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. Secondary DNS server address – 209.244.0.4 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.
It's also typically faster than the default name servers assigned by ISPs.Īlthough 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. 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. Still, benchmarking against the other DNS servers on this list is always recommended – sometimes alternatives can be faster, particularly Open DNS. Overall, most users find that switching to Google Public DNS speeds up their web browsing, improves security, and minimizes unnecessary redirects. 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. 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.
Check out our article on How to setup 1.1.1.1 as a DNS server to find out more about this privacy-focused, free, DNS service. NEW: Cloudflare's newly launched 1.1.1.1 DNS server claims to have faster speeds and better privacy than all of the options below. 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: 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. We recently published a guide on how to use DNS Benchmark and Namebench to compare the best DNS servers. 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. ) into IP addresses (216.58.198.110) and vice versa, thus making the web more user-friendly.
These servers translate written web addresses (i.e. 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.