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
Best DNS Filtering Software · 2026
Control D vs 
ScoutDNS Control D vs ScoutDNS: on our data-weighted scoring, ScoutDNS edges ahead (7.9 vs 7.5/10). Control D starts at $2/endpoint/mo and is best for SMBs and MSPs wanting flat, no-minimum DNS filtering with deep customization; ScoutDNS starts at $0.92/user/mo and is best for MSPs and multi-site businesses wanting a focused, transparently-priced DNS filter with strong reporting. Choose ScoutDNS 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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ScoutDNS
7.9/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $0.92/user/mo
- Reviews
- 4.9/5 (~56 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- MSPs and multi-site businesses wanting a focused, transparently-priced DNS filter with strong reporting
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 | Control D | ScoutDNS |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.5 | 7.9 |
| User reviews | 7.0 | 9.8 |
| Adoption | 0.0 | 4.6 |
| Affordability | 9.5 | 9.6 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Ease of trial | 7.0 | 6.0 |
Control D vs ScoutDNS: head-to-head
| Control D | ScoutDNS | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $2/endpoint/mo | $0.92/user/mo |
| Pricing model | per device | per user |
| Free trial / tier | Free tier | 14 days |
| Best for | SMBs and MSPs wanting flat, no-minimum DNS filtering with deep customization | MSPs and multi-site businesses wanting a focused, transparently-priced DNS filter with strong reporting |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | — | 4.9/5 (56) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.5 | 7.9 |
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
Choose ScoutDNS if…
You need msps and multi-site businesses wanting a focused, transparently-priced dns filter with strong reporting.
✓ Pros
- Transparent low per-seat pricing
- MSP FLEX usage-based model
- Strong reporting + full message inspection
✕ Cons
- Small vendor/brand
- Fewer integrations than enterprise leaders
- MSP tier pricing requires a quote
In depth
Pricing: ScoutDNS vs Control D
ScoutDNS bills on a per user model from $0.92/user/mo (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
ScoutDNS ships 6 headline capabilities (DNS-layer content + threat filtering, 67 content categories + safe search, Multi-site single-pane management, Windows/macOS roaming clients) 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
ScoutDNS holds 4.9/5 (~56 G2 reviews); Control D holds Not yet rated. On our data-weighted score, ScoutDNS edges ahead (7.9 vs 7.5/10). Pick Control D instead when smbs and msps wanting flat, no-minimum dns filtering with deep customization. See ScoutDNS alternatives or Control D alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
- Control D vs ScoutDNS: which is better?
- Control D vs ScoutDNS: on our data-weighted scoring, ScoutDNS edges ahead (7.9 vs 7.5/10). Control D starts at $2/endpoint/mo and is best for SMBs and MSPs wanting flat, no-minimum DNS filtering with deep customization; ScoutDNS starts at $0.92/user/mo and is best for MSPs and multi-site businesses wanting a focused, transparently-priced DNS filter with strong reporting.
- Is Control D cheaper than ScoutDNS?
- Control D starts at $2/endpoint/mo and ScoutDNS starts at $0.92/user/mo (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: controld.com, scoutdns.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.