Control D vs DNSFilter
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Control D is a DNS filtering and security service that blocks malware, unwanted content, and specific applications across devices at the DNS level. It runs on a claimed 100M-user threat intelligence network with a reported 99.98% malware block rate, and supports modern encrypted DNS protocols including DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and DNS-over-QUIC.
DNSFilter blocks malicious domains, phishing sites, ransomware, and unwanted content at the DNS layer before a device can connect, using an AI model the company says catches newly registered and weaponized domains up to 10 days ahead of third-party threat feeds. It serves enterprises, MSPs and MSSPs (with a multi-tenant dashboard used by over 6,000 partners), schools, healthcare, finance, hospitality, and government customers. Beyond blocking, features like AppAware allow one-click blocking of risky applications, CyberSight adds user behavior analytics to spot shadow IT, and a global anycast network keeps DNS resolution fast. It deploys without on-site hardware, includes DNSSEC validation, and is priced per license with volume-based rates that drop as license count grows.
- Broad native OS support including Linux
- Encrypted DNS protocols supported out of the box
- Transparent self-serve per-endpoint pricing for SMBs
- 14-day free trial with no credit card required
- Deploys without any on-site hardware, live in minutes according to the vendor
- Strong MSP/MSSP-focused multi-tenant tooling with white-labeling
- Threat detection claims a meaningful lead time over third-party feeds
- Volume-based per-license pricing scales down as you add more licenses
- Enterprise, MSP, and school pricing requires contacting sales
- Per-endpoint pricing can add up for larger device fleets
- No permanent free tier for individual home users listed on the pricing page
- Enterprise pricing isn't published and requires a sales quote
- Per-license annual vs monthly pricing structure can be confusing to compare against competitors
- DNS-layer protection alone won't stop threats that avoid DNS resolution entirely
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Control D
View all →
Alternatives to DNSFilter
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth DNSFilter and Control D offer cloud‑based DNS threat protection, but DNSFilter leans toward MSP‑centric multi‑tenant tooling and broader content categories, while Control D emphasizes encrypted DNS support and transparent per‑endpoint pricing.
Key differences
- •DNSFilter provides AI‑driven threat detection with a global anycast network and user‑behavior analytics; Control D focuses on encrypted DNS protocols (DoH, DoT, DoQ).
- •Pricing model: DNSFilter uses volume‑based per‑license pricing (enterprise quote required); Control D offers self‑serve per‑endpoint pricing with a free trial.
- •Multi‑tenant management: DNSFilter includes a white‑label partner dashboard; Control D also offers multi‑tenancy but without noted white‑labeling.
- •Logging: Control D retains 30 days of query logs on all plans; DNSFilter’s log retention is not specified.
- •Certifications: Control D lists SOC 2 and ISO compliance; DNSFilter’s compliance certifications are not specified.
Pricing & value
Control D shows transparent per‑endpoint pricing and a free trial; DNSFilter requires a sales quote and volume‑based licensing.
Ease of use / learning curve
Control D offers silent‑install native apps for all major OSes and a self‑serve portal; DNSFilter needs configuration via cloud console only.
Features & depth
DNSFilter includes AI threat detection, user behavior analytics, DNSSEC, roaming client support, and 40+ content categories.
Integrations & ecosystem
DNSFilter lists SIEM export and API; Control D only notes API availability.
Scalability
DNSFilter’s multi‑tenant dashboard is built for MSPs managing thousands of clients; Control D supports multi‑tenancy but no scale details.
Security & privacy
Control D explicitly holds SOC 2 and ISO certifications and supports DoH/DoT/DoQ; DNSFilter’s certifications are not specified.
Support
Both provide cloud SaaS deployment and API; no specific support level information is given for either.
Choose Control D if…
SMBs or organizations prioritizing encrypted DNS, clear per‑device pricing, and quick self‑serve onboarding.
Choose DNSFilter if…
MSPs or enterprises needing extensive content categories, analytics, and white‑label multi‑tenant management.
Common questions
How is pricing structured for each product?
DNSFilter uses volume‑based per‑license pricing requiring a sales quote; Control D offers transparent per‑endpoint pricing with a free trial.
Do both solutions support encrypted DNS protocols?
Control D supports DNS‑over‑HTTPS, DNS‑over‑TLS, and DNS‑over‑QUIC; DNSFilter’s encrypted DNS support is not specified.
Which product provides more MSP‑focused management tools?
DNSFilter includes a white‑label multi‑tenant partner dashboard for managing thousands of clients; Control D also offers multi‑tenancy but without detailed MSP tooling.