iCloud Private Relay
Apple's dual-hop proxy for Safari traffic; 'not a VPN' by Apple's own words - no region choice, no full-device coverage.
A polished, paid DNS resolver with strong filtering, per-endpoint rules and honest no-logging options from the Windscribe team. DNS-only like the rest: it improves tracker hygiene and lets you override geo-DNS, but never hides your IP and cannot replace a VPN's transport-level protections.
by the vpncomparison editorial desk · review version 1 · prose updated 2026-09-28 · facts as of 2026-09-27 · how we verify
Control D is a premium encrypted DNS resolver from the team behind Windscribe, offering advanced filtering and per-endpoint rules. It's a DNS-level tool, not a VPN - meaning it improves domain tracking protection and can bypass geo-DNS blocks, but does not hide your IP or encrypt traffic beyond the DNS query. No logging claim or jurisdiction details are publicly documented, and core privacy assurances remain unverified.
No formal logging claim or evidence is published for Control D. There is no warrant canary, no third-party audits, and no transparency about data retention policies. Jurisdiction is unconfirmed, leaving legal accountability unclear. While DNS resolvers can be privacy-enhancing, the absence of any verifiable no-logs policy means you must trust the operator on faith alone - unacceptable for privacy-critical use.
The introductory price is $2 per month, but the renewal rate is not disclosed, making long-term cost unpredictable. No free tier, refund window, or contract length details are provided. Payment is fiat-only - no anonymous options like cryptocurrency. Without clarity on renewal pricing or billing terms, committing long-term carries financial uncertainty.
Control D supports encrypted DNS protocols but offers no kill switch, split tunneling, multihop, or P2P support. Server count and country coverage are unspecified. It does not provide IP masking or transport-layer encryption, limiting its role to DNS resolution and filtering. While useful for blocking trackers or accessing geo-DNS content, it lacks the full protections of a traditional VPN.
Ownership is not disclosed, and no operator data is publicly available. No incidents, red flags, or third-party voices are documented. With data quality rated as "reported" and not verified, the provider’s transparency and accountability remain unconfirmed. Users have no independently verified basis to assess trustworthiness.
Control D provides no obfuscation features and is not designed for use in heavily censored regions like China or Iran. As a DNS resolver without IP masking or protocol evasion, it will not bypass national firewalls. This tool is unsuitable for users needing access under strict internet censorship.
Control D may appeal to Windscribe users wanting advanced DNS filtering, but as a DNS-only tool with no verified privacy assurances, it cannot replace a real VPN. Use it only if you understand its narrow scope and accept trusting an unproven operator. Be aware: this provider pays no known affiliate networks, but its lack of transparency is the real risk.
| Intro price | $2 /month |
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Before you pay: check the renewal price, the refund window, and whether a cheaper or free path covers your use case - the honest checklist.
Based on our checks as of 2026-09-27: Control D (premium encrypted DNS resolver) scores 5.1/10 in our weighted review. We logged no red flags. User reports, ownership and the incident record are documented with dated sources in the meta-review below.
A filtered, encrypted DNS service with per-device rules and ad-blocking features. It improves domain-level privacy and can bypass DNS-based geo-blocks, but does not hide your IP or protect all traffic like a VPN.
The renewal price is not disclosed, so long-term costs are unknown. Without this information, estimating a 3-year total is impossible.
There is no published logging claim, no jurisdiction details, no audits, and no warrant canary - making logging practices entirely unverified.
No. Control D lacks obfuscation and IP masking, so it will not bypass firewalls in countries like China, Iran, or Russia.
No. Only fiat payments are accepted, and cryptocurrency or other anonymous methods are not supported.
If service ends, your DNS queries will fail unless you manually switch to another resolver. No endpoint control means you lose filtering and tracking protection immediately.
Use DNS-over-HTTPS with open resolvers like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), Google (8.8.8.8), or Quad9 (9.9.9.9) - many are free, audited, and offer similar DNS privacy without cost or lock-in.
Apple's dual-hop proxy for Safari traffic; 'not a VPN' by Apple's own words - no region choice, no full-device coverage.
Verified live 2026-09-27 ('free version has a daily' cap visible). Nonprofit-branded anti-censorship tool with a freemium funnel.
Verified live 2026-09-27. Real anti-censorship engineering; free tier ad-supported, throughput-boosts paid via PsiCash.
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