NxFilter

A self-hosted DNS filter with per-user policies, reports and Active Directory integration.

FreeProprietarySelf-hosted
Official websitenxfilter.orgDownload pagenxfilter.orgDocumentationtutorial.nxfilter.org

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About NxFilter

NxFilter filters DNS queries on a network to block ads, malware, phishing and unwanted content. Because it only handles DNS rather than proxying web traffic, it adds little latency and uses few resources. It also caches upstream responses locally.

Features include Active Directory integration, DNS over HTTPS, screen time control, data caps, user-level reports, remote user filtering and clustering. It is free for all uses, including businesses, schools and home protection.

Strengths

  • Per-user policies and reports with Active Directory integration
  • Screen time control and data caps
  • Filtering for remote users
  • Free even for commercial use

Limitations

  • Not open source
  • More setup than needed for a single household

Details

Pricing
FreeFree for all uses, including commercial ones.
License
Proprietary
Developer
NxFilter
Platforms
Self-hosted
How it runs
Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Best suited for
Schools and organisations that need per-user DNS filtering on their own server
Last verified
Added
Provenance
Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.

Alternatives to NxFilter

Compare all

Software that can replace NxFilter for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.

  • AdGuard Home

    Network-wide ad and tracker blocking in a single binary, with encrypted DNS built in rather than bolted on.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxWebSelf-hosted

    AdGuard Home is GPL-3.0 open source with per-client rules, parental controls and a web interface, but lacks NxFilter's Active Directory integration and per-user reports.

  • Pi-hole

    A DNS server for your home network that refuses to look up ad and tracker domains, for every device at once.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    Pi-hole is open source under EUPL-1.2 and aimed at home networks, blocking ads and trackers for every device, without Active Directory integration or per-user policies.

  • pfBlockerNG

    A pfSense package that adds IP blocklists, country blocking and DNS blocklists to the firewall.

    FreeProprietarySelf-hosted

    pfBlockerNG adds IP blocklists and country blocking inside a pfSense firewall, so it only runs on pfSense and its many options make setup involved.

  • Blocky

    Lightweight DNS proxy with blocklists, written for container deployments.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    Blocky is an Apache-2.0 open source proxy with per-client and per-group blocking suited to containers, but has no administration interface, reports or directory integration.

  • CleanBrowsing

    A DNS filtering service that blocks malware, phishing and adult content at the network level.

    FreemiumProprietaryWeb

    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.

  • NextDNS

    Cloud DNS filtering with per-device profiles and detailed logs.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    NextDNS moves filtering to a cloud service with per-device profiles and detailed logs, so no server is needed, but its free tier has a monthly query allowance.

  • Control D

    Customisable DNS filtering service with per-device profiles.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Control D is a hosted freemium service with per-device profiles and granular per-service rules, so filtering happens on its infrastructure rather than your own server.

  • OpenDNS Home

    A public DNS service from Cisco with phishing protection and optional content filtering for home networks.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    OpenDNS Home is a free Cisco resolver offering content filtering and phishing protection set once at the router, without per-user policies or Active Directory support.

NxFilter as an alternative

Listings that name NxFilter as an alternative.

  • Safe Surfer

    A parental-control DNS filtering service that blocks harmful content on phones, computers and home routers.

    PaidProprietaryAndroidiOSWeb

    NxFilter is a free self-hosted filter with per-user policies, screen time control and reports, requiring your own server and more setup.

Similar software

Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.

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