How much does Cisco Umbrella cost?

DNS Security Essentials plan costs US $43.92 per user per year according to AWS Marketplace, while Cyber Assess Valydex reports entry-level DNS-only pricing starting at around US $2.25 per user per month on an annual contract. Additional industry sources, including UnderDefense, indicate that higher-tier packages with expanded features typically range from US$4 to US$8+ per user per month.

Cisco Umbrella does not publish its pricing on its website, making it difficult to find transparent or standardised costs. However, we have sourced indicative pricing from several independent and reputable third-party references. Overall, the pricing of WebTitan and Cisco Umbrella can vary depending on the number of users and the length of the subscription. Both offer a range of features and services that can affect the overall cost. However, in general, WebTitan tends to be more affordable than Cisco Umbrella for smaller organizations or those with fewer users.

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Why is pricing transparency important?

Pricing transparency matters because it allows MSPs to accurately forecast costs, protect their profit margins, and build scalable service packages with confidence. Transparent pricing also speeds up quoting, reduces sales friction, and prevents operational issues caused by hidden fees or unexpected billing changes. In short, it shows a vendor’s commitment to supporting MSP success.

Pricing transparency helps MSPs build scalable service packages and avoid operational headaches caused by hidden fees or billing surprises. It strengthens trust with clients by making it easier to justify markups and explain the value of services. It also prevents vendor lock-in and supports better long-term planning. Overall, transparent pricing gives MSPs the control and predictability they need to run a profitable business.

TitanHQ offers transparent, MSP-friendly pricing. Our special bundle pricing enables MSPs to increase margins as they grow. All bundles are highly customizable - MSPs can modify bundles by adding components with flexible pricing based on specific needs and volumes.

Key TitanHQ differentiators include:

• Transparent pricing with flexible bundle options
• One contract, one support path, one roadmap, one Account Manager
• Dedicated Account Manager for strategy and pricing
• Quarterly account reviews with data-driven insights
• Personal support where somebody actually picks up the phone

Other vendors hide pricing with massive increases. They quote-only pricing ranges based on estimates, but the real issue is massive year-over-year price increases that destroy margin predictability and ultimately profitability.

View WebTitan Pricing & Request Your Official Quote

How do you choose a DNS filtering (also known as a web filtering) solution?

To choose a DNS (web) filtering solution, start by focusing on the core needs of your organization or your customers, particularly their security requirements, remote-user support needs, compliance needs, and ease of management. Compare vendors based on threat protection, features, policy controls, reporting, integrations, performance, independent reviews, and pricing transparency.

Then:

• Schedule a demo
• Run a short trial

This two-step approach helps validate real-world effectiveness, usability, and compatibility with your environment. Ultimately, the most important factors are security effectiveness, ease of use, cost, customer support, and integration capabilities to ensure the solution meets your needs.

This article examines Cisco Umbrella DNS, a component of the broader Cisco Umbrella suite of security tools. We’ll also compare this solution with TitanHQ’s WebTitan, another web filtering solution growing in popularity among managed service providers and SMB IT departments.

What is Cisco Umbrella?

Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-delivered DNS layer security that acts as a first line of defence for networks, users, and devices whether on-network or roaming. Cisco Umbrella protects against internet threats, such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. It functions as a DNS (Domain Name System) security service, creating a protective layer between devices and the internet. Its primary role is to prevent users from accessing malicious websites and online resources.

Think of Cisco Umbrella as a secure internet gateway built to detect malicious traffic before it accesses corporate resources. Cisco Umbrella runs in the cloud and can be integrated into any environment. As traffic reaches the Cisco Umbrella internet gateway, the technology analyzes it and determines if it’s malicious and should be blocked.

Cisco Umbrella provides a range of security features, including web filtering, threat intelligence, and malware protection, all delivered from the cloud. The platform can be deployed across devices, networks, and platforms, making it a flexible solution for organizations of all sizes. Additionally, Umbrella can be integrated with other Cisco security solutions, such as the Cisco Security Suite and Cisco AMP for Endpoints.

What's new in Cisco Umbrella announcements?

