NextDNS
Verified working Aug 3, 2026
Custom encrypted DNS that blocks malware, ads, trackers, and adult content.
NextDNS is a configurable DNS filtering service for blocking malicious domains, ads, trackers, and unwanted content across devices and networks. It combines encrypted DNS setup options with security feeds, parental controls, allow/deny lists, analytics, and adjustable logging retention.
Why it stands out
- Works at the DNS layer, so filtering can apply across browsers, apps, devices, and networks rather than only inside one browser.
- Offers unusually granular security toggles, including protections for DNS rebinding, IDN homographs, typosquatting, DGAs, newly registered domains, and parked domains.
- Lets users choose log retention from very short windows up to long-term storage, or disable logging entirely.
- Supports separate configurations, making it practical to run different policies for kids, adults, work devices, or specific networks.
- Provides low-latency global DNS infrastructure with many server locations and encrypted DNS protocol support.
Good to know
- DNS-level blocking cannot inspect page content or replace endpoint antivirus, so it may not catch threats that do not depend on blocked domains.
- Some setup is required per device, router, or network, and advanced options may be confusing for users unfamiliar with DNS.
- Blocking rules can occasionally break apps, games, or sites until the relevant domain is allowlisted.
Under the radar: Use separate configurations instead of one global profile when testing stricter blocklists; you can move only a few devices to the new profile before applying the rules to an entire home network.
Photos
Privacy-conscious households and small teams can manage DNS-level blocking across phones, computers, and networks without running their own server. Block malware, phishing, cryptojacking, and suspicious newly registered domains before devices connect to them. Reduce ads and app trackers system-wide, including traffic that browser extensions may miss. Set family rules such as SafeSearch, YouTube Restricted Mode, category blocks, and scheduled recreation time. Review DNS logs and analytics to understand which domains devices and apps are contacting.
Threat-intelligence-based domain blocking, ad and tracker blocklists, native tracking protection, parental controls, real-time logs, analytics, configurable log retention and storage region, custom allowlists and denylists, DNS rewrites, DNSSEC validation, DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and multiple independent configurations per account.
Alternative listings
A privacy-first VPN with audited apps and minimal account data.
Privacy & security tools / big-tech alternativesIVPN is a paid VPN service focused on reducing network-level tracking and hiding your IP address from sites, apps, and local networks. It offers apps for major desktop and mobile platforms, with privacy-oriented options such as WireGuard support, firewall/kill-switch controls, anti-tracker filtering, and multi-hop routing on higher-tier plans.
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Privacy & security tools / big-tech alternativesMullvad offers a VPN service for masking your IP address and encrypting internet traffic, alongside a free privacy-oriented browser developed with Tor. The service emphasizes anonymous accounts, no activity logging, censorship circumvention, open-source work, and tools for checking leaks and server status.
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Similar sites elsewhere
- AdGuard DNS — adguard-dns.io
- Control D — controld.com
- Quad9 — quad9.net
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