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Protective DNS / DNS Filtering · Head to head

Control D vs NextDNS

Both products compete in Protective DNS / DNS Filtering. Protective DNS and DNS filtering software intercepts DNS queries to block resolution of domains associated with malware, phishing, command-and-control infrastructure, and unwanted content categories before a connection is established. It operates as a security control that doesn't require agents on endpoints, making it one of the broadest-coverage, lowest-friction security controls an organization can deploy. Here are the facts the B4 Index maintains on each, side by side.

The two files, side by side

What it is
Configurable protective DNS service with per-rule traffic routing, custom block/allow lists, and SMB-friendly flat pricing
Cloud DNS resolver with malware blocking, content filtering, and per-device policies for SMBs
Pricing
Free tier; Pro $20/yr; business plans per-user
Free <300k queries/mo; Pro $1.99/mo
Categories served
Protective DNS / DNS Filtering
Protective DNS / DNS Filtering
Status
Active · verified June 2026
Active · verified June 2026

The decision underneath the comparison

Choosing between Control D and NextDNS assumes you're buying Protective DNS / DNS Filtering at all. That's the prior question, and the B4 Index scores it on two axes: how much Protective DNS / DNS Filtering differentiates you, and how far AI has come at building it. Read the build-versus-buy considerations for Protective DNS / DNS Filtering before you shortlist either product.

Vendor facts are maintained independently of any B4 verdict and re-verified on a monthly liveness check. See the full methodology.