8 Best Free DNS Servers: 2022 Guide to DNS Servers (2024)

FAQs

What is the best DNS server for 2022? ›

1.1.1.1 is a public DNS resolver operated by Cloudflare that offers a fast and private way to browse the Internet. Unlike most DNS resolvers, 1.1.1.1 does not sell user data to advertisers. In addition, 1.1.1.1 has been measured to be the fastest DNS resolver available.

The independent DNS monitor DNSPerf ranks 1.1.1.1 the fastest DNS service in the world. Since nearly everything you do on the Internet starts with a DNS request, choosing the fastest DNS directory across all your devices will accelerate almost everything you do online.

Though there's no guarantee Google DNS works faster, the answer is likely yes. One user did a speed test and changed their DNS settings. They found that the Google domain name system server set to 8.8. 8.8—Google's first DNS server—was 10.3% faster than the default server.

The fastest public DNS server—Google DNS—was only 10.3 percent faster than the default. So Google's DNS server is clearly faster for me, but that might not be the case for you. This all depends on your ISP, which DNS server(s) it uses, and current network conditions. After setting my DNS to 8.8.

8.8. 8.8 is the primary DNS server for Google DNS. Google DNS is a public DNS service that is provided by Google with the aim to make the Internet and the DNS system faster, safer, secure, and more reliable for all Internet users.

At a minimum, you'll need two DNS servers for each Internet domain you have. You can have more than two for a domain but usually three is tops unless you have multiple server farms where you would want to distribute the DNS lookup load. It's a good idea to have at least one of your DNS servers at a separate location.

Should I use a DNS for gaming? ›

A high-speed and high-quality DNS server could help gamers improve their gaming experience by providing the fastest and most reliable connection to the game. And while changing your DNS may positively affect ping or latency in the game, it doesn't directly affect your bandwidth (download and upload speed).

How can DNS affect your Internet speed? Although DNS is not directly related to your Internet speed, it can influence how fast an individual webpage appears on your computer. Once a connection has been established though, it should not affect download speeds.

In the DNS servers field, enter the Google Public DNS IP addresses, separated by a comma: For IPv4: 8.8.8.8 and/or 8.8.4.4 . For IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and/or 2001:4860:4860::8844 .

Highest network speeds – VPN uses part of your bandwidth to provide encryption; Smart DNS doesn't do that so is generally faster. Available on most devices – Smart DNS can be applied to many devices where a VPN service or app isn't available. However, Smart DNS is often far more complicated to set up than a VPN.

Moreover, Google does not use any personal information collected through the Public DNS service to target ads. We do not correlate or associate personal information in Google Public DNS logs with your information from use of any other Google service except for addressing security and abuse.

OpenDNS offers DNS resolutions services just like Google Public DNS, but with added features. In addition to fast domain name resolution, OpenDNS also offers phishing and botnet protection, SmartCache, Web filtering, constant updates, a whitelist and blacklist mode, detailed statistics and typo correction.

8.8. 4.4 is the secondary DNS server for Google Public DNS. Google Public DNS is a global DNS service that is run by Google for the purpose of making the Internet and the DNS system faster, safer, secure, and more reliable for everyone online.

Speed and Performance

In terms of speed, Google Public DNS outperforms Cloudflare. This is because of several things, including global coverage, more servers, and a shared cache. Most of the time, DNS lookups create a bottleneck, slowing down your browsing.

2001:4860:4860::8888 (dns. google) is an IP address located in Upper Clapton, England, GB that is assigned to Google (ASN: 15169).

1.1. 1.1 is a free, public DNS resolver from Cloudflare and Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) that could make your searches faster and more secure. But the product won't work for everyone, and some have concerns about how it will use their data.

Is Google DNS free? ›

Google Public DNS is a free, global Domain Name System (DNS) resolution service, that you can use as an alternative to your current DNS provider.

DNS servers are important for having a better gaming experience, as they lower your ping time. The 10 best DNS servers for gaming in 2023 are Google DNS, Cloudflare DNS, Quad9 DNS, OpenDNS, Clear Browsing, Verisign DNS, AdGuard DNS, Comodo Secure DNS, Norton ConnectSafe, and Yandex DNS.

Conclusion. Typically, static IP addresses are best for businesses, which host their own websites and internet services. Static IP addresses also work well when you have remote workers logging into work via a VPN. Dynamic IP addresses are usually fine for most consumers.

Common refresh intervals seen on the Internet are anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours but can vary based on what the administrator for that domain wants to specify. However, this isn't the only way to propagate DNS updates.

DNS cache refers to the temporary storage of information about previous DNS lookups on a machine's OS or web browser. Keeping a local copy of a DNS lookup allows your OS or browser to quickly retrieve it and thus a website's URL can be resolved to its corresponding IP much more efficiently.

Because that is the only thing DNS can do, it resolves an name to an IP address. The only possible explanation is that one DNS server is closer to you hence resulting in lower ping. But once it is resolved it will cache in your system meaning its only 1 time resolution.

If not for learning, you almost certainly should NOT run your own DNS servers. As mentioned above, for smaller sites, your domain registrar probably provides DNS hosting for free. For users that need more control, greater uptime, or improved performance, there are paid DNS hosting providers that do a great job.

Both DNS providers are popular options worldwide, although you should check out our list of DNS providers that focus on online safety if you're a bit more vigilant. However, when choosing the best DNS service providers, Cloudflare's 1.1. 1.1 DNS outperforms the Google DNS servers in several key categories.

What is the number 1 DNS server? ›

The preferred DNS is a specified primary choice to handle Internet protocol mapping. If the preferred choice times out after a time limit defined by an operating system, it will then attempt to try the alternate DNS. Servers are subject to the same connectivity problems a home user may experience.

Although DNS is not directly related to your Internet speed, it can influence how fast an individual webpage appears on your computer. Once a connection has been established though, it should not affect download speeds. If you want to amend your router's DNS servers however, this can help improve your overall speed.

1.1. 1.1 isn't a foolproof VPN product. Your data is somewhat exposed, and hackers can steal it. If you're not completely aware of that fact, you could do things online that may come back to haunt you later.

Do DNS Servers Affect Gaming? Although DNS servers are not directly related to your internet connection, changing the DNS server for gaming can be quite useful as it affects the downloading process (not the downloading speed, though).

Configure your network settings to use the IP addresses 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as your DNS servers.