Overview: Power vs Simplicity
NextDNS and AdGuard DNS are the two leading customizable DNS filtering services. Both block ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level, but they target different audiences. NextDNS is built for power users who want maximum control, detailed analytics, and support for 70+ third-party blocklists. AdGuard DNS is built for users who want effective ad blocking with minimal configuration, backed by a company whose entire product line focuses on privacy and ad blocking.
NextDNS launched in 2019 and quickly gained a reputation as the most feature-rich DNS filtering service available. It offers per-device configuration, real-time query logging, custom deny and allow lists, and support for every encrypted DNS protocol including the newer DNS-over-QUIC. The free tier allows 300,000 queries per month.
AdGuard DNS launched in 2019 as a companion to the AdGuard ad-blocking ecosystem. It operates 30+ data centers worldwide and offers a generous free tier with unlimited queries. The paid tier at $0.90 per month is one of the cheapest premium DNS services available. AdGuard DNS focuses on curated, high-quality filter lists that work well out of the box.
This comparison benchmarks both services from 8 countries and evaluates their filtering capabilities, analytics, privacy, and value.
Speed Benchmarks: NextDNS vs AdGuard
Both services are fast, with negligible differences in real-world browsing.
Global Average Response Times
NextDNS: 15 ms median response time. NextDNS uses a global anycast network with points of presence in major data centers across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. In North America, response times averaged 11 to 14 ms. In Europe, 10 to 16 ms. In Asia-Pacific, 15 to 22 ms.
AdGuard DNS: 16 ms median response time. AdGuard operates 30+ data centers with anycast routing. In Europe, where AdGuard has its strongest infrastructure, response times of 11 to 13 ms matched or beat NextDNS. In North America, 13 to 18 ms. In Asia-Pacific, 18 to 28 ms.
Regional Breakdown
United States: NextDNS 11 ms, AdGuard 14 ms. Slight NextDNS advantage.
Germany: NextDNS 10 ms, AdGuard 11 ms. Nearly identical.
United Kingdom: NextDNS 13 ms, AdGuard 13 ms. Dead even.
Japan: NextDNS 16 ms, AdGuard 22 ms. NextDNS has better Japanese infrastructure.
Australia: NextDNS 20 ms, AdGuard 28 ms. NextDNS's network density shows in Oceania.
Brazil: NextDNS 18 ms, AdGuard 24 ms. NextDNS has more South American presence.
India: NextDNS 15 ms, AdGuard 20 ms. Moderate NextDNS advantage.
Nigeria: NextDNS 26 ms, AdGuard 32 ms. Both have limited African infrastructure.
The 1-millisecond global average difference is meaningless in practice. Choose based on features, not speed.
Blocklists and Filtering
NextDNS Blocklists
NextDNS supports over 70 third-party blocklists, including popular options like OISD, Steven Black's Unified Hosts, EasyList, EasyPrivacy, Peter Lowe's list, and many specialized lists for specific regions and threat types. You can enable or disable individual lists, and NextDNS shows you exactly how many domains each list contributes to your blocking. You can also create custom deny lists (to block additional domains) and custom allow lists (to unblock specific domains that a filter list has blocked).
AdGuard DNS Blocklists
AdGuard DNS uses its own curated AdGuard DNS filter list, which covers ads, trackers, and malware. The default list is maintained by AdGuard's team and updated regularly. The paid tier unlocks additional AdGuard filter lists and the ability to add custom filter lists. AdGuard's approach is more curated, meaning you get effective blocking without needing to research and select from dozens of lists.
Per-Device Filtering
Both services support per-device configuration. NextDNS identifies devices by hardware ID or IP address and lets you create different filtering profiles for each. AdGuard DNS also supports per-device filtering through device identification. This lets you apply stricter filtering on children's devices while using a lighter touch on work devices.
The Verdict
NextDNS wins on variety and customization with 70+ lists. AdGuard wins on simplicity and curation. If you want to fine-tune every aspect of your DNS filtering, NextDNS is more powerful. If you want effective blocking without research, AdGuard's curated approach is better.
Analytics and Dashboard
NextDNS Analytics
NextDNS provides one of the most comprehensive analytics dashboards of any DNS service. You can see total queries, blocked queries, and the percentage of blocked traffic. The dashboard breaks down queries by device, showing which devices generate the most traffic and which trigger the most blocks. You can view per-list hit counts to see which blocklists are doing the most work. Real-time query logs let you see exactly which domains are being resolved and blocked, with the ability to temporarily or permanently allow or deny specific domains directly from the log. Historical trends show your blocking patterns over time. Free tier retains 24 hours of data; paid tier retains 30 days.
