DNS Providers Compared

How We Test DNS Providers

Every DNS provider on this page was tested using our DNS speed test tool from multiple locations across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. We measure DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) response times because that is the protocol most modern browsers and operating systems use. Plain-text DNS queries over port 53 do not reflect real-world performance for privacy-conscious users.

Each provider receives between 15 and 25 individual queries per test run. We record minimum, median, average, and maximum response times, then calculate a composite score from 0 to 100 based on speed consistency, average latency, and uptime reliability. Providers that returned errors or timed out during any query received a penalty in the scoring.

Protocol DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH)

Queries Per Run 15–25 per provider

Scoring Speed + reliability + uptime

Test Locations NA, EU, APAC

Speed is only one dimension. We also evaluate each provider's privacy policy, logging practices, security features, content filtering options, and pricing structure. A fast DNS provider that sells your browsing data is not a good choice. A privacy-focused provider that takes 200ms per lookup is equally problematic. The goal is finding a provider that balances all these factors.

Full Provider Comparison Table

The table below compares 15 major DNS providers across six key dimensions. Ratings use a five-star scale based on independent testing and publicly available documentation. Scroll horizontally on mobile to see all columns.

Provider	Primary IP	Speed	Privacy	Security	Content Filter	Cost	Best For
Cloudflare	1.1.1.1	★★★★★	Strong	Yes	Optional	Free	Speed + privacy
Google DNS	8.8.8.8	★★★★☆	Moderate	Yes	No	Free	Reliability
Quad9	9.9.9.9	★★★★☆	Strong	Yes	Built-in	Free	Security
OpenDNS	208.67.222.222	★★★★☆	Moderate	Yes	Yes	Free / Paid	Families
AdGuard DNS	94.140.14.14	★★★★☆	Strong	Yes	Yes	Free / Paid	Ad blocking
NextDNS	Custom	★★★★☆	Strong	Yes	Yes	Free / Paid	Customization
Comodo Secure	8.26.56.26	★★★☆☆	Moderate	Yes	Yes	Free	Malware blocking
Norton ConnectSafe	199.85.126.10	★★★☆☆	Moderate	Yes	Yes	Free	Threat protection
SafeDNS	195.46.39.39	★★★☆☆	Moderate	Yes	Yes	Free / Paid	Enterprise filtering
GreenTeamDNS	81.218.119.11	★★★☆☆	Strong	Yes	Yes	Free	Content filtering
Hurricane Electric	74.82.42.42	★★★★☆	Strong	No	No	Free	DNS enthusiasts
AirVPN DNS	10.0.0.2	★★★★☆	Strong	Yes	No	Paid VPN	VPN users
FreeDNS	37.235.1.174	★★★☆☆	Moderate	No	No	Free	Basic resolution
Yandex DNS	77.88.8.8	★★★★☆	Moderate	Yes	Yes	Free	Russia/CIS region
Level3 DNS	4.2.2.1	★★★★☆	Moderate	No	No	Free	Enterprise networks

Provider Quick Overview

Each card below shows the key details at a glance. Tap or click any card to jump to the detailed section further down the page.

Cloudflare 1.1.1.1

1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1

The fastest public DNS resolver. Pings queries through a massive global anycast network spanning 300+ cities. Never sells data, logs purged within 24 hours. Supports DoH, DoT, and DNSSEC.

Fastest No Logs DNSSEC

Google Public DNS

8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4

The most widely used public DNS service. Extremely reliable uptime. Queries are logged for 24–48 hours for debugging purposes. Supports DNSSEC and DoH. The default choice for many networks.

Very Fast 24h Logs DNSSEC

Quad9 (9.9.9.9)

9.9.9.9 / 149.112.112.112

Nonprofit DNS resolver that blocks known malicious domains by default. Threat intelligence sourced from 20+ partners including IBM X-Force and CyberRisk Alliance. Based in Switzerland with strong privacy laws.

Threat Blocking Swiss Privacy Fast

OpenDNS

208.67.222.222

Owned by Cisco, OpenDNS offers both free and paid tiers. FamilyShield provides automatic adult content filtering. The Home and Enterprise plans add customizable filtering, phishing protection, and detailed usage statistics.

