Best ArmorDNS Alternatives in 2026
The top ArmorDNS alternatives are AdGuard DNS, NextDNS and Control D: 15 DNS filtering services our editors would look at instead of ArmorDNS, in our ranking order.
ArmorDNS: Paid DNS filtering with per-device controls, logs, schedules, and encrypted DNS. Where it falls short: no free plan is available.
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Best forBroad consumer and family DNS protection
Broad DNS protection with strong family controls, encrypted protocols, and wide device coverage.
- Custom blocklists
9.4/10★★★★★Visit AdGuard DNS -
Best forPrivacy-focused users needing advanced DNS controls
A flexible DNS filtering service with unusually broad controls on its free plan.
- Custom blocklists
9.3/10★★★★★Visit NextDNS -
Best forPower users wanting flexible DNS policies
A flexible DNS platform with detailed policies, schedules, analytics, and router deployment.
- Custom blocklists
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Control D -
Best forAffordable households and small teams
A capable free DNS filter for one device, with paid tiers planned for wider coverage.
- Per-device policies
- Ad blocking
- Activity logs
9.1/10★★★★★Visit QueryWarden -
Best forOrganizations needing DNS plus network filtering
A flexible DNS and network filtering service with HTTP inspection from $7 per user monthly.
- Custom blocklists
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Cloudflare -
Best forFamilies wanting free profile-based filtering
A flexible DNS filter for families that need profiles, schedules, and privacy controls.
- Per-device policies
- Ad blocking
- Activity logs
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit DeCloudUs -
Best forOpen-source Android and self-hosted users
A free, open-source Android DNS filter with detailed controls and monitoring.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit RethinkDNS -
Best forFamilies managing up to 25 devices
A flexible DNS filter with family-focused controls, encrypted DNS, schedules, and broad device coverage.
- Custom blocklists
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit CleanBrowsing -
Best forSchools and small networks on a budget
Affordable DNS filtering with roaming clients, policy controls, logs, and directory integrations.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit ScoutDNS -
Best forEstablished enterprises needing security controls
A broad DNS and web security service for enterprises with Cisco infrastructure.
- Custom blocklists
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Cisco Umbrella -
Best forUsers wanting deep category and usage controls
A broad DNS filtering service for households and organizations needing detailed controls.
- Custom blocklists
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit SafeDNS -
Best forOrganizations wanting mature DNS reporting
A policy-focused DNS security service with detailed reporting and remote-device coverage.
- Custom blocklists
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit CIRA -
Best forEstablished organizations needing roaming filtering
A mature DNS filtering service for organizations managing roaming users and devices.
- Custom blocklists
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit WebTitan -
Best forEnterprises needing off-network DNS protection
Enterprise DNS filtering with roaming protection, policy controls, reporting, and security integrations.
Pricing on request · 60-day trial Our Akamai Secure Internet Access Enterprise verdict → Visit Akamai8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Akamai -
Best forNetwork teams needing threat-focused DNS security
A Fortinet-focused DNS security service for network-wide threat filtering and visibility.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Fortinet
ArmorDNS Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to ArmorDNS?
AdGuard DNS: #1 in our DNS Filtering Services ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. Broad DNS protection with strong family controls, encrypted protocols, and wide device coverage.
Is there a free alternative to ArmorDNS?
Yes. AdGuard DNS, NextDNS, Control D, QueryWarden and Cloudflare Gateway have a free plan or a free tier (8 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
ArmorDNS vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Malware blocking | Ad blocking | Per-device policies | Analytics dashboard | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | ArmorDNS | No | $5/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 |
| 1 | AdGuard DNS | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 2 | NextDNS | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 9.3 |
| 3 | Control D | Yes | $2/device/mo | — | — | — | — | 9.2 |
| 4 | QueryWarden | Yes | $2.32/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 |
| 5 | Cloudflare Gateway | Yes | $7/user/mo | — | — | — | — | 9.0 |
| 6 | DeCloudUs DNS | Yes | $5.94/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 7 | RethinkDNS | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 8.8 |
| 8 | CleanBrowsing | Yes | $8.99/mo | — | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 9 | ScoutDNS | No | $2.5/seat/yr | — | — | — | — | 8.6 |
| 11 | Cisco Umbrella | No | — | — | — | — | — | 8.4 |
| 12 | SafeDNS | No | $25.95/yr | — | — | — | — | 8.3 |
| 13 | CIRA DNS Firewall | No | — | — | — | — | — | 8.2 |
| 14 | WebTitan Cloud | No | — | — | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 15 | Akamai Secure Internet Access Enterprise | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8.0 |
| 16 | FortiGuard DNS Filtering Service | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7.9 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update