Best DNS Filtering Solutions for 2026

1. Check Point

In late 2023, Check Point acquired Perimeter 81. The product has been rebranded to Check Point Harmony SASE, integrating Perimeter 81’s rapid deployment capabilities with Check Point’s legendary “ThreatCloud” intelligence.

Specifications

• Deployment: SASE Client (Agent), Global Cloud Gateway.
• Core Feature: Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) + FWaaS.
• Integration: Full Check Point Infinity Platform integration.

Why We Picked It

This is the fastest way to replace a legacy VPN. Check Point preserved the “15-minute deployment” magic of Perimeter 81 but supercharged it with enterprise-grade threat prevention.

You get a dedicated private network node that applies firewall rules and DNS filtering to all traffic, regardless of where your users are.

Best For: Integrated SASE, Zero Trust, and former Perimeter 81 fans.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Unifies VPN replacement with DNS security; incredibly easy to use; backed by Check Point’s massive threat intel.
• Cons: Pricing structure has changed post-acquisition; might be overkill if you only want simple DNS blocking.

2. Cloudflare Gateway

Part of the “Cloudflare One” platform, Gateway replaces your firewall with a cloud-native solution. It leverages the massive 1.1.1.1 network the fastest public DNS resolver—to apply security policies.

Specifications

• Deployment: WARP Client, DoH.
• Scale: 300+ Cities globally.
• Pricing: Free tier (up to 50 users), then per-user.

Why We Picked It

The sheer speed of Cloudflare’s infrastructure means adding this security layer often increases internet speed rather than decreasing it.

The “Free for 50 users” tier is an unbeatable value proposition for startups. Furthermore, they are future-proofing their tech stack with advanced cryptography.

Best For: Speed, Zero Trust Adoption, and Global Scale.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Incredible speed; generous free tier; integrates with Cloudflare Workers; Zero Trust native.
• Cons: Logs retention is short on lower tiers; support is notoriously automated/slow for non-enterprise plans.

3. WebTitan

TitanHQ’s WebTitan is the “people’s choice” for DNS filtering. It strips away the complexity of Cisco and the high price tag of Zscaler, offering a robust, effective filtering solution that just works. It is particularly strong in the education and SMB sectors.

Specifications

• Deployment: Cloud or On-Premise Gateway.
• Target Audience: MSPs, Schools, SMBs.
• Core Feature: “Private Cloud” for MSPs.

Why We Picked It

Flexibility. WebTitan allows MSPs to host the solution in their own private cloud, giving them data sovereignty and control that SaaS-only competitors can’t match.

Their API is open and well-documented, making it easy to script customer onboarding.

Best For: Budget-Conscious MSPs and SMBs.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Very competitive pricing; excellent customer support (you can talk to a human); private cloud options.
• Cons: UI is functional but unpolished; lacks the full “SASE” breadth of Check Point or Zscaler.

4. Cisco Umbrella

Formerly OpenDNS, Cisco Umbrella is the standard by which other enterprise DNS filters are measured.

It offers deep integration with Cisco’s SD-WAN and Meraki stacks, acting as the first line of defense alongside endpoint security solutions.

Specifications

• Deployment: Cloud-native, AnyConnect integration.
• Threat Intel: Cisco Talos.
• Integration: SD-WAN, Meraki, Cisco Secure Client.

Why We Picked It

Unmatched threat intelligence derived from Cisco Talos. If you are already using Cisco AnyConnect for your VPN, enabling Umbrella is literally a checkbox. It provides “audit-grade” reporting that is critical for incident response.

Best For: Large Enterprises and Cisco Environments.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Massive threat intelligence database; highly stable; deep integration with enterprise hardware.
• Cons: Expensive; the dashboard feels dated compared to modern startups; support can be slow for smaller tiers.

5. NextDNS

NextDNS positions itself as the “firewall for the modern internet.” It is beloved by the privacy community for its ability to block not just malware, but also aggressive tracking, telemetry, and ads at the DNS level.

Specifications

• Deployment: DoH/DoT/DoQ, IP Linking.
• Privacy: No-logging options, Swiss jurisdiction.
• Analytics: Real-time stream.

Why We Picked It

The analytics are beautiful. You can see exactly which device is calling which ad server in real-time.

