8 Top ScoutDNS Alternatives [Price, Features, Scalability]

ScoutDNS has a reputation for being a reliable and easy-to-use DNS filtering service, but a deep dive into their product shows that it may not be the most feature-rich or cost-effective solution out there.

There are plenty of alternatives that offer greater functionality at a more affordable price point.

Let’s explore what they are.

1. Control D (Best All-Round Solution)

Control D is perhaps the most versatile DNS management solution on the market, offering unparalleled functionality, granular customization capabilities, and quality customer support, all in a user-friendly package that can be set up in a matter of minutes.

Here’s a more detailed look at why it tops this list as the best ScoutDNS alternative.

Pricing

With ScoutDNS, organizations can select from three plans – Network Standard, Network Plus, and Network 360 – with each tier adding additional features.

For instance, the ability to enforce policies by subnet is reserved for the Plus plan, and features like device-level policies and Windows/MacOS roaming clients are only available on the 360 plan. MSPs, on the other hand, gain access to all features but are faced with a minimum monthly cost of $50.

However, ScoutDNS does not share the pricing structure of any of their plans; you must sign up for a 15-day free trial and speak to their sales team before this information is disclosed.

Conversely, Control D charges a flat fee depending on your organization type. Businesses are charged $2/user/month, MSPs $1/user/month, and non-profits and schools qualify for an even lower rate.

Furthermore, Control D does not gatekeep features. All organization types are equipped with the full suite of features as soon as they sign up and are automatically eligible for new feature releases at no extra cost.

For those reasons, Control D takes the lead in this category.

🏆

Winner on Pricing: Control D

Features

Both Control D and Scout DNS offer core functionality, which includes features such as:

Basic malware and phishing protection
Advanced machine learning-based malware protection
Flexible content blocking
Blockable Services – 1,000+ with Control D, only limited to categories with ScoutDNS

ScountDNS offers Single Sign-On (SSO) capability, but this is on the Control D roadmap and will be available soon.

However, there are a handful of useful features Control D has to offer that are not yet available with ScoutDNS. They include:

Geo-Custom Rules
Traffic Redirection
Advanced Chatbot (Barry) that answers 99% of queries within seconds
Support for all modern DNS protocols – ScoutDNS only supports DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH)
Android & iOS device compatibility

Another area where Control D shines is the speed of its DNS resolvers. With an 18.81 millisecond query speed, it's significantly faster than the competition.

🏆

Winner on Features: Control D

Onboarding & UX

ScoutDNS makes onboarding easy and is a no-fuss, straightforward service, but with some criticism that its UI could do with improving.

Control D is similar in that it’s also praised for its easy onboarding and UX, with users also praising its functional UI – which just got even better thanks to a recent overhaul.

🏆

Winner on UX: Tie

Analytics & Reporting

There are clear advantages to utilizing Control D for thorough analytics and reporting, since it offers crucial features ScoutDNS does not, such as:

SIEM log streaming
Per-user reporting
Scheduled reporting
Customer storage regions

🏆

Winner on Analytics: Control D

Support

A high level of support is vital for any service, and DNS solutions are no different. Both Control D and ScoutDNS offer email support and documentation, but Control D’s knowledge base is far more in-depth. Control D has detailed information on each and every aspect of its service to ensure you always have a reference point for your issues, something which ScoutDNS currently lacks.

It should be noted that Control D also has a thriving community on its feedback page and an active Discord where community members help solve problems, discuss issues, and offer improvements to the service – all of which ScoutDNS does not offer.

A major difference between the two is chat support. While ScoutDNS lacks this entirely, Control D has an advanced chatbot called Barry that is enriched with all the information in its documentation, as well as the collective knowledge of all employees. This means that 99% of queries can be answered within seconds. However, if your query falls into the 1%, you can be certain that Control D’s support team will answer your questions thoroughly and promptly.

What's more, email tickets are often responded to by staff engineers, within the 24-hour SLA timeline.

🏆

Winner on Support: Control D

Final Thoughts

ScoutDNS is a reliable option that can serve businesses with basic DNS management needs. However, those looking for a more feature-rich, scalable DNS solution will find better value in Control D thanks to its greater filtering capabilities, customizability, analytics features, and quality support at an affordable price point.

🧑‍💻

Learn more about how Control D can keep your business safe online within minutes. Book a no-obligation call with a product expert👇

2. DNSFilter

DNSFilter stands out as a well-known DNS management service, frequently competing with Control D due to its broad range of features and impressive query speed. Its core capabilities include AI-powered malware protection, customizable content filtering, access to blockable services (80+), and full query logging.

With one of the fastest DNS query speeds available, DNSFilter is particularly attractive to those who prioritize rapid response times. However, DNSFilter’s impressive speed comes with a few limitations. Its server uptime and reliability often fall below those of its competitors.

While the Pro Plan costs $2/user/month, accessing essential features like SIEM integration, exporting data, and permanent API tokens requires an additional $0.25/user/month. DNSFilter also lacks support for Linux, modern DNS protocols, and dual-stack functionality, which can limit its versatility.

