Editorial note:this was originally published in august of 2024
Web filtering software controls which websites employees can reach, blocks malware and phishing domains before they load, and gives IT teams visibility into traffic across the whole network. If you've dealt with a ransomware incident traced back to a drive-by download, or you're trying to meet compliance requirements around acceptable use, this is the category that addresses it directly.
This list covers eight tools suited to business use, from DNS-layer filtering aimed at SMBs to enterprise-grade secure web gateways with CASB and firewall features built in. Each pick was chosen based on security coverage, deployment complexity, pricing transparency, and how well it fits specific team sizes and IT resource levels.
Whether you're a 20-person company with no dedicated security staff or an enterprise with a full SOC, there's a realistic option here with honest notes on what each tool costs and where it falls short.
We collect first-hand reviews from people who use these tools every day — what works, what doesn't, whether it's worth paying for. We research pricing, features, and comparisons so that feedback has real context behind it. For this guide, tools were selected based on threat detection accuracy, ease of administration, and minimal impact on network performance. Read our full research methodology.
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What is web filtering software for business?
Web filtering software monitors and controls outbound internet traffic from a business network, blocking access to sites that are malicious, non-compliant with policy, or simply off-limits during work hours. It typically works at the DNS layer, the HTTP/HTTPS layer, or both, intercepting requests before a page loads rather than after.
Businesses use it to prevent malware infections, stop phishing attempts, reduce data exfiltration risk, and enforce acceptable use policies. It's also used to meet regulatory requirements in industries like healthcare, finance, and education where proof of content controls is expected.
The category spans simple DNS blocklists to full secure web gateways (SWGs) that do SSL inspection, sandboxing, and cloud access security broker (CASB) functions. Which approach fits depends on your threat model, your device fleet, and how much your IT team can manage.
Inline web filtering with hardware appliance and cloud deployment options.
Schools and enterprises needing on-premise or hybrid deployment
CustomPricing on request
our top pick
1
DNSFilter
AI-powered DNS filtering with transparent per-user pricing.
Paid
Best for · SMBs and MSPs wanting straightforward DNS filteringPricing · From $1.00/user/mo (Basic); From $2.25/user/mo (Pro)
DNSFilter classifies domains using machine learning in real time, which means it catches newly registered malicious domains faster than static blocklist products. The Basic plan covers DNS filtering, roaming client for off-network devices, threat reports, and an SSL certificate. The Pro plan adds advanced analytics, custom block pages, and API access. The interface is clean and the Geo Activity map is a genuinely useful visual for monitoring threat activity.
Enterprise DNS and SWG security backed by Cisco's threat intelligence.
Custom
Best for · Enterprises already in the Cisco ecosystemPricing · Pricing on request
Cisco Umbrella analyses over 180 billion internet requests daily to build its threat intelligence, which gives it unusually broad visibility into emerging malicious domains. It covers DNS-layer security, a secure web gateway, CASB, cloud-delivered firewall, and integrates with Cisco SD-WAN. The interface has a learning curve, but it delivers consistent policy enforcement across on-site and remote users without requiring hardware.
Pros
✓Combines DNS, SWG, CASB, and firewall in one platform
Business VPN with patented DNS filtering built in.
Paid
Best for · SMBs wanting VPN and DNS filtering from one vendorPricing · From $8/user/mo (Lite); From $11/user/mo (Core)
NordLayer combines network access control and DNS filtering in one product, which is useful if you want a single vendor handling both VPN and web content policy. Its patented DNS filtering categorises and blocks domains across 30-plus content categories, and admins manage everything from a central dashboard regardless of where users are located. It's positioned at growing businesses that need network security without a large IT team.
Pros
✓DNS filtering and VPN in a single subscription
✓Central dashboard for policy across all locations
✓CrowdStrike integration for endpoint plus network coverage
Cons
✗DNS filtering is an add-on to a VPN product, not a dedicated SWG
✗Less granular threat analytics than dedicated DNS tools
DNS and HTTP filtering at Cloudflare's global network speed.
Freemium
Best for · Small teams or budget-conscious IT departmentsPricing · Free up to 50 users; paid plans from $7/user/mo
Cloudflare Gateway is part of the Cloudflare Zero Trust platform and offers DNS filtering, HTTP inspection, and firewall rules running on Cloudflare's anycast network. The free tier covers up to 50 users with DNS filtering and basic HTTP policies. Paid plans add deeper logging, DLP, shadow IT discovery, and browser isolation. Because it runs on Cloudflare's infrastructure, latency impact is minimal compared with on-prem proxy solutions.
Pros
✓Genuinely free tier for up to 50 users
✓Minimal latency due to Cloudflare's global network
✓HTTP and DNS filtering on a single platform
Cons
✗Free tier lacks detailed logging and analytics
✗Full feature set requires bundling other Zero Trust products
Enterprise secure web gateway with full SSL inspection at scale.
Custom
Best for · Large enterprises with distributed workforcesPricing · Pricing on request
Zscaler Internet Access is a cloud-native SWG that proxies all user traffic through Zscaler's global data centres, applying URL filtering, SSL inspection, sandboxing, and DLP without requiring any on-site hardware. It's designed for large organisations with distributed workforces and integrates with SIEM tools and identity providers like Okta and Azure AD. It's one of the most comprehensive platforms in the category but is priced and sized accordingly.
