PingKit vs NextDNS
Worth saying upfront: these aren't really competing for the same job. NextDNS is a DNS resolver you switch to, one that filters and blocks. PingKit's DNS Lookup is a diagnostic tool that queries and measures. Here's the honest breakdown, and why a lot of people end up wanting both.
NextDNS replaces your device's DNS resolver with one that blocks ads, trackers, and malicious domains before a connection is ever made, with per-device profiles and parental controls. PingKit doesn't touch what resolver you're using - its DNS Lookup tool queries any domain for any record type (A, AAAA, MX, TXT, NS, CNAME, and more) against whatever DNS you're currently on, and shows you the raw answer and how long it took. We make PingKit, so weigh that accordingly, but every figure below is checked against NextDNS's current published pricing.
What Each One Actually Is
| Capability | PingKit (DNS Lookup) | NextDNS |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Diagnoses DNS - queries records, times resolution | Filters DNS - blocks ads, trackers, malware |
| Changes your device's resolver | No | Yes, that's the product |
| Ad & tracker blocking | Not offered | Yes |
| Parental controls / content filtering | Not offered | Yes |
| Custom per-device profiles | Not offered | Yes |
| Raw record lookup (A/AAAA/MX/TXT/NS/CNAME) | Yes | Not the point of the product |
| Free tier | Fully free, unlimited on-demand use | 300,000 queries/month |
| Paid tier | Guardian $2.99/mo (unrelated features) | Pro $1.99/mo, uncapped + analytics |
| Other network tools bundled | 18 more - port scan, WiFi analyzer, uptime, and more | Not offered - DNS only |
Where NextDNS Wins
If what you actually want is fewer ads, fewer trackers, and a filter your kids' devices can't easily bypass, NextDNS is the right category of tool and PingKit doesn't attempt to compete with it. Its free tier's 300,000 monthly queries cover most households, and Pro removes the cap for $1.99/month. Nothing in PingKit blocks anything at the DNS level - it's a diagnostic toolkit, not a filtering resolver, and we'd rather say that plainly than blur the line.
Where PingKit Wins
If the question is "is my DNS actually working, and how fast," PingKit's DNS Lookup answers it directly - query any domain, any record type, see the raw response and timing, whatever resolver you're currently using. Pair it with Ping Test to benchmark a resolver's IP directly, the same method our fastest DNS server guide walks through. NextDNS has no equivalent - it's not built to show you its own query internals or compare itself against alternatives.
The honest recommendation: most people asking "NextDNS or PingKit" actually want NextDNS - filtering is the feature they're after. Use PingKit's DNS Lookup and Ping Test afterward to confirm NextDNS is resolving as fast as whatever you switched from. See our full roundup in Best DNS Servers for iPhone for how NextDNS compares to Cloudflare, Quad9, and AdGuard DNS on the filtering side specifically.
Which Should You Choose?
- Want ad/tracker blocking or parental filtering: NextDNS. PingKit doesn't do this.
- Want to check if DNS resolution itself is fast and correct: PingKit's DNS Lookup and Ping Test.
- Want both: Common and reasonable - set NextDNS as your resolver, use PingKit to verify it.
- Want the rest of a network toolkit regardless: Download PingKit free - 19 tools, DNS Lookup is one of them.
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