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AdGuard DNS vs Quad9
Price, audits and jurisdiction and who each one suits, side by side.
A
Choose AdGuard DNS if…
- you're in its core audience: privacy-minded individuals, parents
Q
Choose Quad9 if…
- you're in its core audience: home users, privacy-conscious individuals
Side by side
Feature AdGuard DNS Quad9
Cost over 2 years——
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
CompanyAdGuardQuad9 Foundation · since 2017
Full feature lists
A AdGuard DNS
- Network-level blocking of ads, trackers, malware and phishing
- Family protection mode with adult-content blocking and Safe Search
- Parental control with screen-time scheduling
- Real-time DNS request stats by device, date and country
- Custom per-device block and allow lists
- DNSCrypt, DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS and DNS-over-QUIC support
- DNSSEC validation
- 100+ servers in 15+ locations
Q Quad9
- Blocks malware, phishing, spyware and botnet domains at DNS level
- Threat data from 25+ intelligence providers
- 230+ resolver clusters in over 110 countries
- IPv4 and IPv6 resolver addresses
- Encrypted DNS connections where supported
- No logging of user IP addresses
- Public lookup tool for blocked domains
- Router-level setup covers IoT devices
Their home pages
What each vendor shows first: the pitch, the plans and the sign-up.
AdGuard DNS · adguard-dns.io
Quad9 · quad9.netWhat you'd pay
The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.
AdGuard DNS
Public DNSFree
Private DNS serverPaid
Enterprise DNSCustom
Quad9
Public DNSFree
Strengths and limitations
AdGuard DNS
- Public servers are free
- Supports DNSCrypt, DoH, DoT, DoQ and DNSSEC
- Works with any device, including routers
- Code published on GitHub
- DNS-level blocking works only on whole domains
- Dashboard, stats and custom filtering need a paid private server
Quad9
- Completely free with no account or sign-up
- Does not log data containing user IP addresses
- Run by a Swiss non-profit and designed for GDPR compliance
- Large global network with 230+ resolver clusters
- Blocks threats only, with no custom filtering or user dashboard
- Depends on donations and sponsorships for funding
More comparisons
Other options to consider
N
Free, from $1.99/mo
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Cloud DNS firewall that blocks threats, ads, trackers and adult content
Smart DNS & DNS privacyFree plan
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CC
From $2/mo
C
Encrypted DNS filtering for businesses, MSPs and schools on every OS
Smart DNS & DNS privacyAPI
P
PP
Free
P
Self-hosted DNS sinkhole that blocks ads and trackers for your whole network
Ad & tracker blockersFree planAPIOpen source
A
AA
Free trial
A
Ad, tracker and phishing blocker for desktop, mobile, browsers and networks
Ad & tracker blockers
Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Nov 8, 2026. Editorial policy