NextDNS

Overview

NextDNS is a DNS service that filters threats, ads, and trackers while giving users control over children’s internet access. It suits households that want one set of controls across devices and networks, as well as organizations that need managed filtering. Its strongest advantage is the breadth of its controls; the key trade-off is that the free plan stops filtering after its monthly query allowance is used.

Key features

Security and privacy filtering

NextDNS blocks malware and phishing alongside less familiar risks such as DNS rebinding, IDN homographs, typosquatting, domain generation algorithms, and newly registered domains. Ad and tracker blocking includes operating-system-level trackers and third-party trackers disguised as first-party. That breadth makes it useful for people who want filtering beyond ordinary ad blocking, though the service works at the DNS level rather than describing a broader device-security suite.

Family controls and configuration

Parents can block content categories, individual websites, apps, and games, enable SafeSearch and YouTube Restricted Mode, and schedule Recreation Time. Custom allowlists and denylists, customizable block pages, DNS rewrites, DNSSEC validation, and experimental Handshake support add flexibility for people who want more control over how DNS requests are handled. Unlimited configurations make it possible to maintain separate setups without a configuration-count ceiling.

Encrypted DNS and privacy controls

DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS encrypt DNS traffic. Router and device setup options broaden where the service can be applied, but IPv4 linked-IP setup is unencrypted, so users who require encrypted DNS should choose DoH or DoT instead. Apple users can generate a configuration profile for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS.

Users can disable logging or choose a retention period from one hour to two years and storage in the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, or Switzerland. They can view, export, or delete their data. NextDNS says it discards DNS request and response data after replying, and logs data only when a user requests it or a feature requires it.

Pricing

NextDNS uses a freemium model, with no free trial. Every plan includes unlimited devices, unlimited configurations, and all features; the differences are query limits, intended use, and support.

• Free — free: 300,000 queries per month and community support. This is a broad way to try the full feature set across unlimited devices, but it is not dependable for continued filtering once usage passes the monthly cap: afterward, NextDNS answers queries as a classic, non-blocking DNS service.
• Pro — £1.79 a month: billed at £1.79/month or £17.90/year, with 17% savings on annual billing. It removes the query cap and is intended for personal and close family use. Community support remains the support option.
• Business — £17.90 a month: billed at £17.90/month or £179/year, with 17% savings on annual billing, for every 50 employees. It has unlimited queries and email support, making it the business-focused tier for small and medium businesses.
• Education — £17.90 a month: billed at £17.90/month or £179/year, with 17% savings on annual billing, for every 250 students. It includes unlimited queries and email support for schools and universities.

Pro is the clearest fit for a household that outgrows the free quota. Business and Education retain the same listed core features but price access by employee or student cohort, rather than by an individual account.

Platforms

NextDNS supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, web, API, extensions, and self-hosted use. It also supports router setup, including a CLI that can run on some routers. Apple configuration profiles cover iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS.

Who it's for

Choose NextDNS if you want security filtering, tracker blocking, and parental controls in one configurable DNS service, especially across several devices or networks. Families can tailor controls by category, site, app, schedule, and search settings; privacy-focused users can adjust both logging and data location. It is a weaker fit if you need the free service to keep blocking at high query volumes, or if you want encryption but plan to use IPv4 linked-IP setup.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Broad threat coverage. Filtering spans familiar malware and phishing as well as DNS rebinding, typosquatting, and other listed DNS-related threats.
• Pro: Detailed family controls. Category and individual-item blocking combine with SafeSearch, YouTube Restricted Mode, and scheduled Recreation Time.
• Pro: Adjustable logging. Users can turn logs off or choose retention and storage jurisdiction, and can view, export, or delete their data.
• Con: Free filtering has a hard practical limit. After 300,000 monthly queries, DNS replies continue without blocking, which can undermine the protection users chose the service for.
• Con: One setup path is unencrypted. IPv4 linked-IP setup does not encrypt traffic; encrypted DNS requires DoH or DoT.

Alternatives

AdGuard DNS is worth considering if open-source code that anyone can inspect matters to you; it also has a free plan and free trial.

Quad9 is a simpler free alternative, with no contract or sign-up process.

Technitium DNS Server suits people who specifically want a free, open-source, self-hosted DNS server.

AdGuard is another freemium option.

CleanBrowsing is an alternative with a free plan and a paid Basic tier at $8.99 a month, with limits of up to 25 devices or 3.75 million requests per month.

Control D is another freemium alternative with a free trial; its SMB plan is $2 a month on endpoint-based pricing.

GoGuardian DNS offers customized pricing for schools and districts.

Infoblox Cloud Network Automation uses token-based licensing with custom pricing.

For broader comparisons, browse DNS Filtering Software and Internet Filtering Software.

Verdict

NextDNS is a strong choice for families and individuals who want configurable DNS-level protection, privacy controls, and parental filtering across devices. Its unlimited paid plans remove the free tier’s most important constraint, while its logging controls let users choose how much activity data to retain. Look elsewhere if you need free filtering without a query ceiling or require encryption through an IPv4 linked-IP setup.