Phishing Block Family Filter Fast

AdGuard DNS

94.140.14.14 / 94.140.15.15

Built-in ad and tracker blocking without installing any software. Offers multiple filter modes: non-filtering, family-safe, and default (ad blocking). Open-source clients available for all platforms.

Ad Blocking Open Source Tracker Block

NextDNS

Custom Endpoint

A fully customizable DNS service with per-device profiles, analytics dashboards, and configurable blocklists. Free tier handles up to 300,000 queries per month. Paid plans start at $0.19 per 100K queries.

Customizable Analytics Per-Device

Top 5 DNS Providers — Detailed Breakdown

1. Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1)

Cloudflare launched 1.1.1.1 in 2018 and it quickly became the fastest public DNS resolver in independent benchmarks. The service runs on a network of servers in over 300 cities across 120+ countries, using anycast routing to direct your query to the nearest datacenter. Average response times sit around 11 milliseconds for most locations in North America and Europe, with slightly higher latency in Asia-Pacific regions.

Privacy is where Cloudflare stands apart from competitors. The company publishes a detailed privacy policy stating they will never sell user data and will purge all query logs within 24 hours. They hired KPMG to audit this commitment annually. Unlike Google DNS, which retains anonymized logs for up to 48 hours, Cloudflare's approach minimizes the window for any data to be accessed or subpoenaed. They support DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and DNSSEC validation.

The main criticism of Cloudflare is that it is a for-profit company with close ties to the web infrastructure industry. While their privacy policy is strong, some users prefer a nonprofit option like Quad9. Cloudflare also offers a malware-blocking variant at 1.1.1.2 and a family-safe variant at 1.1.1.3 that filters adult content. Both variants use the same speed and privacy infrastructure as the main resolver.

2. Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8)

Google Public DNS has been operating since 2009 and remains the most recognized DNS resolver on the planet. It handles an estimated 400 billion queries per day. The service is built on Google's own infrastructure with anycast routing across hundreds of locations worldwide. Typical response times range from 15–30 milliseconds depending on geography, making it slightly slower than Cloudflare in most tests but still extremely fast.

Google logs DNS queries for 24–48 hours for "debugging and operational purposes." The company states these logs are not permanently associated with user accounts and are used to improve the service. However, since Google's entire business model depends on advertising data, some users are uncomfortable with any DNS query logging at a Google-controlled service. Google supports DNSSEC, DoH, and EDNS Client Subnet for improved CDN routing.

The main selling point of Google DNS is reliability. With Google's infrastructure behind it, the service has maintained near-perfect uptime since launch. If speed and uptime are your top priorities and you are not concerned about Google's data practices, 8.8.8.8 is a solid choice. For users who want similar reliability with stronger privacy guarantees, Cloudflare or Quad9 are better options.

3. Quad9 DNS (9.9.9.9)

Quad9 is a nonprofit organization based in Switzerland, founded in 2018 by former executives from IBM, Packet Clearing House, and the Global Cyber Alliance. The resolver blocks known malicious domains by default using threat intelligence feeds from over 20 partners, including IBM X-Force, Proofpoint, and CyberRisk Alliance. This means you get built-in phishing and malware protection without configuring anything.

Swiss privacy laws are among the strictest in the world, and Quad9 operates under these protections. The service does not log personally identifiable information. Threat intelligence data is retained for operational purposes but cannot be traced back to individual users. Quad9 supports DNSSEC and DoH, with DoT available as well. Average response times are 20–35 milliseconds, slightly behind Cloudflare and Google but still fast enough for everyday use.

The tradeoff with Quad9 is that the threat blocking is always on by default. While you can use the unfiltered resolver at 9.9.9.10, the default 9.9.9.9 endpoint will occasionally block domains that are flagged as potentially malicious. This can cause false positives — legitimate websites being blocked because they share an IP with a known threat. For most users, the security benefit outweighs the occasional inconvenience.

