Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Control D vs NextDNS
Control D vs NextDNS: the differences
| Compare |  Control D |  NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2 | €1.99 |
| Free plan limits | Free public DNS resolvers, no account or app needed, preset and custom filtering plus community blocklists | 300,000 queries/month, then answering continues unfiltered |
| Platforms | MacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Routers | Apple iOS/macOS, Android, Windows, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Ubiquiti |
| Logging policy | No logging of DNS queries on free DNS; paid plans store raw query data 30 days | No data logged unless the user opts in; retention and storage region user-selectable (US, EU, UK, Switzerland) |
| Jurisdiction | CA | US |
| Privacy tool type | Private dns | Private dns, Ad blockerCovers more |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes), Protocols (Doh, Dot, Doq).
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Key differences
- NextDNS scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Platforms: only Control D offers MacOS, Linux, iOS.
- Platforms: only NextDNS offers Apple iOS/macOS, Chrome, Firefox.
- Support channels: only Control D offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at NextDNS: 2019 vs 2021.
- Privacy tool type: only NextDNS offers Ad blocker.
Our verdict on each
Control D
Control D suits households that want network wide ad and tracker blocking without installing an app on every device. The free plan needs no account at all, and paid plans start at $2, so the decision comes down to how much filtering control you want.
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 | Control D | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherPaid plans start at $2 and a free plan is included, with a free and budget model (free and budget) rather than premium pricing. | 9.4Entry price of €1.99 with a free plan sits under the site median starting price €6.84. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 9.4 |
| Privacy | 8.1 | 8.8Higher |
Side by side, item by item
| Protocols | Control D | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Doh | Yes | Yes |
| Dot | Yes | Yes |
| Doq | Yes | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | Control D | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 80 of 280 | 76 of 280 |
| Ad blockers and private DNS | 29 of 63 | 27 of 63 |
| Parental control apps | 37 of 59 | 35 of 59 |
What we checked
Control D
- controld.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
NextDNS
- nextdns.io: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.nextdns.io: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- github.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Control D | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free, Budget | Free, Budget |
| Legal entity | ControlD Inc | NextDNS Inc. |
| Headquarters | Canada | United States |
| Founded | 2021 | 2019Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre, Community |
Parental controls
| Fact | Control D | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly price | Not confirmed | €19.90 |
| Features | Screen time, Web filter, LocationCovers more | Screen time, Web filter |
Pros and cons
Control D
Pros
- The free plan is free public DNS resolvers with no account or app needed, so filtered DNS can be tried before any spend.
- Paid plans start at $2, under $0.99 for Apple Hide My Email and under $19.99 for EasyOptOuts.
- Coverage spans macOS, Windows and Linux, so a single setup covers desktops, phones and the router on the network.
Cons
- Paid plans store raw query data for a set retention period, so the logging position changes the moment a household moves off the free resolvers onto a subscription.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, which is thin when an entire household is offline and wants a person on the line.
- The operator is ControlD Inc and the accounts sit under a CA jurisdiction, so readers shopping for a different legal home have fewer choices.
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
Control D
Who it suits
- Households that want ad and tracker blocking applied network wide through the router rather than on each device.
- Readers on a budget who still want preset and custom filtering rules plus community blocklists.
- Parents who want the listed screen time, web filter and location alongside filtered browsing rather than ad blocking on its own.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers after an email aliasing product rather than network filtering, since Apple Hide My Email starts at $0.99 and does a different job.
- Anyone who wants a broad privacy suite from a hardware maker instead of a single filtered resolver, where Apple Inc. starts at $0.99.
- Shoppers willing to pay a larger subscription for a service outside DNS, since EasyOptOuts starts at $19.99 against Control D at $2.
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.
Current offers
Control D
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial: 14 days
No credit card required; trial includes all features of the paid version
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Control D
How much does Control D cost?+
A free plan is included, so the starting cost can be nothing. Paid plans start at $2, and Control D is positioned as a free and budget service (free and budget) rather than a premium suite. That entry figure is the published starting point for any subscription, with the free option covering basic filtered resolvers in the meantime.
Does Control D log what I visit?+
Control D is a private DNS service (private dns), and its logging position changes by tier. Queries sent through the free resolvers are not written down. Subscribers should expect raw query data to be held for a set retention period, which matters for anyone moving a whole household off the free resolvers.
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.