DNS Speed Test

Does DNS Affect Gaming?

Let us get this out of the way: DNS does not lower your ping. If you are getting 60 ms latency in Valorant, switching from your ISP default to Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is not going to change that number. Once your game connects to a server, every packet travels on a direct path — DNS has nothing to do with it. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.

But here is where DNS actually matters for gamers:

Initial connection speed. When you launch a game and it reaches out to its authentication servers, CDNs, and matchmaking services, DNS is what resolves all those hostnames. A slow DNS resolver adds latency before you even see the main menu. If your DNS takes 80 ms per lookup and the game makes 10 initial connections, you are waiting an extra 800 milliseconds just to get started. That adds up.

Matchmaking and store lookups. Games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty constantly hit external services — matchmaking servers, the in-game store, patch servers, friends lists, leaderboards. Each of these requires DNS lookups. A faster resolver means these requests complete faster, which translates to snappier menus, quicker matchmaking, and less waiting.

Patch and download speed. When you download a 50 GB game update, your console or PC first needs to resolve the download server hostname. DNS resolution happens once at the start, so a fast resolver gets you downloading sooner. It will not increase your actual bandwidth, but it removes a small delay at the beginning.

CDN routing. This is the part most people overlook. Many games use CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) to serve assets, and your DNS resolver determines which CDN edge server you connect to. A good resolver routes you to the geographically closest server. A bad one might point you to a server on another continent, adding real latency to game asset loading. This is where DNS can tangibly affect your experience.

The honest answer is this: DNS is not a magic lag fix. It will not transform a 100 ms connection into a 20 ms one. But it removes friction at every step of the gaming experience — from launch to matchmaking to downloading. For competitive gamers who care about every millisecond, it is worth optimizing.

What DNS Matters for Gaming

Not all DNS metrics matter equally for gaming. Here is what to actually pay attention to:

p95 latency, not average. Most DNS comparisons focus on average response time, but for gaming, p95 matters more. P95 means 95% of your DNS lookups complete within this time. If a resolver has a 15 ms average but occasionally spikes to 200 ms, that spike happens during your gaming session and causes a noticeable hitch. You want a resolver with low p95 — consistent performance, not just fast on average.

Geographic proximity. The physical distance between you and the DNS resolver directly impacts latency. A resolver with servers in your region will always be faster than one without. This is why anycast networks (where multiple servers share the same IP address and traffic is routed to the nearest one) dominate gaming DNS. Cloudflare, Google, and Quad9 all use anycast.

Uptime reliability. A DNS outage during a ranked match is not just annoying — it can cost you SR, XP, or progress. Choose a resolver with a proven uptime track record. Cloudflare, Google, and Quad9 all maintain near-perfect uptime. Smaller resolvers may have occasional outages that affect your gaming.

Encrypted DNS support. DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT) encrypt your DNS queries so your ISP cannot see what games you are playing or throttle gaming traffic. Some ISPs do throttle gaming-related traffic during peak hours, and encrypted DNS prevents that. All five recommendations below support DoH and DoT.

The bottom line: prioritize low p95 latency and geographic proximity. Average speed is nice, but consistency is what matters when you are in a competitive match.

Top 5 DNS Servers for Gaming

#1 — Cloudflare 1.1.1.1

Average speed: ~11 ms | p95 latency: ~18 ms | Best for: Lowest latency | Cost: Free

Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is the fastest public DNS resolver available, and it is not particularly close. It responds in roughly 11 milliseconds on average, and its p95 latency — the worst-case scenario that actually matters for gaming — is around 18 ms. For comparison, that p95 is better than what most competitors manage on average.

The secret is Cloudflare's infrastructure: resolver nodes in over 300 cities across 100+ countries, all connected to their massive anycast network. When you send a DNS query, it hits the nearest Cloudflare node, which means minimal physical distance and minimal latency. For gaming, this translates to faster game launches, snappier matchmaking, and quicker connection to game servers.

Cloudflare does not block anything by default, which is actually what you want for gaming. Some DNS resolvers with aggressive filtering can accidentally block game-related domains or CDN endpoints, causing connection issues. 1.1.1.1 gives you raw speed without interference.

Privacy is solid. Zero query logging, annual KPMG audits, and DNS-over-HTTPS support out of the box. Your gaming DNS queries are encrypted, which prevents ISP throttling and keeps your gaming habits private.

IPs: 1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1 | DoH: https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query | DoT: 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com

Visit 1.1.1.1 · How to set up

#2 — Google Public DNS 8.8.8.8

Average speed: ~20 ms | p95 latency: ~30 ms | Best for: Reliability | Cost: Free

Google Public DNS is the old reliable of the DNS world. Running since 2009, it has one of the best uptime records of any internet service. For gaming, reliability matters — a DNS outage during a ranked match is the last thing you need. Google has the engineering resources to maintain near-perfect uptime regardless of traffic spikes or DDoS attacks.

Speed is good at around 20 ms average, which is slightly slower than Cloudflare but still excellent for gaming. In parts of Asia-Pacific — particularly Japan, South Korea, and Singapore — Google sometimes edges out Cloudflare due to its peering relationships with local ISPs. If you are gaming in that region, it is worth testing both.