4. OpenDNS (208.67.222.222)

OpenDNS is owned by Cisco and has been operating since 2006, making it one of the oldest public DNS services. The free tier provides basic resolution with phishing protection and optional content filtering through their FamilyShield service, which blocks adult content at the DNS level. OpenDNS Home adds customizable filtering categories and usage statistics. The Enterprise tier is aimed at businesses with detailed reporting and policy management.

Performance is solid — OpenDNS servers respond in roughly 20–30 milliseconds for most North American users. The Cisco acquisition brought better infrastructure but also raised privacy concerns, as OpenDNS feeds data into Cisco's broader security ecosystem. Query data is used for threat intelligence and security research. If you are already using Cisco products, this integration is a feature. If you prefer a standalone DNS provider, it may be a drawback.

OpenDNS is the best choice for families and small businesses that want content filtering without installing software. The FamilyShield service works at the router level, protecting every device on your network. Setup requires changing two DNS addresses on your router, and the filtering applies to all connected devices. This is simpler than installing filtering software on individual phones, tablets, and computers.

5. AdGuard DNS (94.140.14.14)

AdGuard DNS is the DNS-based companion to the AdGuard ad-blocking browser extension and mobile apps. It blocks ads, trackers, and malicious domains at the DNS level, meaning you get ad blocking on every device without installing anything. The default server (94.140.14.14) blocks ads and trackers. A family-safe server at 94.140.14.15 additionally filters adult content. A non-filtering server is available for users who only want basic resolution.

AdGuard DNS runs on its own infrastructure with servers in multiple countries. Response times are typically 20–35 milliseconds, comparable to Quad9. The service supports DoH and DoT. All AdGuard DNS clients are open source, and the company publishes regular transparency reports. The free tier allows up to 300,000 queries per month, with paid plans starting at around $2 per month for unlimited queries and additional features.

The main advantage of AdGuard DNS over browser-based ad blockers is that it works across all apps and devices. Mobile browsers, system apps, and IoT devices all benefit from DNS-level ad blocking. The downside is that DNS blocking is less granular than extension-based blocking — you cannot whitelist specific elements on a page, only entire domains. For most users, the convenience of zero-configuration ad blocking outweighs this limitation.

How to Choose a DNS Provider

The right DNS provider depends on what matters most to you. There is no single "best" option — the fastest resolver in New York might not be the fastest in Tokyo. Your priorities should guide the decision.

If speed is your top priority

Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is the fastest public DNS resolver in the majority of benchmarks. Google DNS is a close second. Both use massive anycast networks that place servers in virtually every major city on the planet. The speed difference between Cloudflare and Google is typically 3–5 milliseconds — noticeable in head-to-head tests but negligible for everyday browsing.

If privacy matters most

Quad9 operates under Swiss privacy law and is a nonprofit, which means there is no financial incentive to monetize your data. Cloudflare's 24-hour log purge and annual KPMG audit are strong commitments. Avoid providers that explicitly state they use query data for advertising or analytics. If you need maximum privacy, pair a privacy-focused DNS resolver with DNS over HTTPS to encrypt your queries.

If you want built-in security

Quad9 blocks malicious domains by default. This protects you from phishing sites, malware distribution servers, and known command-and-control infrastructure. OpenDNS and Norton ConnectSafe offer similar protections. The tradeoff is occasional false positives — legitimate sites being blocked because they share infrastructure with threats. Quad9 provides an unfiltered option (9.9.9.10) if you want the speed without the filtering.

If you need content filtering

OpenDNS FamilyShield is the simplest option for families. Change two DNS addresses on your router and adult content is blocked on every device. AdGuard DNS goes further by also blocking ads and trackers. NextDNS offers the most granular control with per-device profiles and custom blocklists. All three work without installing software on individual devices.

If you want ad blocking without extensions

AdGuard DNS and NextDNS block ads at the DNS level, which means ads are removed before they even reach your device. This works in apps, browsers, and on devices that cannot install browser extensions (smart TVs, gaming consoles, IoT devices). The downside is that DNS-level ad blocking is less precise than extension-based blocking — you cannot fine-tune individual page elements.

Before committing to any provider, run our DNS speed test to measure actual performance from your network. Then try the provider for a few days. Switch back to your ISP DNS if you notice issues. The best DNS provider is the one that works reliably on your specific connection.

