Side by side
AdGuard DNS vs NextDNS
Both stand on internet filtering software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5
Choose AdGuard DNS for device-level DNS filtering, family controls, and request analytics, with a free Starter plan available. Larger organizations can consider Enterprise for its REST API and stated integrations, while buyers seeking a published monthly price for Personal or Team will need to look elsewhere.
Visit AdGuard DNS Free plan Open source AndroidAPIExtension+6
NextDNS combines threat and tracker filtering with configurable family controls and log settings. The free plan has a monthly query cap, while paid plans offer unlimited queries at their listed rates.
Visit NextDNSThe facts
| AdGuard DNS | NextDNS | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Android, API, Extension, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | See the plans | Pro: £1.79 a month |
| Plans published | 6 | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | adguard-dns.io | nextdns.io |
| On internet filtering software | #1 of 65 | #3 of 65 |
AdGuard DNS: what it does well
- Offers Default, Family, and Non-filtering public modes.
- Can schedule parental restrictions and set custom domain rules.
- Supports four encrypted DNS protocols and DNSSEC.
- Dashboard breaks down requests by date, country, or device.
- AdGuard says the service is open source and GDPR-compliant.
What to know first
- Personal and Team plan prices are not shown.
- Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales.
- Monthly subscriptions are non-refundable.
NextDNS: what it does well
- Threat filtering includes malware, phishing, and cryptojacking.
- Parental controls include schedules and app blocking.
- DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS are supported.
- Users can disable logging and choose retention.
- Unlimited configurations are included across plans.
What to know first
- Free plan is limited to 300,000 monthly queries.
- Free quota overflow becomes non-blocking DNS.
- IPv4 linked-IP setup is unencrypted.
- No free trial is listed.
Alternatives to AdGuard DNS Alternatives to NextDNS The whole list