Pros
✓Full SSL inspection with no hardware required
✓Sandboxing and DLP included at higher tiers
✓Strong integrations with Okta, Azure AD, and SIEM tools
Cons
✗No self-serve trial; pricing requires a sales process
✗Overkill in cost and complexity for teams under 200 users
DNS filtering built for MSPs managing multiple client networks.
Paid
Best for · MSPs managing multiple business clientsPricing · From $0.90/user/mo (volume-based MSP pricing)
Webroot DNS Protection uses BrightCloud threat intelligence to categorise and block domains across 82 URL categories. It's designed primarily for managed service providers, with a multi-tenant console that lets MSPs manage separate policies for different client organisations from one interface. Deployment is DNS redirect only, so no agent is required for on-network devices, though the roaming client is available for off-network coverage.
Pros
✓82 URL categories, among the broadest in DNS tools
✓Multi-tenant console built for MSP workflows
✓Integrates with Webroot endpoint for unified threat view
Cons
✗Primarily DNS-layer only, no HTTP traffic inspection
✗Pricing structure favours MSPs; direct SMB purchasing is less clear
Behaviour-based web filtering with data loss prevention built in.
Custom
Best for · Regulated industries needing DLP alongside web filteringPricing · Pricing on request
Forcepoint Web Security goes beyond category blocking by applying behavioural analytics to user activity, flagging anomalous patterns that might indicate insider threats or compromised accounts. It includes full SSL inspection, DLP, remote browser isolation, and CASB functionality. The product is aimed at regulated industries like government, healthcare, and finance where content control and data exfiltration prevention need to work together.
Inline web filtering with hardware appliance and cloud deployment options.
Custom
Best for · Schools and enterprises needing on-premise or hybrid deploymentPricing · Pricing on request
ContentKeeper is one of the less widely discussed options but it's worth knowing, especially for organisations that need an on-premise appliance option alongside cloud deployment. It supports SSL inspection at high throughput, has a granular policy engine across user groups and devices, and includes reporting built for compliance audits. It targets education and enterprise, with a particularly strong track record in school district deployments that need CIPA compliance documentation.
Pros
✓Hardware appliance option for air-gapped or compliance environments
✓Strong CIPA compliance reporting for education
✓High-throughput SSL inspection without significant latency
Cons
✗Less known outside education and government markets
How to choose web filtering software for your business
DNS-only vs. full secure web gateway
DNS filtering blocks requests at the domain resolution stage and is fast to deploy with minimal performance overhead. A full SWG inspects actual HTTP/HTTPS traffic, which catches threats that live on otherwise-legitimate domains but adds latency and requires more configuration.
On-network vs. roaming agent coverage
If your employees work remotely or travel, you need a tool that installs a lightweight agent on devices to enforce policy off-network. Tools that only filter traffic through an on-premise DNS resolver leave remote workers unprotected.
Category depth and customisation
Check how many URL categories the tool maintains and whether you can override them with allow/block lists. A blocklist of 50 broad categories is less useful than one with 80+ granular ones you can tune per user group or device policy.
Reporting and visibility
You need to see which domains are being hit, which users are triggering blocks, and whether threats are actually being detected. Some tools offer near-real-time dashboards; others export weekly CSV reports. Match the reporting depth to what your IT team will actually review.
Pricing model and seat minimums
Several enterprise tools require a minimum number of seats or won't publish pricing at all. If you're under 50 users, confirm the tool has a plan that doesn't require a sales call before you can trial it. Per-user per-month pricing is easier to budget than per-device or per-site models.
frequently asked questions
DNS filtering blocks domains at the resolution stage before any connection is established. It's lightweight and easy to deploy but can't inspect the content of a page on a domain it hasn't blocked. A secure web gateway (SWG) sits inline with actual HTTP/HTTPS traffic, allowing it to inspect URLs, scan file downloads, and apply data loss prevention rules. SWGs are more powerful but add complexity and can introduce latency if not properly configured.
Simple DNS filtering tools typically run $1 to $3 per user per month for SMB plans. Mid-range SWG products with more granular controls and reporting sit at $3 to $10 per user per month. Enterprise platforms like Cisco Umbrella and Zscaler Internet Access use custom pricing and usually require a minimum seat commitment, so expect a sales process before you get a number.
Cloudflare Gateway has a genuinely free tier that covers DNS filtering for up to 50 users with no credit card required. It's a real option for very small teams. Most other tools offer 14 to 30-day trials rather than ongoing free plans, and those trials often cap features or user counts.
Setting a policy too broad and then disabling it after one user complaint. Start with a defined scope: block known-malicious categories and a handful of high-risk content types. Expand from there once you understand your traffic patterns. Also, if you don't cover roaming devices with an agent, remote workers bypass the filter entirely.
DNS filtering works on HTTPS domains because it intercepts the DNS request before the encrypted connection forms. However, it can't inspect what's inside an HTTPS session. For that you need SSL/TLS inspection, a feature in SWG products that requires deploying a trusted root certificate on managed devices. This adds setup overhead but is necessary for full content visibility.
tools for humans
toolsforhumans editorial team
Reader ratings and community feedback shape every score. Since 2022, ToolsForHumans has helped 600,000+ people find software that holds up after launch. The picks here come from that.
