NextDNS
Cloud-based DNS resolver that blocks ads, trackers and unwanted sites with configurable profiles.
HN commenters use it for DNS-level ad blocking on phones and desktops123, with per-device blocking profiles that also work for parental controls.456 The most common complaint is absent customer support789, including one report of an ignored refund request.10
Why people recommend it
Ad blocking · 3
Blocks ads system-wide, including on iPhone and in some streaming audio and video ads.
“With that and NextDNS, I have no ads anywhere.”
“I use NextDNS on my iPhone and I don’t think I’ve ever seen these ads in years of usage”
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“It's worth the price because you can set up all kinds of different blocking profiles”
Custom profiles · 3
Fine-grained control with different blocking profiles per device and local network overrides.
“It's worth the price because you can set up all kinds of different blocking profiles”
“NextDNS.io gives you fine grained controls - you can set up a custom profile to apply to her device.”
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“I use a restrictive nextDNS profile that also blocks Apple's native tracking”
Easy setup · 3
Simple option that needs nothing running locally and supports most devices and well-known blocklists.
“For simplicity I highly recommend https://nextdns.io.”
“I recommend it to non-techies as the easiest way to get something like pi-hole/dnscrypt-proxy.”
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Works with VPNs · 3
Pairs with Tailscale or a VPN for mobile DNS blocking.
“throw a couple bucks at something like nextdns and not have to use the VPN bit for mobile DNS ad block”
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“i also like you can set custom dns while active, i use along nextdns”
Parental controls · 3
Parents use custom profiles to block adult and other unwanted sites on children's devices.
“paired this with nextdns to auto-block obvious blacklisted sites”
“NextDNS.io gives you fine grained controls - you can set up a custom profile to apply to her device.”
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“Once the flood breaks and they discover the internet we'll be using NextDNS.”
Value · 3
Users call the free tier generous and the paid plan worth the cost.
“NextDNS is so good, and their free tier so generous”
“It's worth the price because you can set up all kinds of different blocking profiles”
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“I use NextDNS at home. It's great to have lots of control around DNS”
Caveats and dissent
Customer support · 3
Several users say support is nonexistent, and one says a refund request was ignored.
“I used NextDNS for a long time, but they offer absolutely zero support for their customers.”
“I have used them both paid and free and they are not good. I will pick just one point - support.”
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Slow development · 1
One long-time user left for ControlD, citing a lack of innovation.
“NextDNS literally not innovating at all and having no customer suppport”
Not self-hosted · 2
Being a hosted service has downsides, and one user prefers their own free Pi-hole setup.
“I recommend it to non-techies as the easiest way to get something like pi-hole/dnscrypt-proxy.”
“I used to use NextDNS but this is so much better and free!”
Device bypass · 1
Devices like Roku or some Google hardware may ignore the configured DNS and use their own resolver.
“I recommend it to non-techies as the easiest way to get something like pi-hole/dnscrypt-proxy.”
archive.today access · 1
One user reports years of problems reaching archive.today through NextDNS.
“have been having problems for years, especially with NextDNS”
Often compared with
1 moved from Pi-hole to NextDNS
1 moved from NextDNS to Pi-holeControlD2 comments mention both
2 moved from NextDNS to ControlD
1 moved from NextDNS to uBlock OriginAdGuard DNS1 comment mention both
1 moved from NextDNS to AdGuard DNS
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- System-level ad-blocking in Android 3 mentions
- Shutting down our public encrypted DNS 3 mentions
- CBP Tapped into the Online Advertising Ecosystem to Track Peoples' Movements 2 mentions
- Ask HN: What kind of setup do you run for your children? 2 mentions
- How I block all online ads 2 mentions
- Apple: Switch to Safari (From Chrome) 1 mention
Data: nextdns.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 28
“With that and NextDNS, I have no ads anywhere.”
“NextDNS literally not innovating at all and having no customer suppport”
“I used NextDNS for a long time, but they offer absolutely zero support for their customers.”
“Highly recommend https://nextdns.io, great for all kinds of blocking stuff.”
“I use NextDNS so most of ads will be blocked anyway”
“I use NextDNS on my iPhone and I don’t think I’ve ever seen these ads in years of usage”
“For simplicity I highly recommend https://nextdns.io.”
“paired this with nextdns to auto-block obvious blacklisted sites”
“It's worth the price because you can set up all kinds of different blocking profiles”
“I use NextDNS at home. It's great to have lots of control around DNS”
“I used to use NextDNS but this is so much better and free!”
“Been using them for years. The price is reasonable too.”
“throw a couple bucks at something like nextdns and not have to use the VPN bit for mobile DNS ad block”
“The combo of NextDNS + Kagi + occasional VPN”
“have been having problems for years, especially with NextDNS”
“I use nextdns with tailscale.”
“i also like you can set custom dns while active, i use along nextdns”
“I use NextDNS instead of Pi-hole, and don’t have this issue on iOS 27 beta.”
“They ignored my request, were no answers at all.”
“I use a VPN and NextDNS.io.”
“I use a VPN and NextDNS.io.”
“I use a restrictive nextDNS profile that also blocks Apple's native tracking”
“Once the flood breaks and they discover the internet we'll be using NextDNS.”
“NextDNS.io gives you fine grained controls - you can set up a custom profile to apply to her device.”
“NextDNS is so good, and their free tier so generous”
“I recommend it to non-techies as the easiest way to get something like pi-hole/dnscrypt-proxy.”
“DNS blocking is active via NextDNS.”
“I have used them both paid and free and they are not good. I will pick just one point - support.”