DNSFilter is a cloud-based DNS security and content filtering platform designed to protect organizations from malware, phishing, ransomware, and other internet-borne threats. By filtering DNS queries at the network level, DNSFilter blocks access to malicious domains before connections are established, providing a first line of defense for distributed workforces, offices, and remote users. The platform is commonly deployed by IT and security teams seeking fast, scalable threat protection without the complexity of traditional on-premise appliances.
Evaluating DNSFilter or planning a purchase?
Vendr's pricing analysis agent uses anonymized contract data to show what similar companies typically pay and where negotiation leverage exists—whether you're estimating budget, comparing options, or reviewing a quote. Explore DNSFilter pricing with Vendr.
This guide combines DNSFilter's published pricing with Vendr's dataset and analysis to break down DNSFilter pricing in 2026, including:
Whether you're evaluating DNSFilter for the first time or preparing for renewal, this guide is designed to help you budget accurately and negotiate with clearer market context.
DNSFilter uses a per-user, per-month pricing model with tiered plans based on feature depth and support level. Published list pricing typically ranges from approximately $2 to $6+ per user per month depending on the tier selected, though actual contract pricing varies significantly based on user count, contract term, and negotiation.
The platform offers three primary tiers—Starter, Business, and Enterprise—each unlocking progressively advanced threat intelligence, policy controls, reporting, and integrations. Most organizations deploy DNSFilter across their entire user base (employees, contractors, and sometimes guests), so total cost scales directly with headcount and term length.
Key pricing drivers include:
DNSFilter contracts are typically billed annually in advance, though monthly billing may be available for smaller deployments or shorter pilot agreements. Pricing is generally quoted in USD, with invoicing handled directly by DNSFilter or through authorized channel partners.
Benchmarking context:
Vendr's dataset includes DNSFilter transactions across a wide range of deployment sizes and industries. Buyers can compare their DNSFilter quote against recent market outcomes to understand where their pricing sits relative to similar deals.
DNSFilter's tiered structure is designed to serve organizations of different sizes and security maturity levels. Each tier builds on the previous one, adding capabilities in threat intelligence, policy granularity, reporting, and integrations.
DNSFilter Starter is the entry-level tier, designed for small teams or organizations seeking basic DNS-based threat protection and content filtering without advanced policy controls or integrations.
Pricing Structure:
List pricing for Starter typically falls in the range of $2–$3 per user per month when billed annually. Pricing may be higher for month-to-month agreements or very small deployments (under 25 users).
Key features:
Observed Outcomes:
Starter is most commonly deployed by small businesses (under 100 users) or as a pilot tier before scaling to Business or Enterprise. Discounting on Starter is less common due to the lower list price and smaller contract values, though buyers with 50+ users or multi-year commitments may see modest reductions.
Benchmarking context:
For teams evaluating Starter, Vendr's pricing tool can show what similar-sized organizations have paid and whether volume or term-based discounts are achievable for your deployment.
DNSFilter Business is the mid-tier plan, adding advanced policy controls, integrations, and reporting capabilities suited to growing organizations with more complex security and compliance requirements.
Pricing Structure:
List pricing for Business typically ranges from $3.50 to $5 per user per month when billed annually, depending on user count and contract term. Volume discounts become more common at this tier, particularly for deployments above 250 users.
Key features:
Observed Outcomes:
Business is the most popular tier for mid-market organizations (100–1,000 users). Based on Vendr transaction data, buyers in this segment often achieve per-user pricing in the range of $3–$4.50 per user per month through volume-based negotiation or multi-year commitments.
Benchmarking context:
Organizations evaluating Business can use Vendr's benchmarking tool to see percentile-based pricing for similar deployment sizes and contract structures, helping set realistic budget targets before engaging with DNSFilter sales.
DNSFilter Enterprise is the top-tier plan, designed for large organizations, managed service providers (MSPs), and enterprises with advanced security, compliance, and integration requirements.
Pricing Structure:
Enterprise pricing is typically custom-quoted based on user count, contract term, and specific feature requirements. Published guidance suggests list pricing starting around $5–$6+ per user per month, though actual pricing varies widely. Large deployments (1,000+ users) and multi-year agreements often unlock significant volume discounts.
Key features:
Observed Outcomes:
Enterprise buyers with 500+ users and multi-year commitments commonly negotiate pricing well below list. Vendr data shows that buyers in this segment often achieve per-user pricing in the $3.50–$5 range depending on volume, term, and competitive context.