Google does log DNS queries temporarily (24 to 48 hours) for debugging, then anonymizes the data. This is not zero-logging, but Google does not sell DNS data to advertisers. For gaming, the temporary logging is unlikely to be a concern unless you have strict privacy requirements.

IPs: 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4 | DoH: https://dns.google/dns-query | DoT: dns.google

Visit Google Public DNS · How to set up

#3 — Quad9 9.9.9.9

Average speed: ~19 ms | p95 latency: ~25 ms | Best for: Security + speed | Cost: Free

Quad9 is the DNS resolver you want when you want protection without thinking about it. Run by a Swiss nonprofit, it blocks known-malicious domains by default using threat intelligence from over 25 sources. This is particularly useful for gamers who download mods, custom maps, or third-party gaming tools — the kind of files that are often vectors for malware.

Speed is competitive at roughly 19 ms average, which is in the same range as Google. In parts of Europe, especially Germany and Switzerland, Quad9 often beats both Cloudflare and Google on latency due to its strong European presence. It has over 200 anycast locations worldwide.

For gaming specifically, Quad9's security blocking is a net positive. It does not block game-related domains — it only blocks confirmed malicious sites. This means you get protection from phishing scams and malware-laden gaming sites without any risk of it interfering with your games. DNSSEC validation also ensures that the DNS responses you receive have not been tampered with.

IPs: 9.9.9.9, 149.112.112.112 | DoH: https://dns.quad9.net/dns-query | DoT: dns.quad9.net

Visit Quad9 · How to set up

#4 — NextDNS

Average speed: ~15 ms | p95 latency: ~22 ms | Best for: Customization | Cost: Free tier (300K queries/mo), paid from $0.99/mo

NextDNS is the power user's choice for gaming DNS. It gives you a full dashboard where you can toggle exactly what gets blocked: ads, trackers, specific domains, specific categories. For gamers, this is useful for blocking in-game ads in free-to-play titles, preventing telemetry data collection by game publishers, and filtering out malicious domains while keeping game services untouched.

Speed is excellent at around 15 ms average, which puts it between Cloudflare and Google. NextDNS has an anycast network with nodes in 30+ locations and supports DoH, DoT, and DoQ (DNS over QUIC). The free tier includes 300,000 queries per month, which is enough for most individual gamers.

The real gaming advantage of NextDNS is per-device profiles. You can create a profile for your gaming console that blocks ads and trackers, while keeping a separate profile for your work laptop that does not interfere with corporate services. This level of control is unique among DNS providers.

Setup: Create an account at nextdns.io, get your unique DoH/DoT endpoint, and configure your devices. Visit NextDNS · How to set up

#5 — AdGuard DNS

Average speed: ~18 ms | p95 latency: ~26 ms | Best for: Ad blocking | Cost: Free (unlimited queries), paid for advanced features

AdGuard DNS is built specifically for ad and tracker blocking. Set it up on your gaming console or PC, and every game, launcher, and browser stops loading advertisements. This matters for free-to-play games where ads eat bandwidth and CPU cycles, and for game launchers that bombard you with promotional content.

Speed is strong at around 18 ms average. AdGuard operates an anycast network with good global coverage and supports both DoH and DoT. The free tier includes unlimited queries with basic ad and tracker blocking. The paid tier adds more filter lists, parental controls, and custom rules.

AdGuard offers three variants: the standard server (ads and trackers blocked), the family server (also blocks adult content), and the non-filtering server (no blocking, just fast resolution). For gaming, the standard server is the right pick. It blocks ads without interfering with game services, CDNs, or matchmaking servers. The main limitation is that DNS-level ad blocking cannot handle first-party ads served from the same domain as the content, so in-game ads embedded by the developer may still appear.

IPs: 94.140.14.14, 94.140.15.15 | DoH: https://dns.adguard-dns.com/dns-query

Visit AdGuard DNS · How to set up

DNS for Console Gaming

Changing DNS on a console is straightforward, but the process differs by platform. Here is what you need to know for each.

PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 4

Go to Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or LAN), press the options button, and choose Advanced Settings. Scroll to DNS Settings, switch from Automatic to Manual, and enter your preferred primary and secondary DNS addresses. Save and test the connection.

PlayStation consoles use DNS for PlayStation Network authentication, game downloads from PSN servers, and trophy/friends list syncing. A fast DNS speeds up the initial connection to PSN and makes the console feel snappier when navigating the store or launching online games.

Xbox Series X/S / Xbox One

Go to Settings > Network > Network Settings > Advanced Settings > DNS Settings. Switch from Automatic to Manual, enter your primary and secondary DNS, and save. Xbox then runs a connection test to verify everything works.

Xbox consoles are particularly sensitive to DNS quality because Microsoft services rely heavily on DNS-based routing. A good DNS can reduce the time it takes to connect to Xbox Live, join parties, and access Game Pass content. Xbox also uses DNS for its built-in web browser, so faster DNS improves web browsing on the console as well.

