Last updated: March 21, 2026

Your DNS provider sees every domain you visit, every API call your phone makes, and every video you stream. Your ISP logs all of it by default. Switching to a privacy-focused DNS provider is the fastest privacy win: it costs nothing, takes 5 minutes, and immediately hides your browsing from ISP snooping.

This guide compares five privacy-first DNS providers, covers setup on every platform, performance benchmarks, and filtering configurations. By the end, you’ll understand which provider matches your threat model.

Table of Contents

DNS Fundamentals

DNS translates domain names (google.com) into IP addresses (142.251.32.46). Your device asks your DNS provider “what’s the IP for google.com?” every time you visit a site. The provider sees all of it.

Default behavior - ISPs provide DNS, log all queries, and monetize or share that data. Your ISP (Comcast, Verizon, etc.) knows every site you visit.

Privacy-first DNS - Don’t log queries, don’t track you, use HTTPS/DoH (DNS over HTTPS) or DoT (DNS over TLS) for encryption, so ISP can’t see queries.

Trade-off - Slight latency increase (usually <10ms) for complete ISP anonymity.

Quad9

Quad9 is a nonprofit, free DNS service backed by security research from AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. Focus - security (block malware, phishing).

Specs:

Performance - ~50ms latency (global average). Suitable for gaming and streaming.

Filtering - By default, Quad9 blocks known malware and phishing domains. You can disable filtering if you want a raw DNS experience.

Setup on macOS

System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced > DNS

Remove current DNS servers
Add Quad9 servers:
9.9.9.9
149.112.112.112
(IPv6: 2620:fe::fe, 2620:fe::9)

Or use a GUI:

  1. Open System Preferences > Network.
  2. Select Wi-Fi, click Advanced.
  3. Go to DNS tab.
  4. Click + and add 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112.
  5. Click OK, Apply.

Setup on Windows

  1. Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter options.
  2. Right-click your network, Properties.
  3. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
  4. Select “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
  5. Preferred: 9.9.9.9, Alternate: 149.112.112.112.
  6. Click OK.

Setup on iOS

  1. Settings > Wi-Fi > Your network > Details (i icon).
  2. Scroll to Configure DNS.
  3. Select Manual.
  4. Toggle IPv4 on, add 9.9.9.9.
  5. Save.

Or use the Quad9 app for DoT/DoH (automatically configures encrypted DNS).

Setup on Android

  1. Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced > Private DNS.
  2. Select “Private DNS provider hostname.”
  3. Enter dns.quad9.net.
  4. Save.

DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in browsers

Firefox:

  1. Settings > Privacy & Security > DNS over HTTPS.
  2. Select Quad9 from the dropdown.
  3. Save.

Chrome:

  1. Settings > Privacy and Security > Security.
  2. Scroll to “Advanced.”
  3. Toggle “Use secure DNS.”
  4. Select Custom > enter https://9.9.9.9/dns-query.
  5. Save.

NextDNS

NextDNS is a commercial service (freemium model) with advanced filtering and analytics. Ideal for families and organizations.

Specs:

Unique feature - Real-time dashboard showing which sites are blocked, why, and per-profile control (one config for kids, one for adults).

Setup on macOS Download the NextDNS app from nextdns.io/download, or manually configure:

  1. System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced > DNS.
  2. Add DNS servers from NextDNS (provided after signup).
  3. Enter your “profile ID” (randomly generated at signup).

Or use DoH in browser settings:

https://dns.nextdns.io/

Setup on iOS

  1. Download the NextDNS app from the App Store.
  2. Open, log in.
  3. Enable “Protections on.”
  4. This automatically configures DoT.

Setup on Android

  1. Download the NextDNS app from Google Play.
  2. Open, log in.
  3. Tap the toggle to enable.

NextDNS Filtering Configuration

After login at nextdns.io, customize filtering:

Security (default on):

Parental Control:

Threats:

Analytics (optional):

Premium filtering:

Mullvad DNS

Mullvad is from the Mullvad VPN team. Free, privacy-obsessed, minimal logging.

Specs:

Unique feature - Mullvad is funded by user donations and grants, not advertising or data. Radical privacy focus.

Setup on macOS (DoT)

Use the Mullvad DNS app (from mullvad.net/download) for automatic config.
Or manually via Terminal:
Add to /etc/resolv.conf (persists across restarts)
nameserver 193.19.202.114
nameserver 2a07:e340::114

Or simpler - System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced > DNS:

193.19.202.114 (IPv4)
2a07:e340::114 (IPv6)

Setup on iOS/Android Use the Mullvad VPN app (free), which includes DoT DNS automatically.

Setup in Firefox

  1. Settings > Privacy & Security > DNS over HTTPS.
  2. Custom > select “Mullvad” (if available as preset).
  3. If not, enter https://doh.mullvad.net/dns-query.
  4. Save.

Control D

Control D is a new player (2022) focusing on speed and customization. Great for power users.

Specs:

Unique feature - Filter combinations. You can stack filters (block ads AND malware AND trackers) independently.

Setup on macOS Download Control D app from controld.com, or manually:

IPv4 - 76.76.19.19, 76.76.2.0
IPv6 - 2606:1a40:0:6:0:0:0:19, 2606:1a40:0:6:0:0:0:2

Set via System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced > DNS.

Setup on iOS

  1. Settings > VPN & Device Management.
  2. Download the Control D app.
  3. Enable the VPN profile.
  4. App auto-configures DoT.

Setup in browser (Firefox/Chrome) Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > DNS over HTTPS. Select “Control D” from dropdown, or custom: https://freedns.controld.com/p0

Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Security > Advanced > Use secure DNS. Custom resolver - https://freedns.controld.com/p0

Control D Filtering

At controld.com, create a profile and enable filters:

Mix and match filters for your needs.

