The Tool Desk
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Why the resolver you choose changes the result
DNS filtering is not a single on/off feature shared uniformly across each provider. A test using a standard, unfiltered resolver for one service and a threat-blocking endpoint for another measures those specific choices—not the providers’ maximum security capability.
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Cloudflare: standard 1.1.1.1 is unfiltered
Cloudflare says its public 1.1.1.1 resolver does not block or filter content. Its separate Families options add malware blocking, with another variant also blocking adult content. Cloudflare documents that a domain classified as malicious is answered with 0.0.0.0 instead of its real address. A comparison must say whether it used standard 1.1.1.1 or a malware-filtering Families endpoint. Cloudflare’s setup guide, public resolver documentation, and operator documentation distinguish these options.
Quad9: security blocking, not general censorship
Quad9 describes its secure resolver as blocking requests to domains associated with malicious intent, including malware and phishing. Its stated scope is security-related rather than general content censorship. A test should identify the secure endpoint versus an unfiltered option and interpret its block response according to Quad9’s documented behavior, not assume every provider signals a block in the same way. See Quad9’s threat-blocking description and FAQ.
#1 Best Overall
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NextDNS: the profile is part of the test
NextDNS offers configurable security protections and threat-intelligence features. Results depend on the active profile and which protections are enabled, so a reproducible comparison should identify the profile and record every relevant toggle. A saved profile and a no-signup configuration should not be treated as interchangeable without documenting their settings. NextDNS describes its service at nextdns.io.
AdGuard DNS: identify Threat Protection separately
AdGuard describes DNS protection against phishing and malicious domains as well as ad and tracker blocking. Its Threat Protection endpoint is distinct from standard resolver options. State the exact endpoint or profile used, and separate malware-domain blocking from ad and tracker filtering so the comparison is clear about what it measures. See AdGuard DNS’s overview and its provider endpoint guide.
Rank #2
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What a fair comparison must report
DNS blocklists, threat intelligence, configuration, and cache state can change over time. A result is a snapshot of a particular domain list queried at a particular time—not a permanent ranking. To make a comparison interpretable, publish the following:
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- Exact resolver details: provider, endpoint, protocol, and—where applicable—profile and enabled security features.
- Domain-list provenance: the list itself, where it came from, and when it was collected. Do not expose readers to active malicious domains unnecessarily; a safely redacted list or a cryptographic hash plus controlled access may be appropriate, but the method must still allow the set to be checked.
- Test timing and cache handling: timestamp the query window, clear or control the client-side DNS cache between resolver changes, and verify that the client actually queried the intended endpoint.
- Outcome categories: report the number blocked and the total tested, alongside allowed, failed-to-query, and ambiguous cases. Explain how a response was classified; do not assume that one block-answer format covers every service.
- False-positive checks: if checked, report suspected false positives separately rather than counting them as successful protection.
Testing discussions have documented problems with tools that assume one particular blocked-answer response, as well as disputes over settings in older comparisons. Those discussions are useful warnings about methodology, not current proof that one service is more effective. See the historical discussion of DNS-filter test-tool limitations and the earlier AVLab comparison discussion.
Rank #3
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- BUSINESS DATA & IDENTITY SECURITY: Safeguards your Official and financial data, protecting them from online theft and unauthorized access.
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What can—and cannot—be concluded
Provider documentation establishes that these services offer different security configurations; it does not establish a present-day comparative blocking rate on the same malicious domains. Without a documented shared list, query window, endpoint settings, cache controls, and logs, naming one as the winner would overstate the evidence. No comparable current blocking percentage for all four on this exact test is established.
Even a well-run test only measures the domains and moment it covers. DNS filtering can prevent a lookup when a resolver identifies a domain, but it cannot establish that every malicious domain will be blocked or replace endpoint security. Quad9 describes its threat-blocking scope at its service page; NextDNS’s overview is at nextdns.io, and its explanation of malware protection is in this support discussion.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- The Total Security Suite is WatchGuard’s most comprehensive security package, bundling every advanced service into one subscription. It delivers layered defense with AI-driven malware detection, DNS filtering, cloud sandboxing, and security correlation. Ideal for organizations that demand maximum protection and visibility across their network.
- The Total Security Suite equips your WatchGuard Firebox with the full set of advanced defenses. It adds AI powered malware detection, DNS filtering, cloud sandboxing, threat correlation, and automated response, all managed in WatchGuard Cloud. Ideal for organizations that need maximum protection, compliance ready reporting, and end to end visibility.
- Interfaces and deployment: 2.5Gb and 1Gb Ethernet with SFP or SFP+ fiber for clean aggregation and segmented backhaul at the edge.
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Rank #4
- Watchguard T145 Firebox with 3 Year Basic Security Suite License (WGT145033) - The Firebox T145 delivers enterprise-grade protection for branch offices and retail sites. With a blend of 2.5Gb, 1Gb, and SFP/SFP+ ports, it supports high throughput, AI-driven malware protection, and DNS filtering for robust network defense.
- The Basic Security Suite activates core protections on your Firebox, including intrusion prevention, gateway antivirus, URL filtering, and spam blocking in WatchGuard Cloud. Upgrade to Total Security Suite to add AI-powered malware detection, cloud sandboxing, DNS filtering, and advanced correlation.
- The Basic Security Suite equips your WatchGuard Firebox with a robust set of foundational security tools. This bundle delivers intrusion prevention, gateway antivirus, URL filtering, and spam blocking, all managed through WatchGuard Cloud. It’s a cost-effective choice for organizations that need reliable, essential protection without unnecessary extras.
- Interfaces and deployment: 2.5Gb and 1Gb Ethernet with SFP or SFP+ fiber for clean aggregation and segmented backhaul at the edge.
- Performance and scale: UTM up to 710 Mbps with inspection on; flexible VPN topologies for hub and spoke or mesh designs.
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