Greatest DNS Filtering Options for 2026

1. Test Level

In late 2023, Test Level acquired Perimeter 81. The product has been rebranded to Test Level Concord SASE, integrating Perimeter 81’s speedy deployment capabilities with Test Level’s legendary “ThreatCloud” intelligence.

Specs

• Deployment: SASE Consumer (Agent), International Cloud Gateway.
• Core Function: Community-as-a-Service (NaaS) + FWaaS.
• Integration: Full Test Level Infinity Platform integration.

Why We Picked It

That is the quickest strategy to substitute a legacy VPN. Test Level preserved the “15-minute deployment” magic of Perimeter 81 however supercharged it with enterprise-grade menace prevention.

You get a devoted non-public community node that applies firewall guidelines and DNS filtering to all site visitors, no matter the place your customers are.

Greatest For: Built-in SASE, Zero Belief, and former Perimeter 81 followers.

Execs & Cons

• Execs: Unifies VPN alternative with DNS safety; extremely simple to make use of; backed by Test Level’s huge menace intel.
• Cons: Pricing construction has modified post-acquisition; may be overkill in the event you solely need easy DNS blocking.

2. Cloudflare Gateway

A part of the “Cloudflare One” platform, Gateway replaces your firewall with a cloud-native resolution. It leverages the huge 1.1.1.1 community the quickest public DNS resolver—to use safety insurance policies.

Specs

• Deployment: WARP Consumer, DoH.
• Scale: 300+ Cities globally.
• Pricing: Free tier (as much as 50 customers), then per-user.

Why We Picked It

The sheer pace of Cloudflare’s infrastructure means including this safety layer typically will increase web pace reasonably than lowering it.

The “Free for 50 customers” tier is an unbeatable worth proposition for startups. Moreover, they’re future-proofing their tech stack with superior cryptography.

Greatest For: Velocity, Zero Belief Adoption, and International Scale.

Execs & Cons

• Execs: Unimaginable pace; beneficiant free tier; integrates with Cloudflare Employees; Zero Belief native.
• Cons: Logs retention is brief on decrease tiers; help is notoriously automated/sluggish for non-enterprise plans.

3. WebTitan

TitanHQ’s WebTitan is the “folks’s alternative” for DNS filtering. It strips away the complexity of Cisco and the excessive price ticket of Zscaler, providing a sturdy, efficient filtering resolution that simply works. It’s significantly robust within the schooling and SMB sectors.

Specs

• Deployment: Cloud or On-Premise Gateway.
• Goal Viewers: MSPs, Colleges, SMBs.
• Core Function: “Personal Cloud” for MSPs.

Why We Picked It

Flexibility. WebTitan permits MSPs to host the answer in their very own non-public cloud, giving them information sovereignty and management that SaaS-only rivals can’t match.

Their API is open and well-documented, making it simple to script buyer onboarding.

Greatest For: Price range-Aware MSPs and SMBs.

Execs & Cons

• Execs: Very aggressive pricing; wonderful buyer help (you’ll be able to speak to a human); non-public cloud choices.
• Cons: UI is purposeful however unpolished; lacks the total “SASE” breadth of Test Level or Zscaler.

4. Cisco Umbrella

Previously OpenDNS, Cisco Umbrella is the usual by which different enterprise DNS filters are measured.

It presents deep integration with Cisco’s SD-WAN and Meraki stacks, performing as the primary line of protection alongside endpoint safety options.

Specs

• Deployment: Cloud-native, AnyConnect integration.
• Risk Intel: Cisco Talos.
• Integration: SD-WAN, Meraki, Cisco Safe Consumer.

Why We Picked It

Unmatched menace intelligence derived from Cisco Talos. In case you are already utilizing Cisco AnyConnect in your VPN, enabling Umbrella is actually a checkbox. It gives “audit-grade” reporting that’s crucial for incident response.

Greatest For: Giant Enterprises and Cisco Environments.

Execs & Cons

• Execs: Large menace intelligence database; extremely steady; deep integration with enterprise {hardware}.
• Cons: Costly; the dashboard feels dated in comparison with trendy startups; help could be sluggish for smaller tiers.

5. NextDNS

NextDNS positions itself because the “firewall for the fashionable web.” It’s beloved by the privateness neighborhood for its potential to dam not simply malware, but additionally aggressive monitoring, telemetry, and adverts on the DNS stage.

Specs

• Deployment: DoH/DoT/DoQ, IP Linking.
• Privateness: No-logging choices, Swiss jurisdiction.
• Analytics: Actual-time stream.

Why We Picked It

The analytics are stunning. You may see precisely which gadget is looking which advert server in real-time.

It helps the widest vary of blocklists (OISD, StevenBlack, and so forth.), permitting customers to customise their filtering aggression.

