As
you may know, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will usually assign
Domain Name System (DNS) servers that your router will connect to when
accessing the internet. These servers translate written web addresses
(i.e. - Google.com) into IP addresses (216.58.198.110) and vice versa,
thus making the web more user-friendly. However, sometimes the DNS
assigned by your ISP isn't the fastest one available in your area, and
you do have the option of changing your DNS servers within your router
or computer settings. We recently published a guide on
how to use DNS Benchmark and Namebench to compare the best DNS servers.
Ultimately, the speed and overall performance of your DNS will depend
on your location and other variables, so it's best to use a
benchmarking application to determine which DNS is truly best before
making your decision. With that said, if you've been wondering about the
differences between the most popular options like Google DNS, OpenDNS,
Level3, and Verisign, check out this comparison of the fastest and most
reliable free public DNS servers:
- Primary DNS server address - 8.8.8.8.
- Secondary DNS server address - 8.8.4.4.
Google Public DNS is easily the most commonly used and widely
recommended third-party DNS services, most likely because Google is such
a household name and their server addresses are easy to remember.
Google also offers a premium paid DNS solution called
Cloud DNS,
which offers high performance, low-latency access to a global DNS
network, although it is generally intended for business level users.
Overall, most users find that switching to Google Public DNS speeds
up their web browsing, improves security, and minimizes unnecessary
redirects. Still, benchmarking against the other DNS servers on this
list is always recommended – sometimes alternatives can be faster,
particularly Open DNS.
- Primary DNS server address – 208.67.222.22
- Secondary DNS server address – 208.67.220.220
OpenDNS is perhaps the second-most popular DNS service because in
some cases it can be more than 150% faster than Google Public DNS and it
also provides some extra filtering features. It's also typically faster
than the default name servers assigned by ISPs.
Although speeds will vary and benchmarking is still recommended, it's
worthwhile to try out OpenDNS because it has content blocking and web
security options that aren't offered by other free DNS services. In
fact, they have a Family Shield version that comes pre-configured to
block adult content, as well as a Home version that is fully
customizable.
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Primary DNS server address – 209.244.0.3
-
Secondary DNS server address – 209.244.0.4
Level3 provides one of the most commonly used DNS services in the
world, with many ISPs and mobile data providers relying on their DNS
servers. Verizon's DNS servers are frequently listed as 4.2.2.5,
4.2.2.4, 4.2.2.3, 4.2.2.2, and/or 4.2.2.1, however those DNS servers are
actually alternate addresses of the Level3 server addresses shown
above.
Mobile carriers like Verizon usually try to balance DNS traffic by
routing the requests through their server first and then to Level3
servers on a filtered basis. Many ISPs use Level3 in a similar manner,
so the default DNS assigned to your router by your ISP may in fact be a
Level3 DNS server.
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Primary DNS server address – 64.6.64.6
-
Secondary DNS server address – 64.6.65.6
The Verisign Public DNS is a fully free DNS service that aims to
provide a combination of stability, privacy, and security. It's commonly
ranked as a top 10 DNS based on the reliability and uptime of its
servers, which can be checked at any time on their
Server Status page. They also make it easy to configure their DNS with a simplified
configuration instructions page, so it's an ideal recommendation for a novice DNS user.
Of course, the process of switching your DNS servers to Verisign is
the same as assigning any other DNS, but it helps to have guidance if
you've never done it before. The company has pledged not to share user
data or display ads, and also offers IPv6 public DNS servers.
Honorable Mentions
-
Primary DNS server address – 84.200.69.80
-
Secondary DNS server address – 84.200.70.40
They also offer IPv6 DNS server at the following addresses:
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Primary IPv6 DNS server address: 2001:1608:10:25::1c04:b12f
-
Secondary IPv6 DNS server address: 2001:1608:10:25::9249:d69b
DNS.watch, which is the service's actual home web address as well as
its name, is a popular DNS provider that promises fast, uncensored and
fully free public DNS servers. Their services uses no logging and uses
the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) protocol to ensure
privacy and anonymity. This is essentially a philanthropic web company
that aims to improve and preserve net neutrality by making high quality
DNS servers available to the public free of charge.
