Cisco Umbrella
8.0/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.4/5 (~274 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- Enterprises wanting DNS-layer security that scales up into a full secure internet gateway (SIG)
Best DNS Filtering Software · 2026
Cisco Umbrella vs 
Control D Cisco Umbrella vs Control D: on our data-weighted scoring, Cisco Umbrella edges ahead (8.0 vs 7.5/10). Cisco Umbrella starts at Custom quote and is best for enterprises wanting DNS-layer security that scales up into a full secure internet gateway (SIG); Control D starts at $2/endpoint/mo and is best for SMBs and MSPs wanting flat, no-minimum DNS filtering with deep customization. Choose Cisco Umbrella for the stronger overall track record; consider Control D if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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Control D
7.5/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $2/endpoint/mo
- Reviews
- Not yet rated
- Free trial
- Free tier
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- SMBs and MSPs wanting flat, no-minimum DNS filtering with deep customization
Strengths at a glance
Six criteria, each scored 0–10 on the same scale from real review data, public pricing and feature coverage. See our methodology →
| Criterion | Cisco Umbrella | Control D |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 8.0 | 7.5 |
| User reviews | 8.8 | 7.0 |
| Adoption | 6.5 | 0.0 |
| Affordability | 5.0 | 9.5 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Ease of trial | 6.0 | 7.0 |
Cisco Umbrella vs Control D: head-to-head
| Cisco Umbrella | Control D | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Custom quote | $2/endpoint/mo |
| Pricing model | quote | per device |
| Free trial / tier | 14 days | Free tier |
| Best for | Enterprises wanting DNS-layer security that scales up into a full secure internet gateway (SIG) | SMBs and MSPs wanting flat, no-minimum DNS filtering with deep customization |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.4/5 (274) | — |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 8.0 | 7.5 |
Choose Cisco Umbrella if…
You need enterprises wanting dns-layer security that scales up into a full secure internet gateway (sig).
✓ Pros
- Massive Talos threat intelligence
- Scales from DNS to full SIG
- Proven enterprise reliability
✕ Cons
- No public pricing (quote-only)
- Complex multi-SKU lineup
- Costs climb fast with SIG tiers
Choose Control D if…
You need smbs and msps wanting flat, no-minimum dns filtering with deep customization.
✓ Pros
- Flat $2/endpoint
- no minimums
- Highly customizable rules
- Transparent SMB pricing
✕ Cons
- Smaller vendor / brand
- Fewer enterprise integrations
- Reporting less mature than leaders
In depth
Pricing: Cisco Umbrella vs Control D
Cisco Umbrella bills on a quote model from Custom quote (14 days trial), while Control D uses a per device model from $2/endpoint/mo (free tier available). Because the models differ, the cheaper option flips depending on your fleet size — model both at your seat/endpoint count.
Features & deployment
Cisco Umbrella ships 6 headline capabilities (DNS-layer threat blocking, Intelligent proxy (Advantage), App discovery + control, Cisco Talos threat intelligence) and deploys Cloud. Control D ships 6 (Customizable DNS filtering, Per-device + per-profile policies, Malware + ad + tracker blocking, No minimums or contracts), deploying Cloud.
Ratings & verdict
Cisco Umbrella holds 4.4/5 (~274 G2 reviews); Control D holds Not yet rated. On our data-weighted score, Cisco Umbrella edges ahead (8.0 vs 7.5/10). Pick Control D instead when smbs and msps wanting flat, no-minimum dns filtering with deep customization. See Cisco Umbrella alternatives or Control D alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
- Cisco Umbrella vs Control D: which is better?
- Cisco Umbrella vs Control D: on our data-weighted scoring, Cisco Umbrella edges ahead (8.0 vs 7.5/10). Cisco Umbrella starts at Custom quote and is best for enterprises wanting DNS-layer security that scales up into a full secure internet gateway (SIG); Control D starts at $2/endpoint/mo and is best for SMBs and MSPs wanting flat, no-minimum DNS filtering with deep customization.
- Is Cisco Umbrella cheaper than Control D?
- Cisco Umbrella starts at Custom quote and Control D starts at $2/endpoint/mo (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: umbrella.cisco.com, controld.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.