Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · DNS Filtering Software

AdGuard DNS vs Cisco Umbrella

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score AdGuard DNS #1 in DNS Filtering Software 9.4/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit AdGuard DNS
Cisco Umbrella #5 in DNS Filtering Software 8.8/10 Pricing on request · 14-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Cisco Umbrella

AdGuard DNS leads on 1 check, Cisco Umbrella on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAdGuard DNS · 9.4/10
  • Free planonly AdGuard DNS
  • Free trialboth

AdGuard DNS scores higher on our rubric for dns filtering software: 9.4 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.

AdGuard DNS offers free plan; Cisco Umbrella doesn't.

AdGuard DNS is the better fit for broad DNS filtering across home and business devices. Cisco Umbrella is the better fit for large organizations using Cisco infrastructure.

  • AdGuard DNS fits best

    Broad DNS filtering across home and business devices

  • Cisco Umbrella fits best

    Large organizations using Cisco infrastructure

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature AdGuard DNS 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Cisco Umbrella 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.8
Ranking #1 in DNS Filtering Software #5 in DNS Filtering Software
Best for Broad DNS filtering across home and business devices Large organizations using Cisco infrastructure
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price — Pricing on request · 14-day trial
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial 30 days 14 days
Free trial length 30 days 14 days
Deployment Cloud, Browser extension Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support Email, Docs Tickets, Phone, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features AdGuard DNS 0/4 · Cisco Umbrella 0/4
Category filtering Not checked yet Not checked yet
Custom domain policies Not checked yet Not checked yet
Roaming protection Not checked yet Not checked yet
Activity reports Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment modes Not checked yet Not checked yet
Device limit 20 devices Not checked yet
Encrypted DNS support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Free Starter plan with a 30-day free trial
  • Encrypted DNS protocols plus custom rules and blocklists
  • Schedules, detailed query logs, and REST API automation
  • Blocks malware, phishing, botnets, ransomware, and unwanted categories
  • Supports identity-based policies, schedules, SafeSearch, and custom lists
  • Connects with Cisco infrastructure plus APIs, exports, and AWS S3
Cons
  • Filtering operates at the DNS level rather than as full endpoint control
  • Enterprise administration is aimed at organizational deployments
  • Device setup varies across computers, routers, TVs, consoles, and IoT devices
  • Pricing requires contacting sales, with no free plan
  • Umbrella is transitioning toward Cisco Secure Access
  • Scheduling is documented for SIG policies, not necessarily DNS-only policies
Our verdict

AdGuard DNS is a DNS resolver and network-level filtering service for individuals, families, organizations, and connected devices. It blocks ads, trackers, phishing, malware, and adult content while supporting custom blocklists, user…

Read the review →

Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-delivered security service for organizations that need to control access to malicious or unwanted internet destinations. It combines DNS-layer threat blocking with category-based web filtering, custom allow and…

Read the review →
  1. AdGuard DNSDNS Filtering Software 9.4Free plan · 30-day trial
  2. Cisco UmbrellaDNS Filtering Software 8.8Pricing on request · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • AdGuard DNS — where it wins

    • Free Starter plan with a 30-day free trial
    • Encrypted DNS protocols plus custom rules and blocklists
    • Schedules, detailed query logs, and REST API automation

    Where it doesn't

    • Filtering operates at the DNS level rather than as full endpoint control
    • Enterprise administration is aimed at organizational deployments
    • Device setup varies across computers, routers, TVs, consoles, and IoT devices

  • Cisco Umbrella — where it wins

    • Blocks malware, phishing, botnets, ransomware, and unwanted categories
    • Supports identity-based policies, schedules, SafeSearch, and custom lists
    • Connects with Cisco infrastructure plus APIs, exports, and AWS S3

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires contacting sales, with no free plan
    • Umbrella is transitioning toward Cisco Secure Access
    • Scheduling is documented for SIG policies, not necessarily DNS-only policies

More comparisons

All DNS filtering software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update