How to Filter Your Home Internet Free with OpenDNS (2026)

Do you filter your home internet free with OpenDNS? The internet should be open, but some content is clearly harmful to children. We want kids to use the web for school and fun – not to have full access to adult sites. OpenDNS is one of the simplest ways to block adult and dangerous websites for every device in your home, and the basic home plans are still free in 2026. This step-by-step guide is written for parents and grandparents who are not tech experts.

How OpenDNS filtering works

Every time a device opens a website, it first asks a DNS server to translate the name (like example.com) into an IP address. If you point your router to OpenDNS (now owned by Cisco), its servers refuse to resolve blocked sites and show a block page instead. Because the change happens on the router, it covers phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and game consoles in one go – no software needed on each device.

OpenDNS FamilyShield vs OpenDNS Home

Option 1: Set up OpenDNS FamilyShield (5 minutes)

1. Open your router’s admin page. It is usually printed on a sticker on the router, often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, or available in your router maker’s app.
2. Log in with the router admin password.
3. Find the DNS settings, usually under Internet, WAN or DHCP.
4. Change DNS from automatic to manual and enter 208.67.222.123 as primary and 208.67.220.123 as secondary.
5. Save, then restart the router.
6. On a device connected to your Wi-Fi, visit the OpenDNS welcome page to confirm you are using OpenDNS.

Option 2: Set up OpenDNS Home with custom filtering

1. Create a free account. On the OpenDNS home page, choose OpenDNS Home and sign up with your email. Confirm your email – many dashboard settings stay locked until you do.
2. Change your router’s DNS to 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220, using the same router steps as above. If you only need to filter one computer, you can change DNS on that computer instead, but the router covers every device.
3. Add your network. In the OpenDNS Dashboard, go to Settings and click Add this network. This registers your home IP address. Give it a name such as “Home”.
4. Handle a dynamic IP. Most home connections get a changing (dynamic) IP from the internet provider. Tick the dynamic IP option and install the free OpenDNS Updater on a computer that is usually on, so OpenDNS always knows your current IP.
5. Choose a filtering level. Click your network’s IP address in Settings, then pick High, Moderate, Low, None or Custom. Custom lets you pick categories one by one.
6. Block proxies and anonymizers. If you choose Custom, make sure the Proxy/Anonymizer category is checked. Otherwise, children can use proxy sites to get around the filter.
7. Apply and test. Click Apply, wait a few minutes for the settings to take effect, then test by visiting a site in a blocked category.

Tips to make your filter harder to bypass

• Change the router admin password so kids can’t simply switch the DNS back.
• Turn on Safe Search too. See how to lock Google SafeSearch on family devices.
• Watch for encrypted DNS. Modern browsers and phones can use DNS over HTTPS, which skips your router’s DNS. In Chrome, Edge and Firefox, set secure DNS to use your current provider or turn it off on children’s devices, and disable Private DNS on Android if it’s set to another provider.
• VPNs and mobile data bypass DNS filters. OpenDNS only filters traffic through your home Wi-Fi. Use built-in parental controls like Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time for phones.
• Remember that people will always look for ways to access blocked websites, so talk to your children about online safety too.

Good alternatives to OpenDNS

• Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 for Families – use 1.1.1.3 and 1.0.0.3 to block malware and adult content, free with no account.
• CleanBrowsing – free family filter DNS with paid plans for custom rules.
• For speed rather than filtering, see our guide to Google Public DNS.

Note: OpenDNS has stopped serving some countries, including France and Portugal, after court-ordered blocking demands. If OpenDNS doesn’t work where you live, try one of these alternatives.

FAQ

Is OpenDNS still free in 2026?

Yes. OpenDNS FamilyShield and OpenDNS Home are free for home use. Paid business filtering is now sold as Cisco Umbrella.

What are the OpenDNS FamilyShield DNS addresses?

208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123. They block adult content automatically and need no account.

Does OpenDNS slow down my internet?

Usually not. DNS lookups are tiny, and OpenDNS runs a large global network. Most people notice no difference.

Can I filter home internet with OpenDNS on just one device?

Yes. Change the DNS settings on that device instead of the router, but the router method protects every device on your Wi-Fi.

Originally written by guest author Danny Archer, a full time blogger and graduate architect, author of tech blog geckoandfly.com and architecture blog miragestudio7. Updated for 2026 by QuickOnlineTips. You can also guest blog on QOT and share your security tips.