Why This Matters

DNS is the phonebook of the internet. Every website you visit depends on it. Change your DNS server and you can change:
  • Speed - How quickly your DNS queries are resolved
  • Privacy - How much of your browsing data is logged
  • Security - Protection against malicious domains
  • Content filtering - Control over accessible content
  • Logging behavior - What information is recorded about your queries
A DNS resolver is not just a DNS resolver - it can be a powerful tool for controlling your internet experience. There are many options out there, and they are all built for different purposes.
  • Some resolvers are built for speed.
  • Some are built for privacy.
  • Some are built for parental control.
  • Some are built for full-blown policy enforcement.

Cloudflare DNS

Resolvers

1.1.1.1 - Standard 1.1.1.2 - Malware blocking 1.1.1.3 - Malware + adult content blocking

What It Does

  • Extremely fast global resolver
  • Optional malware filtering (by picking 1.1.1.2 or 1.1.1.3)
  • No account required
  • Minimal logging - only logs necessary for operation, like query timestamps and IP addresses
  • Supports DoH and DoT - (DoH: DNS over HTTPS, DoT: DNS over TLS)

How Malware Filtering Works

Cloudflare blocks domain resolution for known malicious domains. If a device tries to resolve a malicious C2 (C2: Command and Control, meaning a server used by attackers to control compromised devices) domain, the lookup fails. No DNS resolution = no connection. It does not inspect traffic. It only controls domain resolution.

Best For

  • General home users
  • Privacy-conscious users
  • People who want simple protection without configuration

Quad9 DNS

Resolver

9.9.9.9

What It Does

  • Security-first DNS
  • Blocks malware, phishing, botnets
  • Powered by large-scale threat intelligence feeds
  • No personal data logging
  • Supports encrypted DNS

How It Differs

Quad9 is more aggressive on security than Cloudflare's default. Direct comparisons are difficult without long-term testing, but Quad9 is widely considered one of the most security-focused public DNS resolvers. It focuses almost entirely on threat intelligence. No parental filtering and no ad blocking - just malicious domains.

Best For

  • Users who want stronger threat blocking
  • Business environments without policy filtering needs
  • Security-focused home labs

OpenDNS (Cisco)

Resolvers

208.67.222.222 208.67.220.220

What It Does

  • Category-based filtering - Blocks content based on predefined categories, such as adult content, social media, or gaming
  • Parental controls
  • Custom domain allow/block lists
  • Account-based dashboard
  • Enterprise-grade policy control

Important Note

OpenDNS requires account configuration for advanced filtering, but can be used with default settings for basic DNS resolution without an account. It logs more metadata than privacy-focused providers. OpenDNS also offers a Family Shield service with pre-configured filtering for families. This is policy-driven DNS.

Best For

  • Parents
  • Schools
  • Small offices
  • Environments needing category enforcement

NextDNS

Resolver

User-specific endpoint generated per account (free for up to 300,000 queries per month). Me and my family had around 170k queries in the last month, so the free tier might be quite generous for home use, given I have servers "phoning home" with telemetry and updates every minute or so, and we still haven't hit the limit.

What It Does

  • Granular blocklists - Allows you to choose specific blocklists for different types of content
  • Ad and tracker blocking
  • Malware protection
  • Parental filtering
  • Detailed analytics dashboard
  • Custom deny/allow rules

Why It's Different

NextDNS behaves almost like Pi-hole in the cloud. It offers extensive customization and analytics, but without the need to run your own hardware. You do share with NextDNS what domains you are resolving, but they have a strong, short and concise privacy policy and do not sell data. You control:
  • Which blocklists are enabled
  • Logging retention
  • Geo-routing - Choose the geographic location for DNS resolution
  • Security level

Best For

  • Power users
  • Homelab setups
  • Users who want analytics and customization

Google Public DNS

Resolvers

8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4

What It Does

  • Very fast and stable
  • Global anycast network - Ensures low latency by routing queries to the nearest server
  • No filtering by default
  • Supports encrypted DNS

Important Reality

Google DNS is built for performance and reliability. It does not block:
  • Malware
  • Adult content
  • Ads
It resolves everything unless legally required not to.

Best For

  • Users who only care about speed
  • Testing environments
  • Neutral DNS resolution

Level3 DNS

Resolvers

4.2.2.1 4.2.2.2 4.2.2.3 4.2.2.4 4.2.2.5 4.2.2.6

What It Does

  • Traditional public DNS resolver
  • No filtering
  • Stable infrastructure
This service exists mostly for historical reasons and legacy infrastructure. It is mainly used by older devices and networks that have not updated their DNS settings. It does not offer any security or privacy features. It is not recommended for modern use. ISPs often use Level3 as a default resolver, which is why it still sees significant traffic. They use it because it is widely supported and has a large global presence, but it does not provide any of the benefits of modern DNS services.