Nintendo Switch

Go to System Settings > Internet > Internet Settings. Select your network, choose Change Settings, scroll to DNS Settings, switch to Manual, and enter your DNS addresses. Save and test the connection.

The Switch is the most DNS-sensitive console because of its limited hardware. Nintendo's online services are notoriously slow, and a fast DNS helps reduce connection times to the eShop, Nintendo Switch Online, and multiplayer matchmaking. Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is the most commonly recommended DNS for Switch owners who want faster online performance.

Router-Level Setup (All Consoles)

The best approach for multi-console households is changing DNS at the router level. This affects every device on your network without requiring per-device configuration. Log into your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), find the DNS settings under WAN or Internet, and replace the default DNS with your preferred resolver. This is also the only way to use DNS-over-HTTPS on consoles, since most consoles do not support DoH natively.

DNS for PC Gaming

PC gaming gives you more DNS options than consoles. You can configure DNS at the system level, per-application, or even per-browser.

System-Level Setup

On Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet (or Wi-Fi) > Edit DNS server assignments. Switch to Manual, enable IPv4, and enter your preferred DNS addresses. On macOS, go to System Settings > Network > your connection > Details > DNS and add your DNS servers.

System-level DNS affects all applications on your PC — Steam, Epic Games, browsers, Discord, everything. This is the simplest approach for most gamers.

Steam and Game Launchers

Steam, Epic Games, GOG, and other launchers use DNS to connect to their storefronts, download servers, and authentication services. A fast DNS reduces the time between clicking "Play" and actually launching the game, because the launcher resolves server hostnames faster. Steam in particular makes multiple DNS lookups when downloading games — it resolves CDN nodes, patch servers, and authentication endpoints simultaneously.

Browser Games

Browser-based games load assets from multiple domains — CDNs for images and scripts, analytics servers, ad networks, and game servers. Each domain requires a DNS lookup. A fast resolver reduces the cumulative delay from these lookups. For browser games, DNS-over-HTTPS in your browser is the most effective approach, because it encrypts DNS queries and can bypass ISP-level DNS caching issues.

Competitive Gaming

For competitive PC gaming, every detail matters. Use a wired connection, disable unnecessary background applications, and choose a DNS with low p95 latency. Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is the standard recommendation for competitive gamers because of its consistent performance. Pair it with a VPN or gaming accelerator if your ISP routes gaming traffic poorly — but test with and without the VPN, because the VPN can add more latency than it saves.

Gaming DNS Myths Debunked

Myth: "Changing DNS reduces my in-game ping"

False. DNS resolution happens before your game connects to a server. Once the connection is established, DNS is not involved in the data transfer. Your ping is determined by the physical distance to the game server and the quality of your network routing — not by your DNS resolver. If someone claims their DNS "reduced ping from 80 ms to 20 ms," they are either confused or lying.

Myth: "Paid DNS is always faster than free DNS"

False. The fastest public DNS resolvers — Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Google 8.8.8.8 — are free. Paid DNS services like OpenDNS or Comodo Secure DNS are generally slower than free alternatives. The paid aspect usually adds features like content filtering, threat blocking, and dashboard analytics, not raw speed. For pure gaming performance, free resolvers win.

Myth: "DNS affects download speed"

Partially false. DNS affects the initial connection to download servers, but it does not increase your actual download bandwidth. If your internet connection caps at 100 Mbps, DNS will not make downloads faster than 100 Mbps. What DNS does is reduce the delay at the start of a download by resolving the server hostname faster. For a 50 GB game update, this might save you a few seconds — not minutes.

Myth: "I need to use my ISP's DNS for the best performance"

False. ISP DNS servers are often slow, overloaded, and poorly maintained. Many ISPs do not invest in DNS infrastructure because most users never change the default. In testing, third-party resolvers like Cloudflare and Google consistently outperform ISP DNS by 20 to 50 milliseconds per query. The only advantage of ISP DNS is that it may be geographically closer to you, but major public resolvers have anycast networks that negate this advantage.

Myth: "Changing DNS is complicated"

False. On most devices, it takes less than two minutes. On Windows: Settings > Network > DNS. On PlayStation: Settings > Network > Advanced Settings > DNS. On Xbox: Settings > Network > Advanced Settings > DNS. On your router: log in, find DNS settings, enter the addresses. The hardest part is remembering to run a speed test afterward to confirm the change was worth it.

Myth: "All DNS servers are the same"

False. DNS servers differ in speed, privacy, security, and reliability. Some block malicious domains (Quad9), some block ads (AdGuard), some log your queries (Google, temporarily), and some log nothing (Cloudflare). The network size matters too — a resolver with 300+ locations (Cloudflare) will be faster than one with 10 (small regional providers). Choosing the right DNS is a low-effort, high-impact optimization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Test Your DNS Speed Now

Want to know which DNS is actually fastest for your gaming setup? Run our DNS speed test. It benchmarks 17+ resolvers simultaneously using real DNS-over-HTTPS queries, measures actual response times from your location, and delivers results in seconds. No downloads. No registration. No data collected.

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After changing your DNS, run the test again to confirm the new resolver is actually faster from your network. Then check out our complete DNS server rankings or read the DNS guide to learn more about how DNS works.