Cisco Umbrella has made various announcements, including the End of Life for legacy pricing and mandatory transitions to other products. The latest development is the impending End-of-Life for the Cisco Umbrella Roaming Client. Software maintenance will end on April 2, 2025. No patches or maintenance releases will be provided for Umbrella Roaming Client after that date. For users with the Roaming Client installed, migration to Cisco Secure Client is unavoidable; this means potential price increases and labor-intensive client replacements.

This Cisco Umbrella Roaming Client End-of-Life left many users uncertain about their next steps and exploring alternative DNS protection. Whether considering the fate of Cisco Umbrella Roaming Clients or contemplating a switch, now is the opportune moment to transition to a reliable protective DNS solution.

If you are considering migration, consider WebTitan as a trustworthy and affordable alternative. WebTitan DNS filter is the number one Cisco Umbrella alternative on the market, specializing in protecting managed service providers and small to medium-sized businesses from advanced security threats, such as malware, phishing, viruses, ransomware, malicious sites, and malicious content, at the source. 

What Our Customers Who Have Migrated From Cisco Umbrella to WebTitan Say: 

Overall, our ability to spot and remediate security issues has improved greatly. We can block malicious activity, protect the network and users, and safely manage web usage across the organization.

Todd Russell, IT Director.

When we decided to trial WebTitan, we were happily surprised. Straightaway, we dropped Cisco Umbrella and moved to WebTitan, which impresses us daily.

Ryan Lochhead, Technical Director.

What is the difference between Cisco Umbrella and Cisco Umbrella DNS?

Cisco Umbrella DNS is the DNS-layer security component of Cisco Umbrella, focused on blocking malicious domains, phishing, and basic web filtering at the DNS level. It’s lightweight, fast to deploy, and typically the most affordable option. The full Cisco Umbrella platform includes DNS protection but adds advanced capabilities such as a secure web gateway, cloud-delivered firewall, CASB, and DLP. In short, Umbrella DNS is the foundational layer, while Cisco Umbrella is the complete cloud security suite.

Cisco Umbrella DNS: This plan offers only the DNS security service component of the Cisco Umbrella platform. The DNS feature protects your environment during the DNS lookup process in a web request. Users with access to the public internet benefit the most from this product. It protects against threats on the internet, including malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks. This plan suits small businesses requiring a simple and effective DNS security solution.

Cisco Umbrella Professional: This plan offers more advanced security features, including web filtering, cloud-delivered firewall, and threat intelligence. Cisco’s security researcher, Talos, builds threat intelligence. Cisco Talos is a dedicated threat intelligence team that constantly searches the web for new threats. New research is then built into Cisco Umbrella Professional. It protects users on and off the corporate network and is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Cisco Umbrella Insights: This plan offers more extensive threat intelligence and visibility, allowing organizations to gain insight into threats and potential risks to their network. It also includes customizable reports, API access, and integrations with other security solutions. For organizations with remote users or several employees who travel for work, Insights gives you better access to information to detect potential threats.

Cisco Umbrella Secure Internet Gateway: This plan offers a comprehensive cloud-delivered secure internet gateway that combines the features of Cisco Umbrella Professional and Cisco Umbrella Insights. It provides advanced threat protection, secure access to cloud applications, and a secure web gateway to protect users online. Cisco’s internet gateway benefits organizations that want to consolidate multiple appliances without compromising cloud-based security and analytics for further review.

Are special plans/pricing available for managed service providers?

Yes. Cisco Umbrella offers MSP-specific pricing for partners who meet its eligibility requirements and sign a formal partner agreement. Once approved, MSPs gain access to discounted licensing and can resell Umbrella to their customers. While the program is established, pricing structures can be rigid, and support availability varies depending on the partner tier.

WebTitan also provides dedicated MSP pricing, but with far greater flexibility, transparency, and predictability. Its MSP program includes adaptable pricing models, generous volume discounts, and MSP-friendly bundled plans that protect margins year-round.

What sets WebTitan apart?

• Personalized relationships
• Direct access to support
• A responsive vendor partnership
• The level of attention that MSPs often struggle to achieve from larger providers like Cisco.

WebTitan’s cloud-based management console makes it simple for MSPs to deploy, manage, and monitor hundreds of customer environments from a single dashboard, with centralised reporting and analytics built in. This ease of management allows MSPs to deliver stronger security outcomes while reducing operational overhead.