Benchmarking context:
For Enterprise evaluations, Vendr's negotiation and pricing tools provide supplier-specific playbooks and percentile benchmarks based on recent large-deployment deals, helping buyers understand realistic discount ranges and negotiation leverage points.
Understanding the variables that influence DNSFilter pricing helps buyers model total cost accurately and identify opportunities to optimize spend.
1. User count and volume thresholds
DNSFilter pricing scales linearly with the number of protected users, but per-user rates decrease as volume increases. Volume discount thresholds commonly appear around 100, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,500+ users. Buyers approaching these thresholds may benefit from timing purchases to cross into the next discount band or negotiating custom volume pricing.
2. Contract term length
Multi-year agreements (2–3 years) typically unlock lower per-user pricing compared to annual contracts. Based on Vendr transaction data, buyers committing to 2- or 3-year terms often see per-user discounts in the range of 10–25% compared to 1-year agreements, particularly at the Business and Enterprise tiers.
3. Tier and feature selection
Each tier carries a different list price, and feature requirements directly impact total cost. Organizations should carefully assess whether advanced features (API access, custom integrations, premium threat feeds) justify the incremental cost of higher tiers, or whether a lower tier meets current needs with the option to upgrade later.
4. Billing frequency
Annual prepayment is standard and typically required for volume discounts. Monthly billing may be available for smaller deployments or pilots but often carries higher effective per-user rates and may limit access to discounts.
5. Add-ons and professional services
Onboarding packages, custom integrations, training, and premium support may be quoted separately or bundled into the contract. These services can add 5–15% to the base subscription cost depending on complexity and scope.
6. Competitive and renewal context
New buyers evaluating multiple DNS security vendors (Cisco Umbrella, Cloudflare Gateway, Zscaler) often have stronger negotiation leverage than renewal buyers, particularly if they can demonstrate active competitive evaluation. Renewal buyers can create leverage by introducing alternatives, extending term length, or timing negotiations around budget cycles.
Benchmarking context:
Vendr's pricing analysis tool allows buyers to model different scenarios (user count, term length, tier) and see how each variable impacts total cost and per-user pricing relative to market benchmarks.
While DNSFilter's subscription pricing is relatively straightforward, several additional costs and considerations can impact total cost of ownership.
1. Onboarding and professional services
DNSFilter offers onboarding packages and professional services to assist with deployment, policy configuration, and integration with existing identity and security infrastructure. These services are often quoted separately and can range from a few thousand dollars for basic onboarding to $10,000+ for complex, multi-location deployments with custom integrations.
2. Premium support and SLAs
Enterprise-tier contracts may include dedicated account management and priority support, but enhanced SLAs or 24/7 phone support may carry additional fees. Buyers should clarify what support level is included in the base subscription and what requires an add-on.
3. Overage charges for user growth
DNSFilter contracts are typically sold with a fixed user count. If your organization grows beyond the contracted user count mid-term, you may face overage charges or be required to true-up at renewal. Buyers should negotiate flexible user count provisions or build in headroom (e.g., 10–20% buffer) to accommodate growth without triggering mid-term amendments.
4. Integration and API costs
While API access is included in Business and Enterprise tiers, custom integrations or advanced API usage may require additional development work or professional services. Buyers with complex integration requirements should clarify what is included and what may require additional investment.
5. Training and change management
Deploying DNS filtering across a distributed workforce may require user training, policy documentation, and change management support. While not a direct DNSFilter cost, these internal efforts should be factored into total cost of ownership and project timelines.
6. Renewal price increases
DNSFilter contracts may include annual price escalation clauses (commonly 3–7% per year) or may reset to higher list pricing at renewal if not actively renegotiated. Buyers should review renewal terms carefully and plan to renegotiate 90–120 days before renewal to avoid automatic increases.
Benchmarking context:
Vendr's contract analysis tools help buyers identify common hidden costs and negotiate terms that minimize overage risk, lock in multi-year pricing, and clarify what is included versus what requires add-on fees.
Actual DNSFilter contract pricing varies widely based on deployment size, tier, term length, and negotiation, but Vendr's dataset provides directional guidance on typical outcomes.
Small deployments (under 100 users):
Organizations in this segment typically deploy Starter or Business tier and pay closer to list pricing, with limited volume discounts. Observed per-user pricing commonly falls in the range of $2.50–$4.50 per user per month depending on tier and term length.
