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OpenDNS VS AdGuard DNS

Compare OpenDNS VS AdGuard DNS and see what are their differences

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OpenDNS logo OpenDNS

OpenDNS provides faster and safer Internet access for your home or Business.

AdGuard DNS logo AdGuard DNS

Soon you'll be able to create your own private DNS server that will protect your personal data, block ads and trackers, and allow you to control access to specific Internet content.
  • OpenDNS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22
  • AdGuard DNS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-02

OpenDNS features and specs

  • Improved Security
    OpenDNS offers robust protection against phishing attacks, malware, and botnets by blocking access to known malicious domains.
  • Enhanced Control
    Users get granular control over website access, enabling custom filtering to block inappropriate or unsafe sites, which is especially useful for parents and schools.
  • Faster DNS Resolution
    OpenDNS aims to provide faster domain name resolution, potentially reducing the time it takes to load websites compared to using ISPs' DNS services.
  • DNS Uptime
    With globally distributed servers, OpenDNS ensures high availability and reliability, minimizing the risk of DNS outages.
  • Detailed Analytics
    OpenDNS provides insightful web usage statistics and reports that can help identify trends and potential security threats.
  • Device Compatibility
    It is compatible with multiple platforms and devices, making it easy to configure on routers, computers, and mobile devices.
  • Ease of Use
    The service is straightforward to set up, often requiring only a simple change in DNS settings on your device or router.

Possible disadvantages of OpenDNS

  • Privacy Concerns
    By using OpenDNS, users are subject to its terms of service and privacy policy, which may involve data logging and sharing with third parties.
  • Limited Free Features
    The free version of OpenDNS has limited features compared to the premium offerings, which may not be sufficient for all users.
  • Potential Circumvention
    Tech-savvy users or devices can potentially circumvent OpenDNS filtering by manually changing DNS settings to another provider.
  • Dependency on Third-Party Service
    Relying on an external DNS service introduces an additional point of dependency, which could be problematic if the service experiences outages or disruptions.
  • Geographic Performance Variations
    Performance improvements in DNS resolution speed may vary based on geographic location due to the proximity of OpenDNS servers.
  • Complex Configuration for Advanced Features
    Utilizing some of the advanced features, like custom filtering and detailed analytics, may require a more complex configuration that could be challenging for non-technical users.
  • Limited control on Pure DNS Services
    Since OpenDNS modifies DNS requests for security and filtering purposes, users needing pure DNS services without any changes may find it restrictive.

AdGuard DNS features and specs

  • Privacy Protection
    AdGuard DNS provides enhanced privacy by blocking trackers and analytics systems, preventing them from collecting data about your online activities.
  • Ad Blocking
    It effectively blocks advertisements on websites, resulting in a cleaner, faster, and less cluttered browsing experience.
  • Malware Blocking
    AdGuard DNS blocks access to malicious and phishing domains, protecting users from potentially harmful websites.
  • Parental Control
    The service offers features that allow parents to restrict access to adult content, providing a safer browsing environment for children.
  • Ease of Use
    AdGuard DNS is easy to configure; users can simply change their DNS settings to start using the service without needing complex software installations.

Possible disadvantages of AdGuard DNS

  • Limited Customization
    While it provides effective ad blocking and security features, users have limited ability to customize which domains are blocked or allowed.
  • Potential False Positives
    Some legitimate websites may mistakenly be blocked, disrupting access to desired content.
  • Dependency on External Service
    Using a DNS service like AdGuard DNS means reliance on an external provider, which could be a point of concern if the service experiences outages or performance issues.
  • Limited Logging and Analytics
    While designed to enhance privacy, this limitation might not be suitable for users who desire detailed analytics or logging of DNS queries.
  • No Advanced Features
    AdGuard DNS lacks some advanced features available in other DNS services, such as DNS over HTTPS (DoH) or DNS over TLS (DoT) for more secure DNS traffic.

Analysis of OpenDNS

Overall verdict

  • OpenDNS is generally regarded as a good choice for users looking for enhanced internet security and customizable filtering, making it a strong option for both personal and enterprise use.

Why this product is good

  • OpenDNS is renowned for its robust security features, including phishing protection, parental controls, and DNS-level blocking of malicious websites. It provides fast and reliable DNS resolution, which can enhance internet speed and browsing experience. The platform also offers customizable filtering policies and is easy to set up for both individuals and businesses.

Recommended for

    Families seeking to implement parental controls, businesses needing to safeguard against cyber threats with minimal infrastructure changes, and individuals looking for improved online safety and reliability.

Analysis of AdGuard DNS

Overall verdict

  • AdGuard DNS is a robust and reliable choice for users seeking enhanced privacy, security, and ad-blocking capabilities. It effectively filters out unwanted content and promotes safer browsing experiences, making it a worthwhile option for both tech-savvy users and general consumers.

Why this product is good

  • AdGuard DNS is considered good by many users and experts due to its ability to block ads, trackers, and known malicious websites at the DNS level. It improves privacy and security without the need to install additional software on each device. Additionally, AdGuard DNS offers customizable filtering and parental controls, which provide an extra layer of internet safety for families.

