BetterNext

_{If this project helps you, a coffee helps me keep working on it.}

BetterNext adds the controls that frequent NextDNS users keep reaching for. Review live queries, filter noisy logs, manage domains, compare profiles, and inspect private analytics from one focused interface.

Install from the Chrome Web Store · Download the current release · Privacy · Report a problem

See it in use

Fast controls beside the query log

The panel stays close to the work. It handles filters, exports, bulk list actions, saved views, and live refresh without replacing the NextDNS page.

A private analytics dashboard

Open the full dashboard when you need the larger picture. It summarizes query volume and compares top domains, blocked traffic, devices, and destination countries.

Screenshots use anonymized example data and the shipping extension UI.

What BetterNext adds

Area	What you can do
Live log review	Filter allowed or blocked queries, hide noise, run regex searches, save filter presets, stream new events, and export the visible result.
Domain actions	Add visible domains to an allowlist or denylist, perform rate-aware bulk deletion, inspect CNAME chains, and keep an action history.
Analytics	Read status totals, trends, protocols, query types, devices, countries, GAFAM activity, DNSSEC use, and encryption data. Export data as CSV or JSON.
Profile work	Import, clone, compare, patch, back up, and restore profiles. Cross-profile search and DNS rewrite controls are built in.
Personal workflow	Move or resize the panel, use condensed layouts, switch themes, highlight logs with regex rules, and schedule log downloads.
Alerts and lists	Send watched-domain events to approved HTTPS endpoints and manage HaGeZi TLD lists from the settings panel.

Install

Chrome or Edge

The easiest route is the Chrome Web Store listing.

To try the newest GitHub build:

1. Download BetterNext-Chrome-v3.7.1.zip from the latest release.
2. Extract the ZIP.
3. Open chrome://extensions in Chrome or edge://extensions in Edge.
4. Turn on Developer mode, choose Load unpacked, and select the extracted folder.
5. Open my.nextdns.io.

Firefox

Download BetterNext-Firefox-v3.7.1.zip from the latest release. Firefox 142 or newer is required. For temporary testing, open about:debugging, choose This Firefox, select Load Temporary Add-on, and pick manifest.json from the extracted package.

Userscript

The standalone userscript is available at userscript/BetterNext.user.js. Install it with Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey. The NDNS project carries the broader userscript-focused distribution.

Connect a profile

1. Install BetterNext and open any page at my.nextdns.io.
2. Follow the API key helper to the account page, or paste an existing key manually.
3. Choose whether the key should survive a browser restart. Leaving this off keeps it in the current browser session.
4. Open the dashboard from the extension's options page, or work from the panel beside your NextDNS logs.

Your API key is sent only to api.nextdns.io for the requests you make. Session storage is the default. Persistent local storage is opt-in, and the settings panel includes clear and export controls for locally held data.

BetterNext has no advertising, telemetry, or developer-operated data service. See the full privacy statement for the direct services used by optional list, threat-check, and webhook features.

Permissions, in plain language

Permission	Why BetterNext needs it
storage	Saves interface preferences, filter presets, profile references, and an API key only when persistent storage is enabled.
clipboardWrite	Copies domains and exported data when you choose a copy action.
alarms	Runs scheduled log downloads.
contextMenus	Adds relevant extension actions to the browser context menu.
notifications	Reports scheduled task results and actionable failures.
my.nextdns.io	Places the BetterNext panel inside the NextDNS dashboard.
api.nextdns.io	Sends profile and analytics requests directly to NextDNS.
Optional HTTPS host access	Granted per host only after you approve a webhook destination.

The manifests also allow read-only requests to the project's update source and URLhaus for the list and threat-intelligence features.

Browser support

Browser	Package	Notes
Chrome	Manifest V3	Primary store distribution.
Microsoft Edge	Chrome package	Load the unpacked Chrome build or install from the Chrome Web Store where permitted.
Firefox 142+	Firefox Manifest V3	Uses Firefox's built-in data-use disclosure and a background script package built from manifest.firefox.json.
Other browsers	Userscript	Use Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey where supported.

Build and verify locally

The project has no runtime dependencies. Node.js is used for tests and deterministic release packaging.

npm test
npm run verify
npm run build

npm run build writes fresh Chrome, Firefox, and userscript artifacts to dist/. The verification command checks JavaScript syntax, manifest consistency, package contents, and version alignment.

Project layout

BetterNext/
  assets/                 Brand files, screenshots, and archived concepts
  icons/                  Browser toolbar icons
  tests/                  Security, service worker, and source smoke tests
  userscript/             Standalone userscript distribution
  background.js           Extension service worker
  content.js              Injected panel, analytics, and profile tools
  early-inject.js         Theme setup before the NextDNS page paints
  manifest.json           Chrome and Edge package manifest
  manifest.firefox.json   Firefox package manifest source
  options.html            Full-page analytics dashboard
  security.js             Shared validation and safety helpers

License

MIT. BetterNext is an independent project and is not affiliated with NextDNS.