RethinkDNS vs ArmorDNS

RethinkDNS8.8Visit ArmorDNS8.5Visit

Higher score RethinkDNS #7 in DNS Filtering Services 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 7 features Visit RethinkDNS

vs

ArmorDNS #10 in DNS Filtering Services 8.5/10 From $5/mo · 7-day trial ✓ 7 of 7 features Visit ArmorDNS

• RethinkDNS fits best

  Open-source Android and self-hosted users

• ArmorDNS fits best

  Families wanting paid per-device DNS policies

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Side by side

Feature	RethinkDNS 8.8/10 Visit ↗	ArmorDNS 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.8	8.5
Ranking	#7 in DNS Filtering Services	#10 in DNS Filtering Services
Best for	Open-source Android and self-hosted users	Families wanting paid per-device DNS policies
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile, Self-hosted	Cloud
Platforms	Web, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Integrations	4 integrations	3 integrations
Features RethinkDNS 0/7 · ArmorDNS 7/7
Malware blocking	Not published	✓ (best)
Ad blocking	Not published	✓ (best)
Adult content filtering	Not published	✓ (best)
Per-device policies	Not published	✓ (best)
Activity logs	Not published	✓ (best)
Analytics dashboard	Not published	✓ (best)
Custom blocklists	Not published	✓ (best)
Our review
Pros	More than 190 blocklists cover security, privacy, and parental categories Android firewall supports per-application and domain-level rules Searchable logs and suspicious-connection reports improve visibility	Per-device policies with managed and unmanaged device modes Real-time query logs with search and device filtering Encrypted DNS over TLS, DNS over HTTPS, and DNSSEC validation
Cons	Its strongest controls are centered on Android devices Browser and device setup depends on compatible DNS support Cloud DNS services have separate free and paid tiers	No free plan is available The Organization tier costs $20 per month or $200 per year No AI features are included
Our verdict	RethinkDNS combines a DNS resolver with an Android firewall for users who want device-level filtering and network visibility. It blocks ads, trackers, malware, ransomware, phishing domains, and other predefined categories through… Read the review →	ArmorDNS is a DNS-based filtering service for families, churches, ministries, and small organizations. It blocks ads, trackers, malware, phishing, adult content, gambling, and other domain categories before connections are established.… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• RethinkDNS — where it wins

  • More than 190 blocklists cover security, privacy, and parental categories
  • Android firewall supports per-application and domain-level rules
  • Searchable logs and suspicious-connection reports improve visibility

  Where it doesn't

  • Its strongest controls are centered on Android devices
  • Browser and device setup depends on compatible DNS support
  • Cloud DNS services have separate free and paid tiers

• ArmorDNS — where it wins

  • Per-device policies with managed and unmanaged device modes
  • Real-time query logs with search and device filtering
  • Encrypted DNS over TLS, DNS over HTTPS, and DNSSEC validation

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan is available
  • The Organization tier costs $20 per month or $200 per year
  • No AI features are included

• RethinkDNS8.8/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source Android DNS filter with detailed controls and monitoring.

  Visit RethinkDNSFull verdict →
• ArmorDNS8.5/10 · From $5/mo · 7-day trial

  Paid DNS filtering with per-device controls, logs, schedules, and encrypted DNS.

  Visit ArmorDNSFull verdict →