8 Best DNS Servers in 2024 [Gaming, PS4 & Xbox One]

What is a DNS server?

Often called the phone directories of the web, DNS servers sustain a catalog of domain names and interpret them to the Internet Protocol (IP).

Why is a DNS server important?

As mentioned above, a DNS server is essentially a phone directory of the Internet. Each time we access a webpage, our computer systems start a DNS search across the billions of existing ones. A website that has a very complex code or a multifaceted variant may result in multiple DNS lookups before the page is completely loaded. This implies that our computer systems perform multiple DNS searches per day, depending on the number of websites we visit and the degree of complexity each webpage we visit may contain.

Best DNS servers of 2024

Let’s move on and talk about some of the best DNS servers in 2024. The servers mentioned below are free and public, implying that they are 100% accessible.

1. Cloudflare (Great for Gaming/PS4/PS5/XBOX One)

• Primary DNS: 1.1.1.1
• Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.1

True to its name, Cloudflare built the 1.1.1.1 primary DNS server as the ‘fastest DNS system in the world’, which was known to never log an individual’s IP address, never sell demographic data or use the clients’ information to target advertisements.

The 1.1.1.1 Cloudflare DNS prevents anyone from prying around in the search histories of individuals and their internet activity, with the help of encrypting web traffic.

2. Google (Great for Gaming/PS4/PS5/XBOX One)

• Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
• Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4

Launched on 3^rd December 2009, Google DNS servers were claimed to “make the Internet faster and more secure.” Google has been the largest public DNS in the world, managing over 400 billion server requests per day. The Google service does not use traditional DNS servers for operative purposes. Instead, it is bolstered on custom-designed cutting edge technology, conforming to a specific set of DNS norms.

Google is also a key player in addressing DNS security. A standard attack trajectory is to intercept a DNS server in order to redirect the path of web pages to malicious servers from authentic ones. Google records trials to be resilient against DNS server spikes, including the ‘denial of service’ attacks. The ‘Denial of Services’ (DoS) attacks are a variant of cyberattacks wherein the offender tries to make a system resource unavailable to its users by momentarily or indeterminately disrupting or stalling the services of a host connected with the web. A DoS is usually achieved by sending hundreds of redundant requests to a server, essentially flooding the resource with the purpose of overloading the system so that legitimate requests can be stalled and not allowed to pass. This causes web traffic, implying a much slower server speed.

If you don’t trust Google, then go with Cloudflare.

3. OpenDNS

• Primary DNS: 208.67.222.222
• Secondary DNS: 67.220.220

Used by over 90 million users worldwide, OpenDNS claims 100% reliability along with parental controls with numerous sifting choices. This technology also offers DNS servers that can block adult content, known as OpenDNSFamilyShield. Like Cloudflare, OpenDNS has global data warehouses which aim at shortening data routes between networks and data centers to make internet access even faster.

4. QUAD9

• Primary DNS: 9.9.9.9
• Secondary DNS: 149.112.112.112

Quad9 is a non-profit community assistance DNS server system which is bolstered by IBM and many different cybersecurity firms for the usage of operating a privacy security-centric public and free DNS server.

As a free public technology, it protects your system and other connected devices from cyber threats by instantly and mechanically obstructing admission to malicious websites without releasing any of the user’s confidential information within the data files. One important point to remember about Quad9 is that it does not screen any content. Only the domains that contain malware or are phishing sites are blocked.

When operating using Quad9 on our system, cyber attackers cannot influence the recognized malicious domain servers to control the system. Along with this, the attackers’ capacity to snip the information and cause damage will be reduced. When an individual or a group of individuals (corporations/companies) uses Quad9, the system does not record the IP addresses, but it does contain the geographical location of the server (regional location, state) and uses this data to analyze malicious ware components of data. Quad9 does not share its registered and stored data with people involved in the prime market and it also doesn’t use actual data for any analysis. Its sole purpose is to combat cyber threats and cybercrime to enable people to grow security on the web.

