Finding Your Match: A Directory of Cost-Free Public DNS Services

I frequently update this list of the best public DNS servers. My top free picks includeGoogle ,Control D ,Quad9 ,OpenDNS ,Cloudflare ,AdGuard DNS ,CleanBrowsing , andAlternate DNS .

Here’s a quick reference if you already know what you’re doing, but I get into these services a lot more later in this article:

Those are my top choices. A list of additional free DNS servers can be found in the table near the bottom of the page.

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The Top Free & Public DNS Servers

Below are more details on these free DNS servers that you can use instead of the ones assigned to your device automatically.

DNS servers are referred to as all sorts of names, like DNS server addresses, internet DNS servers, internet servers, DNS IP addresses, etc., but they all mean the same thing.

Google: 8.8.8.8 & 8.8.4.4

Click here

Google Public DNS promises three core benefits: a faster browsing experience, improved security, and accurate results without redirects. It’s what I use on my devices.

• Primary DNS : 8.8.8.8
• Secondary DNS : 8.8.4.4

There are also IPv6 versions:

• Primary DNS : 2001:4860:4860::8888
• Secondary DNS : 2001:4860:4860::8844

Google can achieve fast speeds with its public DNS servers because they’re hosted in data centers all around the world, meaning that when you attempt to access a web page using the IP addresses above, you’re directed to a server that’s nearest to you. In addition to traditional DNS over UDP/TCP, Google provides DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and TLS (DoT).

As you can see above,IPv6 IP addresses use colons. If you’re not sure which one to use for Google’s servers or any of the others on this page, stick with IPv4.

Control D: 76.76.2.0 & 76.76.10.0

Control D is unique because it has several DNS servers to pick from, each categorized by theme. The “Uncensored” resolver proxies the commonly blocked websites in most countries to bypass IP blocking of various news websites. Others can be used to stop malicious websites, block ads and trackers, or block social networks or adult content. The basic option, “Unfiltered,” provides DNS query privacy and security:

• Primary DNS : 76.76.2.0
• Secondary DNS : 76.76.10.0

IPv6 is supported, too:

• Primary DNS : 2606:1a40::
• Secondary DNS : 2606:1a40:1::

Something unique about Control D that I love to see is the custom configurations. For example, I could join trackers and ads, malware, phishing, and government sites to make a custom filter to block all of that content. Premium filters are available for a low cost that can block things like crypto exchanges and VPNs. Control D also supports DoH and DoT.

Quad9: 9.9.9.9 & 149.112.112.112

Quad9 has free public DNS servers that protect your computer and other devices from cyber threats by immediately and automatically blocking access to unsafe websites. One thing I appreciated while researching this company is that it works without storing your personal data; their website clearly states that when you use Quad9, “no data containing your IP address is ever logged.”

• Primary DNS : 9.9.9.9
• Secondary DNS : 149.112.112.112

There are also Quad 9 IPv6 DNS servers:

• Primary DNS : 2620:fe::fe
• Secondary DNS : 2620:fe::9

Quad9 doesn’t filter content—only domains that are phishing or contain malware will be blocked.There’s also an unsecured IPv4 public DNS (i.e., no malware blocking) at 9.9.9.10 (2620:fe::10 for IPv6). Quad9 also supports DoH.

OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 & 208.67.220.220

Used by tens of millions of users around the world,OpenDNS claims 100 percent reliability and uptime (since 2006!). They offer two sets of free public DNS servers, one of which is just for parental controls with dozens of filtering options.

• Primary DNS : 208.67.222.222
• Secondary DNS : 208.67.220.220

IPv6 addresses are also available:

• Primary DNS : 2620:119:35::35
• Secondary DNS : 2620:119:53::53

The servers above are forOpenDNS Home . Make a user account to set up custom settings, like for blocking or redirecting websites. I did this for years (coupled with a DDNS service) and was very pleased with how it worked.

For DNS servers that block adult content, useOpenDNS FamilyShield : 208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123. Those two alsosupport DNS over HTTPS .

Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 & 1.0.0.1

Cloudflare built 1.1.1.1 to be the “internet’s fastest DNS directory” (here’s how DNSPerf ranks them ). I like them for the privacy commitment—they will never log your IP address, never sell your data, and never use your data to target ads.

• Primary DNS : 1.1.1.1
• Secondary DNS : 1.0.0.1

They also have IPv6 public DNS servers:

• Primary DNS : 2606:4700:4700::1111
• Secondary DNS : 2606:4700:4700::1001

There are setup directions for all your devices through the link above. Another way to use it is through the1.1.1.1 app , which provides quick DNS setup on mobile and desktop devices; it also doubles as a VPN.1.1.1.1 for Families can block malware (1.1.1.2) or malware and adult content (1.1.1.3). Itsupports DNS over HTTPS and TLS as well.

AdGuard DNS: 94.140.14.14 & 94.140.15.15

AdGuard DNS has three sets of DNS servers, each with different features. Two are designed to block ads in games, videos, apps, and web pages. I used these “Default” servers for several months to block ads and trackers, and I was pleased with its performance, despite ads slipping through at times:

• Primary DNS : 94.140.14.14
• Secondary DNS : 94.140.15.15

IPv6 is supported, too:

• Primary DNS : 2a10:50c0::ad1:ff
• Secondary DNS : 2a10:50c0::ad2:ff

There are also “Family protection” servers (94.140.14.15 and 2a10:50c0::bad1:ff) that block adult content, plus everything included in the “Default” servers. Non-filtering servers are available if you’re not interested in blocking anything: 94.140.14.140 and 2a10:50c0::1:ff. These servers are also available as DNS over HTTPS, TLS, and QUIC, as well as DNSCrypt. Compared topaid AdGuard DNS plans , free users have zero customer support and limited monthly requests, device access, rules, and servers.

CleanBrowsing: 185.228.168.9 & 185.228.169.9

CleanBrowsing has three free public DNS server options : a security filter, adult filter, and family filter. These are the DNS servers for the security filter, the most basic of the three that updates hourly to block malware and phishing sites:

• Primary DNS : 185.228.168.9
• Secondary DNS : 185.228.169.9

IPv6 is also supported:

• Primary DNS : 2a0d:2a00:1::2
• Secondary DNS : 2a0d:2a00:2::2

The adult filter (185.228.168.10) prevents access to adult domains, and the family filter (185.228.168.168) blocks proxies, VPNs, and mixed adult content. They both also block the same domains supported by the security filter. For more features, subscribe to one of theCleanBrowsing premium plans . This service supports DoH and DoT as well.

Alternate DNS: 76.76.19.19 & 76.223.122.150

Alternate DNS is a free public DNS service that blocks ads before they reach your network. It works pretty well in my experience, but it’s not 100 percent perfect.

• Primary DNS : 76.76.19.19
• Secondary DNS : 76.223.122.150

Alternate DNS has IPv6 DNS servers, too:

• Primary DNS : 2602:fcbc::ad
• Secondary DNS : 2602:fcbc:2::ad

You cansign up with Alternate DNS for free , but there’s also aFamily Premium DNS option that blocks adult content.

Why Use Different DNS Servers?

One reason you might want to change the DNS servers assigned by your ISP is if you suspect there’s a problem with the ones you’re using now. An easy way to test for a DNS server issue is by typing awebsite’s IP address into the browser. If you can reach the website with the IP address, but not the name, then the DNS server is likely having issues.

Another reason to change DNS servers is if you’re looking for a better-performing service. Many people complain that their ISP-maintained DNS servers are sluggish and contribute to a slower overall browsing experience. If your existing DNS servers are_really_ bad, you might find that you can evendouble your internet speed by just changing these servers.

Other common reasons to use DNS servers from a third party are to prevent logging of your web activity so that you can have a more private browsing experience, and to circumvent the blocking of certain websites. Know, however, that not all DNS servers avoid traffic logging. If that’s what you’re interested in, make sure you read through the FAQs on the DNS provider’s site to make sure it’s going to do (or not do) what you’re after.

If, on the other hand, you want to use the DNS servers that your specific ISP, like Verizon, AT&T, Comcast/XFINITY, etc., has determined is best, then don’t manually set DNS server addresses at all—just let them_auto assign_ .

Finally, in case there is any confusion, free DNS servers do_not_ give youfree internet access . You still need an ISP for access—DNS servers just translate between IP addresses and domain names so that you can access websites with a human-readable name (like_lifewire.com_ ) instead of a difficult-to-remember IP address.

Additional DNS Servers

Here are several more public DNS servers:

Some of these providers have several DNS servers. Visit the link above and select a server that’s geographically nearby for the optimal performance, or one that has the features you’re interested in.

What Are DNS Servers?

DNS servers translate the friendly domain name you enter into a browser (like_lifewire.com_ ) into thepublic IP address that’s needed for your device to actually communicate with that site.

YourISP automatically assigns DNS servers when your smartphone orrouter connects to the internet, but you don’t have to use those. For a lot of reasons, you might want to try alternative ones, like those listed above, but privacy and speed are two big wins you could see from switching.

Primary DNS servers are sometimes called_preferred_ DNS servers and secondary DNS servers sometimes_alternate_ DNS servers. Primary and secondary DNS servers can be “mixed and matched” from different providers to protect you if the primary provider has problems.

FAQ

• How do I change my DNS server?
  You can specify a DNS server in the settings for your router. Specific instructions will differ depending on the model, but generally, you’lllog in to the hardware by entering http://192.168.1.1 and then enter one of the addresses above into the DNS settings.
• How do I fix a DNS server that isn’t responding?
  Your computer may fail to connect to a DNS for several reasons. To fix a faulty DNS connection, check your ISP’s connection status and your antivirus software, and run any network troubleshooting software your computer has. If none of this works, restart or reset your modem and router.

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