Recommended for

    AdGuard DNS is well-suited for individuals and families looking to improve their online privacy and security. It is also recommended for users who want a hassle-free, network-wide ad-blocking solution and those who wish to protect their network devices from harmful websites and malware with minimal setup.

OpenDNS videos

+ Add

OpenDNS - #2 - OpenDNS Review

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to secure home network using OpenDNS
  • Review - IN DEPTH: openDNS

AdGuard DNS videos

+ Add

How-To Block Internet Ads and Adult Websites : AdGuard DNS Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenDNS and AdGuard DNS)

OpenDNS

AdGuard DNS

Security & Privacy
53 53%
Security & Privacy
47% 47
DNS Tools
62 62%
DNS Tools
38% 38
DNS
48 48%
DNS
52% 52
Ad Blockers
100 100%
Ad Blockers
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenDNS and AdGuard DNS

OpenDNS Reviews

Best Free Firewalls for Windows, Mac & Android in 2024
Note that OpenDNS Home works best alongside Windows’ built-in firewall. Since it’s not a complete firewall software, you’ll need another firewall to properly monitor incoming and outgoing traffic to help block network intrusions. All things considered, though, OpenDNS Home is a great free solution to improve online safety.
Source: www.wizcase.com
Best DNS servers of 2022: Boost your internet speed with these free, public services
Google's support site offers only very basic guidance targeted at experienced users, warning that "only users who are proficient with configuring operating system settings [should] make these changes." If you're unsure what you're doing, check the tutorials from a provider such as OpenDNS, remembering to replace its nameservers with Google's: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
Source: www.techradar.com
Best DNS Servers to Use for Free in 2022
Again, for users concerned about their children’s Internet safety, OpenDNS offers a service called OpenDNS FamilyShield that blocks adult content (available at the servers 208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123).
Source: jv16powertools.com
Best free DNS servers: 14 options to check out
Owned by Cisco, OpenDNS has two free options: Family Shield and Home. Family Shield is good for parents who want to make sure their kids can’t access inappropriate content. Home focuses on internet safety and performance.
Source: www.allconnect.com

AdGuard DNS Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, AdGuard DNS should be more popular than OpenDNS. It has been mentiond 40 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenDNS mentions (11)

  • Multiple DDNS configs?
    I've been using the DDNS option in the UI to sync with no-ip.com, so that I can remotely access my NAS via Wireguard, and this works great. However, my new router no longer supports DDNS without subscription. I need another DDNS client to sync with opendns.com, to get content filtering and parental controls, as my new router has no options for this. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Evaluating DNSfilter
    We have used opendns.com for this for years. Might take a look at them. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What does this error message mean? How/where do I change the URL?
    Can you visit opendns.com on your home network? The problem likely that site is getting blocked, and can't use the API to get the public IP of your box. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Firefox detected a potential security threat and did not continue to calyxos.org
    This might be an issue with my DNS provider. I use opendns.com to filter my DNS queries. They're giving the following reasons for blocking the site... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Wi-Fi web filtering
    If all users need the same level of filtering, opendns.com is free and works great. You need a way to forward DNS requests to the Open DNS server, such as a typical Windows DNS. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

AdGuard DNS mentions (40)

  • Why not use DNS over HTTPS (DoH)?
    Two raspberries with Adguard combined with Tailscale is pretty safe and removes a nice chunk of garbage from the internet https://adguard-dns.io/en/welcome.html. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Candy Crush, Tinder, MyFitnessPal: See the Apps Hijacked to Spy on Your Location
    Easier just to block the ad servers at the DNS level. I use NextDNS [1] as it lets me configure it, but AdGuard [2] DNS probably also works well. 1. https://nextdns.io/ 2. https://adguard-dns.io/en/welcome.html. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Trying Adguard DNS and I have a question.
    At the bottom of this link https://adguard-dns.io/en/welcome.html, is a world map with the AdGuard servers on it. Try the public AdGuard DNS servers https://adguard-dns.io/en/public-dns.html, you want the ones under plain DNS. If they show up with small delays then report the 94.140.14.59 as being misconfigured, My current understanding is the public server number is supposed to route you to the closest/fastest... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Adguard Home vs Adguard DNS
    So I've been looking for a DNS solution for my home. I looked at the options and settled on AdGuard Home. As I was going to install it I came across Adguard DNS, more particularly this one. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • I switched to iPhone recently, I miss my android.
    #3. You can swipe in from the left edge of the screen to go back usually (also get AdGuard DNS to reduce ads in non-browser apps, since you're already using Brave). Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenDNS and AdGuard DNS, you can also consider the following products

1.1.1.1 - The free app that makes your Internet safer.

NextDNS - Block ads, trackers and malicious websites on all your devices.

Quad9 - Quad9 is a free, recursive, anycast DNS platform that provides end users robust security protections, high-performance, and privacy.

Comodo Secure DNS - Comodo Secure DNS is the leading DNS provider. We offer Managed DNS, Enterprise DNS, Authoritative, Anycast and CDN DNS hosting.

AdGuard - Surf the Web Ad-Free and Safely. Shield up!

FreeDNS by Afraid.org - Free DNS hosting, lets you fully manage your own domain. Dynamic DNS and Static DNS services available. You may also create hosts off other domains that we host upon the domain owners consent, we have several domains to choose from!

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