Overview

AdGuard DNS filters DNS requests across devices, with public resolver modes and more granular controls through Private DNS. It is best suited to households and organizations that want filtering plus visibility into requests; its main trade-off is that paid-plan prices are not numeric.

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, AdGuard says the service is open source, GDPR-compliant, collects only the minimum necessary data, and does not share it with third parties. Technical support is available at support@adguard-dns.io.

AdGuard DNS appears in DNS Filtering Software and Internet Filtering Software.

Key features

Filtering and parental controls

Public DNS has Default, Family, and Non-filtering modes. Family adds adult-content blocking and enables Safe Search and Safe Mode where possible, while Non-filtering is the straightforward choice when a resolver is needed without filtering. Private DNS adds custom allow and block rules for individual devices or globally, plus parental controls that can block adult content and schedule restrictions on sites such as social media. These options suit households that need different rules by device, though more specific controls require Private DNS.

Request statistics and encrypted DNS

The dashboard breaks request statistics down by date, country, or device and shows which requests were blocked. That gives administrators a way to see filtering activity rather than relying only on DNS rules; Enterprise users can disable request logging in account settings. Supported encrypted DNS protocols are DNSCrypt, DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and DNS-over-QUIC. DNSSEC verifies the authenticity of stored DNS records using digital signatures.

Business controls

Enterprise DNS provides a REST API for automation and integration with existing security control systems, and the enterprise page says it integrates with AdGuard Ad Blocker and AdGuard VPN. Enterprise customers also receive priority support, technical documentation, setup guides, API documentation, and email support. That makes the enterprise tier more relevant to teams managing DNS at scale than to households seeking only basic filtering.

Pricing

The freemium service includes the Starter free plan and a 30-day trial. Starter costs 0.00 USD per free and is provided by default. Personal is for personal use and Team for small businesses; both are billed monthly with custom pricing. Enterprise has flexible pricing and requires contacting sales; payment can be annual per user or per 100M requests. It includes unlimited devices, servers, and DNS requests, so it is the tier aimed at larger deployments rather than a fixed-seat budget.

AdGuard lists a 20-device limit, which matters to anyone planning a larger setup outside Enterprise. A one-year subscription has a 30-day money-back guarantee, but monthly subscriptions are non-refundable. The free plan and trial provide a lower-commitment way to assess the service; confirm the paid price and applicable limits before choosing a subscription.

Platforms

AdGuard DNS supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, and game consoles. Its platform list also includes API, web, and self-hosted support, giving it reach across personal devices and managed environments.

Who it's for

Choose AdGuard DNS if you want DNS-level blocking with request statistics, per-device rules, or scheduled parental restrictions. Family mode is a practical starting point for households wanting adult-content filtering and Safe Search, while Private DNS suits users who need custom rules. Small businesses can consider Team, and larger companies with automation or broad deployment needs are better matched to Enterprise. It is less compelling if a paid plan must have a clear published price before you compare costs.

Pros and cons

Pros: Multiple encrypted DNS protocols and DNSSEC support provide several ways to protect DNS requests and verify records.
Pros: Statistics by date, country, and device make blocked requests visible, while Private DNS rules can target one device or apply globally.
Pros: Enterprise combines unlimited devices, servers, and requests with a REST API and priority support.
Cons: Personal and Team prices are custom, so buyers cannot compare their monthly cost from a numeric price.
Cons: Monthly subscriptions are non-refundable, and the 20-device limit is a constraint for users who need more than the standard allowance.

Alternatives

Control D is worth comparing if you want a freemium DNS filtering service with a stated SMB plan price of 2.00 USD per month, billed endpoint-based. Quad9 is the simpler alternative if a free DNS service with no contract or sign-up process is the priority. NextDNS may suit users who want a free plan with 300,000 queries per month and unlimited devices and configurations. Cisco Secure Access is another option for buyers comparing paid security access services with a free trial. DNSFilter is worth considering if a paid service with a free trial and 90-day report retention is a closer fit. Webroot DNS Protection is another paid option with a free trial. AdGuard is the maker's broader product alternative if you want its app across desktop and mobile platforms. ScoutDNS may fit buyers seeking a paid filtering service with an EDU Plus plan priced at 2.50 USD per year per seat, subject to a $300 annual minimum.

Verdict

AdGuard DNS is a strong fit for people who want DNS filtering with useful request statistics, device-specific rules, and parental scheduling, with encrypted DNS options for varied setups. Its broad device support and Enterprise API make it viable beyond home use. Look elsewhere if you need transparent numeric prices for paid personal or team plans before making a decision, or if monthly refundability is essential.

	AdGuard DNS	Comodo Secure DNS
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from	Free	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	Windows, macOS
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Device limit	20 devices	—

AdGuard DNS vs Comodo Secure DNS

AdGuard DNS

Comodo Secure DNS