NextDNS review

NextDNS is a DNS-based filtering service for devices and networks. It can block malware, phishing, cryptojacking, ads and trackers, including some disguised as first-party trackers. It also offers parental controls: content filters, SafeSearch, YouTube Restricted Mode, and schedules for selected sites and apps.

The service supports encrypted DNS through DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS. You can create custom allowlists and denylists, set DNS rewrites, and use multiple configurations. Analytics show DNS activity and tracker insights; logs can be disabled or retained for a chosen period.

That makes NextDNS a configurable layer for filtering traffic across a household or organization, rather than a browser-only ad blocker. It does not replace every privacy or security tool: a commenter on Reddit, for example, described using a VPN separately when they wanted to change location or seek anonymity.

NextDNS puts a lot of control in one place: threat blocking, ad and tracker filtering, parental controls, encrypted DNS, and configurable logs. Multiple configurations and unlimited devices on every listed plan make it practical to set different rules for different devices or networks, without a device cap getting in the way.

The free plan includes access to all features, but stops at 300,000 queries per month. Pro removes that query cap for CAD $2.79 monthly, or CAD $2.325 per month with annual billing, according to the published pricing details. Both plans list unlimited devices and configurations. That is a low-cost step up if the free allowance does not cover your use.

Reddit users report that the filtering works well for their needs, and one subscriber said logs helped identify which cloud service was disrupting washing-machine notifications. A Reddit thread also reported successful ad blocking in the official Reddit app using a beta list. These are user reports, not a guarantee that every app or ad format will behave the same way.

DNS filtering can cause collateral breakage. One NextDNS subscriber on Reddit said their washing machine’s cloud notifications sometimes failed, and that they had to choose between troubleshooting the logs and allowing the cloud service. A separate Reddit thread about beta YouTube ad blocking included reports that YouTube Music stopped playing songs; other commenters said the feature worked for them. Treat app-specific ad blocking as experimental, not a dependable promise.

The free plan’s cap is concrete: 300,000 queries per month, after which the listed free allowance is not unlimited. Pro costs CAD $2.79 monthly or CAD $2.325 per month on annual billing. Business is CAD $27.90 monthly or CAD $23.25 per month annually per 50 employees; Education uses the same prices per 250 students. Those plans list email support, while Free and Pro list community support. So personal subscribers should not expect dedicated email support, and larger teams pay by employee or student group rather than getting one flat price.

NextDNS has a free plan, but it stops at 300,000 queries per month. It includes unlimited devices and configurations, plus access to all features, so the cap—not the feature set—is the main reason to upgrade. The pricing page lists Pro at CAD $2.79 month to month, or CAD $2.325 per month when billed annually. That removes the query cap and keeps unlimited devices and configurations.

The jump to Business is steep: CAD $27.90 per month for each 50 employees, or CAD $23.25 per month on annual billing. Education costs the same per 250 students. Both include unlimited queries, devices and configurations, all features, and email support; Pro has community support. In other words, the higher tiers mainly change the user group and support channel, not the listed feature access. No add-ons are listed. Annual billing lowers the monthly equivalent, but the source does not specify cancellation or refund terms. Prices are in CAD.

NextDNS is a DNS-based filter, so switching means directing your device or network to use NextDNS rather than its current DNS service. The published product information does not specify setup steps or how much work a migration takes. It does support multiple configurations, custom allowlists and denylists, and DNS rewrites, which may mean more settings to recreate if you are moving an established setup. The published sources do not say whether settings can be imported or exported, so treat portability as unconfirmed.

The verdict flags occasional breakage and community-level support for personal users. Those are plausible reasons to switch away if a site or app stops working, or if you need direct email support; the published material includes no Reddit reports to verify why users leave. Before changing providers, keep a record of your current rules and DNS settings. NextDNS lets you configure or disable logs, but the source does not describe a data-export feature or what happens to stored logs when you leave.