Many readers recommend NextDNS, but few bother using it

I receive plenty of app recommendations from readers, and some I’ve genuinely grown to love and appreciate. One that has become a must-use across my devices is NextDNS.

This self-managed Private DNS solution has completely transformed how I block ads and trackers on my phone and any other devices that I choose. It’s so effective that I’ve largely dropped dedicated ad-blocking apps that I previously relied on.

But given NextDNS was recommended by readers, how many of you actually use the service? I wanted to know, and after running a poll on my feature article, you can view the data we’ve garnered below.

Surprisingly, the majority of the nearly 4,000 readers who voted don’t use NextDNS as it stands.

While 35.4% of respondents are “considering it,” 26% of readers admit they don’t use it at all or have no interest in it. Combined, this means that over 60% of voters don’t use the service at all.

This isn’t entirely surprising, even for power users. While I had heard of NextDNS before my review, I hadn’t had the time or impetus to try it. It’s possible that users who might want to try it have decision inertia, as evidenced by the large number of people only now considering it after I offered my verdict.

Notably, around 22% of readers do use NextDNS, while 16.3% prefer alternative managed DNS services or ad-blocking solutions.

Given this was a reader-recommended platform, NextDNS received plenty of support in the comment thread.

Commenter krisbmeyer explains why they use it:

I love NextDNS and use it on my phones as well as my home routers. NextDNS offers DNS rebinding protection which you wont find most anywhere else and this is important as it prevents web browsers from accessing private, local networks through maliciously manipulated DNS responses. Or in simpler terminology, it prevents the return of your private IP addresses.

As for alternatives, there are plenty of options in this field, too. ControlD and AdGuard are perhaps the two most commonly mentioned NextDNS rivals. Both offer the usual managed DNS features, including customizable blocklists, though AdGuard also offers a dedicated app.

Speaking of apps, the likes of Blokada — my previous favorite solution that I still use now and then — are also available on Android and give users far more direct control over blocked content on their devices, or as a fallback when managed DNS services go dark.

Given the sheer number of readers who don’t use NextDNS, I’d certainly encourage readers to continue suggesting and recommending apps they love or use in the comments. You’re helping both me and fellow readers discover new products that may completely change how we use our devices.

If you are one of the ~60% of respondents who haven’t yet tried NextDNS, I’d certainly recommend it. Blocking ads and trackers on your phone should be one of the first things you set up, even before you touch any other settings.