9 Best Free DNS Servers to Boost Privacy and Speed
DNS is the little technology that comes into play every time one uses the web, but hardly anyone knows about it. It is the very reason you can type “google.com” to make a web search without knowing its server’s address. What happens is: DNS resolves its address for you, making it as easy as pie!
That means DNS is used almost every time you browse a website. Therefore, if the DNS is fast, you will enjoy fast browsing experience. Moreover, the DNS knows the websites you visit, hence posing a privacy threat as well.
That is why you need to select a superb DNS. Fortunately, there are multiple free services that offer one or both of the two — better online privacy and advanced speed. That is not all, a few of them also offers filter feature, malware protection, and more. Does it sound interesting? Then let me introduce you to the best “DNS Servers”.
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1.1.1.1 by Cloudflare
1.1.1.1, by Cloudflare and APNIC, is a free and privacy-focused DNS with super-fast global response time. It does not record your browsing data and promises to wipe off all its logs every day — good news for anyone concerned about privacy. I believe it is worth testing for any business or individual.
However, it is worth noting that 1.1.1.1 is a plain simple DNS with no blocking or filter features, unlike a few other services on this list like OpenDNS. Lastly, I like to quote its policy: “what you do on the Internet—it’s none of our business“.
| Primary DNS | Secondary DNS |
| 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 |
OpenDNS
OpenDNS, from Cisco, offers incredible speed with 100% uptime along with free anti-phishing and blocking features. It makes the internet safe and reliable for everyone — especially children — making it perfect for families and schools. Its OpenDNS Home provides customizable filtering and basic protection.
On the other hand, OpenDNS FamilyShield offers an independent solution for parents to filter and block adult content and even set up parental controls for their children as well. Moreover, its commercial plans for private users and small businesses offer usage statistics, whitelisting features, and much more.
| Primary DNS | Secondary DNS |
| 208.67.222.222 | 208.67.220.220 |
Google Public DNS
Google Public DNS, an offering from the search giant Google, is a fast DNS with high response time, though it is slower than 1.1.1.1 or OpenDNS. Google Public DNS offers high security, allowing a better browsing experience.
However, Google Public DNS does not offer the privacy promised by 1.1.1.1 since it does collect some identifiable information about you and your web activities. Though it offers some privacy features yet its systems do not get audited by a third-party auditor, unlike 1.1.1.1 that gets his systems audited by KPMG.
| Primary DNS | Secondary DNS |
| 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 |
Comodo Secure DNS
Comodo Secure DNS is another easy-to-set-up DNS that has a strong focus on your safety along with a 99% uptime guarantee. It is fast, however, it is slower than the above three DNSs. Moreover, it blocks access to malicious domains and phishing sites including parked domains overloaded with advertising.
Comodo Secure DNS has an extra layer of web filtering as well, making it a safer and smarter service over any default DNS. Although it is a reliable service with a promise for speed, it does not boast of any privacy protection.
| Primary DNS | Secondary DNS |
| 8.26.56.26 | 8.20.247.20 |
OpenNIC
OpenNIC is an open and democratic service with privacy-respecting features and almost 100% uptime. It is a user-owned and user-controlled service, so various user-owned public servers are available. However, the raw performance constantly fluctuates in comparison to the other options on this list.
OpenNIC is explicitly for you if you are concerned about censorship as its servers do not maintain logs. You can choose the server closest to your location or take its suggestions of most preferred servers. Lastly, it provides support for alternate top-level domains as well, which are not supported by ICANN.
[OpenNIC] Primary DNS and Secondary DNS: dynamic (check its website)
SafeDNS
SafeDNS offers fast and reliable internet with 99.97% uptime. Although it is slower than the top three options, it is faster than Comodo Secure DNS. What makes it special is it protects you from malware, phishing, etc.
Moreover, it offers a parental control system along with black/white lists and blocks unwanted ads as well. However, it is not free; you can try it free for 15 days, but then choose one of its two plans, which are appropriately featureful and priced depending on your usage requirements (home or office).
| Primary DNS | Secondary DNS |
| 195.46.39.39 | 195.46.39.40 |
DNS.WATCH
If you are seeking a fast and uncensored DNS, DNS.WATCH is an ideal match. It boasts of having the uptime of 100%. DNS.WATCH is very conscious about your privacy and security. It promises to neither log any queries nor capture and store any of your personal details — almost like 1.1.1.1 and OpenDNS.
What I liked about DNS.WATCH is, it favors net neutrality, unlike ISPs. That means you can browse any website — no domain or website is locked out of your reach. Last but not least, it is free to use for all users, unlike SafeDNS.
| Primary DNS | Secondary DNS |
| 84.200.69.80 | 84.200.70.40 |
DNS Advantage
DNS Advantage is an opt-in, recursive, cloud-delivered DNS by Neustar. Its free service is as good as OpenDNS and perfect for users who are looking for a reliable yet fast lookups while having access to all of the web. However, it does not feature any privacy protection, unlike 1.1.1.1 or OpenNIC.
What I find most interesting about DNS Advantage is, it provides a plethora of servers with varied features, allowing you to choose any per your needs. For example, its Family Secure DNS blocks all mature and violent content and its Threat Protection DNS offers a layer of protection against malicious sites.
| Primary DNS | Secondary DNS |
| 156.154.70.1 | 156.154.71.1 |
GreenTeamDNS
GreenTeamDNS may be the last option on this list, but it certainly is a fast and simple cloud-based DNS. You can customize the security — choose a level of security per your requirements. It helps you enjoy family-friendly internet by blocking adult content, malware, and malicious or phishing websites.
GreenTeamDNS lets you select the three security levels as well. You can include or exclude any of the 40+ categories of blockable content, blacklist or whitelist domains, set bypass passwords as well as view logs for your network. However, its free service is supported by an advertisement model, unfortunately.
| Primary DNS | Secondary DNS |
| 81.218.119.11 | 209.88.198.133 |
DNS Performance Matrix
| DNS Server | Quality | Speed | Uptime |
| 1.1.1.1 | 99.07% | 15.95 ms | 99.99% |
| OpenDNS | 99.97% | 24.89 ms | 99.98% |
| Google Public DNS | 99.97% | 43.46 ms | 99.98% |
| Comodo Secure DNS | 98.95% | 72.98 ms | 99.31% |
| OpenNIC | – | – | – |
| SafeDNS | 99.96% | 46.84 ms | 99.98% |
| DNS.WATCH | – | – | – |
| DNS Advantage | 99.94% | 46.19 ms | 99.99% |
| GreenTeamDNS | – | – | – |
That is all about the free yet equally superb DNS Servers. Which one is your favorite? Do you already use a custom DNS on your computer? Please write a comment below or tweet directly to @aksinghnet to share your experience.