# CIRA DNS Firewall vs DNSFilter Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that DNSFilter excels in user experience, with many praising its **intuitive dashboards** and **easy navigation**. Users appreciate the comprehensive reporting features that provide valuable insights into DNS activity, making it a strong choice for those prioritizing usability.
- **Users say** that CIRA DNS Firewall offers a straightforward setup process, with one reviewer highlighting how they easily routed DNS requests and adjusted settings based on their needs. This simplicity can be appealing for teams looking for quick implementation without extensive configuration.
- **According to verified reviews** , DNSFilter stands out for its **responsive customer support** , with users noting that tech support is proactive in following up on issues and updates. This level of support can be crucial for businesses that require reliable assistance.
- **Reviewers mention** that while CIRA DNS Firewall is effective as an additional security layer, it may not provide the same depth of features as DNSFilter. Users have noted that CIRA catches threats occasionally, but DNSFilter is often seen as a more robust solution for comprehensive cybersecurity needs.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that DNSFilter's focus on security policies and threat protection makes it a valuable asset for organizations concerned about phishing and malware. Users have reported using it as a key layer in their cybersecurity strategy, which speaks to its effectiveness in real-world applications.
- **Users say** that while both products are generally easy to manage, DNSFilter's additional features for **monitoring DNS activity** across various environments, including remote work, provide a more versatile solution compared to CIRA DNS Firewall, which is often viewed as more basic in its offerings.



| | CIRA DNS Firewall | DNSFilter | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.8 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 18 | 271 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Mid-Market (58.8% of reviews) | Small-Business (60.6% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Free  no commitment  | $1.15 1 User Per Month | 


---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | CIRA DNS Firewall | DNSFilter | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.9 (12 reviews) | 9.2 (186 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 9.6 (12 reviews) | 9.2 (186 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 9.9 (13 reviews) | 9.2 (175 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 9.5 (13 reviews) | 9.3 (170 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 9.3 (12 reviews) | 9.1 (172 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 10.0 (14 reviews) | 9.3 (167 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.3 (14 reviews) | 8.9 (175 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### CIRA DNS Firewall

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: CIRA Canadian Shield

Price: Free  no commitment 

Description: The CIRA Canadian Shield takes the threat feed from our commercial service and makes it available to all households and individuals in Canada. Available as a private and open recursive DNS service with or without threat blocking.


[Browse all 2 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/cira-dns-firewall/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### DNSFilter

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Basic Plan

Price: $1.15 1 User Per Month

Description: Ideal for basic filtering.

Key Features:
- Network-level filtering/reporting
- Desktop roaming clients (Windows / MacOS)

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/dnsfilter/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### DNS Security Solutions

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **CIRA DNS Firewall** | 9.1/10 | 15 |
| **DNSFilter** | 9.0/10 | 165 |

#### Protection

| Feature | CIRA DNS Firewall | DNSFilter | 
|---|---|---|
| **Quarantine** | 9.0 (12 reviews) | 9.0 (106 reviews) | 
| **Continuous Monitoring** | 8.9 (9 reviews) | 9.1 (128 reviews) | 
| **Off-Network Protection** | Feature Not Available | 9.0 (108 reviews) | 
| **Guest Network Protection** | 9.7 (10 reviews) | 9.1 (103 reviews) | 
| **BYOD Protection** | 9.8 (8 reviews) | 9.0 (95 reviews) | 
| **Native DNS over HTTPS (DoH)** | Not enough data | 8.9 (92 reviews) | 

#### Functionality

| Feature | CIRA DNS Firewall | DNSFilter | 
|---|---|---|
| **DNS Lookups** | 9.0 (13 reviews) | 9.3 (133 reviews) | 
| **Threat Intelligence** | 9.1 (11 reviews) | 8.8 (125 reviews) | 
| **Advanced Traffic Filtering** | 9.0 (7 reviews) | 9.0 (112 reviews) | 

#### Administration

| Feature | CIRA DNS Firewall | DNSFilter | 
|---|---|---|
| **Whitelisting** | Not enough data | 9.3 (137 reviews) | 
| **Policy Enforcement** | 9.0 (14 reviews) | 9.3 (138 reviews) | 
| **Incident Reports** | 8.1 (13 reviews) | 8.5 (116 reviews) | 
| **Domain Categorization** | Feature Not Available | 8.7 (118 reviews) | 
| **Multi-Network Management** | 9.3 (10 reviews) | 9.1 (111 reviews) | 

### Secure Web Gateways

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **CIRA DNS Firewall** | N/A | N/A |
| **DNSFilter** | N/A | N/A |