It supports the widest range of blocklists (OISD, StevenBlack, etc.), allowing users to customize their filtering aggression.

Best For: Privacy Advocates and Prosumers.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Excellent privacy features; granular blocklist selection; cheap; supports CNAME flattening.
• Cons: No “SLA” or phone support; manual configuration required for large fleets.

6. Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA)

Zscaler is the leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for SSE. ZIA doesn’t just resolve DNS; it proxies the traffic and inspects the payload.

It can look inside SSL/TLS encrypted packets to find hidden malware that a simple DNS filter might miss.

Specifications

• Deployment: Z-App (Client Connector), GRE Tunnels.
• Security: Full SSL Inspection, Sandbox.
• Scale: Massive global cloud.

Why We Picked It

Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). While other tools on this list stop at the domain level, Zscaler looks at the actual file being downloaded.

It is the gold standard for security depth, though it requires careful configuration to avoid vulnerabilities.

Best For: Global Enterprises Requiring Full Inspection.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Unrivaled security depth; full SSL inspection; integrates with Zscaler Private Access (ZPA).
• Cons: Very expensive; complex implementation requires certified engineers; heavy agent.

7. DNSFilter

DNSFilter has consistently ranked as one of the fastest DNS resolvers in the world.

Its “Webshrinker” AI engine categorizes new domains in real-time, which is critical for stopping “fresh” phishing links.

Specifications

• Deployment: Roaming Client, Relay, Router.
• Threat Intel: Real-time AI categorization.
• MSP Features: Multi-tenant dashboard, Whitelabeling.

Why We Picked It

It is the ultimate tool for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). The multi-tenant dashboard is designed to manage hundreds of customers from a single pane of glass, and the roaming client is incredibly lightweight.

Best For: MSPs and Speed-Conscious Organizations.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Extremely low latency; AI detects zero-day phishing instantly; excellent MSP whitelabeling.
• Cons: Mobile app is purely functional; advanced reporting features can be an add-on cost.

8. Quad9

Quad9 (9.9.9.9) is a Swiss-based non-profit foundation. They aggregate threat feeds from over 20 top providers (like IBM X-Force, CrowdStrike, etc.) and block malicious domains for free.

Specifications

• Deployment: DNS IP Change.
• Cost: Free.
• Focus: Privacy and GDPR compliance.

Why We Picked It

Trust. They have no shareholders and no incentive to sell your data. For guest networks or IoT VLANs where you cannot install an agent, Quad9 is the best “set it and forget it” layer of protection that helps prevent access to dark web nodes.

Best For: Non-Profits, Public Sector, and Basic Free Security.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Free; privacy-centric; high-quality threat data; easy setup.
• Cons: No reporting dashboard; no customization; no whitelisting.

9. SafeDNS

SafeDNS is a veteran in the web filtering space. They shine in content categorization, ensuring that schools and libraries can meet compliance standards (like CIPA) without over-blocking educational content.

Specifications

• Deployment: Agent, Router.
• Focus: Web Categorization & Compliance.
• Tech: Machine Learning categorization.

Why We Picked It

Accuracy. In educational environments, false positives are a nightmare. SafeDNS has one of the lowest false-positive rates for content categorization we have tested. It is often used alongside other SaaS security measures.

Best For: Education and Compliance-Heavy Sectors.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: High categorization accuracy; CIPA compliant; very affordable; router-friendly.
• Cons: Dashboard is functional but dated; lacks advanced threat hunting features.

10. Control D

Control D has disrupted the market by blurring the lines between a DNS resolver and a transparent proxy.

It doesn’t just block bad things; it allows you to manipulate traffic flow with unprecedented granularity.

Specifications

• Deployment: Agentless (DoH/DoT/DoQ) & Roaming Agent.
• Network: Global Anycast Network (100+ locations).
• Primary Features: Traffic Redirection, Malware Blocking.

Why We Picked It

Control D is the only tool on this list that offers “Traffic Redirection” natively. This allows an enterprise to appear as if they are browsing from a different country for specific domains—invaluable for ad verification or regional testing.

Best For: Power Users, Modern Enterprises, and DevOps Teams.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Fastest resolution times in our tests; supports DoQ; modern/intuitive UI; unique proxy features.
• Cons: Reporting is less formal than Cisco’s; newer to the enterprise space.