DNS Provider Features Explained

When comparing DNS providers, several technical features determine how well a service performs. Here is what each feature actually means and why it matters.

DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH)

Encrypts DNS queries inside a regular HTTPS connection. Your ISP cannot see which websites you are looking up. All modern browsers support DoH natively, and most major DNS providers now offer it.

DNS-over-TLS (DoT)

Similar to DoH but uses its own dedicated port (853). Slightly more efficient than DoH since there is no HTTP overhead. Supported by Android 9+, most Linux distributions, and third-party clients.

DNSSEC Validation

Verifies that DNS responses are authentic and have not been tampered with. Prevents DNS spoofing attacks where a attacker redirects you to a fake website. Most major providers support DNSSEC.

Anycast Routing

Multiple servers share the same IP address. Your query is automatically routed to the nearest server. This reduces latency and provides load balancing. Cloudflare, Google, and Quad9 all use anycast.

EDNS Client Subnet

Passes part of your IP address to authoritative DNS servers so they can return a response optimized for your location. Important for CDN routing — it affects which server you download from.

Threat Intelligence Feeds

External data sources that identify known malicious domains. Quad9 uses feeds from IBM X-Force and others. This is what allows certain providers to block phishing and malware at the DNS level.

Query Limits and Rate Limiting

Free DNS providers typically do not impose strict query limits for residential users. Cloudflare, Google, and Quad9 handle billions of queries daily without throttling individual clients. Paid services like NextDNS and AdGuard DNS use monthly query quotas (300,000 free, unlimited on paid plans). Enterprise solutions from OpenDNS and SafeDNS may enforce rate limits based on subscription tier.

IPv6 Support

All major DNS providers support IPv6 resolution. Cloudflare provides 2606:4700:4700::1111, Google provides 2001:4860:4860::8888, and Quad9 provides 2620:fe::fe. If your network supports IPv6, using an IPv6-capable DNS resolver avoids the overhead of DNS64 translation.

Router-Level vs Device-Level Configuration

Changing DNS at the router level affects every device on your network without individual setup. This is the best approach for content filtering and family protection. Device-level configuration gives you per-device control — useful if different users have different needs. Both approaches work with all providers listed on this page. See our DNS setup guide for step-by-step instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which DNS provider is the fastest?

Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 consistently ranks as the fastest public DNS provider, with median response times around 11ms worldwide. Google DNS (8.8.8.8) and Quad9 (9.9.9.9) are close behind. However, speed varies by location — run our DNS speed test to find the fastest provider for your specific network.

What is the most private DNS provider?

Cloudflare promises to never sell user data and purges query logs within 24 hours. Quad9 is a nonprofit based in Switzerland with strong privacy protections. NextDNS and AdGuard DNS offer the most transparency with open-source clients and public audit logs. Avoid providers that log browsing data for advertising purposes.

Are all DNS providers free?

Most major DNS providers offer free resolvers: Cloudflare, Google, Quad9, and OpenDNS all have free tiers. NextDNS and AdGuard DNS offer free plans with monthly query limits (typically 300,000 queries). Paid plans remove these limits and add advanced features. Enterprise solutions from OpenDNS and SafeDNS require paid subscriptions.

Which DNS provider blocks malware?

Quad9 (9.9.9.9) blocks known malicious domains by default using threat intelligence from multiple partners. OpenDNS FamilyShield blocks adult content and malware. AdGuard DNS and NextDNS offer customizable blocklists. Comodo Secure DNS and Norton ConnectSafe also provide threat protection layers.

Can I use multiple DNS providers at once?

Yes. You can configure your primary DNS as one provider and secondary as another. If the primary is unreachable, your device falls back to the secondary. This adds resilience but may slightly increase latency. Most operating systems and routers support multiple DNS server configuration.

Do DNS providers slow down my internet?

A faster DNS provider actually speeds up browsing by resolving domain names more quickly. The difference between a fast and slow DNS resolver can be 50-100ms per lookup. Switching from a slow ISP DNS to Cloudflare or Google typically makes pages load noticeably faster.