Alternatives to CleanBrowsing
A DNS filtering service that blocks malware, phishing and adult content at the network level. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
CleanBrowsing
A DNS filtering service that blocks malware, phishing and adult content at the network level.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as CleanBrowsing.
OpenDNS Home
A public DNS service from Cisco with phishing protection and optional content filtering for home networks.
OpenDNS Home from Cisco is free with phishing protection and parental content filtering, with setup guides for home users but queries go to a US company.
NextDNS
Cloud DNS filtering with per-device profiles and detailed logs.
NextDNS adds granular blocklists, per-device profiles and detailed analytics, with a free tier limited by a monthly query allowance.
Control D
Customisable DNS filtering service with per-device profiles.
Control D adds per-device profiles, very granular per-service rules and apps for every major platform, with most features on a paid plan.
AdGuard DNS
Public filtering DNS resolver with encrypted transports.
AdGuard DNS adds ad blocking and DNS-over-QUIC support, with custom rules and statistics requiring a paid account beyond a small free tier.
Safe Surfer
A parental-control DNS filtering service that blocks harmful content on phones, computers and home routers.
Safe Surfer is a paid parental-control service adding mobile apps, screen time schedules and browsing history, which the service can also see.
Cloudflare 1.1.1.1
Fast public DNS resolver with a filtered option for families.
Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 offers a free Families option for content filtering on a large global network, with fewer filtering options than dedicated services.
CIRA Canadian Shield
A free protective DNS service from Canada's domain registry that blocks malware, phishing and scams.
CIRA Canadian Shield is a free not-for-profit Canadian service with optional adult content filtering and apps, built primarily for Canadian users.
Quad9
Free public DNS resolver that blocks known malicious domains.
Quad9 is a free Swiss non-profit resolver that blocks malicious domains but does not filter adult content or advertising.
Also worth comparing
These listings name CleanBrowsing as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
DNS4EU
A free public DNS resolver hosted in the EU that blocks malware, phishing and ransomware domains.
CleanBrowsing adds adult content blocking and enforced Safe Search on a freemium basis, aimed at families and schools.
NxFilter
A self-hosted DNS filter with per-user policies, reports and Active Directory integration.
CleanBrowsing is a hosted service for families and schools that blocks adult content and malware by changing DNS settings, instead of running your own server.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Pi-hole
A DNS server for your home network that refuses to look up ad and tracker domains, for every device at once.
AdGuard Home
Network-wide ad and tracker blocking in a single binary, with encrypted DNS built in rather than bolted on.