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Primary DNS server address – 8.26.56.26
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Secondary DNS server address – 8.20.247.20
Other DNS server addresses used by Comodo Secure DNS:
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156.154.70.22
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156.154.71.22
Comodo Secure DNS is a free service offered by Comodo Group. Many
users find that this is the fastest DNS in heir area after performing
benchmarking tests against several other competitors and their ISPs
assigned servers. The key advantage of this GPS is that it is made by a
leader in internet and computer security. The filtering features are
also useful for parents or in workplaces where web moderation is a
necessity. Strategically placed nodes and proprietary routing technology
makes this one of the faster free public DNS servers available.
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Primary DNS server address – 199.85.126.10
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Secondary DNS server address – 199.85.127.10
Norton ConnectSafe is a free public DNS service from the creators of
Norton Antivirus. Although the primary focus of the DNS is security, it
also excels in reliability and availability, making it a top choice for
many users, especially those who already have Norton installed on their
machine. Norton's DNS blocks the user's computer from accessing sites
that contain scams, malware, phishing schemes, pornography, and other
cyber risks and categories considered by Norton to be unfriendly to
families and/or and business. The filtering and categorization is based
on the Symantec RuleSpace service. It's important to make sure you agree
with all of their filtering policies before deciding to go with this
DNS.
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Primary DNS server address – 195.46.39.39
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Secondary DNS server address – 195.46.39.40
SafeDNS is a free public DNS that specializes in content filtering.
It aims to protect the user from botnets, malware, and other cyber
threats and annoyances. The SafeDNS database contains profile on more
than 90 million of the internet's top sites, with filtering capabilities
separated into more than 55 categories. The network is also capable of
blocking traffic form all sorts of advertising pop-ups and content,
including contextual, audio, and video ads. Another interesting feature
of Safe DNS is that it comes with free support, so it's a good solution
for businesses or novice web users that need guidance when setting up
and using the DNS.
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Primary DNS server address – 199.85.126.10
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Secondary DNS server address – 199.85.127.10
GreenTeamDNS offers a comprehensive web filtering and site blocking
service that is great for businesses and families. The free version
utilizes their moderate policy, but upgrading to a paid Premium account
gives the user the ability to choose which sites and categories are
blocked. One of the key advantages of using GreenTeamDNS is that it is
compatible with every kind of devices, including smartphones, tablets,
and even game consoles like the PS3. The filtering is separated into 47
categories to give the user maximum control over what their computer
access through the DNS. It's ideal for parental or workplace monitoring
and control as there are logs kept that allows you to view which sites
were visited and blocked.
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Primary DNS server address – 23.94.60.240
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Secondary DNS server address – 128.52.130.209
OpenNIC is based on a very large network of volunteer-provided
servers, so the above addresses are just the main portals, but there are
actually a lot of DNS servers available on their
All Servers page.
However, clicking the large self-titled link above to visit their home
page and you'll see a list of the fours closest server. NIC stands for
“Network Information Center,” which describes the network of servers
that comprise OpenNIC. The network is design to serve as a “non-national
alternative” to Top-Level Domain (TLD) corporate registry systems such
as the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (
ICANN). It's an interesting topic to research when learning about anonymity, security, and DNS neutrality.
Conclusion
If you really want to be through the best way to determine which DNS
is the best would be to use a benchmarking application to compare the
two. However, if you frequently travel then it's good to know which
services are typically the most ideal in the areas you most frequently
visit.
Although conducting a comparison is important, in general here are
some broad suggestions that can be made depending on what you're looking
for in a DNS:
-
Speed and Reliability - In terms of server
reliability, Google Public DNS, Level3, and OpenDNS are generally the
most widely available regardless of where you are. However, in the
minority of cases other DNS servers may perform more optimally. Since
speed and reliability are the two most important performance factors,
it's best to learn how to benchmark the top options quickly and
effectively using a program like Namebench.
-
Filtering and Blocking - If you want an automated
filtering or blocking solution, Norton ConnectSafe or GreenTeamDNS are
some of the best options. OpenDNS is also excellent for this purpose.
Some free public DNS servers offer paid premium services that allow you
to control the types of categories and sites that are blocked.
-
Logging and Monitoring – If you're apprehensive
about a company logging your internet activity the it's important to use
a no-logging service like DNS.Watch. On the other hand, if you'd prefer
to be able to monitor and investigate web usage in retrospect, then a
service that keeps logs would be ideal. Businesses and families
typically choose to keep logs, whereas someone concerned with anonymity
and privacy would opt for a no-log DNS.
Finally, it's worth noting that the best DNS can vary and change from
day to day, depending on server uptime and other factors. Thus, it's
worthwhile to conduct daily benchmark tests to see which DNS
consistently performs the best over a long period of time.