Control D vs SafeDNS

Control D9.3Visit SafeDNS8.4Visit

Higher score Control D #2 in DNS Filtering Software 9.3/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Control D

vs

SafeDNS #8 in DNS Filtering Software 8.4/10 15-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit SafeDNS

• Control D fits best

  Affordable, highly configurable DNS filtering

• SafeDNS fits best

  Families and organizations wanting detailed controls

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Side by side

Feature	Control D 9.3/10 Visit ↗	SafeDNS 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.4
Ranking	#2 in DNS Filtering Software	#8 in DNS Filtering Software
Best for	Affordable, highly configurable DNS filtering	Families and organizations wanting detailed controls
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$2/device/mo	$25.95/yr
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	14 days	15 days
Free trial length	14 days · no card needed	15 days
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Email, Phone, Live chat, Docs · 24/7
Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001	GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001
Integrations	20 integrations	6 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Control D 0/4 · SafeDNS 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	Not checked yet
Encrypted DNS support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Custom block, bypass, redirect, and wildcard domain rules Profiles, schedules, Safe Search, and detailed DNS analytics Supports major platforms, browsers, APIs, self-hosting, and routers	Filters across 66 content categories with custom allowlists and denylists Adds AppBlocker, schedules, per-user policies, and Safe Search Supports routers, roaming clients, OpenWRT, and major desktop and mobile platforms
Cons	Personal paid plans cost $3 or $6 per month Traffic redirection requires the Full Control plan SMB billing is based on endpoints rather than a flat fee	No free plan is available Advanced business controls are distributed across higher paid tiers Deployment requires choosing among router, DNS, or agent-based approaches
Our verdict	Control D is a cloud-based DNS filtering and security platform for individuals, families, businesses, and organizations. It blocks malware, phishing, ads, trackers, unwanted content, and selected services at the DNS level. Users can… Read the review →	SafeDNS is a cloud-based DNS security and internet-filtering service for households, schools, small and midsize businesses, enterprises, managed service providers, internet service providers, and Wi-Fi providers. It filters traffic at the… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Control D — where it wins

  • Custom block, bypass, redirect, and wildcard domain rules
  • Profiles, schedules, Safe Search, and detailed DNS analytics
  • Supports major platforms, browsers, APIs, self-hosting, and routers

  Where it doesn't

  • Personal paid plans cost $3 or $6 per month
  • Traffic redirection requires the Full Control plan
  • SMB billing is based on endpoints rather than a flat fee

• SafeDNS — where it wins

  • Filters across 66 content categories with custom allowlists and denylists
  • Adds AppBlocker, schedules, per-user policies, and Safe Search
  • Supports routers, roaming clients, OpenWRT, and major desktop and mobile platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan is available
  • Advanced business controls are distributed across higher paid tiers
  • Deployment requires choosing among router, DNS, or agent-based approaches

• Control D9.3/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  A broad DNS filtering platform with free access, detailed controls, and flexible deployment.

  Visit Control DFull verdict →
• SafeDNS8.4/10 · 15-day trial

  Detailed DNS controls for households and organizations, with paid plans for broader management.

  Visit SafeDNSFull verdict →