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What Is CleanBrowsing DNS

CleanBrowsing is a DNS-based content filtering service designed primarily for parental control and family protection. Launched in 2015, the service provides DNS resolution with automatic blocking of adult content, enforced Safe Search on major search engines, and protection against malware and phishing. CleanBrowsing operates an anycast network with servers in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Unlike general-purpose public DNS resolvers that prioritize speed above all else, CleanBrowsing focuses on content filtering accuracy and family safety features. The service maintains curated block lists updated daily and provides granular filtering controls through paid plans while offering a generous free tier for basic family protection.

CleanBrowsing supports standard unencrypted DNS, DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH), and DNS-over-TLS (DoT). The service works on any device that supports custom DNS settings, including routers, home computers, mobile devices, and gaming consoles. For the most comprehensive protection, CleanBrowsing recommends configuring the DNS at the router level so all devices on the network benefit from filtering.

Filter Modes Explained

CleanBrowsing offers three distinct filter modes. The Family Filter at 185.228.168.168 (primary) and 185.228.169.168 (secondary) blocks adult content, enforces Safe Search on Google, YouTube, Bing, and DuckDuckGo, and blocks malware and phishing. The Adult Filter at 185.228.168.10 and 185.228.169.11 blocks malware and phishing but allows adult content. The Security Filter at 185.228.168.9 and 185.228.169.9 blocks malware, phishing, and malicious domains without content filtering.

The Family Filter is CleanBrowsing's flagship offering and the primary reason parents choose the service. It blocks approximately 2 million domains across categories including pornography, sexual content, dating, violence, gambling, and illegal activities. The filter also automatically enables Safe Search on supported search engines and restricts YouTube to moderate mode.

Performance Analysis

CleanBrowsing's performance is competitive with other security-focused DNS resolvers. In our tests from North America and Europe, response times averaged 15-25 ms for the Family Filter mode. The Adult and Security filters are marginally faster as they process fewer domains through the filtering engine. In Asia-Pacific and South America, response times increase to 30-45 ms due to CleanBrowsing's smaller anycast footprint outside its core regions.

The filtering engine adds approximately 2-4 ms of processing overhead per query. For family users, the small speed penalty is negligible compared to the peace of mind from knowing inappropriate content is blocked at the network level.

Setup Guide

Configuration is identical to any DNS resolver. On Windows, navigate to Network & Internet settings, select your connection, and enter the CleanBrowsing addresses for your chosen filter mode. On macOS, go to System Settings, Network, and add the DNS addresses. On Android, configure Private DNS or set static DNS per Wi-Fi network. On iOS, configure DNS under Wi-Fi settings. For routers, enter addresses under WAN or Internet DNS settings.

For encrypted DNS, use DoH at https://doh.cleanbrowsing.org/doh/family-filter/ or DoT at family-filter-dns.cleanbrowsing.org.

Safe Search Enforcement

One of CleanBrowsing's strongest features is its mandatory Safe Search enforcement. When the Family Filter is active, Google, YouTube, Bing, and DuckDuckGo automatically return filtered results. This applies across all browsers on the network and cannot be disabled by the user on individual devices — a critical advantage for parents who want consistent filtering.

Pricing and Plans

CleanBrowsing offers a free Family Filter tier with standard filtering and Safe Search enforcement. Paid plans start at approximately $5 per month and add customizable block lists, whitelisting, detailed usage logs, and multi-network support. The free tier is sufficient for most home users who want basic family protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Reading

• DNS Speed Test — Benchmark 17+ Resolvers
• Best DNS for Parental Controls
• DNS Filtering Guide

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