering customizable web filtering policies. WebTitan is known for its ease of use and straightforward deployment, making it a good choice for organizations that need security without complexity.
Pros:
- Quick deployment with minimal configuration needed
- Strong MSP-focused features and management tools
- Reliable threat intelligence updates
- Straightforward user interface
Cons:
- Limited to MSPs
- No Linux or mobile device support
- Lacks advanced customization options compared to competitors
- More expensive than some competitors with similar features
- Does not offer Geo-IP blocking or region-based filtering
WebTitan is a solid option for MSPs looking for a simple yet effective DNS filtering solution. However, its limited advanced features and higher price point may make other alternatives, like Control D, a better fit for those needing more customization and flexibility at an affordable price.
👉 Read our head-to-head comparison of Control D vs WebTitan
5. Zorus
Zorus is another DNS filtering solution built specifically for MSPs. It focuses on providing essential security features without overwhelming users with unnecessary complexity. Zorus offers protection against malware and phishing, customizable content filtering to help businesses control internet access, and integrates with RMM tools for quick deployment.
Pros:
- Simple deployment and configuration process
- Full API access for custom implementations
- Supports Geo-IP blocking
- Decent security and content filtering features
Cons:
- Limited mobile device support (no Android/iOS/Linux clients)
- MacOS client still in beta
- No SIEM log streaming capabilities
- No Traffic Redirection feature
- Fewer advanced analytics options compared to competitors
- Not ideal for complex enterprise environments
Zorus is a good option for MSPs looking for a straightforward DNS filtering tool, but its limited device support and lack of advanced features might be a dealbreaker for businesses needing more flexibility and deeper analytics.
👉 Read our head-to-head comparison of Control D vs Zorus
6. ScoutDNS
ScoutDNS is a DNS security and content filtering service designed to help businesses and MSPs protect against cyber threats like phishing, malware, and botnets. It uses AI-powered domain categorization to improve filtering accuracy and provides real-time analytics to monitor web activity. ScoutDNS provides a streamlined filtering solution for those who need basic but effective internet control.
Pros:
- AI-powered domain categorization system
- Real-time threat intelligence and reporting
- Customizable content filtering policies
Cons:
- Limited cross-platform support (no iOS/Android/Linux support)
- Lacks DNS-over-TLS protocol support
- Missing advanced features like Geo-Custom Rules and Traffic Redirection
- Limited documentation
ScoutDNS is a reliable option for businesses looking for a straightforward DNS filtering solution with strong threat detection. However, it lacks many advanced features, has limited device support, and has basic documentation.
👉 Read our head-to-head comparison of Control D vs ScoutDNS
7. SafeDNS
SafeDNS provides affordable DNS filtering designed specifically for schools, families, and small-to-medium businesses. This service protects against harmful websites, adult content, and online threats without requiring technical expertise to set up and manage. While it may not have the most advanced features, SafeDNS delivers strong security and content filtering at an affordable cost.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly pricing
- Simple deployment process
- Good customer support responsiveness
- Blocks ads & trackers
Cons:
- Less granular filtering controls than alternatives
- Lacks some advanced threat detection features found in competitors
- Basic reporting and analytics capabilities
SafeDNS is a great option for businesses and schools that need a cost-effective filtering solution. However, organizations requiring advanced security features, more granular control, or detailed analytics may be disappointed with its functionality.
👉 Read our head-to-head comparison of Control D vs SafeDNS
8. DefensX
DefensX provides DNS security with an emphasis on browser-based protection for MSPs. Its key selling point is its Remote Browser Isolation feature, which keeps potentially harmful content from reaching users’ devices.
Pros:
- Zero-trust Web & File Protection (higher-tier plans)
- Phishing and malware blocking
- Remote Browser Isolation
- Protects against web-based and email threats
Cons:
- Exclusive to MSPs
- Advanced features like API access and SIEM log streaming are restricted to higher-tier plans
- Limited analytics and customization compared to competitors
- Slower feature development cycle and less robust analytics
DefensX is a solid choice for MSPs looking for a hands-off, browser-based security solution, but may not be suited to those who need more control, customization, and analytics features.
👉 Read our head-to-head comparison of Control D vs DefensX
9. Cloudflare Gateway
Cloudflare Gateway provides DNS filtering and security as part of Cloudflare's Zero Trust platform. This service leverages Cloudflare's global network to deliver extremely fast DNS resolution while blocking threats, filtering content, and protecting users from malicious websites. It's designed with large enterprises in mind and integrates seamlessly with other Cloudflare products.
Pros:
- Strong performance speeds, even with security features enabled
- Easy integration with other Cloudflare services
- Advanced content filtering and threat intelligence
- Robust infrastructure with global reach
Cons:
- Pricing is higher than many competitors (starting at $7/user/month)
- Some advanced features require upgrading to the Contract plan
- Steeper learning curve for configuration
- Malware filtering has been criticized as ineffective
Cloudflare Gateway is a good choice for enterprises needing a scalable, zero-trust security solution, but businesses seeking more affordable options that still maintain functionality may want to look elsewhere.
👉 Read our head-to-head comparison of Control D vs Cloudflare
10. Cisco Umbrella
Cisco Umbrella is a high-end DNS security solution designed for large businesses and enterprises that require AI-driven threat detection, content filtering, and seamless integration with Cisco’s security ecosystem. Its focus on enterprise needs makes it particularly suitable for large organizations with complex security requirements and for those already utilizing other Cisco products.
Pros:
- Advanced threat intelligence powered by Cisco Talos
- Web filtering and secure web gateway (SWG) capabilities
- Good scalability for large organizations
- Granular policy controls for enterprise security needs
Cons:
- Significantly higher cost than alternatives (up to $28/user/month)
- Complex setup and onboarding process, particularly for non-technical and non-Cisco users
- Current roaming client approaching end-of-life (April 2025)
- Full functionality requires integration with other Cisco tools
- Less suitable for small to medium-sized businesses
While Cisco Umbrella offers powerful enterprise-grade protection for those already using Cisco’s security stack, its complex setup, high cost, and reliance on Cisco infrastructure may not be ideal for smaller organizations or those looking for a standalone DNS solution.
👉 Read our head-to-head comparison of Control D vs Cisco Umbrella