OpenDNS Home
OpenDNS Home: A free, network-level option for households seeking basic category filtering. Ranked #19 of 65 in Internet Filtering Software by our editors (7.4/10); pricing: Free plan; best for home networks needing basic free filtering.
At a glance
- Editor score7.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forHome networks needing basic free filtering
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Founded2006
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free plan with customizable web-content category filtering
- Phishing protection without dedicated hardware or installed software
- Covers routers, computers, smart devices, and servers on a home network
Where it doesn't
- Coverage depends on correctly configuring the home network
- DNS filtering is tied to devices using the configured network
- Protection and controls are focused on basic household filtering
Our verdict on OpenDNS Home
OpenDNS Home is a free, DNS-based internet filtering service for households that want network-level control without installing filtering software on each device. Users configure OpenDNS nameservers on a home router or another supported device, then apply customizable web-content categories and basic protection. The service can cover computers, smartphones, tablets, game consoles, TVs, servers, and other internet-connected equipment using the configured home network. It is supplied by Cisco and is suited to households looking for a straightforward filtering layer across varied devices.
The published offering centers on one free plan, OpenDNS Home. Its plan highlights include customizable content filtering, basic protection, and coverage for devices using the configured home network. There are no paid tiers to compare in the published offering. The main setup task is network configuration: users need to apply the OpenDNS nameservers through a supported home router or device. That approach avoids dedicated hardware and installed filtering software, but the quality and reach of coverage depend on where the configuration is applied and which devices connect through that network.
OpenDNS Home’s strength is breadth across common household equipment rather than a large ecosystem of applications or device-specific clients. DNS-based filtering can provide a central control point for computers, smart devices, and servers, while phishing protection adds a second basic safeguard. It is a good fit for homes that want free, customizable category controls with broad network coverage. Households needing more specialized controls, such as a feature set beyond basic category filtering, should consider a product designed around those requirements instead.
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OpenDNS Home pricing
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OpenDNS Home fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Device limit | Not verified |
| Custom blocklists | Not verified |
| Safe search controls | Not verified |
| Filtering schedules | Not verified |
| Activity reports | Not verified |
| Platform support | home routers, computers and laptops, smart devices, servers |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Support | Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | opendns.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to OpenDNS Home
- Cloudflare GatewayA broad filtering gateway with strong policy controls and basic reporting.9.2
- Cisco UmbrellaA mature enterprise filter with broad controls, integrations, and contact-sales pricing.9.1
- Pi-holeFree, open-source network blocking for self-hosted administrators.9.0
See all OpenDNS Home alternatives →
Also Ranked In
OpenDNS Home is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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