How does Cisco Umbrella compare to WebTitan?

WebTitan and Cisco Umbrella DNS are both DNS-based security solutions that protect against internet threats like malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Here are some of the key differences between the two solutions:

Features: Both solutions offer DNS-based security, but WebTitan primarily focuses on web filtering, threat intelligence, and URL categorization. Higher-tier Cisco Umbrella DNS plans can also include secure access to cloud applications and a cloud-delivered firewall.

Deployment: Cisco Umbrella and WebTitan are both cloud-based solutions, meaning they can be deployed quickly and easily across devices, networks, and platforms without any additional hardware or software.

Pricing: The pricing for the two solutions varies depending on the number of users and features required. However, WebTitan is generally more cost-effective than Cisco Umbrella DNS. Check both vendors before determining your budget for web security and filtering.

Why are more MSPs and IT departments turning to WebTitans threat intelligence? 

More MSPs and IT departments are turning to WebTitan’s threat intelligence because it delivers enterprise-grade protection in a solution that’s purpose-built for simplicity, speed, and MSP scalability. WebTitan’s threat intelligence is continuously updated, highly accurate, and designed to block emerging threats at the DNS layer before they reach networks or endpoints. Additionally, WebTitan offers robust MSP enablement resources, including onboarding, training, marketing materials, and industry-leading technical support. Its customer service consistently ranks among the best in the market, ensuring MSPs always have fast, expert help when deploying or troubleshooting.

MSPs also value its transparent pricing, easy multi-tenant management, and the ability to deploy protection across hundreds of clients with minimal overhead. Combined with responsive, accessible support and a partner-first approach, WebTitan provides a level of agility and reliability that larger vendors often struggle to match.

WebTitan DNS filtering provides several critical protective measures. One of the most important is the ability to block access to malicious and compromised websites that are considered "objectionable" sites, such as those hosting content related to pornography, violence, terrorism, and other inappropriate content. As an AI-enabled web filter, WebTitan augments conventional DNS filtering techniques to detect emerging threats.

WebTitan DNS Filtering is an ideal solution for many businesses and organizations, with essential advantages including the following:

• Lightweight
• Fast
• Scalable
• Premium and enterprise-level offering
• Offers advanced flexibility for policy management and customization.

Because every organization operates differently, with its own unique requirements, cultural norms, and web browsing habits, WebTitan DNS Filtering allows IT teams to support custom-tailored configurations.

One of the most significant advantages of WebTitan DNS Filtering is its use of multiple layers of protection, including machine learning, to proactively block access to potentially harmful websites.

Breakdown of WebTitan’s Advanced Threat Intelligence:

• Real-time URL threat protection powered by 650 million end users and growing.
• Our real-time Database contains 3 million malicious URLs, phishing sites, and IP addresses.
• Every single day, we identify 100,000 NEW malicious threats and URLs. 
• Real-time categorization and Malicious Detection for Domains, Full-Path URLs, and IPs
• Crowd-sourced coverage and protection powered by over ​650​ million end users
• Industry-leading ​99.9% Coverage​ and over ​99% Accuracy​ of ActiveWeb URLs & IPs
• 100%​ coverage of the Top 1 million most visited websites (ActiveWeb)
• Highly granular categories, which include malicious, objectionable, and topic-based groups
• 10​ ​Malicious​ categories, including Botnet, Phishing/Fraud, Malware Distribution Point, Command and Control, Cryptocurrency Mining, Ad Fraud, and more.
• Malicious URLs are revisited daily to determine whether infected, abandoned, or cleaned. This ensures our malicious database stays as “fresh” and accurate as possible.
• Support for over ​200 ​languages.
• Real-time continuous updates​ provide up-to-the-minute protection against newly identified malicious sources.

WebTitan and Cisco Umbrella on the G2 grid

The G2 Grid for Secure Web Gateways and Cloud Security is a software and services review platform that ranks and rates technology solutions based on user reviews and feedback. The G2 Grid report ranks the top secure web gateway and cloud security solutions based on user satisfaction, market presence, and other vital factors.