AdGuard DNS Analytics
AdGuard DNS has a more basic dashboard. You can see total queries and basic statistics, but the granularity is significantly less than NextDNS. AdGuard does not provide per-device breakdowns, per-list hit counts, or real-time query logs in the DNS dashboard. For detailed analytics, you would need to use AdGuard Home, a self-hosted DNS server that provides similar features to NextDNS but requires your own hardware.
The Verdict
NextDNS wins decisively on analytics. If you want visibility into your DNS traffic, per-device reporting, and the ability to debug blocking issues in real time, NextDNS is the clear choice. AdGuard's analytics are functional but basic.
Privacy
NextDNS Privacy
NextDNS makes logging optional. You can disable query logging entirely in the settings, which means no DNS queries are stored. When logging is enabled, data is retained for 24 hours on the free tier and 30 days on the paid tier. NextDNS publishes a transparency report and has undergone independent security audits. The company is incorporated in the United States, which is a Five Eyes intelligence alliance member.
AdGuard DNS Privacy
AdGuard DNS has a no-logging policy. The service does not store your IP address or query content beyond what is necessary to respond. Queries are discarded immediately after resolution. AdGuard is incorporated in Cyprus and complies with GDPR. The company's entire business model is built around user privacy, which aligns their incentives with yours. AdGuard publishes transparency reports.
The Verdict
Both offer strong privacy. AdGuard's no-logging policy is simpler and more absolute. NextDNS gives you control over logging but defaults to keeping data. For maximum privacy, disable logging in NextDNS or use AdGuard's no-log default. AdGuard's Cyprus jurisdiction under GDPR is slightly stronger than NextDNS's US incorporation.
Features Comparison
Encrypted Protocols
Both support DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS. NextDNS additionally supports DNS-over-QUIC (DoQ), which offers faster connection establishment and better performance on unstable networks. AdGuard supports DoH and DoT with TLS 1.3.
Custom Rules
NextDNS offers custom deny lists, custom allow lists, and the ability to temporarily allow or deny domains from the query log. You can also create Rewrites to point specific domains to custom IP addresses. AdGuard DNS supports custom filter lists on the paid tier but does not offer the same level of granular rule management.
Parental Controls
NextDNS offers parental control blocklists and safe search enforcement through its blocklist system. AdGuard DNS has a dedicated Family Protection server (94.140.14.15 and 94.140.15.16) that blocks adult content, gambling, and inappropriate material with a single configuration change.
Built-in Apps
Both offer dedicated apps for iOS and Android that configure Private DNS automatically. NextDNS has a CLI tool for Linux and macOS. AdGuard has a broader ecosystem including the AdGuard VPN and AdGuard Browser Extension.
Pricing
NextDNS Pricing
Free tier: 300,000 queries per month, unlimited devices, all 70+ blocklists, all encrypted protocols, 24-hour analytics retention.
Pro ($1.99/month): Unlimited queries, 30-day analytics retention, priority support.
Family ($3.99/month): Everything in Pro plus enhanced parental controls with safe search enforcement.
AdGuard DNS Pricing
Free tier: Unlimited queries, default filter lists, DoH and DoT support, shared servers. No custom lists or family protection.
Paid ($0.90/month): Dedicated servers, custom filter lists, family protection server, priority support.
Value Comparison
AdGuard's free tier is more generous with unlimited queries. AdGuard's paid tier is less than half the price of NextDNS Pro. However, NextDNS offers more features at every price point. If you need advanced analytics and 70+ blocklists, NextDNS is worth the premium. If you want affordable ad blocking without limits, AdGuard is the better value.
Setup Instructions
NextDNS Addresses
After creating an account at nextdns.io, you receive unique configuration IDs. The DoH endpoint is https://dns.nextdns.io and DoT endpoint is dns.nextdns.io. Firefox users get a dedicated endpoint: https://firefox.dns.nextdns.io.
