How we write comparisons
Comparison pages are only useful if they are fair. We describe FirewallDNS using only features that are documented on our own feature pages, and we do not make claims about other providers that we cannot back up. Statements about other services are clearly marked so they can be checked against each provider's official documentation before publication, and every page shows the date it was last updated.
Services change quickly. Features are added, prices move and plans are renamed. If you spot something out of date, please tell us through the contact page so we can correct it.
What to compare
DNS filtering services can look similar at first glance. The differences appear when you look at the details that matter for your network.
- Security coverage: malware, phishing and newly registered domains
- Content control: categories, custom lists and bypass prevention
- Deployment: network-level, per-device agents or both
- Visibility: query logs, retention and who can see them
- Data handling: where data is stored and for how long
- Multi-customer support for MSPs, and the pricing model
Different tools for different jobs
Some services are free public resolvers with built-in security filtering. Others are full enterprise security platforms that include DNS filtering as one component among many. FirewallDNS sits between these: a dedicated DNS firewall with per-customer settings, logs and an MSP model, priced at $2.90 per device per month. Neither approach is right for everyone. A household may be well served by a free public resolver, while a company with a large security team may want a broad platform.
Run your own test
The best comparison is a trial on your own network. Point one network segment at each service for a week, generate normal traffic and compare what gets blocked, what breaks and how quickly you can fix it. Pay attention to the clarity of the dashboard and the speed of support, which no feature table captures.
Use the checklist above, the comparison tables on each page and each provider's own documentation to build an accurate picture before you decide.
Checklist for a fair trial
Use the same network, the same week and the same devices for each service you test. Enable comparable protections, record every legitimate domain that gets blocked, time how long it takes to fix each one, and note how clear each dashboard is. Ask each provider the same support question and compare the answers. Finally, read the data processing terms. A structured trial like this gives you evidence rather than impressions, and it tends to reveal the differences that matter for your network.
Questions we hear most often
People comparing DNS filters usually want to know three things. First, will it slow anything down? DNS answers are cached and lookups are a small part of loading a page, but latency depends on where servers are located relative to you, so test from your own network. Second, will it break things? Every filter blocks some legitimate domains occasionally; what matters is how quickly you can see and fix it. Third, what happens to my data? Read each provider's privacy policy and retention terms rather than relying on marketing pages, including ours.
A fourth question comes up for businesses and MSPs: how is it billed? Some services charge per user, some per device, some per query volume and some publish no prices at all. FirewallDNS charges $2.90 per device per month. When you compare, convert every option to the same unit for your own network, so the comparison reflects what you would actually pay.
Free public resolvers versus paid filtering
Free public resolvers can block many malicious domains and are a big improvement over an unfiltered resolver. What they typically do not offer is per-network configuration, custom lists, logs you can review or multi-customer management. Paid filtering services exist for people who need those controls. Decide which group you belong to before comparing individual providers.
Our commitment to accuracy
We will never publish invented statistics, customer numbers or testimonials on these pages. Where a fact about another service has not yet been verified, it is shown as a placeholder rather than guessed. Where a FirewallDNS capability is still being confirmed, our own feature pages say so. This keeps the comparisons honest for readers and fair to the other providers.