Cloudflare DNS
Fast & privacy-focused
- IPv4: 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1
- Focus: Speed, strong privacy policy, optional content filtering.
- Best for: Users who want low latency and minimal logging.
Choose the right DNS for speed, privacy & safety
Your ISP’s default DNS is rarely the best option. FreeDNS.io gives you a practical overview of free public resolvers, family filters, and premium secure DNS services – so you can pick what fits your network and threat model.
FreeDNS.io is an independent informational site. We are not affiliated with the providers listed here.
Quick DNS cheat sheet
- Cloudflare – 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1
- Google – 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4
- OpenDNS – 208.67.222.222 / 208.67.220.220
- Quad9 – 9.9.9.9 / 149.112.112.112
- CleanBrowsing – 185.228.168.9 / 185.228.169.9
Always verify IPs and features on the provider’s official site before changing settings.
Free public DNS resolvers
These providers offer free, anycast public DNS resolvers. They focus on performance, reliability, and in some cases basic security or privacy features. They are suitable replacements for your ISP’s default DNS on home routers, servers, and individual devices.
Google Public DNS
Reliable & transparent
- IPv4: 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4
- Focus: Reliability, performance, detailed technical documentation.
- Best for: Advanced users who like Google’s infrastructure.
OpenDNS (by Cisco)
Custom filtering & security
- IPv4: 208.67.222.222 / 208.67.220.220
- Focus: Phishing protection, category-based content filtering, stats.
- Best for: Home and small business networks that need parental controls.
Quad9
Security & privacy
- IPv4: 9.9.9.9 / 149.112.112.112
- Focus: Blocking malicious domains using threat intelligence, privacy-first.
- Best for: Users who want extra protection against malware & phishing.
Comodo Secure DNS
Free security layer
- IPv4: 8.26.56.26 / 8.20.247.20
- Focus: Blocking malicious and scam sites at DNS level.
- Best for: Extra security on top of basic home or office networks.
Yandex DNS
Basic / Safe / Family modes
- IPv4 (base): 77.88.8.8 / 77.88.8.1
- Focus: Different profiles including malware and family filtering.
- Best for: Users in Yandex’s region who need regional performance & filters.
Many other public resolvers exist (DNS.Watch, OpenNIC, Gcore, Control D, and more). Always read each provider’s privacy policy and documentation before switching.
DNS with filtering: ads, malware & adult content
Some DNS providers go beyond simple resolution and offer built‑in content filtering. They can block malware, trackers, ads, or adult content for an entire network without installing software on each device.
CleanBrowsing
Security & family filters
- Multiple profiles: Security, Adult, and Family filters.
- Blocks adult content, malware and other risky categories.
- Supports DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH), DNS-over-TLS (DoT), and DNSCrypt.
AdGuard DNS
Ad & tracker blocking
- Blocks ads, trackers and known malicious domains at DNS level.
- Has both free and paid, configurable plans.
- Works well together with AdGuard’s apps and browser extensions.
DNS for Family
Porn & adult sites blocking
- Blocks pornographic and other adult websites, enforces Safe Search.
- Also filters malware, ads, gambling and other harmful content.
- Supports DNSSEC, DoH, DoT, DNSCrypt and IPv6.
Alternate DNS
Simple ad-blocking DNS
- Primary goal is blocking ads and tracking domains.
- Easy to configure on routers or endpoints.
- Free plan with optional premium features.
Yandex DNS – Family
Regional family mode
- Family profile blocks adult websites and some malware domains.
- Useful for users in regions where Yandex operates its own anycast network.
Other filtering DNS services
More options to explore
- Control D – highly customizable filtering profiles.
- SafeSurfer, Safe DNS, CyberGhost DNS and others.
- Some VPN providers also offer DNS-based blocking as part of their suite.
Filtering DNS is powerful but not perfect. It can miss some content or over-block legitimate sites. Always test thoroughly, especially on business networks.
Commercial DNS security & enterprise services
If you need central policy management, logs, integrations with SIEM/XDR, and SLAs, consumer-grade DNS may not be enough. These services focus on DNS-layer security for organizations.
Cisco Umbrella
DNS-layer security platform
- Blocks malicious domains before connections are established.
- Category-based content filtering and detailed reporting.
- Integrations with Cisco security stack and existing networks.
Qrator Labs Secure DNS server
Protected authoritative DNS
- Focuses on keeping your authoritative DNS online during DDoS attacks.
- Operates as a secondary or proxy DNS server in front of your own.
- Part of Qrator’s wider DDoS and application protection network.
Secutec SecureDNS
Managed DNS security with XDR integrations
- Monitors and filters DNS requests 24/7, blocking malicious domains.
- Integrates with XDR platforms for richer context and faster investigations.
- Designed for organizations that want managed DNS security.
Enterprise-focused resolvers
More options
- Neustar UltraDNS, Gcore, and other providers offer global anycast DNS.
- Some combine DDoS protection, WAF, and DNS management in one platform.
- Pricing, SLAs and privacy posture vary widely – always compare carefully.
Tip: For business use, evaluate DNS solutions like any other security product: look at pricing, logging and retention, integrations, data residency, and how easily you can roll back changes.
FAQ: Choosing & using DNS safely
Is it safe to switch away from my ISP’s DNS?
In most cases yes, as long as you use reputable providers. Many public DNS resolvers offer better performance and security than default ISP DNS. However, you are still trusting another company with your DNS traffic – read their privacy policy first.
Can DNS filtering replace endpoint protection?
No. DNS filtering is a very useful layer, but it does not see everything (for example, some IP-only traffic, encrypted tunnels, or local malware activity). Use it together with endpoint security, not instead of it.
How do I change DNS on my network?
The most robust way is to change DNS servers on your router or gateway, so all devices behind it use the new resolver. Alternatively, you can change DNS settings on individual devices (laptops, phones, servers) if you only want a subset of clients to use a specific DNS.
Do you run your own DNS service?
FreeDNS.io currently focuses on explaining and comparing existing DNS services. In the future we may add tools, guides, or our own experimental services around DNS, but this page is intentionally vendor-neutral.