The G2 Grid ranks solutions in each category based on user satisfaction ratings and market presence. Based on user reviews, solutions are rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with higher ratings indicating higher user satisfaction. The report provides additional information on each solution, including features, pricing, and customer support.

WebTitan and Cisco Umbrella compare as follows in the Winter 2023 G2 Grids:

• In the Mid-Market Grid® for Secure Web Gateways, WebTitan scored ~10% higher than Cisco Umbrella.
• In the Momentum Grid® Report for Secure Web Gateways, WebTitan is listed as a Momentum Leader and shows a higher projected growth rate than the Cisco alternative.
• In the Grid® for Secure Web Gateways, WebTitan scored within ~5% of Cisco Umbrella on satisfaction-ranked performance.

View the Grids at G2

Why do I need DNS filtering?

DNS filtering is essential because it blocks threats before they ever reach your network or employees’ devices. It prevents access to malicious websites, phishing pages, and harmful content, significantly reducing the risk of ransomware and data breaches. It also helps enforce acceptable-use policies, protects remote workers, and adds a strong layer of security without complex hardware or large IT teams. In short, DNS filtering is one of the simplest and most effective ways for SMBs to strengthen their cybersecurity.

DNS Filtering is Essential for Several Reasons:

Protection Against Malware: DNS filtering can prevent users from accessing websites that are known to distribute malware, viruses, or other malicious content. By blocking connections to these sites, DNS filtering can help protect devices and networks from infection and damage.

Phishing Protection: DNS filtering can help prevent phishing attacks by blocking website connections designed to steal user credentials or sensitive information. By identifying and stopping these malicious sites, DNS filtering can help prevent users from falling victim to phishing scams.

Content Filtering: DNS filtering can block access to inappropriate or unwanted content, such as adult websites, gambling sites, or social media sites. This can help enforce internet usage policies and prevent users from accessing content that could be harmful or distracting.

Compliance: DNS filtering can help organizations comply with industry-specific regulations and standards by blocking access to websites that are known to violate these requirements. For example, healthcare organizations can use DNS filtering to block access to websites that violate HIPAA regulations. In contrast, financial institutions can use DNS filtering to block access to websites that violate PCI DSS requirements.

Improved Network Performance: DNS filtering can improve network performance by blocking connections to websites that consume excessive bandwidth or are known to be slow or unreliable. By optimizing internet usage, DNS filtering can help improve network speed and reliability.

Ransomware Protection: Users requesting access to known ransomware hosts will be blocked using DNS-based filtering. WebTitan's cloud-based filters also block sites known for hosting malware, including ransomware and other malicious content.

Overall, DNS filtering is essential for organizations looking to protect their devices and networks from security threats, enforce internet usage policies, and comply with industry regulations and standards.

Ready to try out WebTitan from TitanHQ?

If you’re considering trying WebTitan, we’d love to help you get started! You can begin with a free demo, allowing you to experience our feature set firsthand, including:

• DNS Security: WebTitan offers a range of security features, such as DNS filtering, content filtering, malware protection, and phishing protection.
• Pricing: WebTitan offers flexible pricing options based on your needs, and it may be more cost-effective than other solutions depending on your requirements.
• Ease of Use: WebTitan is known for its easy-to-use interface and intuitive navigation, which can save you time and simplify the management of your web filtering and security solution.
• Support: WebTitan supports its customers through various channels such as email, phone, and online chat. Additionally, their customer support is available 24/7, which can be helpful if you encounter any issues. Our support team is rock solid and responsive. We routinely receive great feedback (98% customer satisfaction) for our post-sales support.
• Integration: WebTitan integrates with various other security solutions and platforms, such as Active Directory, to provide a comprehensive security solution.
• Sales, Billing and Support: Easy, simple billing. Easy to adjust user counts, etc, with no hassle. Easy to set up new clients with basic policies/deployments. 

Choose WebTitan if you want affordable, predictable pricing without significant increases, and if you are an SMB/SME or an MSP serving that market. In today's MSP reality, success comes from vendors who make it really easy - with exceptional flexibility, personal support, and platforms purpose-built for the channel.

WebTitan is the number one Cisco Umbrella alternative today. Book a demo with one of our experienced security experts, who will show you why it is the best choice for protecting against malware, phishing, ransomware, data breaches, and more.