Mid-market deployments (100–500 users):
This segment most commonly selects Business tier and achieves moderate volume discounts. Based on Vendr transaction data, buyers in this range often secure per-user pricing in the $3–$4 per user per month range for annual contracts, with lower rates achievable through multi-year commitments or competitive negotiation.
Large deployments (500–2,500+ users):
Larger organizations typically deploy Business or Enterprise tier and have the strongest negotiation leverage. Vendr data shows that buyers with 500+ users and multi-year commitments often achieve per-user pricing in the $2.50–$4.50 range, with the lowest rates reserved for the largest deployments (2,500+ users) and longest terms (3 years).
Discount ranges:
Across all tiers and deployment sizes, buyers who actively negotiate—particularly those with competitive alternatives in play or multi-year commitments—commonly achieve discounts in the range of 15–30% off list pricing. The largest discounts are typically seen in competitive new-business scenarios with multi-year terms and high user counts.
Benchmarking context:
These ranges are illustrative and based on aggregated Vendr data. For a precise benchmark tailored to your specific deployment size, tier, and contract structure, Vendr's pricing tool provides percentile-based estimates and shows where similar organizations' pricing has landed.
DNSFilter pricing is negotiable, and buyers who prepare strategically and engage early often achieve meaningfully better outcomes. Based on anonymized DNSFilter deals in Vendr's dataset, the following strategies have proven effective across a range of deployment sizes and contract types.
DNSFilter sales teams are more flexible when they believe they are competing for the business. Buyers who mention active evaluation of alternatives (Cisco Umbrella, Cloudflare Gateway, Zscaler, Infoblox) early in the process often receive more aggressive initial pricing and faster concessions.
Even if DNSFilter is the preferred solution, framing the conversation as a competitive evaluation creates leverage. Avoid signaling that DNSFilter is the only option under consideration.
Competitive benchmarks:
Vendr's competitive comparison tool shows how DNSFilter pricing and terms compare to alternatives for similar deployment sizes, helping buyers establish realistic anchors and negotiate from a position of market knowledge.
Rather than asking "What does DNSFilter cost?", lead with a budget constraint or per-user target based on market data. For example: "We're evaluating DNS security solutions for 300 users and have budgeted $3 per user per month. Can DNSFilter meet that target?"
This approach shifts the conversation from list pricing to what is achievable and forces the sales team to work within your constraints.
Vendr data shows that buyers who anchor early to a specific per-user target—particularly one grounded in market benchmarks—often achieve pricing closer to that target than buyers who accept the initial quote.
DNSFilter, like most SaaS vendors, values predictable, long-term revenue. Buyers willing to commit to 2- or 3-year terms can often unlock per-user discounts in the range of 10–25% compared to annual agreements.
When proposing a multi-year term, negotiate for flat pricing across the term (no annual escalation) and flexible user count provisions to accommodate growth without triggering mid-term amendments or overage charges.
If your organization is approaching a volume threshold (e.g., 250, 500, or 1,000 users), consider timing the purchase to cross into the next discount band or negotiating custom volume pricing that applies retroactively if you grow into the next tier during the contract term.
For example: "We're deploying to 450 users today but expect to reach 600 within 12 months. Can we lock in the 500+ user pricing now, or include a provision that automatically applies the higher volume discount once we cross 500 users?"
DNSFilter contracts may include or exclude onboarding, professional services, premium support, and API access depending on the tier and deal structure. Buyers should clarify exactly what is included in the base subscription and negotiate to bundle high-value add-ons (onboarding, training, dedicated support) at no additional cost, particularly in competitive or large-volume deals.
DNSFilter, like most vendors, operates on quarterly and annual sales cycles with end-of-quarter and end-of-year targets. Buyers who engage 4–6 weeks before quarter-end (March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31) and signal readiness to close quickly often receive more aggressive pricing and concessions.
Avoid negotiating in the first month of a new quarter, when sales teams have less urgency to discount.
Renewal buyers should begin renegotiation 90–120 days before the renewal date and introduce competitive alternatives to create leverage. Even if you plan to renew with DNSFilter, demonstrating that you are actively evaluating alternatives (and have received competitive quotes) often unlocks better renewal pricing and terms.
Vendr data shows that renewal buyers who introduce competition and negotiate actively often achieve pricing comparable to or better than their expiring contract, avoiding the automatic price increases common in passive renewals.
