Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenNIC VS CleanBrowsing

Compare OpenNIC VS CleanBrowsing and see what are their differences

OpenNIC logo OpenNIC

An organization of hobbyists who run an alternative DNS network, also provides access to domains not administered by ICANN. People also askWhat is OpenNIC?Which is the fastest DNS server?What is DNS by Comodo?

CleanBrowsing logo CleanBrowsing

CleanBrowsing is a family and kid-safe way to browse the web without surprises.
  • OpenNIC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20
  • CleanBrowsing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-20

OpenNIC features and specs

  • Censorship Resistance
    OpenNIC provides an alternative to traditional DNS providers, offering DNS servers that are less susceptible to governmental and corporate censorship, thus giving users access to a broader and less restricted internet.
  • User Governance
    The OpenNIC community is user-governed, meaning users have a say in the operation and policies of the network, which promotes transparency and community-driven decision-making.
  • Privacy
    OpenNIC respects user privacy by not logging DNS queries, which helps in protecting users' browsing habits from being tracked and sold by commercial DNS providers.
  • Access to Alternative TLDs
    OpenNIC offers access to several alternative top-level domains (TLDs) that are not available through ICANN, expanding the diversity of available domain names.
  • Redundancy
    With numerous servers around the world, OpenNIC can provide redundancy and potentially faster DNS resolution by choosing a geographically closer server.

Possible disadvantages of OpenNIC

  • Limited Support and Reliability
    Being a community-driven project, OpenNIC's infrastructure may not be as robust or supported as commercial providers, potentially resulting in less reliability or slower performance.
  • Complexity
    Setting up and configuring OpenNIC DNS servers may require more technical knowledge compared to more mainstream DNS services, which can be a barrier for less tech-savvy users.
  • Potential Security Risks
    As a decentralized and community-based service, OpenNIC might pose security risks, like exposure to rogue servers or configurations that could lead to DNS spoofing or other vulnerabilities.
  • Inconsistent Availability
    Alternative TLDs offered by OpenNIC might not be recognized by all internet browsers and services, leading to inconsistencies in access and usability across the internet.
  • Smaller Community
    With a smaller user base and community compared to major DNS providers, there may be fewer resources available for support, development, and issue resolution.

CleanBrowsing features and specs

  • Content Filtering
    CleanBrowsing offers robust content filtering options that allow users to block unwanted or harmful content, making it a valuable tool for parents, schools, and businesses wanting to ensure safe browsing environments.
  • Privacy Protection
    By using CleanBrowsing, users can enhance their privacy online as it helps prevent access to malicious websites that may attempt to gather personal data.
  • User-Friendly Setup
    CleanBrowsing provides an easy-to-use setup that can be quickly implemented on a wide range of devices, making it accessible even for non-technical users.
  • Multiple Browsing Modes
    The service offers different filtering modes, such as Family, Adult, and Security filters, allowing users to choose the level of filtering that best suits their needs.
  • Free and Paid Plans
    CleanBrowsing offers both free and premium plans, enabling users to choose according to their needs and budget, with additional features available in paid versions.

Possible disadvantages of CleanBrowsing

  • Limitations of Free Plan
    The free version of CleanBrowsing may have limitations in terms of features and functionality compared to the paid plans, potentially restricting the level of customization and protection available.
  • Possible Overblocking
    There is a potential for legitimate sites to be overblocked, thus restricting access to content that may be necessary or desired, which can be inconvenient for users.
  • Dependency on DNS
    As it relies on DNS filtering, CleanBrowsing can sometimes be bypassed by determined users making changes to their DNS settings, especially if they have administrative access to the device.
  • Performance Impact
    In some cases, users might experience a slight delay in browsing speed due to the DNS lookup process involved with content filtering, which could impact the overall user experience.
  • Limited Language Support
    CleanBrowsing may not provide adequate support for filtering non-English websites or understanding multilingual content, which could limit its effectiveness in diverse linguistic settings.

OpenNIC videos

OpenNIC

More videos:

  • Review - OpenNIC中文讲解教程

CleanBrowsing videos

What is CleanBrowsing and How Can I Use It To Protect My Family? | Betrayal Trauma Recovery

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenNIC and CleanBrowsing)
DNS Tools
60 60%
40% 40
Security & Privacy
49 49%
51% 51
DNS
50 50%
50% 50
Ad Blockers
43 43%
57% 57

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenNIC and CleanBrowsing

OpenNIC Reviews

Best DNS Servers to Use for Free in 2022
OpenNIC is a great choice for users who don’t want to figure out where is the closest server to their location.
Best free DNS servers: 14 options to check out
At its core, OpenNIC is an attempt to combat censorship. Volunteer-run, this free DNS server makes the entire web accessible to everyone. They also prevent “DNS hijacking” which is when an ISP takes over commonly mistyped URLs.

CleanBrowsing Reviews

Best free DNS servers: 14 options to check out
Both free and paid versions of CleanBrowsing are available. The free DNS server focuses on privacy, especially for households with children. It comes with three free filters and blocks most adult content.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CleanBrowsing should be more popular than OpenNIC. It has been mentiond 18 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.

OpenNIC mentions (4)

  • The internet is worse than it used to be. How did we get here?
    Be a pirate with https://opennic.org/ and have a look at https://wiki.opennic.org/opennic/dot there... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Price increase for .COM, .XYZ, and more domains
    Yes, host your own DNS server and make it public. https://opennic.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Not all TLDs are Created Equal
    OpenNIC is a project that replaces and extends the official DNS root maintained by Verisign. http://opennic.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Which dns should i use to protect my privacy?
    Go for opennic.org, its a alternative Root-DNS with mostly no logging (atleast mine is for sure not :)). Source: about 4 years ago

CleanBrowsing mentions (18)

  • Ask HN: Which tools are the best for internet safety for kids?
    You can start with this free family dns, that blocks harmful content and enforce safe search: https://cleanbrowsing.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Is there a way to run a local DNS resolver to filter all DNS queries from both the phone and from tethering clients ?
    My goal is also to make it as difficult as possible to reset the DNS filter and while it is possible to use e.g. The cleanbrowsing.org family filter plus their app (the one from outside the playstore) to lock the private DNS settings. The filter is still not strict enough. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Feature request/discussion
    On android an app to clock the DNS over TLS section is required (e.g. The app from cleanbrowsing.org can be used to lock the android DoT settings page where we can enter the ControlD custom DoT). Source: about 2 years ago
  • PiHole doesn't block ads but appears to be working from Dashboard view
    My upstream browser is cleanbrowsing.org. I am using an EERO with custom DNS setup to my pihole. Pihole is static IP. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Using DNS over HTTPS! Come on Ubiquiti!!
    I hadn’t heard of unbound before but it looks very interesting. I’ve been manually setting my dns in my pihole to https://cleanbrowsing.org/ ‘s free dns servers. I do like it because I’d I take my server down with an update or any maintenance I don’t lose my internet access. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenNIC and CleanBrowsing, you can also consider the following products

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

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

1.1.1.1 - The free app that makes your Internet safer.

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

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!