Top 10 Best Web Filtering Software of 2026

Cisco Umbrella is a leading cloud-delivered security platform specializing in DNS-layer web filtering and threat protection. It blocks access to malicious domains, phishing sites, and unwanted content categories such as malware, adult material, and productivity drains before connections are even established. With deep integration into enterprise networks, it provides real-time visibility, policy enforcement, and roaming protection for users on any device or location.

Zscaler is a cloud-native secure web gateway (SWG) platform that delivers advanced web filtering through its Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) service, blocking malicious URLs, phishing sites, and inappropriate content in real-time. It leverages AI/ML-driven threat intelligence, TLS/SSL decryption, and sandboxing to inspect traffic inline without performance degradation. As part of a broader Zero Trust Exchange, it integrates seamlessly with other security services for comprehensive protection across distributed workforces.

Netskope is a cloud-native Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform with advanced Secure Web Gateway (SWG) capabilities for web filtering. It provides real-time categorization of millions of web domains, granular policy enforcement based on users, groups, locations, and devices, and inspects encrypted SSL/TLS traffic to block malware, phishing, and unwanted content. Integrated threat intelligence and machine learning enhance its ability to detect zero-day threats and enforce compliance across hybrid workforces.

Forcepoint Web Security is an enterprise-grade web filtering solution that protects organizations from web-based threats, enforces internet usage policies, and prevents data loss through real-time URL categorization and threat detection. It categorizes over 140 million domains into more than 140 predefined categories, enabling granular access controls based on users, groups, time, and location. The platform supports cloud, on-premises, and hybrid deployments, integrating machine learning for zero-day threat blocking and SSL decryption for comprehensive visibility.

WebTitan is a versatile cloud-based web filtering solution from TitanHQ designed to block malicious websites, phishing attacks, and inappropriate content across networks. It supports multiple deployment options including DNS filtering, full web gateway, and hybrid setups, with over 90 customizable categories and AI-driven threat detection. The platform provides detailed reporting, YouTube education filtering, and gamification features tailored for schools and businesses.

Qustodio is a parental control platform with strong web filtering features designed to block inappropriate websites and protect children online. It categorizes content into over 30 predefined filters like pornography, violence, and social networks, while allowing custom allow/block lists and Safe Search enforcement on major search engines. The software delivers detailed activity reports, real-time alerts, and cross-device synchronization for comprehensive monitoring.

Net Nanny is a veteran parental control solution focused on web filtering, using proprietary real-time content analysis to block inappropriate websites, pornography, and explicit material across devices. It categorizes millions of web pages dynamically and provides customizable filters for over 20 content categories, including drugs, violence, and social media. Beyond filtering, it includes screen time limits, app blocking, location tracking, and family activity reports for comprehensive child online safety.

CleanBrowsing is a DNS-based web filtering service that blocks access to malicious domains, adult content, and other inappropriate sites by routing traffic through its secure DNS resolvers. It offers pre-configured filters like Family, Adult, and Security, suitable for home, school, or business use. Setup is simple, involving only a DNS server change on routers or devices, providing network-wide protection without software installation.

NextDNS is a cloud-based DNS resolver that provides robust web filtering by blocking ads, trackers, malware, phishing sites, and custom categories at the DNS level across all devices. It offers granular control through thousands of predefined blocklists, custom allow/block rules, parental controls, and per-device profiles. Users benefit from real-time analytics, query logs, and privacy features like no-logging policies.

Pi-hole is an open-source network-level ad blocker that functions as a DNS sinkhole, preventing ads, trackers, and malicious domains from loading across all devices on a local network. It excels in web filtering by leveraging community-maintained blocklists to block unwanted content at the DNS resolution stage. A web-based dashboard provides insights into blocked queries, query logs, and long-term statistics for monitoring effectiveness.