Powerful DNS Protection, Simple Interface
Explore all the features that make MacDNS the best DNS security solution for macOS.
General Settings
The control center for your DNS protection. Here you can see if MacDNS is actively protecting your Mac and toggle the most important security and performance features. Each option is designed to make your internet experience safer and faster.
- Protection Status — See at a glance if MacDNS is active and protecting your Mac
- DNSSEC Validation — Ensures websites are authentic and not fake copies created by hackers
- DNS Rebinding Protection — Blocks attackers from redirecting you to private network addresses
- Prefetch — Speeds up your browsing by loading DNS info before you need it
- Serve Expired — Keeps websites accessible even when DNS servers are slow or unreachable
- Query Randomization — Adds extra security by making your DNS requests harder to intercept
Forward Zones
Need certain websites to use a specific DNS server? Forward Zones lets you route domains to custom nameservers. This is useful for accessing internal company networks, development servers, or services that require specific DNS configurations.
- Route specific domains to any DNS server you choose
- Perfect for corporate VPNs and internal networks
- Enable or disable zones without deleting them
- Automatic validation prevents configuration errors
DNS Overrides
Take complete control over how your Mac resolves specific domains. Perfect for developers who need to test local servers without editing /etc/hosts. Redirect websites, block domains, or create custom DNS records — all with a simple UI.
- No more editing /etc/hosts for local development
- Redirect domains to localhost or staging servers
- Support for all DNS record types (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, and more)
- Toggle overrides on/off without losing your settings
Blocklist Protection
Your shield against the bad parts of the internet. MacDNS blocks unwanted content before it even reaches your Mac — no browser extensions needed. Choose what to block and how aggressively, from light filtering to maximum protection.
Each category has multiple protection levels so you can find the perfect balance between security and compatibility. Higher levels block more domains but may occasionally block legitimate websites.
Protection Categories & Levels
Ads & Tracking
Stop intrusive advertisements and prevent companies from tracking your online behavior. This category blocks ad networks, analytics services, and data collection scripts.
Basic protection against the most common ad networks and trackers. Good for users who want minimal interference with their browsing.
Balanced protection that blocks most ads and tracking while maintaining compatibility with websites.
Enhanced protection that also blocks error tracking and monitoring services used by apps and websites.
Aggressive blocking that may cause some websites to not work correctly. Best for advanced users.
Maximum protection. Blocks everything possible including some legitimate services. Expect some website breakage.
Malware & Security
Protect your Mac from dangerous websites that distribute malware, attempt phishing attacks, or run scams. This category uses threat intelligence feeds to block known malicious domains.
Blocks fake/scam websites and obvious phishing attempts. Minimal resource usage.
Solid protection against common threats. Good balance of security and performance.
Comprehensive threat protection recommended for most users. Blocks a wide range of security threats.
Maximum security coverage using full threat intelligence feeds. Provides the most complete protection.
Adult Content
Filter explicit and adult websites. Useful for family computers or workplace environments where you want to prevent access to NSFW content.
Blocks access to adult websites, explicit content, and NSFW material.
Gambling
Block access to online betting, casino, and gambling websites. Helpful for avoiding gambling temptations or restricting access on shared computers.
Blocks the most popular gambling and betting websites.
Extended coverage including smaller gambling operations.
Comprehensive gambling blocking including affiliate and promotion sites.
Social Media
Limit access to social media platforms. Useful for improving productivity, reducing distractions, or creating a focused work environment.
Blocks major social media platforms and their associated services.
Miscellaneous
Additional protections for specific annoyances and security concerns. Each level adds different types of blocking.
Blocks annoying pop-up advertisements that appear on many websites.
Also blocks URL shorteners that can hide malicious links.
Blocks DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and VPN services that apps might use to bypass your DNS settings.
Allowlist
Sometimes blocklists are too aggressive and block websites you actually need. The Allowlist lets you whitelist specific domains so they always work, no matter what blocklists you have enabled. Think of it as a VIP list for websites.
- Instantly unblock any website that was incorrectly filtered
- Allowlist always takes priority over blocklists
- Add domains directly from the Statistics tab with one click
- Easy to manage — add or remove domains anytime
Statistics
See exactly what MacDNS is blocking on your Mac. The Statistics tab shows you which domains are being blocked most often, helping you understand what threats you are being protected from and fine-tune your blocklist settings.
- View the top 100 most-blocked domains on your Mac
- See how many times each domain was blocked
- Filter by category to understand what type of content is being blocked
- One-click allowlist if you spot a domain that should not be blocked
- Updates automatically every 60 seconds
License & About
Manage your MacDNS license and see information about the application. Activate your license key, check your subscription status, and view the versions of all components that make MacDNS work.
- See your license status (Trial, Active, or Expired)
- Enter and activate your license key after purchase
- Automatic update notifications when new versions are available
- View version numbers for MacDNS and its dependencies
Under the Hood
Technical features that work silently to keep you protected.
QNAME Minimization
Privacy by default. Only reveals the minimum domain info at each DNS step — no server sees your full query.
Apple Verified
Signed and notarized by Apple. Uses official Network Extension APIs — no root access required.
Captive Portal Detection
Automatically pauses protection on hotel, airport, and coffee shop networks so you can connect, then resumes when you're online.
Automatic Blocklist Updates
Blocklists, root hints, and DNSSEC keys update automatically every hour to catch new threats.
DNS Rebinding Protection
Blocks attackers from using DNS to redirect you to private network addresses on your local network.
Extended DNS Errors
RFC 8914 support provides detailed error information when DNS queries fail, making troubleshooting easier.
Ready to Secure Your Mac?
Download and install MacDNS to start your 21-day free trial. Experience all features risk-free.