These insights are based on anonymized DNSFilter deals in Vendr's dataset across a wide range of company sizes and contract structures. Buyers can explore these insights directly using Vendr's free pricing and negotiation tools:
DNSFilter competes primarily with Cisco Umbrella, Cloudflare Gateway, Zscaler Internet Access, and Infoblox BloxOne Threat Defense in the DNS security and content filtering market. Pricing structures and total cost vary significantly across these platforms, and understanding the differences helps buyers evaluate alternatives and create negotiation leverage.
Cisco Umbrella is one of the most widely deployed DNS security platforms, offering DNS filtering, secure web gateway (SWG), and cloud-delivered firewall capabilities. Umbrella is typically positioned as a more feature-rich and enterprise-grade solution compared to DNSFilter, with correspondingly higher pricing.
| Pricing component | DNSFilter | Cisco Umbrella |
|---|---|---|
| List pricing (per user/month) | $2–$6+ depending on tier | $3–$10+ depending on package (DNS Security, SWG, etc.) |
| Typical negotiated pricing (mid-market) | $3–$4.50 per user/month | $4–$7 per user/month |
| Contract minimum | Often none or low (25–50 users) | Typically 100–250 users for volume pricing |
| Onboarding/professional services | $2,000–$10,000+ depending on complexity | $5,000–$25,000+ for enterprise deployments |
| Estimated total (500 users, 1-year, mid-tier) | $18,000–$27,000 annually | $24,000–$42,000 annually |
Benchmarking context:
Vendr's comparison tool allows buyers to model DNSFilter and Cisco Umbrella side by side for their specific deployment size and feature requirements, showing how pricing and total cost compare based on recent market data.
Cloudflare Gateway (part of Cloudflare Zero Trust) is a cloud-native DNS filtering and secure web gateway platform that integrates tightly with Cloudflare's broader Zero Trust and network security offerings. Gateway is often positioned as a modern, high-performance alternative to legacy DNS security platforms.
| Pricing component | DNSFilter | Cloudflare Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| List pricing (per user/month) | $2–$6+ depending on tier | $7–$12+ for Gateway Standard/Enterprise (bundled with Zero Trust) |
| Typical negotiated pricing (mid-market) | $3–$4.50 per user/month | $6–$10 per user/month |
| Contract minimum | Often none or low (25–50 users) | Typically 100+ users for volume pricing |
| Onboarding/professional services | $2,000–$10,000+ | $5,000–$20,000+ for Zero Trust deployments |
| Estimated total (500 users, 1-year, mid-tier) | $18,000–$27,000 annually | $36,000–$60,000 annually |
Benchmarking context:
For buyers evaluating both platforms, Vendr's pricing tool provides side-by-side cost modeling and shows how DNSFilter and Cloudflare Gateway pricing compare for similar deployment sizes and feature sets.
Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) is a cloud-based secure web gateway and DNS security platform designed for large enterprises and distributed workforces. ZIA is typically positioned as a comprehensive security solution with advanced threat protection, data loss prevention, and cloud firewall capabilities, with pricing that reflects its enterprise focus.
| Pricing component | DNSFilter | Zscaler Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
| List pricing (per user/month) | $2–$6+ depending on tier | $8–$15+ depending on package and features |
| Typical negotiated pricing (mid-market) | $3–$4.50 per user/month | $7–$12 per user/month |
| Contract minimum | Often none or low (25–50 users) | Typically 250–500+ users for enterprise pricing |
| Onboarding/professional services | $2,000–$10,000+ | $10,000–$50,000+ for enterprise deployments |
| Estimated total (500 users, 1-year, mid-tier) | $18,000–$27,000 annually | $42,000–$72,000 annually |
Benchmarking context:
Vendr's negotiation and pricing tools help buyers compare DNSFilter and Zscaler Internet Access side by side, showing how total cost and per-user pricing differ for similar deployment sizes and providing negotiation leverage for both platforms.
Based on anonymized DNSFilter transactions in Vendr's platform over the past 12 months:
Vendr's dataset shows that buyers who combine multiple levers—volume, multi-year term, competitive context, and strategic timing—often achieve the deepest discounts.
Negotiation guidance:
Vendr's DNSFilter negotiation playbook provides specific discount ranges and tactics based on your deployment size, tier, and deal type (new purchase vs. renewal).
Based on DNSFilter transactions in Vendr's database:
These ranges reflect negotiated pricing and vary based on tier, term length, and competitive context. Multi-year commitments and competitive evaluations often result in pricing at the lower end of these ranges.