Comodo Secure DNS

Resolvers

8.26.56.26 8.20.247.20

What It Does

  • Malware blocking
  • Phishing protection
  • Blocks known malicious domains

Best For

  • Basic malware protection
  • Users who want a simple, secure DNS
Privacy wise Comodo is not the best choice. They log more data than privacy-focused providers and have a less transparent privacy policy. They do offer some security benefits, but if privacy is a concern, there are better options.

AdGuard DNS

Resolvers

94.140.14.14 94.140.15.15

What It Does

  • Blocks ads and trackers
  • Malware and phishing protection
  • Optional family filtering

Best For

  • Ad blocking
  • Users who want a simple, secure DNS
AdGuard DNS is a good choice for users who want ad blocking and some security features without needing to set up a more complex solution like Pi-hole. However, it does not offer the same level of customization or privacy as some other providers, so it may not be the best choice for everyone. Compared to NextDNS, AdGuard is more of a plug-and-play solution with less customization. It is a good option for users who want basic ad blocking and security without needing to manage settings or create an account. NextDNS offers more granular control and analytics, but requires more setup and sharing of data with the provider. AdGuard is a middle ground for users who want some protection and ad blocking without the complexity of NextDNS.

CleanBrowsing DNS

Resolvers

Security Filter 185.228.168.9 185.228.169.9

What Security Filter Does

  • Blocks malware and phishing domains
  • Blocks C2 (Command and Control) domains
Family Filter 185.228.168.168 185.228.169.168

What Family Filter Does

  • Blocks adult content
  • Blocks malicious domains

Best For

  • Family networks
  • Users who want strong content filtering

Does DNS Filtering Stop Malware?

Yes - if malware relies on domain resolution. No - if malware connects directly to hardcoded IP addresses. DNS filtering blocks domain lookups. It does not inspect or firewall raw IP traffic. You may think of it like this: DNS filtering is like preventing the phonebook lookup. If malware already has the phone number (IP address), it can call directly and has no need for the book.

Comparison Table

Provider Speed Malware Blocking Adult Filtering Custom Rules Privacy Focus Best For Main Weakness
Cloudflare Excellent Yes Optional No High General users Limited customization
Quad9 Very Good Strong No No High Security users No granular filtering
OpenDNS Good Yes Yes Yes Moderate Parents and organizations More logging
NextDNS Very Good Strong Yes Extensive Configurable Power users Requires setup
Google DNS Excellent No No No Moderate Speed No protection
Level3 Good No No No Low Legacy use No security
Comodo Good Yes No No Moderate Basic malware blocking Limited features
AdGuard Very Good Yes Optional No High Ad blocking Less customization
CleanBrowsing Good Yes Strong No Moderate Family networks Less flexible

How Speed Is Judged

Speed comparisons between DNS providers are not based purely on reputation. Several factors influence DNS performance:
  • Anycast network size
  • Proximity to users
  • Cache efficiency
  • Infrastructure capacity
Tools commonly used for DNS testing include:
  • DNSBench
  • namebench
  • dig latency testing
Because DNS performance varies by region, the fastest DNS server in one country may not be the fastest elsewhere. A simple test - you can try ping on the DNS server IPs to see latency from your location.

What Makes a DNS "Privacy Focused"?

When we say a DNS provider is privacy focused, it usually means several things:
  • Minimal logging of user IP addresses
  • Short log retention periods
  • No selling of browsing data
  • Transparent privacy policies
  • Support for encrypted DNS protocols
Encrypted DNS technologies include:
  • DoH - DNS over HTTPS
  • DoT - DNS over TLS
These prevent network operators from easily seeing which domains you resolve.

Should You Change Your DNS?

In many cases - yes. Your ISP's default DNS resolver is usually not optimized for privacy, security, or filtering. Changing your DNS server can provide:
  • Better protection against malicious websites
  • Improved privacy
  • Content filtering for families
  • Ad and tracker blocking
  • Potentially faster domain resolution
However, DNS alone does not replace security software. DNS filtering works best when combined with:
  • Endpoint protection
  • Browser security features
  • Safe browsing habits
For most users, switching to a reputable public DNS provider is a simple way to improve both security and privacy with minimal effort.