AdGuard vs NextDNS
Features, use cases, pros and cons, and pricing side by side — and which one to pick.
Quick verdict: Pick AdGuard if you want ads blocked inside every app and browser on your devices, or NextDNS if you want one DNS setting to filter your whole network, IoT devices included.
Best for: People who want ads blocked in every browser and app, not just one browser, Households that want one license covering multiple devices
Read the full AdGuard review
Best for: Households that want ad and tracker blocking across every device — including smart TVs, consoles, and guests' phones — without installing software on each one, Parents who need content restrictions that follow kids' tablets, school laptops, and consoles across different networks
Read the full NextDNS reviewCommission may apply at no extra cost
AdGuard vs NextDNS: features compared
Compare key features side by side
Feature Comparison Summary
Which should you choose?
Choose AdGuard if
- You want ads and YouTube videos blocked in apps, not just browsers.
- You need phishing filtering and parental controls on individual devices.
- You'd like a 14-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.
Choose NextDNS if
- You want one DNS setting to protect every device, including smart TVs.
- You need filtering that follows laptops and phones onto any network.
- You want every feature free within 300,000 monthly queries.
AdGuard vs NextDNS: pros and cons
AdGuard
AdGuard filters traffic system-wide, so ads, trackers, and phishing pages disappear in every browser and app, and one license covers Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Watch for the APK-based Android install and auto-renewing subscriptions, though. Overall, it's a polished, affordable pick for whole-device ad blocking.
Pros
- Filters traffic system-wide, so ads, pop-ups, and video ads (including YouTube) are removed in every browser and in apps — not just one browser at a time like typical extensions
- Universal licenses work across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, with Personal covering 3 devices and Family covering 9 under a single purchase, plus a lifetime option at $84.79
- Goes beyond ad blocking with phishing and malicious website filtering, parental controls for adult content, and Stealth Mode tracking protection on Mac
Cons
- AdGuard for Android is not on Google Play — you must sideload the APK, allow installs from your browser, and on some Samsung phones running One UI 6 or newer, disable Auto Blocker during setup
- AdGuard for Linux is command-line only, and AdGuard Home requires installing software on your router, which puts both out of reach for non-technical users
- The free options are limited — the free Android and iOS versions lack full features, and the mobile Content Blocker only works in Samsung Internet and Yandex Browser
NextDNS
NextDNS blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level, so one setup covers every device on your network, including consoles and smart TVs that can't run apps. It's cheap, light on your hardware, and the free tier includes all features, but it can't stop same-domain ads like YouTube's. Overall, it's an easy, low-cost pick for households and privacy-minded users who want set-and-forget protection.
Pros
- Protects every device on a network from one configuration, including smart TVs, consoles, and IoT hardware that cannot run blocking software
- Filtering happens in the cloud, so devices spend no CPU, memory, or battery on ad and malware blocking
- The free plan unlocks all features with a 300,000-query monthly allowance rather than gating core functionality behind payment
Cons
- DNS filtering cannot remove ads served from the same domain as the content around them, such as YouTube ads, so it complements rather than replaces browser-based blockers
- The free plan's 300,000-query monthly cap downgrades filtering to a plain resolver once exceeded, which can happen silently and go unnoticed
- All lookups route through NextDNS's servers, requiring trust in a third party and creating a dependency on its availability
AdGuard and NextDNS in detail
AdGuard
AdGuard is a family of ad-blocking and privacy tools built since 2009. Its core apps for Windows, Mac, and Android block ads system-wide, warn you about phishing and malicious sites, and shield your data from trackers. There are also free browser extensions, a router-level blocker called AdGuard Home, and extras like VPN, DNS, and email aliases. It's for anyone who wants ad-free browsing beyond what a single extension can do.
Standout features
- Block ads in every browser and app
- Keep trackers out of your business
- A safety net for shady sites
- Protection that reaches every screen
- Start small, stay ad-free
Use cases
- Ad-free browsing on your computer
- Clean apps on Android and TV
- Whole-home protection at the router
- Safer browsing for the family
NextDNS
NextDNS is a cloud-hosted DNS filtering service. When a device performs a domain lookup, NextDNS checks the request against your configuration and blocks domains tied to ads, trackers, malware, or unwanted content before the connection is made. Because it operates at the DNS layer rather than as an app, it covers phones, computers, routers, smart TVs, consoles, and IoT devices alike — including hardware that cannot run blocking software. Connections to NextDNS use modern encrypted protocols such as DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS, and all filtering runs on NextDNS's infrastructure rather than on your device.
Standout features
- Cloud DNS Filtering
- Encrypted DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS
- Parental Controls
- Broad Device Coverage and Simple Rollout
- Analytics and Configuration Control
Use cases
- Household-Wide Ad and Tracker Blocking
- Protection for Devices That Leave Home
- Parental Controls Across Kids' Devices
- Pi-Hole-Style Filtering Without the Hardware
Pricing compared
List prices from each vendor's pricing page, before taxes and add-ons. Costs are per month.
| Pricing compared | AdGuard | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| From (cheapest paid plan) | See vendor page | $1.99/mo Personal |
| Free plan | Not stated | Yes 300,000 queries per month. After exceeding the quota, NextDNS continues answering DNS queries as a classic non-blocking DNS service. |
| Free trial | 14 days | Not stated |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | Not stated |
| Annual billing savings | — | Up to 17% |
| Pricing model | — | Flat price |
| Cost for 1 user | — | Free Free plan, billed annually |
| Cost for 5 users | — | $1.66/mo Personal plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Cost for 10 users | — | $1.66/mo Personal plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Cost for 25 users | — | $1.66/mo Personal plan, billed annually · price per account (user limit not stated) |
| Plans | 2 | 4 |
| Prices checked | Vendor page checked Oct 31, 2026 | Checked Nov 3, 2026 |
| Price history | Tracking prices since Oct 14, 2026. No price change detected yet. | Tracking prices since Oct 1, 2026. No price change detected yet. |
- Cheapest plan that fits each team size. Per-user plans are multiplied by the number of users (respecting stated minimums and seat packs). Plans that include some users cost their base price plus the extra-user price for each user beyond those included. Flat-priced plans with no stated user limit are counted as one licence per user.
Cheaper for your team size
Not enough published prices to compare team costs: check each vendor's pricing page.
- Only NextDNS has a free plan.
Computed from published list prices on the dates shown. Excludes taxes, add-ons and promotions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can either tool block YouTube ads?
AdGuard's system-wide apps block YouTube video ads. NextDNS can't remove ads served from the same domain as surrounding content, so you'd still need a browser blocker for YouTube.
Which covers more devices?
NextDNS covers unlimited devices on every plan, including TVs and consoles. AdGuard's Personal license covers 3 devices and Family covers 9; 10+ devices require contacting sales.