Yandex DNS review
A free DNS filter for households that want preset safety modes without administration tools.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Yandex DNS is a free public DNS filtering service for individuals and households that want basic protection across personal devices or a home network. Its three modes provide different levels of filtering: Basic, Safe, and Family. Safe mode blocks potentially dangerous, malicious, and fraudulent websites, while Family mode also blocks pornographic and erotic content and enables family search filtering for Yandex results. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and supported routers.
There is no paid tier to compare: Yandex DNS is free. The service also supports DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS, giving users secure DNS configuration options alongside its filtering modes. Router and home-network configuration can extend protection beyond a single device, while support for major desktop and mobile platforms makes it suitable for mixed-device households. Its model is straightforward for users who want to select a mode and apply DNS settings rather than manage a larger software deployment.
The trade-off is its narrow policy scope. Yandex DNS focuses on domain blocking through preset Basic, Safe, and Family modes, with protection against dangerous websites, suspected fraud, botnet communications, adult content, and adult advertising networks. It does not provide custom lists, schedules, activity reporting, or broader administrator controls. Choose it for simple, free DNS safety on personal devices or a home network; households and organizations needing individualized policies, scheduled access, or reporting should choose a filtering product built around those controls instead.
Yandex DNS pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free Basic, Safe, and Family filtering modes
- Blocks malicious, fraudulent, botnet, adult, and advertising domains
- Supports secure DNS protocols, devices, and home-network routers
- Where it doesn't
- Filtering is limited to preset modes rather than custom policies
- No schedules, activity reporting, or administrator dashboard
- Requires DNS configuration on devices or supported routers
Yandex DNS fact sheet, pricing and score →
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