Despite these constraints, DNSFilter remains a solid option for organizations looking for basic content filtering and fast query speeds, even if it may cost more compared to other DNS filtering solutions on this list.

👉

3. WebTitan

WebTitan by TitanHQ is a well-established DNS filtering solution that offers essential features designed to meet the needs of MSPs and similar organizations. WebTitan’s feature offering includes:

Advanced malware protection
Customizable content filtering
Detailed per-user reporting
Full API access.

However, WebTitan does have certain limitations that may impact those needing more specialized controls. Like DNSFilter, it lacks Geo-IP blocking, region-specific rules, and a comprehensive list of blockable services.

Despite these drawbacks, WebTitan provides a cost-effective option at $2.47/user/month (based on 100 users). For organizations prioritizing straightforward security features over advanced customization, WebTitan is a reliable, competitively priced option.

4. Zorus

Zorus is a streamlined DNS management solution geared mainly toward MSPs that need essential security and filtering features without added complexity. It provides key functionalities like:

Malware and phishing protection
Customizable content filtering
Geo-IP blocking
Full API access

However, Zorus does have some limitations, particularly in terms of device compatibility. It lacks support for iOS and Android devices, and its MacOS client is still in beta, which may be challenging for businesses requiring multi-device compatibility.

Additionally, Zorus does not offer SIEM log streaming capabilities, which could be a drawback for organizations relying on advanced logging and security data integrations.

For businesses looking for a simplified DNS service that covers the essentials, Zorus may fit the bill. However, those in need of extensive device support and more advanced integrations may find other providers, like Control D, a better fit.

5. SafeDNS

SafeDNS may not be as widely recognized as some other DNS providers, but it still offers a well-balanced set of plans and features, making it a good option in the DNS filtering space. Their three-tier structure includes a Basic plan with essential features like API access, customizable content filtering, and basic protection against malware and phishing.

For more advanced needs, the Pro plan – at $1.8/user/month – expands on these features by adding capabilities like per-user policies, mobile compatibility, and integration with Active Directory.

The highest tier is the Pro+ plan – at $2.5/user/month – and includes SIEM integration, thus catering to businesses that need deeper data integration and analysis.

While SafeDNS does not yet support features like Geo-custom rules or Traffic Redirection, its focus on simplicity, responsive support, and affordability makes it a strong alternative for organizations that value straightforward functionality and reliable customer service.

6. DefensX

DefensX is designed for MSPs and emphasizes a zero-trust approach to secure web browsing. Its feature offerings include:

Flexible content filtering
Full query logging
Integration with RMM tools
Remote browser isolation

DefensX offers three tiers – Core, Core+, and Premium – with each tier adding additional functionality. Higher-tier plans offer features like SIEM log streaming, scheduled reporting, and full API access, which are not available on the Core plan.

It should be noted that while many users appreciate the dependable customer support, some have expressed concerns regarding the pace of product updates.

DefensX may be a viable choice for MSPs seeking a straightforward DNS filtering solution with solid customer service, but businesses looking for rapid innovation may find it worthwhile to explore other options.

7. Cloudflare Gateway

Cloudflare Gateway, part of Cloudflare’s Zero Trust suite, is a DNS filtering solution primarily designed for large-scale enterprises. With three plans – Free, Pay-as-you-go, and Contract – Gateway offers a range of features suited to businesses with substantial budgets.

The Free plan has limitations like the absence of dedicated support and limited query log retention. To access more practical functionality, you’ll likely have to opt for the Pay-as-you-go plan, priced at $7/user/month, which includes:

Geo-IP blocking
Malware and phishing protection
Full API access
Detailed query logging
RMM tool compatibility

For businesses needing further functionality, such as SIEM log streaming and per-user reporting, the Contract plan is required. Although they don’t disclose how much that is, it is likely to be a significant hike in price from the previous tier.

Cloudflare Gateway is well-suited for enterprises with expansive security needs, but for most organizations, affordable alternatives like Control D offer similar features for as low as $1/user/month, making them a more budget-friendly choice.

👉 Check out our article on Cloudflare alternatives for more insights.

8. Cisco Umbrella

Originally based on OpenDNS, which Cisco acquired in 2015, Umbrella has grown into a massive service designed for large enterprises with complex security needs.

Cisco offers a variety of plans for Umbrella, including DNS Essentials, DNS Advantage, SIG Essentials, SIG Advantage, and Secure Access, each providing features like malware and phishing protection, Geo-IP blocking, and mobile device deployment.

However, Umbrella is designed to integrate within the broader Cisco ecosystem, and this tiered approach can make selecting the right option difficult, often requiring guidance from Cisco sales representatives to fully understand the best plan for your use case.

One significant change on the horizon is that Cisco’s current Roaming Client software will reach its end of life on April 2, 2025. Users will need to transition to the Cisco Secure Client, adding an additional layer of complexity for both new and existing customers.

While Cisco Umbrella is a solid choice for enterprises already embedded in the Cisco ecosystem, its complex onboarding and product structure may be less suited for organizations looking for a simpler or more streamlined DNS filtering service.