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Control D Review

Worth it

Should I use Control D?

DNS Filtering for Every OS - controld.com

· 1 week ago

Buy if you want network-wide ad, tracker, and malware blocking — and test the free resolvers first. Skip if you need flat pricing, a VPN, or a broader security platform.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~30 public sources; many snippets truncated, so quotes and details are partial.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

$0

Free DNS

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
PersonalPer device — see plans page
BusinessSee pricing page

Best for

  • Households wanting network-wide ad/malware blocking
  • Router and homelab tinkerers (OPNsense, pfSense)
  • Small IT teams needing managed DNS filtering
  • NextDNS users wanting custom endpoints

Not for

  • Anyone expecting VPN privacy — this is DNS filtering, not a VPN
  • Price-sensitive homes with many devices; per-device fees stack up
  • Enterprises wanting a full security platform, not one DNS layer
  • Zero-config users — good free resolvers need no account at all

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Per-device pricing multiplies fast across many gadgets; HN commenters flag cost vs rivals

medium

Support disputes can turn sour; Reddit reports poor service attitude over unwanted charges

medium

Migration from NextDNS isn't painless; one switcher says they 'ended up wasting' effort

low

Overaggressive subdomain blocking reported; expect whitelist tuning

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Blocks ads, trackers, and malware at DNS level
  • Open-source ctrld client runs on routers and endpoints
  • Native Tailscale DNS-filtering integration
  • G2 users praise time savings and easy DNS management
  • Free resolvers let you test before paying

Cons

  • Some users report higher latency than NextDNS
  • Free resolvers caused buffering on LG smart TVs
  • Only five G2 reviews; thin independent rating signal
  • A Reddit thread labels the service 'scam — stay far away'
  • Reddit reports poor customer-service attitude after disputes

Sources & method

- 15 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x4review x8security x1news x2

Key stats

  • Value for money: 3/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 15

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 3/5. Per-device cost; free resolvers soften it
  • Ease of use: 4/5. G2: easy onboarding and DNS management
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Custom endpoints, multi-protocol, Tailscale integration, open-source client
  • Support quality: 2/5. Reddit reports poor service attitude
  • Security posture: 4/5. Public security page; no known vulns found
  • 2021 Launched By makers of Windscribe VPN
  • Yes Free tier Free public resolvers, no account
  • 5 G2 reviews Very thin independent base
  • All major OS OS coverage Plus routers via ctrld client

Pricing

Free DNS

$0

  • Public resolvers block ads and malware
  • No account or app needed

Personal

Per device — see plans page

  • Custom endpoints and rules
  • All major OS apps

Business

See pricing page

  • Team and device management
  • Per-device billing

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

Companies that use it

  • GitHub15
  • 7 Security Group
Full analysis

Based on ~30 public sources; many snippets truncated, so quotes and details are partial.

Solid Windscribe-backed DNS filter with free resolvers; great for blocking ads/malware, but per-device pricing and spotty support sting.

Methodology

Based on ~30 public sources; many snippets truncated, so quotes and details are partial.

Read how a report is made.

Sources

  1. ControlD Reviews 2026 — G2g2.com
    review
  2. Control D Products — G2 seller page (5 reviews)g2.com
    review
  3. I Left NextDNS for ControlD — Reddit r/ControlDreddit.com
    review
  4. ControlD — scam — stay far away — Reddit r/dnsreddit.com
    review
  5. NextDNS vs ControlD latency — Reddit r/nextdnsreddit.com
    review
  6. Poor Customer Service attitude — Reddit r/ControlDreddit.com
    review
  7. LG smart TV buffering on free DNS — Reddit r/ControlDreddit.com
    review
  8. ControlD pricing is per device — Hacker Newsnews.ycombinator.com
    review
  9. Control D Pricing for Business Userscontrold.com
    official
  10. Control D Free DNS Serverscontrold.com
    official
  11. Product security pagecontrold.com
    security
  12. ctrld open-source client — GitHubgithub.com
    official
  13. Tailscale DNS filtering by Control Dtailscale.com
    news
  14. ControlD launches — ghacks (Windscribe makers)ghacks.net
    news
  15. GitHub case studycontrold.com
    official

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