Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
AdGuard DNS vs NextDNS
AdGuard DNS vs NextDNS: the differences
| Compare |  AdGuard DNS |  NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | Free Starter plan by default; public AdGuard DNS servers usable free without account | 300,000 queries/month, then answering continues unfiltered |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Routers | Apple iOS/macOS, Android, Windows, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Ubiquiti |
| Protocols | Doh, Dot, Doq, DnscryptCovers more | Doh, Dot, Doq |
| Logging policy | Query log off unless the user enables it; only minimum necessary data collected | No data logged unless the user opts in; retention and storage region user-selectable (US, EU, UK, Switzerland) |
| Jurisdiction | CY | US |
| Price from | Not confirmed | €1.99 |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes), Open source (Yes), Privacy tool type (Private dns, Ad blocker).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Platforms: only AdGuard DNS offers MacOS, iOS, Linux.
- Platforms: only NextDNS offers Apple iOS/macOS, Chrome, Firefox.
- Protocols: only AdGuard DNS offers Dnscrypt.
- Founded is lower at AdGuard DNS: 2009 vs 2019.
- Pricing model: only NextDNS offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
AdGuard DNS
AdGuard DNS suits anyone who wants network level ad blocking without paying, because the public servers work with no account. Registered in Cyprus, the service from Adguard Software Ltd. has run since 2009, while most paid ad blockers in the same category start above €4.38.
NextDNS
NextDNS suits readers who want open source network filtering with a free tier they can keep paying nothing for. Entry pricing of €1.99 sits below the site median €6.84, and the free plan continues with 300,000 queries/month, then answering continues unfiltered rather than stopping outright.
Score breakdown
| Area | AdGuard DNS | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 9.4HigherEntry price of €1.99 with a free plan sits under the site median starting price €6.84. |
| Offer | 9.4 | 9.4 |
| Privacy | 9.4Higher | 8.8 |
How they place
| Ranking | AdGuard DNS | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 70 of 280 | 76 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 26 of 63 | 27 of 63 |
| Parental control apps | 33 of 59 | 35 of 59 |
Side by side, item by item
| Protocols | AdGuard DNS | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Doh | Yes | Yes |
| Dot | Yes | Yes |
| Doq | Yes | Yes |
| Dnscrypt | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | AdGuard DNS | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
Which one suits you
Pick AdGuard DNS if privacy and protocols matter most.
Pick NextDNS if cost matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AdGuard DNS | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free, BudgetCovers more |
| Legal entity | Adguard Software Ltd. | NextDNS Inc. |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2009Lower | 2019 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre, Community |
Parental controls
| Fact | AdGuard DNS | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | €19.90 |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter | Screen time, Web filter |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AdGuard DNS | NextDNS | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | €1.99lowest quarter | €7.50 |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
AdGuard DNS
Pros
- The public AdGuard DNS servers are usable free without an account, so filtering can start before you sign up.
- The query log is off unless you switch it on, and only the minimum necessary data is collected.
- One setting covers Windows, macOS and Android, routers included, so phones and desktops share the same filtering.
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no phone line and no live chat.
- The feature list is short, screen time and web filter, so this stays a simple filter rather than a deep control panel.
NextDNS
Pros
- There is a free plan, and after 300,000 queries/month, then answering continues unfiltered the service keeps answering rather than cutting you off.
- Entry pricing of €1.99 starts under the site median €6.84.
- NextDNS is open source, so the code can be read and checked by anyone.
Cons
- Free plan filtering stops early: 300,000 queries/month, then answering continues unfiltered.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so phone and live chat help are out of reach.
- Feature coverage is screen time and web filter, a short list for a household expecting more.
Who each suits
AdGuard DNS
Who it suits
- Anyone who wants ad blocking applied at the network rather than in one browser.
- Households that want a single filter across Windows, macOS and Android instead of setting up each device.
- Parents who want the screen time and web filtering entries in screen time and web filter on the same plan.
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Hide My Email, if the job is email aliasing: its free plan limits cover Sign in with Apple aliases free with an Apple Account, with a paid storage tier needed to change the forward to address.
- Apple Inc. for the same aliasing route, where changing the forward to address sits behind iCloud+.
- EasyOptOuts, whose free plan is listed as no, so there is no free tier to sit beside this one.
NextDNS
Who it suits
- People who want ad blocking and private DNS from open source software rather than a closed add-on.
- Readers who want nothing logged unless they opt in, plus a choice of storage region among the US, EU, UK and Switzerland.
- Households running a mix of Apple iOS/macOS, Android and Windows who want one configuration across phones, laptops and routers.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs more than screen time and web filter for screen time and web filtering.
- Readers who want phone or live chat help, since support runs on email, help centre and community only.
- Shoppers anchoring a budget on the high end, such as EasyOptOuts at $19.99, who will not need to spend that level here, since entry is €1.99.
Questions about each
AdGuard DNS
Is there a free plan, and what does it include?+
Yes. A free plan exists, a Free Starter plan is the default, and the public AdGuard DNS servers are usable free without an account. The pricing model is listed as free, so the free tier is the standard starting point rather than a trial that ends.
What does AdGuard DNS actually filter?+
It works at the DNS layer, and the privacy types listed are private dns and ad blocker, so blocking applies to lookups from every app and device on the network rather than to pages open in one browser. Because of that, the filter also reaches background traffic.
NextDNS
What does NextDNS cost to start with?+
There is a free plan, and the paid entry price is €1.99. The listed tiers are free and budget, so nothing expensive sits behind that entry price. For scale, the site median starting price is €6.84, so NextDNS starts low.
What does NextDNS cost at renewal?+
The yearly price is €19.90, which is the number to budget for instead of the €1.99 entry rate. For scale, the site median long term price is €3.97 and the median monthly price is €7.89.