Report updated May 11, 2026

TL;DR:DNS Firewall by KeepSolid secures mobile traffic by intercepting malicious DNS requests, but its aggressive subscription-first monetization creates a friction barrier that limits adoption among privacy-conscious users. Users feel Mixed, praising effective malware and malicious site blocking provides users with a sense of digital security but frustrated by aggressive subscription prompts and paywalls frustrate users expecting a free or trial-based experience. DNS Firewall provides reliable core protection but struggles with subscription friction, so the PM should prioritize a freemium model to capture users currently lost to free alternatives..|TL;DR:DNS Firewall by KeepSolid secures mobile traffic by intercepting malicious DNS requests, but its aggressive subscription-first monetization creates a friction barrier that limits adoption among privacy-conscious users. Users feel Mixed, praising effective malware and malicious site blocking provides users with a sense of digital security but frustrated by aggressive subscription prompts and paywalls frustrate users expecting a free or trial-based experience. DNS Firewall provides reliable core protection but struggles with subscription friction, so the PM should prioritize a freemium model to capture users currently lost to free alternatives..

DNS Firewall by KeepSolid is an established productivity app that is available. With a 3.8/5 rating from 390 reviews, it shows polarized user reception. Users particularly appreciate effective malware and malicious site blocking provides users with a sense of digital security, though aggressive subscription prompts and paywalls frustrate users expecting a free or trial-based experience remains a common concern.

What is DNS Firewall by KeepSolid?

DNS Firewall by KeepSolid is a mobile security utility that intercepts DNS resolution to block malicious domains and intrusive content.

Users hire this tool to automate protection against phishing and malware without requiring deep technical configuration, though the subscription-first model creates a barrier to entry.

Current Momentum

v1.0

  • Ships stability and performance updates.
  • Maintains subscription-first monetization strategy.
AI-powered deep analysis surfacing high-signal insights. Still in beta, accuracy improves daily. For informational purposes only.

Active Nemesis

NextDNS

NextDNS

By nextdns

Other Rivals

1.1.1.1: Faster Internet
DNS Cloak: Private DNS Changer
VPN 360: Super Fast VPN Proxy
DuckDuckGo, Duck.ai, & VPN
Microsoft Defender: Security

7-Day Rank Pulse 🇺🇸

Productivity

No ranking data

Rating Pulse 🇺🇸

Recent User MoodAI-powered deep analysis surfacing high-signal insights. Still in beta, accuracy improves daily. For informational purposes only.

What makes this app unique?

What Does It Look Like?

How Is The App's Momentum Right Now?

Loading...

What Are The Key Features?

DNS Traffic FilteringStandard

Intercepts DNS resolution to block access to known-malicious domains and phishing sites

Multi-Device SupportStandard

Allows up to 5 simultaneous connections across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android under one account

Custom Blocklist and SafelistDifferentiator

User-defined controls to manually block specific domains or whitelist sites excluded from default filtering

WireGuard Protocol IntegrationDifferentiator

Establishes encrypted virtual connections for DNS traffic using the WireGuard protocol

How much does it cost?

Subscription
  • Free 7-day trial
  • 1 month, 1 year, and lifetime access

Subscription model anchored to the MonoDefense bundle, which includes VPN and password management services.

Who Built It?

KeepSolid Inc. app icon 1
KeepSolid Inc. app icon 2
KeepSolid Inc. app icon 3
KeepSolid Inc. app icon 4

KeepSolid

(86.3K)

Securing digital privacy for mobile users through a unified ecosystem of VPN and cybersecurity tools. Providing accessible protection for personal data across public and private networks.

Portfolio

13

Apps

Free 12
Productivity75%
Utilities8%
Entertainment8%

Who is KeepSolid?

KeepSolid has successfully transitioned from a single-utility VPN provider into a broader security ecosystem, branded as MonoDefense. By bundling password management and firewall capabilities with their core VPN service, they are attempting to increase customer lifetime value and reduce churn in a highly commoditized market. Their strategic pivot centers on cross-selling integrated security suites rather than relying solely on standalone proxy tools. The primary challenge remains maintaining user retention against larger, well-capitalized VPN incumbents that offer more aggressive global marketing and infrastructure scale.

Who is KeepSolid for?

  • Privacy-conscious mobile users
  • Remote workers seeking to secure data on public WiFi
  • Bypass regional content restrictions
Maintenance

Portfolio momentum

Released 2 updates in the last 6 months with 11 out of 13 apps currently classified as abandoned, indicating a shift toward maintaining a few core products.

Last release · 15d agoActive apps · 2Abandoned · 11

What do users think recently?

High confidence · 94 reviews analyzed · Based on 94 reviews. Signal may be noisy.

How did the latest release land?

Overall
3.8/ 5
(390)
Current version
4.4/ 5
+0.5 vs overall
(22)
Main signal post-update: effective malware and malicious site blocking provides users with a sense of digital security.

What is the recent mood?

Mixed

Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate effective malware and malicious site blocking provides users with a sense of digital security and intuitive interface design allows non-technical users to manage network permissions without complex configuration, but report aggressive subscription prompts and paywalls frustrate users expecting a free or trial-based experience and inconsistent ad blocking performance fails to meet user expectations compared to established market competitors.