#### Web Content and Traffic Filtering - Secure Web Gateways

| Feature | CIRA DNS Firewall | DNSFilter | 
|---|---|---|
| **SSL/TLS Inspection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Content Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **URL Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Traffic Inspection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Ad and Tracker Blocking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Data Protection and Loss Prevention - Secure Web Gateways

| Feature | CIRA DNS Firewall | DNSFilter | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Loss Prevention (DLP)** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Phishing Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Malware Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cloud Access Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Access Control and Authentication - Secure Web Gateways

| Feature | CIRA DNS Firewall | DNSFilter | 
|---|---|---|
| **Application Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Authentication and Access Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User and Group Policies** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Performance and Management - Secure Web Gateways

| Feature | CIRA DNS Firewall | DNSFilter | 
|---|---|---|
| **Customizable Policy Enforcement** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Bandwidth Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integration Capabilities** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting and Logging** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Intelligence Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [DNS Security Solutions](https://www.g2.com/categories/dns-security-solutions)


**Unique to DNSFilter (1):** [Secure Web Gateway Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/secure-web-gateways)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | CIRA DNS Firewall | DNSFilter | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 5.9% | 60.6% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 58.8% | 36.0% | 
| **Enterprise** | 35.3% | 3.4% | 

### By Industry

#### CIRA DNS Firewall

- **Primary/Secondary Education:** 23.5%
- **Higher Education:** 23.5%
- **Government Administration:** 17.6%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 11.8%
- **Education Management:** 11.8%
- **Printing:** 5.9%
- **Computer Games:** 5.9%

#### DNSFilter

- **Information Technology and Services:** 21.3%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 17.0%
- **Primary/Secondary Education:** 9.1%
- **Education Management:** 4.8%
- **Non-Profit Organization Management:** 4.3%
- **Construction:** 3.5%
- **Computer Software:** 2.6%
- **Financial Services:** 2.6%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 2.6%
- **Computer Networking:** 1.7%
- **Other:** 30.4%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to CIRA DNS Firewall

- [Cloudflare Application Security and Performance](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudflare-application-security-and-performance/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (602 reviews)
- [Cisco Umbrella](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-umbrella/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (284 reviews)
- [Webroot DNS Protection](https://www.g2.com/products/opentext-webroot-dns-protection/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (86 reviews)
- [WebTitan Web Filter](https://www.g2.com/products/webtitan-web-filter/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (85 reviews)
- [Avast Small Business Cybersecurity Solutions](https://www.g2.com/products/avast-small-business-cybersecurity-solutions/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (114 reviews)
- [Cloud-Delivered Security Services](https://www.g2.com/products/cloud-delivered-security-services/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (106 reviews)
- [ScoutDNS](https://www.g2.com/products/scoutdns/reviews) — 4.9/5 stars (60 reviews)
- [IBM NS1 Connect](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-ns1-connect/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (86 reviews)
- [DNSSense](https://www.g2.com/products/dnssense/reviews) — 4.9/5 stars (67 reviews)
- [Whalebone](https://www.g2.com/products/whalebone/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (14 reviews)

### Alternatives to DNSFilter

- [Cisco Umbrella](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-umbrella/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (284 reviews)
- [WebTitan Web Filter](https://www.g2.com/products/webtitan-web-filter/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (85 reviews)
- [Webroot DNS Protection](https://www.g2.com/products/opentext-webroot-dns-protection/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (86 reviews)
- [Zscaler Internet Access](https://www.g2.com/products/zscaler-internet-access/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (196 reviews)
- [Cloudflare Application Security and Performance](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudflare-application-security-and-performance/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (602 reviews)
- [ScoutDNS](https://www.g2.com/products/scoutdns/reviews) — 4.9/5 stars (60 reviews)
- [Netskope One Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/netskope-one-platform/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (75 reviews)
- [Forcepoint Web Security](https://www.g2.com/products/forcepoint-web-security/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (61 reviews)
- [Check Point SASE](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-sase/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (221 reviews)
- [DNSSense](https://www.g2.com/products/dnssense/reviews) — 4.9/5 stars (67 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### CIRA DNS Firewall

No discussions available for this product.

### DNSFilter

- Title: [Would you ever consider attempting to take the top most frequently blocked sites/urls across all of your educational institution clients and within the filtering system suggest these in the blacklist portal for policy editing? This could help us all stay on the same page in regards to the popular trends/games the students are into at that time and be a little more proactive for our administration. For example, there was a hit game called surviv.io that was blocked by the gaming policy but could be found at ~10 diff URLs across the web, making it hard to block completely. I'm sure this feature would require a lot but just a wondering for the future :)](https://www.g2.com/discussions/34820-would-you-ever-consider-attempting-to-take-the-top-most-frequently-blocked-sites-urls-across-all-of-your-educational-institution-clients-and-within-the-filtering-system-suggest-these-in-the-blacklist-portal-for-policy-editing-this-could-help-us-all-) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Hi Amy, thanks for your question! We have a feature we call bucket domains planned which will provide a one-click allow or block for a whole set of domains..."

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**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/cira-dns-firewall-vs-dnsfilter)