Comparison

ActionPad vs NextDNS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ActionPad

Create custom control panels to remotely operate your computer applications. Simulate keyboard and mouse input, launch programs, open files, and control media. Share and download user-created panels for enhanced productivity and gaming.

Highlights
  • Customizable control panels
  • Simulate keyboard and mouse input
  • Launch applications and files
  • Open websites
  • Media and volume control
  • Create macros
  • Community Panels Hub
Features
Read full description

ActionPad allows you to create your own custom control panels to remote control applications on your computer. This app requires the ActionPad Server desktop software to be installed on your computer for full functionality. For more information on this, visit https://actionpad.co/go. Compatible with macOS and Windows. Panels can contain buttons and other objects, which can be used to simulate keyboard and mouse input, as well as open files and URLs. With grid and dynamic panel types, buttons can be arranged into a grid with customizable rows and columns, or positioned and sized anywhere you would like on your panel for infinite customization possibilities. Customize the appearance of buttons and other panel objects to give them a distinct look. Get ready to make your keyboard and mouse jealous. With ActionPad, you may implement buttons on your panel that: -Execute keystrokes, such as Command C or Ctrl V. -Move your mouse pointer or hold keys as you hold down the button. -Launch applications and open files on your computer. -Open websites in your default browser and interact with them. -Control media and volume on your computer. -Do all of these things with one press! You can have buttons send continuous keyboard and mouse input as you hold them down, or you can combine multiple actions to create simple or complex macros that will run with just one tap of the button! All of this, along with visual elements such as images, text, and containers can all be combined to create unique control panels, each of which with it's own purpose. Don't feel like creating your own panel, or want to use some pre-created panels for some of your favorite desktop apps? ActionPad features the Community Panels Hub, which allows users to upload and share panels they create. It's very easy to share panels and build upon everyone's creations. Along with sharing through the Community Panels Hub, you can also export your panel and send it via E-mail, AirDrop, or a variety of other mediums. No account needed to download user-made panels, only required if you wish to upload to share with other users. Whether it be a panel used to quickly access the most commonly used tools in Photoshop, extra shortcuts for DAW power users, controls for your cockpit in a space simulation game, or a remote control for your streaming setup, there is no limit to what you can create and control with ActionPad.

About

NextDNS

Encrypt all your DNS queries across all networks with this app. It leverages native iOS settings to bring your custom blocking policies and traffic analytics directly to your phone. Easily set up your configuration ID to enhance your online privacy and security.

Highlights
  • Encrypts all DNS queries
  • Uses native iOS Encrypted DNS settings
  • Apply custom blocking policies
  • View traffic analytics and logs
  • Configure with your NextDNS account ID
Features
Read full description

NextDNS protects your device from ads, trackers, malware, and other harmful domains while keeping your internet activity private. All DNS traffic is encrypted, preventing networks and internet providers from seeing or manipulating your DNS queries. Protection across your device NextDNS works system-wide across apps and browsers. • Block ads and trackers automatically • Protect against malware, phishing, and malicious domains • Enable parental controls and content filtering • View analytics, query logs, graphs, and domain details in a native dashboard Easy setup Create your NextDNS profile in seconds or connect an existing one. Your configuration is managed at my.nextdns.io, where you control blocking rules, security settings, and privacy features. Control on iPhone and iPad The app lets you manage protection on your device: • Enable or disable NextDNS anytime • Temporarily pause protection and resume from a live activity • Optionally send your device name for easier identification in logs • Quickly unblock domains from the app • Exclude trusted Wi-Fi networks • Exclude specific domains and their subdomains so they use the system DNS resolver Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://nextdns.io/privacy

Screenshots

ActionPad4 screens
NextDNS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: NextDNS at Free against ActionPad's $3.99. NextDNS also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (2K vs 30). ActionPad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On review sentiment, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

NextDNS is free to download; ActionPad costs $3.99 up front. NextDNS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ActionPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NextDNS holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NextDNS has 2K ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 63% and 63% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ActionPad ships an update every 3 months, NextDNS every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ActionPad versus NextDNS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterActionPadNextDNS
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (30 ratings)4.5 (2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.4% of reviews63.4% of reviews
Number of ratings302K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew Arpasinextdns Inc.

Customer experience

ActionPad

All ratings30 ratings
Positive73.3%
Neutral10.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews41 reviews
Positive63.4%
Neutral7.3%
Negative29.3%

NextDNS

All ratings1,971 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral3.1%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews481 reviews
Positive63.4%
Neutral8.3%
Negative28.3%

Bugs and requests

ActionPad

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

NextDNS

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes on launch for older iOS devices
  • Profiles not working correctly after iOS 15 update
  • Inability to remove the DNS profile from the device
  • Connectivity issues when used in conjunction with a VPN

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add a quick toggle to enable/disable the service
  • Integrate the web dashboard functionality into the app
  • Provide more granular control over blocked content
  • Implement a timed mode to temporarily disable the service
  • Add support for DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT)

In-app purchases

None

ActionPad

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

NextDNS

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is ActionPad free?
ActionPad costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is NextDNS free?
NextDNS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ActionPad or NextDNS?
NextDNS is rated higher. ActionPad averages 4.0 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while NextDNS averages 4.5 from 2K ratings.
Do ActionPad or NextDNS have ads?
Neither ActionPad nor NextDNS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ActionPad or NextDNS?
ActionPad ships an update every 3 months, and NextDNS every 6 weeks. Most recently, ActionPad was updated on November 2, 2026 and NextDNS on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons