Check out our top picks to find the one that’s right for you!

A DNS, or Domain Name Server, is what helps translate human-friendly URLs into computer-friendly IP addresses. This is what enables your devices to connect to the internet and access the content you want to see.

When people change their DNS, it’s usually to enhance either performance, security or both!  And while there are many paid options, we’re always fans of freebies. Below, we’ll take a look at what to consider when switching your DNS and the 14 best free DNS servers to do it with.

What to consider when switching your DNS

A few things to note before we dive in:

• Default DNS vs. third-party DNS – When you have internet service, your internet service provider (ISP) has a default DNS which your network uses to connect to the web. ISPs can collect data on customers and their internet activity. A third-party DNS can do the same, though it becomes more difficult to attribute the connection to specific individuals or households.
• Free DNS vs. paid DNS – Beyond the obvious financial difference between a free and paid DNS, free options typically have fewer features. A paid DNS will have more advanced security and performance functionality, as well as better customer support and more customization options. Generally speaking, a free DNS will work for most purposes.
• Public DNS vs. private DNS – A public DNS is available to the general population and it typically comes from your internet service provider or a dedicated DNS provider. A private DNS is typically used by companies to give employees easier access to internal-only websites/IP addresses. Typically, you’re on a public DNS at home and either a private or public one at work.

Best free DNS servers of 2021

OpenDNS

208.67.222.222

Owned by Cisco, OpenDNS has two free options: Family Shield and Home. Family Shield is good for parents who want to make sure their kids can’t access inappropriate content. Home focuses on internet safety and performance.

Cloudflare

1.1.1.1

The “fastest DNS resolver on Earth,” Cloudflare’s free DNS service has:

• Unmetered mitigation of DDoS
• Global CDN
• Shared SSL certificate
• Three-page rules
• Unlimited bandwidth

1.1.1.1 with Warp

1.1.1.1

A Cloudflare subproduct, 1.1.1.1 with Warp is designed for mobile devices. When you download the app on your smartphone or tablet, it “replaces the connection between your phone and the internet with a modern, optimized, protocol.” They also pledge never to sell your data, which is always a bonus.

Google Public DNS

8.8.8.8

Google’s own DNS product is also free. It focuses on “speed, security, and validity of results.” It only offers DNS resolution and caching — there is no site-blocking with Public DNS.

Comodo Secure DNS

8.26.56.26

Comodo Secure DNS’s cloud-based Secure Internet Gateway Gold package is free (up to 300,000 monthly DNS requests). This gets you:

• Protection from advanced threats, phishing, malware and C&C callbacks
• Web filtering for 80+ content categories
• Web access policy protection on and off-network
• Real-time visibility for all connected devices

Quad9

9.9.9.9

Quad9 emphasizes security, privacy and performance — the company was founded on the goal to make the internet safer for everyone. It blocks malicious domains, phishing and malware while maintaining your anonymity. Quad9 is constantly expanding to new regions. Right now, it comes in at No. 8 on the DNS Performance Analytics and Comparison ratings.

Verisign Public DNS

64.6.65.6

Verisign touts its superior stability and security features, plus the fact that they don’t sell user data to any third-party companies or for selling/targeting ads. Verisign became Neustar UltraDNS Public in the fourth quarter of 2020 after an asset sale on October 9.

OpenNIC

13.239.157.177

At its core, OpenNIC is an attempt to combat censorship. Volunteer-run, this free DNS server makes the entire web accessible to everyone. They also prevent “DNS hijacking” which is when an ISP takes over commonly mistyped URLs.

UncensoredDNS

91.239.100.100

Completely run and funded by founder Thomas Steen Rasmussen, UncensoredDNS is based in Denmark. It’s a great option for those local to FreeDNS, complete with security features, performance enhancement and reliability.

CleanBrowsing

185.228.168.168

Both free and paid versions of CleanBrowsing are available. The free DNS server focuses on privacy, especially for households with children. It comes with three free filters and blocks most adult content.