DNSFilter vs Cisco Umbrella

DNSFilter8.9Visit Cisco Umbrella8.8Visit

Higher score DNSFilter #4 in DNS Filtering Software 8.9/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit DNSFilter

vs

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

• DNSFilter fits best

  Low-cost managed filtering for organizations

• Cisco Umbrella fits best

  Large organizations using Cisco infrastructure

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Side by side

Feature	DNSFilter 8.9/10 Visit ↗	Cisco Umbrella 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.9	8.8
Ranking	#4 in DNS Filtering Software	#5 in DNS Filtering Software
Best for	Low-cost managed filtering for organizations	Large organizations using Cisco infrastructure
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	$1/unit/mo	Pricing on request · 14-day trial
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	14 days	14 days
Free trial length	14 days	14 days
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Docs	Tickets, Phone, Docs
Integrations	3,000+ integrations	6 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features DNSFilter 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	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Encrypted DNS support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	DNS-layer protection with malware, phishing, and botnet blocking Roaming protection for Windows and macOS devices Reporting, exports, schedules, and AppAware application blocking	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	No free plan is available Core and Plus rates shown are based on annual billing Enterprise requires custom pricing	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	DNSFilter is a cloud-based internet filtering and protective DNS service for businesses, schools, managed service providers, and public Wi-Fi operators. It applies DNS policies to block malicious domains, unwanted content, and applications… 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 →

Strengths and trade-offs

• DNSFilter — where it wins

  • DNS-layer protection with malware, phishing, and botnet blocking
  • Roaming protection for Windows and macOS devices
  • Reporting, exports, schedules, and AppAware application blocking

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan is available
  • Core and Plus rates shown are based on annual billing
  • Enterprise requires custom pricing

• 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

• DNSFilter8.9/10 · 14-day trial

  Managed DNS filtering with roaming protection, reporting, and identity integrations.

  Visit DNSFilterFull verdict →
• 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 →