N
AdGuard DNS vs Qustodio
Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.
A
Choose AdGuard DNS if…
- you want open source you can self-host or audit
- you work on Windows, macOS, Linux
- you're in its core audience: privacy-minded individuals, parents
Q
Choose Qustodio if…
- you're in its core audience: parents, families with several devices
Side by side
Feature AdGuard DNS Qustodio
Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium
Starting price—$5/mo
Free plan
Free trial
API
Open source
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb
CategorySmart DNS & DNS privacyParental controls
CompanyAdGuardQustodio LLC
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 Qustodio
- Website and app filtering and blocking
- Screen time limits, scheduled breaks and internet pauses
- Custom routines for study and bedtime
- Social message monitoring for WhatsApp, Instagram and Line
- Call and message tracking with contact blocking
- Family location tracking with arrival and departure alerts
- AI alerts for risky in-game voice chat
- Daily and weekly activity reports
Their home pages
What each vendor shows first: the pitch, the plans and the sign-up.
AdGuard DNS · adguard-dns.io
Qustodio · qustodio.comWhat 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
Qustodio
FreeFree
Basic$59.95/year (same as $5.00/month)
Complete$104.95/year (same as $8.75/month)
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
Qustodio
- Free account includes a Premium trial with no credit card required
- Works on smartphones, tablets, desktops and Chromebooks
- Monitors social messages, calls and location as well as filtering content
- Panic Button is Android-only
- Call and message monitoring on iOS requires a Windows or Mac computer
More comparisons
Other options to consider
N
Free, from $1.99/mo
N
Cloud DNS firewall that blocks threats, ads, trackers and adult content
Smart DNS & DNS privacyFree plan
C
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
Q
QQ
Free
Q
Free public DNS resolver that blocks malicious domains and logs no IP addresses
Smart DNS & DNS privacyFree plan
A
AA
Free trial
A
Ad, tracker and phishing blocker for desktop, mobile, browsers and networks
Ad & tracker blockers
B
BB
From $6/mo
B
Parental controls, content monitoring and kids' phones and watches for families
Parental controls
Facts from each vendor's public pages, prices checked Nov 8, 2026. Editorial policy