Although no DNS server is a 100% foolproof from threats and cyber-attacks, Quad9 has built a relatively resilient DNS infrastructure which has been built with years and years of research and experience of professionals. There are many stressors that may affect the users and Quad9 as a DNS server, but the latter has tried and tested various technologies to successfully pass most obstacles they have faced in their journey so far.

Recommended DNS servers for Business

1. Comodo Secure DNS

• Primary DNS: 8.26.56.10
• Secondary DNS: 8.20.247.10

Comodo Dome Sheild DNS server has been a solution-based, reliable worldwide server since the early 2000s, by providing protection and control from any device in any part of the world. As an international DNS hosted in more than 25 countries, Comodo is a Cloud-based DNS server used for corporate and gaming consoles due to the high risk of malware formation and phishing in these two categories. Irrespective of the network which is connected to the device, it shields and panels the user’s web traffic. With a customizable way of functionality, the server is transparent and all reports of internet connected usage are sent directly into the user’s email ID. Comodo has strict policies for both the users and themselves, which are followed to ensure maximum security and minimum invasion. As the world’s largest threat intelligent server system, Comodo has offered its services to over 85 million devices.

You can also add a customizable logo to any previously blocked pages to recognize spam alerts and spam pages. There are about 80 categories of content that are constantly filtered every other hour to eliminate any domain names which may act as malware. The server then adds all these phishing malware to a custom-made blacklist, ensuring no further intrusion. The Comodo DNS server system promises its users a faster, smarter, and safer Internet experience and also offers a one-month trial period for users to try the services offered.

2. Oracle Dyn (Dynamic DNS)

As one of the leading DNS providers, Oracle has changed the game by allowing its users to select a unique and customizable hostname for any IP compatible device. Oracle Dyn makes sure that all the changes made to any device or data are updated as soon as possible and also that the software upgrades happen in a timely fashion in order to minimize any delays and give users the best experience possible. This method of automated and timely upgrades keeps the user connected to the real-time service and is an absolute treat for the price paid.

When used for a gaming console like the PS4, the Dyn DNS is able to register multiple devices and locations so that no data or saved processes are wasted. Of course, when the IP address of the device changes, it requires an immediate change in the hostname, too. With this DNS server, the said change can occur in less than 20 seconds, meaning minimum time consumption for device upgrades.

There have been years of expertise and learning put behind the functionality of the Dyn DNS which has ensured speed, security, and reliability. With a phenomenal brand image, Dyn DNS continues to serve approximately 2000 company startups, most of which are involved in gaming and development. They promise to understand that stability and user-friendliness are two highly important aspects and are continually evolving in the two fields.

3. Verisign Public DNS

• Primary DNS: 64.6.64.6
• Secondary DNS: 64.6.65.6

Verisign is a public DNS server that offers a vast variety of security services like protection from Cyber threats and DoS (Denial of Service). As a privacy-respecting service, Verisign does not sell its users’ demographic or profile data to any third parties and also does not propagate pop-ups and redirections to any advertisements when the user makes a query.

Verisign has a streamlined 7-step process for web pages or gaming consoles as follows:

• User inputs a domain name
• Verisign Public Resolver is activated
• Root servers start to find out the location of the domain name entered
• The root server checks in with the domain name to find the location of the superior server
• The location of the domain name is recognized and the server goes back to the root server
• The root server comes to the actual location of the webpage
• The web browser of the user checks for security and loads the webpage

Recommended DNS Servers for Safe Browsing with No Ads

1. Alternate DNS

• Primary DNS: 23.253.163.53
• Secondary DNS: 198.101.242.72

Alternate DNS is a free DNS server that helps block redundant and unwanted ads, rallying security on your system by doing so. The blocking of ads is also beneficial since, without them, the gaming and browsing speeds are much faster. To facilitate the ad blocking process and using a well-cataloged database of popular advertisement serving DNS servers, the server sends a null and void response to the IP address of the ad sender before the ad gets through the user’s network. This fastens the browsing process and ensures optimum security for the user and the operator, alike.

With an independent server system, Alternate DNS also preserves a phishing and malware block list so that the entire process of recognizing and blocking the spam is not repeated.

Don’t forget to protect your connection using a VPN. Here are some of the best VPN services available today.

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