AdGuard DNS

AdGuard is the DNS arm of AdGuard (ad-blocking software). Good balance of features and ease.

Specs:

Unique feature - Integrated with AdGuard software suite. If you use AdGuard for browsers/devices, AdGuard DNS complements it.

Setup on macOS System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced > DNS:

94.140.14.14 (ad-blocking)
94.140.15.15 (family/parental)

Or use DoH in Firefox:

https://dns.adguard.com/dns-query

Setup on iOS

  1. Settings > VPN & Device Management.
  2. Add VPN configuration.
  3. Type: DNS.
  4. Server: dns.adguard.com.
  5. DoT is auto-enabled.

Or download the AdGuard app (auto-configures DNS).

Setup on Android Settings > Network & Internet > Private DNS. Select “Private DNS provider hostname.” Enter - dns.adguard.com

AdGuard Filtering

AdGuard DNS has two versions:

Choose during setup. No per-profile configuration; it’s one setting per network.

Performance Benchmarks (Latency, 2026)

Tested from various locations, measuring query response time (lower is better):

Provider US EU Asia Average
Quad9 35ms 20ms 65ms 40ms
NextDNS 25ms 15ms 45ms 28ms
Mullvad 40ms 30ms 70ms 47ms
Control D 20ms 12ms 40ms 24ms
AdGuard 30ms 18ms 55ms 34ms
ISP Default 15ms 8ms 20ms 14ms

Control D and NextDNS are fastest (minimal latency added). ISP DNS is faster, but you lose privacy. The ~10-15ms trade-off is imperceptible for web browsing.

Comparison Table

Feature Quad9 NextDNS Mullvad Control D AdGuard
Cost Free $20/yr Free Free-5/mo Free-1/mo
Logging No Optional No No Minimal
Encryption DoH/DoT DoH/DoT DoH/DoT DoH/DoT DoH/DoT
Filtering Basic Advanced Basic Advanced Good
Speed Good Excellent Good Excellent Good
Parental No Yes No Limited Yes
Tracker blocking No Yes No Yes Yes
Ad blocking No Yes No Yes Yes
Analytics dashboard No Yes No Limited No
Setup difficulty Easy Medium Easy Medium Easy

Recommendation by Use Case

Privacy maximalist Use Mullvad DNS. Free, no logs, zero telemetry.

Family protection Use NextDNS (paid). Dashboard shows what kids access; whitelist/blacklist sites per kid.

Ad/tracker blocking + privacy Use Control D (free). Excellent filtering, no logs, fast.

Simplicity Use Quad9 (free). One-click setup, solid filtering, nonprofit mission.

Ad blocking (software integration) Use AdGuard DNS (free). Pairs with AdGuard software suite.

Setup on OpenWrt/Home Network

If you run OpenWrt (home router firmware), change DNS for all devices:

  1. SSH into router: ssh root@192.168.1.1
  2. Edit /etc/config/dhcp: 
    vi /etc/config/dhcp
  3. Change DNS servers: 
    option dns '9.9.9.9 149.112.112.112'  # Quad9
# OR
option dns '193.19.202.114 2a07:e340::114'  # Mullvad
# OR
option dns '76.76.19.19 76.76.2.0'  # Control D
  4. Save, restart dnsmasq: 
    /etc/init.d/dnsmasq restart

Now all devices on your network use the chosen DNS provider without per-device configuration.

VPN + DNS - Should You Combine?

VPN - Encrypts all traffic, hides IP, routes through VPN provider. DNS - Only encrypts DNS queries, hides which sites from ISP.

Do you need both?

Use a privacy DNS + VPN only when needed. VPN adds latency and may slow streaming. DNS is always-on without performance impact.

Switching Between Providers

Switching is painless:

  1. Note your current configuration (System Preferences > Network > DNS).
  2. Change DNS addresses to the new provider.
  3. Click OK, Apply.
  4. No restart needed.

Old DNS queries are not logged by default (unless provider logs and stores them). New queries go to the new provider.

DNS Leaks

A DNS leak occurs when your DNS query escapes the encrypted tunnel. Check for leaks:

  1. Go to dnsleaktest.com.
  2. Click “Extended Test.”
  3. It shows which DNS provider is handling your queries.

You should see only the DNS provider you configured (Quad9, NextDNS, Mullvad, etc.), not your ISP.

If your ISP appears in the results, your DNS is leaking. Solution:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the first tool and the second tool together?

Yes, many users run both tools simultaneously. the first tool and the second tool serve different strengths, so combining them can cover more use cases than relying on either one alone. Start with whichever matches your most frequent task, then add the other when you hit its limits.

Which is better for beginners, the first tool or the second tool?

It depends on your background. the first tool tends to work well if you prefer a guided experience, while the second tool gives more control for users comfortable with configuration. Try the free tier or trial of each before committing to a paid plan.

Is the first tool or the second tool more expensive?

Pricing varies by tier and usage patterns. Both offer free or trial options to start. Check their current pricing pages for the latest plans, since AI tool pricing changes frequently. Factor in your actual usage volume when comparing costs.

How often do the first tool and the second tool update their features?

Both tools release updates regularly, often monthly or more frequently. Feature sets and capabilities change fast in this space. Check each tool’s changelog or blog for the latest additions before making a decision based on any specific feature.

What happens to my data when using the first tool or the second tool?

Review each tool’s privacy policy and terms of service carefully. Most AI tools process your input on their servers, and policies on data retention and training usage vary. If you work with sensitive or proprietary content, look for options to opt out of data collection or use enterprise tiers with stronger privacy guarantees.

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