While your ISP connects you to the internet, it also monitors your activity. Every time you visit a site, your device sends a DNS request that reveals where you’re headed. Even if the site uses HTTPS, it doesn’t cover your tracks because HTTPS only encrypts content not hide DNS requests, meaning your ISP can see which websites you visit. That data can then be sold, analyzed, or used to build a profile of your browsing habits.
But you don’t have to settle for that. Sure, you can use a VPN, but it adds latency and processing overhead to your connection. Besides, the best VPN services don’t come for free. The simplest and most effective solution is to switch to an encrypted DNS provider. If you’re shopping for an alternative to your ISP’s DNS, these six DNS providers are the best for privacy.
A fast and capable DNS that can block ads
AdGuard Public DNS is a free, ready-to-use version of AdGuard’s encrypted DNS service. From a company known for blocking ads, AdGuard’s DNS service is a robust option if you want to protect your browsing activity from your ISP.
It supports a number of DNS encryption protocols, including DNSCrypt, DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH), DNS-over-TLS (DoT), and DNS-over-QUIC (DoQ), ensuring your internet activity remains private at all times. AdGuard collects data about the sites visited, but without any personally identifying details, to improve the service. Besides, it deletes collected data after 24 hours, so you can be sure your data is in safe hands.
And as you would expect, AdGuard’s DNS includes the ability to block ads and trackers across the web. It also has threat protection and can block malicious domains. You can set up AdGuard DNS by modifying your network settings, but the company also provides dedicated apps for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android that you can download and connect to in a minute.
Best for customization
Control D is a DNS service from the team behind Windscribe VPN. The service’s key focus is browsing the internet privately with a strict no-logs policy. Additionally, the service utilizes modern, secure DNS protocols (such as DoH and DoT) for encryption to protect your activity from third parties. Control D doesn’t tie your DNS queries to your IP address, which makes it much harder to track you online.
The service also offers filtering capabilities if needed, and unlike most traditional DNS services, Control D is fully customizable, even in the free version, letting you choose what to block. That includes ads, trackers, adult content, gambling sites, and even whole categories like social media or streaming platforms. When it comes to infrastructure, Control D’s network is smaller than some competitors. However, it maintains servers on almost all the continents to deliver good performance.
First EU-focused DNS for European users
Dns0.eu is a newer player in the encrypted DNS space, founded by the co-founders of NextDNS. Since launching in 2022, Dns0.eu has quickly established itself as the first European-focused public DNS resolver built with EU regulations and values in mind. That alone makes it stand out from providers in areas where data protection laws are less strict.
Thanks to its foundations, privacy is at the core of Dns0.eu. The service doesn’t log or sell user information, and commits to complete transparency about how it handles queries. It supports modern, secure DNS protocols including DoH, DoT, and DoQ for encrypted lookups, helping prevent anyone from snooping or tampering with your browsing.
Besides privacy, Dns0.eu also features built-in threat blocking capabilities to protect you against phishing, malware, and botnet connections, without censorship or interference with your activity. The only downside is that its servers are based in the EU, so performance may be slower outside the region or when accessing services hosted elsewhere.
Privacy-first DNS with optional filtering
Mullvad is best known for its privacy-first VPN service, but it also offers a free encrypted DNS resolver that shares the same commitment to anonymity. Unlike most software companies, Mullvad has built its reputation on refusing to collect personal data, to the extent that you don’t even need an email address to sign up for its VPN. That no-logs philosophy extends to the company’s DNS service.
For keeping your queries private, it uses DoH and DoT protocols and, like most providers, gives you several hostnames to use to connect to the service. A basic resolver is available plus alternative hostnames with built-in filtering options capable of blocking ads, trackers, gambling sites, and more.
Its DNS service uses the company’s robust VPN infrastructure to provide a fast browsing experience. While it has no standalone app for setting up the DNS, Mullvad provides step-by-step instructions on how to change your DNS settings on Windows 11, iOS, Android, Linux, and even macOS.
Robust DNS with a strict no-logs policy
Quad9 is a non-profit DNS provider that puts privacy and security at the forefront. Like Mullvad, Quad9 doesn’t log your personal data or sell your information. It’s run by a non-profit organization based in Switzerland, so you can be sure that it adheres to the country’s strict privacy laws. The organization explicitly states that it never stores your IP address in its system logs, and it relies on donations to operate its infrastructure.
Aside from the intense focus on privacy, Quad9 also stands out for its built-in security filtering features. Every DNS request is checked against a constantly updated list of malicious domains from trusted threat intelligence partners. If a site is flagged for hosting malware, phishing, or other cyber threats, Quad9 will block the request before your device ever connects. It’s a perfect solution for proactive protection without relying solely on browser warnings and antivirus tools.
Quad9 also has solid performance, thanks to its global network of servers. Unlike some DNS providers, it offers cutting-edge features like DoH and DoT by default, so your queries are encrypted against your ISP and third-parties from snooping. It ranks as one of the best DNS servers for improved online safety.
Fast, private, and reliable
Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 service is one of the most popular encrypted DNS providers, and for good reason. Launched with a focus on privacy, it promises never to sell your data or use it to target ads—a bold contrast to many ISPs. For starters, it uses the modern DoH security protocol and doesn’t collect identifiable data.
The company only keeps logs for 24 hours for debugging purposes and improving the product. What makes 1.1.1.1 even better is that it has companion apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux, so you don’t need to fiddle with your device’s network settings to get started. But beyond privacy and ease of setup, 1.1.1.1 also excels at speed. Using the company’s global network, it ranks among the fastest recursive DNS services on the market.
That means no matter where you are, you can be sure to get quick responses from 1.1.1.1, making websites load faster. Yes, switching your DNS provider can make your internet faster. In fact, it’s just one of several DNS tricks you can take advantage of to speed up your internet.
Don’t let your ISP snoop on you
Using your ISP’s default DNS is convenient since it requires nothing from you. But with ISPs notoriously known for tracking online activity, you should stay away from their free DNS to boost your privacy. The services discussed are robust, utilize modern DNS protocols to keep your browsing activity private, and don’t track your online movements.
Besides, all are free, but only some have optional paid plans. Best of all, setup takes just a few minutes, even for those that lack dedicated apps like Quad9. By making the switch, you take back control of your browsing and prevent your ISP from tracking your every move.