Benchmarking context:
For a precise estimate tailored to your deployment size and contract structure, Vendr's pricing tool provides percentile-based benchmarks and shows where similar organizations' pricing has landed.
DNSFilter's standard pricing model is annual prepayment, which is required to access volume discounts and negotiated pricing. Monthly billing may be available for smaller deployments (under 50 users) or pilot agreements, but typically carries higher effective per-user rates and may limit access to discounts.
Buyers seeking monthly billing should clarify pricing and discount eligibility upfront, as the effective cost difference between monthly and annual billing can be significant (often 15–25% higher for monthly).
Negotiation guidance:
If cash flow or budget timing is a concern, buyers can negotiate for quarterly billing or deferred payment terms (e.g., Net 60 or Net 90) on annual contracts, which may provide more flexibility without sacrificing volume discounts. Vendr's contract analysis tool can help identify flexible payment terms based on recent DNSFilter deals.
DNSFilter contracts are most commonly structured as 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year agreements with annual prepayment. Multi-year contracts typically include provisions for annual price escalation (commonly 3–7% per year), though buyers can negotiate for flat pricing across the term to lock in predictable costs.
Based on Vendr transaction data:
Negotiation guidance:
Buyers should weigh the discount benefit of longer terms against the risk of being locked into pricing that may become uncompetitive over time. Negotiating for annual opt-out clauses or pricing review provisions at the end of each year can provide flexibility while still capturing multi-year discounts. Vendr's negotiation playbook includes specific language and tactics for these provisions.
DNSFilter's subscription pricing is relatively transparent, but several additional costs may apply:
Vendr's dataset shows that buyers who negotiate comprehensive contracts upfront—clarifying what is included, capping overage rates, and locking in flat multi-year pricing—often avoid unexpected costs and achieve lower total cost of ownership.
Benchmarking context:
Vendr's contract analysis tool helps buyers identify common hidden costs in DNSFilter contracts and negotiate terms that minimize overage risk and lock in predictable pricing.
Based on Vendr transaction data for similar deployment sizes and feature sets:
Vendr data shows that buyers who introduce DNSFilter as a competitive alternative during Cisco Umbrella or Cloudflare Gateway negotiations often achieve 10–20% deeper discounts from those vendors, even if they ultimately select the higher-priced platform.
Benchmarking context:
Vendr's competitive comparison tool provides side-by-side pricing and feature comparisons for DNSFilter, Cisco Umbrella, and Cloudflare Gateway based on your specific deployment size and requirements.
DNSFilter's three tiers differ primarily in policy granularity, integrations, threat intelligence depth, and support level:
Most mid-market buyers select Business tier, while large enterprises and MSPs typically require Enterprise.
Onboarding and professional services are typically quoted separately or bundled into Enterprise-tier contracts. Standard onboarding packages range from $2,000–$10,000+ depending on deployment complexity, number of locations, and integration requirements (Active Directory, Azure AD, SIEM, etc.).
Buyers should clarify what is included in the base subscription and negotiate to bundle onboarding and training at no additional cost, particularly in competitive or large-volume deals.
Yes. DNSFilter Business and Enterprise tiers include API access and directory integrations with Active Directory, Azure AD, Google Workspace, and other identity providers. These integrations allow for user- and group-based policy enforcement and automated user provisioning.
Starter tier does not include directory integrations. Buyers requiring these capabilities should select Business or Enterprise tier.
Support level varies by tier:
Buyers with mission-critical deployments should clarify response time commitments and escalation procedures, and negotiate for enhanced SLAs if needed.
Based on analysis of anonymized DNSFilter deals in Vendr's dataset, pricing varies significantly based on deployment size, tier, contract term, and negotiation approach. Recent data from Vendr shows that buyers who prepare carefully and evaluate alternatives often secure meaningfully better pricing than those who accept initial quotes.
Key takeaways:
Regardless of platform choice, the most important step is clearly defining requirements, understanding total cost drivers, and benchmarking pricing against comparable deals before committing.
Vendr's pricing and negotiation tools analyze anonymized transaction data to surface percentile-based benchmarks, competitive comparisons, and observed negotiation patterns, helping buyers assess how a given DNSFilter quote compares to recent market outcomes for similar scope.
This guide is updated regularly to reflect recent DNSFilter pricing and negotiation trends. Consider revisiting it ahead of any new purchase or renewal to account for changing market conditions. Last updated: February 2026.