Smoothwall Filter
Smoothwall Filter: A flexible education-focused filter with detailed policies, alerts, and reporting. Ranked #51 of 65 in Internet Filtering Software by our editors (4.2/10); pricing: Pricing on request; best for flexible cloud, hybrid, or on-premise filtering.
At a glance
- Editor score4.2 / 10
- PricingPricing on request
- Best forFlexible cloud, hybrid, or on-premise filtering
- Custom blocklistsYes
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Cloud, on-premise, and hybrid deployment options
- Granular policies for users, groups, time, location, and networks
- Safeguarding alerts, SafeSearch, and advanced activity reports
Where it doesn't
- Quote-based pricing requires a sales conversation
- Broad deployment choices may require more planning
- Its focus is schools and education settings rather than general home use
Our verdict on Smoothwall Filter
Smoothwall Filter is web-filtering software for schools and other education settings. It evaluates web-page content, context, and structure in real time instead of relying only on published blocklists. The product supports web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, and self-hosted environments, making it relevant for education teams managing mixed devices and network setups. Cloud, on-premise, and hybrid deployment options give administrators flexibility over how filtering is delivered.
Policy depth is a central strength. Administrators can apply rules by user, group, category, time, location, IP address, subnet, or hostname, alongside custom blocked and allowed domain or URL lists. Smoothwall also supports forced SafeSearch for supported search engines, search-term filtering, and search-suggestion blocking. Safeguarding alerts and notifications extend the product beyond basic access control, while reports can be organized by user, group, device, domain, category, safeguarding activity, or custom criteria. These controls suit schools that need filtering decisions tied to people, places, devices, and safeguarding workflows.
Smoothwall Filter uses contact-sales pricing, so evaluating the product involves requesting a quote or demo rather than selecting a published self-serve plan. That approach may suit schools and education organizations that need deployment guidance across cloud, on-premise, or hybrid environments. It is a strong fit for teams prioritizing granular controls, content-aware analysis, and reporting depth. Organizations seeking a simple, consumer-oriented filter or transparent subscription checkout should consider a more narrowly focused alternative.
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Smoothwall Filter pricing
Smoothwall Filter fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Device limit | Not verified |
| Custom blocklists | Yes |
| Safe search controls | Yes |
| Filtering schedules | Yes |
| Activity reports | Advanced |
| Platform support | Chrome OS, Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android and on-premise network appliances |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Support | Email, Phone, Tickets, Docs |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: Azure Directory, Google Directory, IDex |
| Pricing | Pricing on request |
| Website | smoothwall.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Smoothwall Filter integrations
Smoothwall Filter lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- Azure Directory
- Google Directory
- IDex
Alternatives to Smoothwall Filter
- 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 Smoothwall Filter alternatives →
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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