Comparison

NextDNS vs Benchwarden

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

Head to head
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

About

Benchwarden

Features
Read full description

Benchwarden keeps your electronics and 3D-printing shelf organized so you can find any part in seconds and know exactly what you can build. Track every drawer, bin, and spool by what it holds, how many you have, and where it lives. Type "10k" and instantly see which drawers hold it and where. Benchwarden is local-first and works fully offline: your inventory lives on your device and syncs privately across your iPhone and iPad through your own iCloud. Features: - Fast search across labels, specs, and locations - Drawer-based inventory with quantities and locations - Filament spool tracking for your 3D printer - Projects with a parts list and time tracking - CSV and JSON export of your whole catalog, anytime - A bench co-pilot that suggests what you can build from the parts you actually own, running on-device with Apple Intelligence, or with your own Anthropic or OpenAI key - Private by design: your data stays on your device and in your private iCloud, with no ads and no data selling

Screenshots

NextDNS4 screens
Benchwarden4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Benchwarden at none against NextDNS's 2. NextDNS's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads 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

Both are free to download. NextDNS sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Benchwarden asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
NextDNS versus Benchwarden: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNextDNSBenchwarden
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (1.8K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews63.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.8K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developernextdns Inc.Franky Fernandez

Bugs and 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)

Benchwarden

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

NextDNS

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$29.991 Year
None

Benchwarden

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NextDNS free?
NextDNS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Benchwarden free?
Benchwarden is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do NextDNS or Benchwarden have ads?
Neither NextDNS nor Benchwarden shows ads.

Other comparisons