You need to select your service thoughtfully—not all providers will necessarily outperform your ISP—but to guide you in the right direction, this article will showcase four of the top DNS servers available.
Cloudflare
Primary, secondary DNS servers: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
Best recognized for its highly-rated CDN, Cloudflare has expanded its services to include a public DNS option, aptly named 1.1.1.1.
Key Features:
- Performance: Cloudflare emphasizes speed, and independent benchmarks from platforms like DNSPerf confirm it as the fastest public DNS service globally.
- Privacy: A standout feature, Cloudflare guarantees that it won’t exploit your browsing data for ads and ensures your IP address is never written to disk. Logs are purged within 24 hours. To back this up, Cloudflare partners with KPMG for annual audits, publicly confirming its adherence to privacy promises.
- Setup Guidance: The 1.1.1.1 site provides easy-to-follow setup tutorials for platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and routers. Although somewhat generalized (e.g., one guide for all Windows versions), they cover IPv6 and IPv4, making it straightforward for most users. Mobile users can also leverage WARP, which encrypts all internet traffic on their devices.
- Optional Filtering: While Cloudflare doesn’t block ads or restrict access, it offers optional content filtering for malware (1.1.1.2/1.0.0.2) and adult content (1.1.1.3/1.0.0.3) for users who prefer added security.
- Community Support: Users encountering issues can access a community forum to ask questions and exchange insights—a valuable resource that other DNS providers would benefit from adopting.
Cloudflare’s public DNS service offers a blend of speed, privacy, and optional features, making it a compelling choice for users seeking reliable internet performance without compromising privacy.
Google Public DNS
Primary, secondary DNS servers: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
Google Public DNS is a straightforward and efficient alternative to your ISP’s nameservers, providing reliable performance and accessibility.
Key Features:
- Privacy: While not as strict as Cloudflare’s “no logs” approach, Google Public DNS maintains a reasonable balance.
- Short-term logs: Full IP addresses of querying devices are retained for 24–48 hours for diagnostics.
- Long-term logs: Personally identifiable details are removed, with location data reduced to city level. Most logs are deleted after two weeks, except for a small random sample retained for analysis.
- Transparency: Google offers an in-depth explanation of what its service logs, enabling tech-savvy users to evaluate the privacy policy’s implications comprehensively.
- Configuration Guidance: The support site is minimal and geared toward advanced users, advising only those confident in modifying OS settings to proceed. Beginners may need to consult external tutorials, such as those from OpenDNS, while substituting Google’s nameservers (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) in the instructions.
Google Public DNS strikes a good balance between simplicity and robust functionality, appealing to users who value performance and are comfortable navigating basic technical configurations.
Gcore
Best for tech enthusiasts
Gcore, formerly G-Core Labs, is a globally recognized internet infrastructure provider known for its record-setting capabilities. It specializes in cloud and edge computing solutions, particularly for the entertainment and media industries, catering to users with a strong technological inclination.
Key Features:
- Customizable Server Options:
- Server Configurator: An intuitive tool that enables easy customization of dedicated and virtual servers.
- Pre-configured Options: For users who prefer simplicity, Gcore provides ready-to-use dedicated or virtual servers, eliminating the need for technical expertise.
- Broad Compatibility: Gcore’s services are OS-agnostic, supporting both IPv4 and IPv6. Additionally, they offer SSL certificates from leading providers for enhanced security.
- Pricing Complexity:
- Pre-priced Servers: These bare-metal servers may include additional costs depending on user needs.
- Custom Configurations: Pricing for customized servers involves detailed tables and extra fees if allowances are exceeded. This structure could benefit from greater transparency and simplicity.
- Infrastructure Strength: With a solid international infrastructure, Gcore ensures reliability and scalability, making it ideal for businesses requiring robust virtual or dedicated servers.
Ideal Use Cases:
Gcore is well-suited for users seeking high-performance server solutions backed by a strong global presence. However, prospective customers should be comfortable navigating a more complex pricing model.
OpenDNS
Primary, secondary DNS servers: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
OpenDNS, founded in 2005 and now part of Cisco, is one of the leading public DNS providers, handling an impressive 620 billion DNS queries daily.
Key Features:
- Free Services:
- OpenDNS Basic: Offers reliable DNS resolution with a claimed 100% uptime since 2006, plus anti-phishing and configurable content filtering.
- OpenDNS Family Shield: A preconfigured service that blocks adult content, ideal for users who want simplicity without manual adjustments.
- Paid Plans: Starting at $19.95 per year, these plans offer:
- Advanced parental controls, including website-specific access restrictions.
- A browsing history feature for monitoring internet activity.
While useful, dedicated parental control apps might offer more robust features for a comparable price.
- Ease of Use:
- Advanced Users: OpenDNS is straightforward for those familiar with changing DNS settings, requiring only the use of its nameservers.
- Beginners: Comprehensive setup guides are available for PCs, Macs, mobile devices, routers, and more, ensuring accessibility for all experience levels.
Ideal For:
OpenDNS is an excellent choice for users seeking a free, reliable DNS service with additional filtering options or those wanting basic parental controls without investing in standalone software.
Whether a free DNS service is worth it depends on your specific needs. While free DNS services can be sufficient for basic browsing and small-scale needs, premium DNS services offer significant advantages for users who require higher performance, enhanced security, and advanced features.
Pros of Free DNS:
- Cost: Ideal for users on a budget or with minimal requirements.
- Simplicity: Often straightforward to set up and use.
- Reliability: Many free services (e.g., Google Public DNS, OpenDNS) provide stable and fast resolution for everyday browsing.
Advantages of Premium DNS:
- Improved Performance and Security: Paid services typically offer faster response times, better uptime, and advanced protection against threats like DDoS attacks.
- Dynamic DNS: Enables users with dynamic IPs to access their home networks or devices from anywhere in the world.
- Secondary DNS: Acts as a backup DNS system, ensuring availability even if the primary server encounters issues.
- Additional Features: Depending on the provider, features may include traffic analytics, custom domain management, and tailored content filtering.
Who Should Consider Premium DNS?
- Businesses or e-commerce platforms: Where reliability, speed, and security are critical.
- Tech-savvy individuals: Who require advanced tools like Dynamic DNS for remote access.
- Anyone needing scalability: Premium DNS is better suited for managing high traffic or complex configurations.
Conclusion:
Free DNS services are great for casual users, but premium DNS is worth considering if you need advanced capabilities, enhanced performance, and robust security. The choice depends on the importance of these factors for your specific use case.