DNS (Domain Name System) is the phonebook of the internet. When you type an address like google.com, your device asks a DNS server for the numeric IP address it needs to connect. Without DNS you would have to remember long strings of numbers to visit websites.
Before your device opens a website, it asks a DNS server for directions. Croton is that server. When a site is on a list you've chosen to block, Croton doesn't give directions, so your device never connects. This works in every app and browser on the device, not just one.
Malware and phishing sites, ads and trackers, adult content and gambling are blocked at all times when turned on. Social media, gaming, streaming, dating and AI chatbots can be blocked always or outside the hours you choose. You can also allow or block individual domains.
No. Because ads and trackers are blocked before they load, pages often render faster and use less data. Croton's servers are built for low latency, so the lookup itself adds no noticeable delay.
Any device that lets you set an encrypted DNS server: Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome and Firefox, and routers that support DNS over TLS or HTTPS. You can set it up on each device or on a supported router to cover the whole network.
Croton only sees the domain names your device looks up, such as example.com, never the specific pages you visit or anything you send or receive. Your query history is stored privately in your account, and it is never sold or shared with third parties.
First check that Croton is set as the DNS server on that device; the setup guide covers each platform. If it is, the device may be using an address it saved earlier. Clear the browser cache, or wait a few minutes for the saved address to expire.
Yes. Add it to the profile's allow list in the console. Allowed domains always load, whatever categories are blocked.
If Croton can't be reached, your device can't look up websites and they won't load. You can add a fallback DNS server in your device settings, such as your ISP's default, to take over if Croton is unavailable.
Because Croton works at the DNS level, before any connection is made, it applies to every app on the device. Ads inside apps, in-app trackers and connections to blocked domains are all stopped, whichever app makes them.
Open a site that your profile blocks. If it fails to load on that device, Croton is filtering its traffic.
Ready to set up a device? Follow the setup guide.