Software Alternatives & Startups

ControlD VS CrowdSec

Compare ControlD VS CrowdSec and see what are their differences

ControlD

Bypass geo-restrictions, block tracking, and be more productive.

Rating
0 reviews
CrowdSec

CrowdSec is a security automation engine, using both local IP behavior detection & our community-driven IP reputation database.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

CrowdSec might be a bit more popular than ControlD. We know about 113 links to it since March 2021 and only 94 links to ControlD.

social mentions
94 vs 113
Security & Privacy popularity
89% vs 11%
alternatives listed
140 vs 81

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

ControlD
CrowdSec
Website controld.com crowdsec.net
Pricing —
Open source
Company — Startup from France · 1 - 9 employees · 2019
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

ControlD 5 features
CrowdSec 5 features
  • Privacy Protection
    ControlD provides privacy-focused DNS services, protecting users from tracking and surveillance.
  • Customizable Filtering
    Users can customize filtering rules, blocking ads, trackers, and malicious sites according to their preferences.
  • Performance Improvement
    Using ControlD can potentially speed up browsing by blocking ads and trackers, reducing unnecessary data loads.
  • Ease of Use
    The service is user-friendly, allowing even less tech-savvy individuals to easily set up and configure DNS settings.
  • Multiple Profiles
    Supports multiple profiles, enabling users to switch between different filtering and privacy settings based on their needs.

Possible disadvantages

  • Subscription Cost
    While ControlD offers free options, advanced features and customization require a paid subscription.
  • Dependency on External Service
    Relying on an external DNS service can be a risk if there are service outages or changes in policies.
  • Potential Overblocking
    Aggressive filtering might inadvertently block legitimate content, requiring users to whitelist specific sites.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendliness, some users may still face a learning curve when setting up custom filters and understanding DNS settings.
  • Performance Variability
    The speed and reliability of the service can vary depending on the user's location and network conditions.
  • Community-Driven Threat Intelligence
    CrowdSec leverages a collaborative community to share and receive real-time threat intelligence, which helps improve security posture by updating systems with new threat patterns observed worldwide.
  • Scalability
    CrowdSec is designed to work across various environments, including cloud and on-premises infrastructures, and can handle large-scale deployments thanks to its distributed architecture.
  • Free and Open-Source
    As an open-source solution, CrowdSec is free to use, offering transparent access to its code and the ability to customize or extend the software to suit specific needs.
  • Multi-Layered Defense
    CrowdSec provides a multi-layered approach by incorporating various bouncers that can operate at different layers (firewalls, web applications, etc.), offering comprehensive protection against attacks.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with an easy setup process and intuitive dashboards, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise.

Possible disadvantages

  • Dependency on Community
    The effectiveness of CrowdSec heavily relies on active participation from the community to provide and share current threat intelligence, which may vary in engagement and accuracy.
  • Resource Consumption
    Running CrowdSec, especially in larger networks, may require additional system resources, which could impact performance if the underlying infrastructure is not adequately provisioned.
  • Learning Curve
    While marketed as easy to use, some users might experience a learning curve, particularly when customizing bouncers or integrating CrowdSec with existing systems and security tools.
  • False Positives
    As with many security solutions that work on pattern recognition and community intelligence, there is a risk of false positives, which could lead to legitimate traffic being mistakenly blocked.
  • Limited Support
    Being a primarily open-source and community-driven project, professional support may be limited compared to commercial solutions, which could be a challenge for enterprises requiring robust SLAs.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

ControlD
CrowdSec

Overall verdict

  • ControlD is a strong choice for users seeking enhanced privacy, security, and control over their internet usage. Its customizable features and reliable performance make it a commendable option for both tech-savvy users and those new to controlling their online experience.

Why this product is good

  • ControlD is considered good due to its robust privacy features, customizable filtering options, and the ability to block ads and trackers effectively. It provides DNS services that can enhance browsing security and privacy, offering users control over their internet experience. The service gives users the flexibility to configure DNS settings according to their needs, such as blocking specific content categories and bypassing geo-restrictions.

Recommended for

    ControlD is recommended for individuals who prioritize online privacy and security, families wanting to manage internet content access, and users who are interested in ad-blocking features. It is also suitable for those who wish to bypass geo-blocks to access content from different regions.

No analysis of CrowdSec yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

ControlD 0 videos + Add
CrowdSec 3 videos + Add

No ControlD videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Taking a look at CrowdSec: Installation & Example Scenario

More videos

  • - CROWDSEC EXPLAINED in 15 minutes: product presentation by Philippe Humeau, CEO & co-founder
  • - CROWDSEC: the NEXT-GEN COMMUNITY-POWERED and OPEN SOURCE cybersecurity solution

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
ControlD
CrowdSec
89% 89%
11% 11%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
DNS
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using ControlD and CrowdSec. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

ControlD no reviews yet
CrowdSec no reviews yet

We have no reviews of ControlD yet. Be the first one to post

  • Self Hosting Like Its 2025
    kiranet.org · Apr 2025

    This is a fresh and innovative solution that seamlessly combines a VPN and reverse proxy into one easy-to-deploy package. It’s like having a self-hosted version of Cloudflare. All you need is a VPS or similar setup to...

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

ControlD 94 mentions
CrowdSec 113 mentions

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  • Did you have serious attacks on your exposed services before?
    This tool crowdsec.net is really interesting to mitigate and enact defense systems for different scenarios. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What service can I use to ban users?
    You should check out https://crowdsec.net. More advanced, uses crowdsources cti to block attacks even before they happen. Also both nginx and captcha is supported. Disclaimer: I am head of community. Visit /r/CrowdSec or our Discord at... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • A 'leech-like' connection constantly established on my server
    Before falling too much in love with Fail2Ban try taking a look at https://crowdsec.net. Similar functionality but way more advanced (but easier to configure). New project that leverages the power of the crowd and shares information of... Source: almost 4 years ago

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Alternatives to ControlD and CrowdSec

When comparing ControlD and CrowdSec, you can also consider the following products.