Next Dash Dns vs CactusVPN
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Next Dash Dns
Manage your NextDNS settings directly from your mobile device. Monitor connection status, inspect DNS queries, and adjust profiles with a clean, intuitive interface. Ideal for privacy-conscious users and IT professionals seeking enhanced internet control.
- Live server ping monitoring
- View connected devices and ISPs
- Track resolved, relayed, and blocked domains
- Visualize encryption methods and IP versions
- Full DNSSEC support
- Secure and private data handling
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Next Dash DNS – Fast, Secure, and Smarter DNS Control Take full control of your NextDNS settings, right from your phone. Next Dash DNS is the ultimate companion app for anyone using NextDNS. Instantly monitor connection status, view live server pings, inspect DNS queries, and quickly adjust your profile — all in a modern, easy-to-use interface. Key Features: •Live server ping monitoring (real-time NextDNS server status) •View connected devices, ISPs, blocked reasons, destinations, and more •Track resolved, relayed, and blocked domains •Visualize encryption methods and IP versions •Full support for DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) •Clean, fast, and mobile-friendly design •Secure — we never store or share your DNS data Perfect for privacy enthusiasts, IT professionals, or anyone who wants faster, safer, and smarter internet browsing.
CactusVPN
This app provides a secure VPN and Smart DNS service to protect your online privacy and prevent tracking. It offers high-speed servers, end-to-end encryption, and unlimited bandwidth for a seamless browsing experience across multiple devices.
- High-Speed VPN Servers
- End-to-End Encryption
- 7 VPN Protocols
- No Logs Guaranteed
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Unlimited Devices
- Smart DNS Service
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To use the app, you need a CactusVPN account. To get an account, you can register for a 3-days free trial account on our website or to order a subscription from the app. With CactusVPN you will get: - High-Speed VPN Servers - End-to-End Encryption - 7 VPN Protocols - No Logs Guaranteed - Unlimited Bandwidth and Speed - Unlimited Devices in the Same Time - Shared Static IP - 30-Days Money Back Guarantee - Professional 24/7 Customer Support CactusVPN iOS app allows you to: 1. Enjoy our VPN service directly from your iOS device. Simply choose the VPN server location and tap the "Connect" button. You can set the app to stop Internet traffic if VPN connection drops and reconnect automatically to VPN, to protect you from DNS leak, to sign in at app start, to connect VPN on sign in, to hide app on connect. 2. Enjoy our Smart DNS service directly from your iOS device and it’s easier than ever as you don’t need to manually connect anymore. All you have to do is run the app, sign in and enable the Smart DNS service. You can set our app to validate your IP address automatically while the app is in background and what DNS servers you want to use. You can automatically enable the Smart DNS every time you sign in to the app and you can sign in automatically at app startup. - Hide your IP address - Stop advertisers from tracking your digital footprints - Stop hackers from seeing what you do on the web - Keep your browsing habits a secret - Secure your data on any WiFi network - No more bandwidth throttling - Optimize your SEO strategies
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Next Dash Dns at every 5 days against CactusVPN's every 6 months. CactusVPN's advantage is ratings volume (6 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.0 for Next Dash Dns against 3.0 for CactusVPN. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 6 respectively.
Next Dash Dns ships an update every 5 days, CactusVPN every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Next Dash Dns | CactusVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (2 ratings) | 3.0 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jesther Silvestre | CactusVPN, LLC |
In-app purchases
Next Dash Dns
No in-app purchases
CactusVPN
No in-app purchases