Greatest For: Privateness Advocates and Prosumers.

Execs & Cons

• Execs: Glorious privateness options; granular blocklist choice; low-cost; helps CNAME flattening.
• Cons: No “SLA” or cellphone help; guide configuration required for giant fleets.

6. Zscaler Web Entry (ZIA)

Zscaler is the chief within the Gartner Magic Quadrant for SSE. ZIA doesn’t simply resolve DNS; it proxies the site visitors and inspects the payload.

It will probably look inside SSL/TLS encrypted packets to seek out hidden malware {that a} easy DNS filter may miss.

Specs

• Deployment: Z-App (Consumer Connector), GRE Tunnels.
• Safety: Full SSL Inspection, Sandbox.
• Scale: Large international cloud.

Why We Picked It

Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). Whereas different instruments on this record cease on the area stage, Zscaler seems on the precise file being downloaded.

It’s the gold normal for safety depth, although it requires cautious configuration to keep away from vulnerabilities.

Greatest For: International Enterprises Requiring Full Inspection.

Execs & Cons

• Execs: Unequalled safety depth; full SSL inspection; integrates with Zscaler Personal Entry (ZPA).
• Cons: Very costly; advanced implementation requires licensed engineers; heavy agent.

7. DNSFilter

DNSFilter has persistently ranked as one of many quickest DNS resolvers on the earth.

Its “Webshrinker” AI engine categorizes new domains in real-time, which is crucial for stopping “recent” phishing hyperlinks.

Specs

• Deployment: Roaming Consumer, Relay, Router.
• Risk Intel: Actual-time AI categorization.
• MSP Options: Multi-tenant dashboard, Whitelabeling.

Why We Picked It

It’s the final software for Managed Service Suppliers (MSPs). The multi-tenant dashboard is designed to handle a whole lot of shoppers from a single pane of glass, and the roaming shopper is extremely light-weight.

Greatest For: MSPs and Velocity-Aware Organizations.

Execs & Cons

• Execs: Extraordinarily low latency; AI detects zero-day phishing immediately; wonderful MSP whitelabeling.
• Cons: Cell app is solely purposeful; superior reporting options could be an add-on value.

8. Quad9

Quad9 (9.9.9.9) is a Swiss-based non-profit basis. They mixture menace feeds from over 20 prime suppliers (like IBM X-Pressure, CrowdStrike, and so forth.) and block malicious domains without cost.

Specs

• Deployment: DNS IP Change.
• Price: Free.
• Focus: Privateness and GDPR compliance.

Why We Picked It

Belief. They don’t have any shareholders and no incentive to promote your information. For visitor networks or IoT VLANs the place you can not set up an agent, Quad9 is the most effective “set it and overlook it” layer of safety that helps stop entry to darkish internet nodes.

Greatest For: Non-Income, Public Sector, and Primary Free Safety.

Execs & Cons

• Execs: Free; privacy-centric; high-quality menace information; simple setup.
• Cons: No reporting dashboard; no customization; no whitelisting.

9. SafeDNS

SafeDNS is a veteran within the internet filtering house. They shine in content material categorization, making certain that faculties and libraries can meet compliance requirements (like CIPA) with out over-blocking academic content material.

Specs

• Deployment: Agent, Router.
• Focus: Net Categorization & Compliance.
• Tech: Machine Studying categorization.

Why We Picked It

Accuracy. In academic environments, false positives are a nightmare. SafeDNS has one of many lowest false-positive charges for content material categorization we’ve got examined. It’s typically used alongside different SaaS safety measures.

Greatest For: Schooling and Compliance-Heavy Sectors.

Execs & Cons

• Execs: Excessive categorization accuracy; CIPA compliant; very reasonably priced; router-friendly.
• Cons: Dashboard is purposeful however dated; lacks superior menace looking options.

10. Management D

Management D has disrupted the market by blurring the strains between a DNS resolver and a clear proxy.

It doesn’t simply block dangerous issues; it lets you manipulate site visitors movement with unprecedented granularity.

Specs

• Deployment: Agentless (DoH/DoT/DoQ) & Roaming Agent.
• Community: International Anycast Community (100+ places).
• Main Options: Site visitors Redirection, Malware Blocking.

Why We Picked It

Management D is the one software on this record that provides “Site visitors Redirection” natively. This enables an enterprise to look as if they’re shopping from a distinct nation for particular domains—invaluable for advert verification or regional testing.

Greatest For: Energy Customers, Trendy Enterprises, and DevOps Groups.

Execs & Cons

• Execs: Quickest decision instances in our assessments; helps DoQ; trendy/intuitive UI; distinctive proxy options.
• Cons: Reporting is much less formal than Cisco’s; newer to the enterprise house.