Cisco Umbrella vs CleanBrowsing

Cisco Umbrella8.8Visit CleanBrowsing8.5Visit

Higher score 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

vs

CleanBrowsing #7 in DNS Filtering Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit CleanBrowsing

• Cisco Umbrella fits best

  Large organizations using Cisco infrastructure

• CleanBrowsing fits best

  Families and small networks needing profiles

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Side by side

Feature	Cisco Umbrella 8.8/10 Visit ↗	CleanBrowsing 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	8.5
Ranking	#5 in DNS Filtering Software	#7 in DNS Filtering Software
Best for	Large organizations using Cisco infrastructure	Families and small networks needing profiles
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Pricing on request · 14-day trial	$75/yr
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	14 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support	Tickets, Phone, Docs	Email, Docs
Integrations	6 integrations	6 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Cisco Umbrella 0/4 · CleanBrowsing 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	Not checked yet	25 devices
Encrypted DNS support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	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	Profiles group device policies by user or network need Encrypted DNS supports DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and DNSCrypt Works across major operating systems, routers, and network devices
Cons	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	Free public filters provide less dashboard customization than paid plans Basic plans cap devices at 25 and profiles at 3 Self-service plans do not include a trial
Our verdict	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 →	CleanBrowsing is a DNS-based internet filtering service for families, schools, businesses, public Wi-Fi providers, and other organizations. It applies predefined content and platform filters to domain requests, while custom allow and block… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• 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

• CleanBrowsing — where it wins

  • Profiles group device policies by user or network need
  • Encrypted DNS supports DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and DNSCrypt
  • Works across major operating systems, routers, and network devices

  Where it doesn't

  • Free public filters provide less dashboard customization than paid plans
  • Basic plans cap devices at 25 and profiles at 3
  • Self-service plans do not include a trial

• Cisco Umbrella8.8/10 · Pricing on request · 14-day trial

  Broad DNS, web, identity, and reporting controls for Cisco-centered enterprises.

  Visit Cisco UmbrellaFull verdict →
• CleanBrowsing8.5/10 · Free plan

  A flexible DNS filter for families and small networks that need profiles and schedules.

  Visit CleanBrowsingFull verdict →