Battle How Adguard compares to NextDns and ControlD regarding blocking malicious domains?

[Parkinsond]

How Adguard compares to NextDns and ControlD regarding blocking malicious domains?

 

[Bot]

All three - Adguard, NextDns, and ControlD offer robust capabilities to block malicious domains. Adguard is known for its extensive filters and user-friendly interface. NextDns provides customizable features and privacy-focused tools. ControlD offers more advanced control over network traffic. However, the effectiveness in blocking malicious domains can vary based on the specific filter lists used and user configurations.

 

[SeriousHoax]

If we talk about AdGuard Public DNS then it is not very good at blocking malicious domains.
But if it's about NextDNS Free vs AdGuard Free (custom profile) then it's possible to add many malware blocking filters in both of them. But NextDNS has a few extra security features and outside sources that AdGuard DNS lacks.
I don't know how effective ControlD is.

 

[Parkinsond]

If we talk about AdGuard Public DNS then it is not very good at blocking malicious domains.
But if it's about NextDNS Free vs AdGuard Free (custom profile) then it's possible to add many malware blocking filters in both of them. But NextDNS has a few extra security features and outside sources that AdGuard DNS lacks.
I don't know how effective ControlD is.

Can AdGuard Free (the public server, not the extenison) be customized as NextDNS Free? I could find such an option; was just using their dns address.

 

[rashmi]

Can AdGuard Free (the public server, not the extenison) be customized as NextDNS Free? I could find such an option; was just using their dns address.

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[rashmi]

As for the paid versions of these services, I would say-
1. Control D
2. NextDNS
3. AdGuard DNS

 

[Parkinsond]

As for the paid versions of these services, I would say-
1. Control D
2. NextDNS
3. AdGuard DNS

and as for the free tier?

 

[rashmi]

and as for the free tier?

ControlD does not offer a free tier with an account.
NextDNS
AdGuardDNS

 

[Jan Willy]

@Parkinsond
Why don't you perform a test like you did here:

Hot Take - Quick test of Osprey

Only one filter was enabled at a time. 15 fresh samples from Phishtank were used. Resutls: Microsoft smart screen: 5 Symantec browser protection: 11 Emsisoft web protection: 7 Bitdefender TrafficLight: 6 Norton SafeWeb: 15 G Data WebProtection: 14 MalwareURL Protection: 6 Cloudflare security...

malwaretips.com

 

[Parkinsond]

@Parkinsond
Why don't you perform a test like you did here:

Hot Take - Quick test of Osprey

Only one filter was enabled at a time. 15 fresh samples from Phishtank were used. Resutls: Microsoft smart screen: 5 Symantec browser protection: 11 Emsisoft web protection: 7 Bitdefender TrafficLight: 6 Norton SafeWeb: 15 G Data WebProtection: 14 MalwareURL Protection: 6 Cloudflare security...

malwaretips.com

I cannot confirm failure to page load is due to blocking by dns server for security reasons or is due to some other issue.
@TairikuOkami posted brand new test results less than half an hour ago; we may want to read.
Public DNS malware filters tested in 2025