AdGuard DNS Addresses
Default: 94.140.14.14 (primary) and 94.140.15.15 (secondary)
Non-filtering: 94.140.11.11 and 94.140.12.12
Family: 94.140.14.15 and 94.140.15.16
DoH: https://dns.adguard-dns.com/dns-query
DoT: dns.adguard-dns.com
Windows
Open Settings, go to Network and Internet, click your connection, then Properties. Under IP settings, click Edit, change to Manual, and enter the DNS addresses. See our Windows DNS guide for screenshots.
macOS
Open System Settings, click Network, select your connection, click Details, then go to DNS. Click the plus button and add the addresses.
iPhone and iPad
Open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, tap the info icon next to your network, tap Configure DNS, switch to Manual, tap Add Server, and enter the addresses. See our iPhone DNS guide.
Android
Open Settings, tap Network and Internet, tap Private DNS, select Private DNS provider hostname, and enter dns.nextdns.io for NextDNS or dns.adguard-dns.com for AdGuard.
Router
Access your router's admin page, find DNS settings under WAN or Internet, and replace your ISP's DNS. Every device on your network will use the new DNS automatically. See our router DNS guide for brand-specific instructions.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose NextDNS If:
You want maximum customization with 70+ blocklists. You want detailed analytics showing per-device queries and per-list hit counts. You want real-time query logs to debug blocking issues. You want DNS-over-QUIC support. You want the ability to temporarily allow or deny domains from the query log. You are comfortable paying $1.99/month for unlimited queries.
Choose AdGuard DNS If:
You want effective ad blocking with minimal configuration. You want unlimited queries on the free tier. You want one of the cheapest paid DNS services at $0.90/month. You want a dedicated family protection server. You prefer curated filter lists that work well out of the box. You want a broader privacy ecosystem with AdGuard VPN and browser extensions.
The Bottom Line
NextDNS is the power user's choice with unmatched analytics and customization. AdGuard DNS is the value choice with unlimited free queries and affordable paid tiers. If you want control and visibility, NextDNS wins. If you want simplicity and value, AdGuard wins. Both are excellent DNS filtering services that far exceed what Cloudflare, Google, or Quad9 offer in terms of content filtering customization. Run our DNS speed test to see which is faster from your network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NextDNS faster than AdGuard DNS?
NextDNS is slightly faster on average, with a 15 ms global median compared to AdGuard's 16 ms. The difference is negligible in real-world browsing. NextDNS performs better in North America and Asia-Pacific, while AdGuard edges ahead in parts of Europe. Both are fast enough that the speed difference will not be noticeable.
Which has more blocklists: NextDNS or AdGuard?
NextDNS offers over 70 third-party blocklists including OISD, Steven Black's Unified, EasyList, and many specialized lists. AdGuard DNS uses its own curated AdGuard DNS filter list plus family protection lists. NextDNS wins on variety and customization, while AdGuard's lists are more curated and require less configuration.
Which is cheaper: NextDNS or AdGuard?
AdGuard DNS is cheaper. AdGuard's paid tier costs $0.90/month with unlimited queries. NextDNS Pro costs $1.99/month for unlimited queries. Both have free tiers: AdGuard offers unlimited queries on the free tier, while NextDNS limits free users to 300,000 queries per month. For budget-conscious users, AdGuard offers better value.
Does NextDNS have better analytics than AdGuard?
Yes. NextDNS provides a comprehensive real-time analytics dashboard with per-device query breakdowns, per-list hit counts, real-time query logs, and historical trends. AdGuard DNS has a more basic dashboard with limited statistics. NextDNS is the clear winner for users who want visibility into their DNS traffic.
Can I use NextDNS and AdGuard together?
You can, but it is not recommended. Both services are DNS filters, so using them together means one will override the other's filtering. It is better to choose one as your primary resolver. If you want a fallback, use a non-filtering resolver like Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 as your secondary DNS.
Which is better for families: NextDNS or AdGuard?
AdGuard DNS has a dedicated Family Protection server that blocks adult content, gambling, and inappropriate material. NextDNS offers parental controls through its blocklist system but requires manual configuration. For simple family protection, AdGuard is easier to set up. For granular control over what is blocked, NextDNS offers more flexibility.
Test Both Resolvers Yourself
Global averages do not tell the whole story. Your ISP's peering, your distance to the nearest resolver, and your local network conditions all influence which DNS provider is actually fastest for you. Run our free DNS speed test to benchmark both NextDNS and AdGuard from your own connection.
Run DNS Speed Test
Want to learn more? Read our NextDNS review, AdGuard DNS review, or compare all DNS providers.