AdGuard DNS vs Control D
AdGuard DNS
adguard-dns.io
Control D
controld.comSide by side
| Figure | AdGuard DNS | Control D |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2.49/mo | $2/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 7 | 4 |
| Spec score · Internet Filtering Software | 9.5 (#1) | 9.1 (#3) |
| Spec score · DNS Filtering Services | 9.5 (#1) | 9.1 (#3) |
| Spec score · DNS Filtering Software | 9.5 (#1) | 9.0 (#2) |
| API | A REST User API supports API-key and OAuth bearer-token authentication for devices, DNS servers, settings, logs, statistics, and limits. | The public API uses dashboard-created bearer tokens with read or write scopes and optional source-IP restrictions. |
| Founded | 2009 | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | Toronto, Canada |
| Limit: Apple app | Apple reviewers report Wi-Fi failures, ads returning after days or weeks, and some apps detecting the DNS blocker; the developer says DNS filtering only catches simpler DNS-level ads. | App Store reviewers request automatic Wi-Fi profile switching, a fuller iOS interface and dashboard administration, and one reports outdated DoH3 UI. |
| Rating on Apple App Store | The AdGuard DNS app has 3.6 out of 5 from 40 ratings. | 4.0 out of 5 from 46 ratings |
| Rating on G2 | AdGuard has 4.4 out of 5 from 32 reviews. | 4.6 out of 5 from 5 reviews |
| Rating on Google Play | The AdGuard DNS Android app shows 3.6 out of 5 from 578 reviews in the store header, with a ratings section showing 555 reviews. | 4.4 out of 5 from 300 reviews |
| Rating on Trustpilot | AdGuard DNS scores 4.1 out of 5 from 13 reviews. | 3.9 out of 5 from 48 reviews |
| Support | AdGuard lists technical support at [email protected]; enterprise customers are offered priority support, technical documentation, setup guides, API documentation, and email support. | The pricing comparison lists email and community support, an AI assistant, and live engineer sessions for some plans. |
| What it does | AdGuard DNS is a DNS resolver that encrypts DNS traffic and blocks ads, trackers, phishing, malicious domains, and optional adult content across connected devices. | Control D is a DNS filtering and traffic-redirection service that blocks threats and unwanted content and can route domains through proxies. |
Plans
AdGuard DNS
- AdGuard DNS StarterFree
- AdGuard DNS StarterFree
- AdGuard DNS Personal$19.99 a month
- AdGuard DNS Personal$29.88 a year
- AdGuard DNS Team$239.99 a month
- AdGuard DNS Team$359.77 a year
- AdGuard DNS EnterprisePriced on request
Control D
- SMB$2 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
- MSP / ChannelPriced on request
- School / Non-profitPriced on request
In their own words
AdGuard DNS
AdGuard DNS has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Control D
Control D is a configurable DNS filtering and traffic redirection service for controlling access to domains, services and browsing activity. Its filtering includes 20 content categories, custom rules and more than 1,000 premade services that users can block or allow. Malware protection uses threat intelligence feeds and machine learning, with selectable aggressiveness levels. DNS connections support DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, DNS-over-QUIC and DNS-over-HTTPS/3, as well as IPv4 and IPv6. Listed integrations cover Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, browsers, routers, RMM tools and Tailscale. API access includes generating and invalidating tokens. Raw query logs are retained for 30 days and lower-resolution analytics for up to one year; customers can choose analytics storage in New York, Amsterdam or Sydney. A free plan is available. The SMB plan costs $2 a month, billed per endpoint, and includes self-serve deployment and real-time analytics. Control D was founded in Toronto in 2021.