Your ISP automatically assigns DNS servers when your router or computer connects to the Internet via DHCP… but you don’t have to use those.

Below are free DNS servers you can use instead of the ones assigned, the best and most reliable of which, from the likes of Google and OpenDNS, you can find below:

See How Do I Change DNS Servers? for help. More help is below the table.

Free & Public DNS Servers (Valid February 2016)

Note: Primary DNS servers are sometimes called preferred DNS servers and secondary DNS servers are sometimes called alternate DNS servers. Primary and secondary DNS servers can be “mixed and matched” to provide another layer of redundancy.

Why Use Different DNS Servers?

One reason you might want to change from the DNS servers assigned by your ISP is if you suspect there’s a problem with the ones you’re using now.

An easy way to test for a DNS server issue is by typing a website’s IP address into the browser. If you can reach the website with the IP address, but not the name, then the DNS server is likely having issues.

Another reason to change DNS servers is if you’re looking for a better performing service. Many people complain that their ISP-maintained DNS servers are sluggish and contribute to a slower overall browsing experience.

Yet another, increasingly common reason to use DNS servers from a third party is to prevent logging of your web activity and to circumvent the blocking of certain websites.

The Small Print

Don’t worry, this is good small print!

Many of the DNS providers listed above have varying levels of services (OpenDNS, Norton ConnectSafe, etc.), IPv6 DNS servers (Google, DNS.WATCH, etc.), and location specific servers you might prefer (OpenNIC).

While you don’t need to know anything beyond what I included in the table above, this bonus information might be helpful for some of you, depending on your needs:

_{[1] The free DNS servers listed above as Level3 will automatically route to the nearest DNS server operated by Level3 Communications, the company that provides most of the ISPs in the US their access to the Internet backbone.}

_{[2] Verisign says this about their free DNS servers: “We will not sell your public DNS data to third parties nor redirect your queries to serve you any ads.” Verisign offers IPv6 public DNS servers as well: 2620:74:1b::1:1 and 2620:74:1c::2:2.}

_{[3] Google also offers IPv6 public DNS servers: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844.}

_{[4] DNS.WATCH also has IPv6 DNS servers at 2001:1608:10:25::1c04:b12f and 2001:1608:10:25::9249:d69b. In an uncommon but much appreciated move, DNS.WATCH publishes live statistics for both of their free DNS servers. Both servers are located in Germany which could impact performance if used from the US or other remote locations.}

_{[5] OpenDNS also offers DNS servers that block adult content, called OpenDNS FamilyShield. Those DNS servers are 208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123. A premium DNS offering is also available, called OpenDNS Home VIP.}

_{[6] The Norton ConnectSafe free DNS servers listed above block sites hosting malware, phishing schemes, and scams, and is called Policy 1. Use Policy 2 (199.85.126.20 and 199.85.127.20) to block those sites plus those with pornographic content. Use Policy 3 (199.85.126.30 and 199.85.127.30) to block all previously mentioned site categories plus those Norton deems “non-family friendly.” Be sure to check out the list of things blocked in Policy 3 – there are several controversial topics in there that you may find perfectly acceptable.}

_{[7] GreenTeamDNS “blocks tens of thousands of dangerous websites which include malware, botnets, adult related content, aggressive/ violent sites as well as advertisements and drug-related websites ” according to their FAQ page. Premium accounts have more control.}

_{[8] Register here with SafeDNS for content filtering options in several areas.}

_{[9] The DNS servers listed here for OpenNIC are just two of many in the US and across the globe. Instead of using the OpenNIC DNS servers listed above, see their complete list of public DNS servers here and use two that are close to you or, better yet, let them tell you that automatically here. OpenNIC also offers some IPv6 public DNS servers.}

_{[10] FreeDNS says that they “never log DNS queries.” Their free DNS servers are located in Austria.}

_{[11] Alternate DNS says that their DNS servers “block unwanted ads” and that they engage in “no query logging.”}

_{[12] Yandex’s Basic free DNS servers, listed above, are also available in IPv6 at 2a02:6b8::feed:0ff and 2a02:6b8:0:1::feed:0ff. Two more free tiers of DNS are available as well. The first is Safe, at 77.88.8.88 and 77.88.8.2, or 2a02:6b8::feed:bad and 2a02:6b8:0:1::feed:bad, which blocks “infected sites, fraudulent sites, and bots.” The second is Family, at 77.88.8.7 and 77.88.8.3, or 2a02:6b8::feed:a11 and 2a02:6b8:0:1::feed:a11, which blocks everything thatSafe does, plus “adult sites and adult advertising.”}

_{[13] The censurfridns.dk DNS servers are uncensored, operated by a privately funded individual, and are physically located in Denmark. You can read more about them here. IPv6 DNS servers are also available at 2002:d596:2a92:1:71:53:: and 2001:67c:28a4::.}

_{[14] Hurricane Electric also has an IPv6 public DNS server available: 2001:470:20::2.}

_{[15] puntCAT is physically located near Barcelona, Spain. The IPv6 version of their free DNS server is 2a00:1508:0:4::9.}

Looking to switch from your ISP DNS to another provider? I was surprised to find out that using a free public DNS server from a reputable company was far better than using my local ISP DNS, especially when travelling in foreign countries.

