DNSFilter vs GateSentry
DNSFilter
dnsfilter.comGateSentry
github.comSide by side
| Figure | DNSFilter | GateSentry |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Internet Filtering Software | 9.1 (#4) | 8.7 (#7) |
| Audience | The company says the service is designed primarily for professional environments and offers separate programs for MSPs and qualified educational institutions. | The project describes GateSentry as useful for network-wide content filtering, privacy guarding, parental controls, and blocking known-bad domains. |
| Deployment | Deployments include network configuration, a DNS relay, and roaming clients for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Chrome. | The project provides Docker images for linux/amd64 and linux/arm64 and binary downloads for Linux, macOS, and Windows. |
| DNS filtering | The service blocks malicious or unwanted domains at the DNS layer before they load. | It filters network DNS using downloadable blocklist categories and per-device or proxy-user policies. |
| Integrations | Integrations include Microsoft Entra, Active Directory, Zapier, ConnectWise, HaloPSA, Datto Autotask, Syncro, Pulseway PSA and Kaseya. | An optional read-only Tailscale integration can read peer status from a tailscaled process on the same Linux host. |
Plans
In their own words
DNSFilter
DNSFilter provides protective DNS and content filtering for organizations managing threats and workplace internet use. It categorizes billions of domains with Webshrinker machine-learning categorization, while AppAware can block more than 100 risky applications. DNSFilter says its real-time threat categorization can identify threats 10 days faster than other threat feeds. Deployments include network configuration, a DNS relay, and roaming clients for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Chrome. Listed controls include DNS encryption such as DNS-over-TLS, custom blocklists, safe search, filtering schedules, and advanced activity reports. Active Directory Sync Tool supports up to 500,000 users and applies policies by user or group. Integrations include Microsoft Entra, Active Directory, Zapier, API access, and an MCP Connector. Data Export supports Amazon S3 and Splunk, with Microsoft Sentinel also named. API access is included in all plans, with rate limits but no overall usage cap. Pricing starts at $1/mo (annual), with a 14-day trial and no free plan.