What Users Love

Effective malware and malicious site blocking provides users with a sense of digital security
Intuitive interface design allows non-technical users to manage network permissions without complex configuration

What Frustrates Users

Aggressive subscription prompts and paywalls frustrate users expecting a free or trial-based experience
Inconsistent ad blocking performance fails to meet user expectations compared to established market competitors

What Users Want

Custom blocklist support would allow advanced users to import external domain lists for better filtering

What is the competitive landscape for DNS Firewall by KeepSolid?

How's The Productivity Market?

How does it evolve in the Productivity market?

DNS Firewall maintains a 3.8 rating on Android with 368 reviews, trailing the more granular NextDNS which dominates the power-user segment. The reliance on a subscription bundle limits its appeal against free, browser-native tracking protections.

ChartRankChange
AndroidGrossing#104NEW
AndroidGrossing#189NEW

The rivals identified

The Nemesis

NextDNS

NextDNS

4.1 (1.6K)

nextdns Inc.

NextDNS is the direct market leader in the DNS-based filtering niche, offering granular control that mirrors the target app's core value proposition at a significantly larger scale.

Head to Head

The target app must pivot toward a 'simplified security' UX to differentiate from NextDNS's complex, power-user-centric cloud infrastructure.

What sets DNS Firewall by KeepSolid apart

  • Maintains a more simplified, user-friendly interface that reduces the technical barrier for non-expert security users.

  • Bundles security features into a single, cohesive firewall experience rather than requiring complex cloud configuration.

What's NextDNS's Edge

  • Delivers superior customization through granular blocklist management that power users and enterprise clients demand.

  • Provides transparent, real-time query logging that allows users to audit exactly what traffic is being blocked.

Contenders

Leverages a global, high-speed network infrastructure that prioritizes latency reduction alongside basic DNS-based security filtering.

Utilizes a 'one-tap' activation model that eliminates configuration friction for the average mobile user.

Allows users to import custom DNSCrypt-compatible servers for highly specific, private DNS routing requirements.

Focuses exclusively on DNS-level traffic interception without the overhead of broader VPN or password management features.

Peers

Bundles full-tunnel VPN capabilities which provide broader IP masking than simple DNS-based filtering solutions.

Utilizes a high-frequency release cadence to maintain compatibility with the latest mobile OS security protocols.

Integrates App Tracking Protection that blocks third-party trackers system-wide, effectively performing DNS-level filtering within a browser.

Aggressively ships AI-powered search and privacy features, creating a comprehensive ecosystem that keeps users within their app.

New Kids on the Block

Provides cross-platform security alerts that sync across desktop and mobile, creating a unified security posture.

Combines DNS-based web protection with device-level malware scanning to offer a more comprehensive security suite.

The outtake for DNS Firewall by KeepSolid

Strengths to defend, gaps to attack

Core Strengths

  • WireGuard integration provides technical performance authority
  • Multi-device support increases household switching costs

Critical Frictions

  • 3.8★ Android rating trails iOS
  • Aggressive paywalls frustrate free-tier expectations
  • Inconsistent ad-blocking performance

Growth Levers

  • Importable custom blocklists would capture power-user segment
  • Wearable integration would expand security footprint

Market Threats

  • Browser-integrated tracking protection reduces standalone utility
  • NextDNS cloud-dashboard offers superior auditability

What are the next best moves?

highPivot

Pivot monetization to freemium because subscription-first prompts are the top complaint → reduce churn

Sentiment data shows aggressive paywalls are the #1 driver of negative reviews.

Trade-off: Pause the MonoDefense bundle marketing push — conversion rate on the core app is the immediate priority.

mediumInvest

Ship custom blocklist import because it is the top-requested feature → increase power-user retention

User requests explicitly cite manual entry inefficiency as a barrier.

Trade-off: Deprioritize the UI refresh — functional utility for power users outweighs aesthetic updates.

A counter-intuitive read

The app's reliance on a subscription bundle is a liability, not an asset, because it forces a high-friction purchase decision on users who can get equivalent tracking protection for free in browsers.

Feature Gaps vs Competitors

  • Real-time query logging (available in NextDNS but absent here)
  • Cloud-based dashboard for rule management (available in NextDNS but absent here)

Key Takeaways

DNS Firewall provides reliable core protection but struggles with subscription friction, so the PM should prioritize a freemium model to capture users currently lost to free alternatives.

Where Is It Heading?

Declining

The DNS-filtering market is consolidating around tools that offer transparent, cloud-based auditing, leaving static apps like DNS Firewall exposed. Without a pivot to granular control or a freemium model, the app will continue to lose market share to browser-native tracking protections.

Inconsistent ad-blocking performance leads to user comparisons with free alternatives, which accelerates churn pressure on the subscription base.

The latest updates focus only on stability without addressing feature gaps, which compounds the rating drag on the Android platform.

Disclosure

Independent intel to help builders create better apps.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. See methodology.

Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by DNS Firewall by KeepSolid, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

Hope this helps & keep building! · Found an error?

What's new in this report

The app transitioned to a subscription-first monetization model and expanded its feature set, leading to increased user friction and negative sentiment.

shifted

Monetization Model

declined

User Sentiment

added

Advanced Feature Set

shifted

Target Audience Focus

Cite this report

Marlvel.ai. “DNS Firewall by KeepSolid Intelligence Report.” Updated May 11, 2026. https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/productivity/dns-firewall-by-keepsolid

Agent Markdown (.md)·

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