I was recently in India and was getting very frustrated with the constant Webpage cannot load errors followed by the website loading 5 seconds later. I kept seeing the DNS lookup failed message, so I figured let me try another DNS provider and that made an absolute world of difference.

There are a bunch of public DNS servers you can use, but I won’t bother mentioning them all as the top 5 to 10 will cover the needs for pretty much everyone. Some DNS servers provide additional benefits like filtering out phishing scams, blocking porn sites, etc. and I’ll be sure to mention the features for each service.

Also, be sure to read my post on finding the fastest public DNS server from your location using free utilities. Once you have chosen a DNS service, read my post on how to change your DNS servers in Windows.

1. Google Public DNS

Google being Google, they have massive scale, load-balancing, redundancy and DNS servers distributed all over the world. They also support the latest technologies and security mechanisms like IPv6 DNS servers and DNSSEC. Their DNS servers are also well protected against DoS attacks and cache poisoning attacks.

It’s worth noting that Google Public DNS does not perform any blocking or filtering on the DNS requests, as some of the other services do. They state that only under extraordinary circumstances would they block anything. For me, this is a good option because I use other tools to filter out malware sites, etc and don’t necessarily want my DNS service to be involved.

The main benefit for using Google is their global data center and the fact that they have DNS servers located around the world. Some other services only have DNS servers located in one part of the world, so the performance will suffer considerably.

The main downside to using Google is that they are all about tracking and logging everything anyone does on the Internet and this is no exception. If you are leery of Google having too much information, I would suggest using a different DNS server.

Google Public DNS IPv4 Addresses:

• 8.8.8.8
• 8.8.4.4

Google Public DNS IPv6 Addresses:

• 2001:4860:4860::8888
• 2001:4860:4860::8844

2. Level 3 DNS

Level 3 is the company that provides a lot of ISPs their connection to the Internet backbone, so they are huge, reliable and secure. There is no filtering with Level 3, just like Google DNS, so it’s mostly used for performance and reliability.

Depending on your location in the world, any of the public DNS servers I mention here could be the fastest, so that’s why it’s necessary to read the link above on finding the fastest DNS server for your connection.

Level 3 Public DNS Server Addresses:

• 209.244.0.3
• 209.244.0.4
• 4.2.2.1
• 4.2.2.2
• 4.2.2.3
• 4.2.2.4

3. OpenDNS

OpenDNS has been around for a very long time and they are a reputable company. OpenDNS provides several services including Enhanced DNS and Parental Controls, both of which are free.

OpenDNS is also the first public DNS that I have mentioned that does automatic blocking and filtering against phishing attacks and identity theft. This is a great option if you have kids and want to prevent them from landing on malware-infested sites or if you have older family members who sometimes click on spam links in emails.

They also have a VIP service for $20 a month that gives you a bunch Internet usage statistics for all the devices on your network.

OpenDNS IP Addresses:

• 208.67.222.222
• 208.67.220.220

4. Norton ConnectSafe DNS

Norton ConnectSafe is the public DNS service provided by Norton. Like OpenDNS, Norton also has automatic filtering and blocking based on their database of sites. Using the free DNS speed tools I mentioned, it’s also one of the fastest public DNS servers.

Norton DNS has a couple of different DNS servers, depending on the type of protection you want. They have three options:

A – Protection against malware, phishing sties and scam sites

B – A + Pornography

C – A +Pornography + Other

Other will basically block sites related to mature content, gambling, hate, suicide, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, etc. Obviously, that could block a lot of sites, so us that option as you see fit.

Norton DNS IP Addresses:

Option A:

• 199.85.126.10
• 199.85.127.10

Option B:

• 199.85.126.20
• 199.85.127.20

Option C:

• DNSDNSDNS199.85.126.30
• 199.85.127.30

5. OpenNIC DNS

Lastly, another one I like to use is OpenNIC. They have servers all of the world run by their own members and exist to provide a democratic, non-national network that protects your privacy. The link above will show you a list of all of their Tier 2 DNS servers around the world, but you can go to thehomepage and it will tell you the closest servers to your IP automatically at the top right.

When looking at the list of servers, you can choose one that fits your privacy needs. A lot of them keep no logs, have logs completely disabled or keep anonymous logs.

So those are my top recommendations for public DNS servers that are reliable, fast, and provide extra security and filtering for those that need it. Even though most people use their ISP for DNS, it’s really much better to use a third-party. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments. Enjoy!