🛡️ Parental controls and family safety
NextDNS (parental control)
By NextDNS Inc.. Visit NextDNS (parental control)
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A DNS filtering service that a parent sets up on a router, phone, tablet or computer. Its parental control settings block categories like porn, violence and piracy, force SafeSearch and YouTube Restricted Mode, block chosen apps and sites such as TikTok or Fortnite, and allow some only at set 'recreation times'. It also blocks ads, trackers and malware, and shows logs of what each device looked up.
Our take: A strong, low-cost filter for a hands-on parent; pay for Pro, and pair it with device controls since it is easy for a teen to bypass.
| Ages it suits | a tool for parents; protects any age |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Not stated in terms. A parent sets it up and holds the account. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free up to 300,000 queries a month; Pro $1.99 a month or $19.90 a year for unlimited; schools $19.90 a month per 250 students (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android, Windows, Mac |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Covers every device on home Wi-Fi from one place
- Forces SafeSearch and YouTube Restricted Mode
- Cheap, with a clear privacy policy
Watch for
- On the free plan, filtering silently stops after 300,000 queries a month; a busy family can pass that
- Kids can get around it with a VPN, another DNS setting or mobile data
- Blocks whole sites, not content inside apps
- Setup takes some technical skill
Data and privacy
NextDNS says it never sells or shares user data and logs nothing unless you turn logging on; you choose how long logs are kept and in which region. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No independent study found; the maker's own claims only.
In the Big Index
Alternatives to NextDNS (parental control)
Desk researchPaid
Amazon Kids Tablets (and Fire Kids tablets)
Amazon · ages 3+ and 6+ versions
A reasonable first tablet if you want Amazon's controls plus real Android apps; families who want a tightly closed device may prefer a device without the Play Store.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Amazon Kids+ and Parent Dashboard
Amazon · ages 3-12
A good-value bundle for families already on Amazon devices with kids 3-12; skip it if your child mostly uses an iPad or a phone.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Apple Messages and FaceTime (Communication Safety)
Apple · ages any age with a parent-made child account; teens 13-17
Worth turning on for any child with an iPhone or iPad; pair it with contact limits for younger kids.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Apple Screen Time
Apple · ages any age under 18
The first stop for any family whose child uses an iPhone or iPad; it does nothing on Android or Windows.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Apple Watch For Your Kids
Apple · ages kids who don't have their own iPhone; no set age
Good for iPhone families who want a phone alternative with strong contact controls; cheaper kids' watches exist if you only need calls and location.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Aura Parental Controls
Aura · ages kids and teens
Makes sense for families who already want Aura's identity protection; those who only need screen time limits can use free built-in tools.
Where these facts come from
- https://nextdns.io/
- https://nextdns.io/pricing
- https://nextdns.io/privacy
- https://nextdns.io/terms
- https://help.nextdns.io/
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.