CleanBrowsing vs OpenDNS: Overview
CleanBrowsing is a DNS filtering service focused entirely on parental controls. It was created to give parents a simple way to protect their children online. OpenDNS (now part of Cisco) offers DNS filtering as part of a broader security product line.
Both services let you block adult content, social media, gambling, and other categories at the DNS level. Both work on any device that supports custom DNS. Both are effective. But they approach filtering differently.
Filtering Quality
CleanBrowsing has better filtering in my testing. Their family filter blocks adult content more aggressively than OpenDNS FamilyShield. CleanBrowsing also blocks proxy and VPN websites that kids use to bypass filtering. OpenDNS does not always catch those.
CleanBrowsing operates its own blocklists and updates them frequently. OpenDNS relies on Cisco's threat intelligence, which is broader but not always as focused on family safety. If the goal is keeping adult content away from children, CleanBrowsing is more effective.
Features Comparison
| Feature |
CleanBrowsing (Free) |
OpenDNS (Free) |
| Adult content blocking |
Yes (strict) |
Yes (moderate) |
| Proxy/VPN blocking |
Yes |
No |
| Safe search enforcement |
Yes |
Yes |
| YouTube restricted mode |
Yes |
No |
| Custom categories |
No (free) |
Yes (free) |
| Analytics dashboard |
Limited |
Yes |
Pricing
Both offer free tiers. CleanBrowsing free provides the Family Filter with adult content blocking. Paid plans start at $4.75/month and add custom allowlists, whitelisting, and per-device policies.
OpenDNS Home is free and includes content filtering with customizable categories. Paid plans start at $20/year for OpenDNS Family Shield Pro and go up to enterprise pricing for Cisco Umbrella.
Speed
OpenDNS is faster. It has more data centers and Cisco's infrastructure behind it. CleanBrowsing is noticeably slower in some regions, especially outside the US and Europe. The difference is usually 10-20ms, which is fine for browsing but might affect gaming.
Verdict
Choose CleanBrowsing if: You want the most aggressive content filtering. You want to block proxy and VPN bypass sites. You want YouTube restricted mode enforced at the DNS level.
Choose OpenDNS if: You want faster performance. You want customizable filtering categories. You want detailed analytics. You already use other Cisco security products.