One mechanism, many needs
Every DNS filtering use case relies on the same simple mechanism. Devices ask a resolver for the address of a domain, and the resolver decides whether to answer. What differs between a home and a school is which decisions you want the resolver to make, who needs to see the results and how many networks you look after.
FirewallDNS provides the same building blocks to everyone: security filters for malware, phishing and newly registered domains, category filters, custom allowlists and blocklists, and query logs. Each use case combines them in a different way.
Homes and families
At home, DNS filtering protects every device on the Wi-Fi without installing anything on each one. Parents use category filters to keep adult content and gambling away from children, while security filters protect everyone from phishing links in messages and malicious adverts. Smart TVs and game consoles, which cannot run security software, are covered too.
Small businesses
Small businesses face the same threats as large enterprises, but rarely have a security team. DNS filtering is one of the most cost-effective protections available: it stops many phishing and malware attacks before they start, it takes minutes to set up on the office router or firewall, and it costs $2.90 per device per month.
Schools
Schools must keep pupils away from harmful content while giving them access to the resources they need for learning. DNS filtering works across the school network for every laptop, tablet and shared computer, and query logs help staff understand what is being blocked and adjust rules when a legitimate resource is caught.
Managed service providers
FirewallDNS is built with MSPs in mind. An MSP administrator adds customers, configures their filtering and invoices them, while each customer only sees their own settings, logs and cost. Per-device pricing makes it simple to resell, and network-level deployment means no agents to roll out across customer estates.
IoT and smart home devices
Cameras, smart plugs, voice assistants and other connected devices are frequent targets for botnets, and many are never updated. DNS filtering limits what an infected device can do by blocking its connections to command-and-control servers, and the query log shows exactly which services each device talks to.
Common building blocks across every use case
Whatever the environment, a DNS filter is only as good as the network setup around it. Make sure every device actually uses the filtered resolver: hand out the FirewallDNS addresses through DHCP, block outbound DNS to other servers on your router or firewall, and keep your registered IP address up to date. Then use the query log to learn what normal traffic looks like, and adjust filters and lists from there.
These simple habits matter more than any individual setting, and they apply equally to a family home, a classroom, an office or an MSP managing dozens of customer sites.
Pricing that scales with you
Every use case is priced the same way: $2.90 per device per month. Starter covers 5 devices, Business covers 25 devices and MSP covers unlimited devices billed per device, so you only pay for what you protect.
When DNS filtering is not enough
Some environments need more than DNS filtering: regulated industries may need full web proxy logging, and organisations with many remote workers may need endpoint-based controls. DNS filtering still provides a strong, low-cost foundation in those cases, and it covers devices that other tools cannot reach. Be clear about your requirements before choosing tools, and treat DNS filtering as one layer of several.
Choosing where to start
Whatever your situation, the first steps are the same. Create an account, register your network's public IP address, enable malware protection, phishing protection and newly registered domain filtering, and point your router or firewall at FirewallDNS. After a week of watching the query log, add category filters or allowlist entries that suit your network. The detailed pages below go deeper into each scenario, including configuration tips and the limits you should be aware of.
If your situation does not fit neatly into one category, for example a home office that is also a small business, combine the advice from more than one page. The settings are flexible enough to cover mixed environments.