Overview of the Top Providers
There are hundreds of public DNS providers, but four dominate the market. Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 launched in 2018 and quickly became the world's fastest DNS resolver. Google 8.8.8.8 has been running since 2009, making it the most established option. Quad9 9.9.9.9 launched in 2018 as a nonprofit focused on security. OpenDNS, now owned by Cisco, has been providing DNS services since 2006.
Each provider takes a different approach. Cloudflare focuses on raw speed and privacy. Google balances speed with integration into its ecosystem. Quad9 prioritizes threat blocking. OpenDNS targets families and businesses who want content filtering. Understanding these priorities helps you pick the right one.
Speed Benchmarks
We tested all four providers from 8 countries using DNS-over-HTTPS queries measured across 1,000 test runs per location. Results represent median response times.
| Provider |
Global Avg |
US East |
Europe |
Asia Pacific |
| Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 |
11 ms |
9 ms |
10 ms |
14 ms |
| Google 8.8.8.8 |
20 ms |
18 ms |
19 ms |
22 ms |
| Quad9 9.9.9.9 |
22 ms |
25 ms |
16 ms |
28 ms |
| OpenDNS 208.67.222.222 |
23 ms |
21 ms |
24 ms |
26 ms |
Cloudflare wins overall with 300+ edge locations in 100+ countries. Quad9 outperforms Google in Europe due to its dense European infrastructure. Google remains consistent globally. OpenDNS trails slightly but remains competitive. Run our free DNS speed test to see which provider is fastest from your specific network.
Privacy Policies Compared
Cloudflare
Cloudflare commits to purging all query logs within 24 hours and does not sell or share user data. The company undergoes annual third-party audits by KPMG to verify its privacy practices. Cloudflare publishes a transparency report and is bound by its Privacy Policy. For users who want maximum anonymity, Cloudflare supports DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS. Read our full Cloudflare DNS review.
Google
Google 8.8.8.8 retains anonymized DNS query data for up to 90 days for service improvement and debugging. IP addresses are removed from logs after 24-48 hours. Google ties DNS usage to its broader privacy policy, which means your DNS queries could theoretically be linked to other Google services. Google supports DoH and DoT for encrypted queries. See our Google DNS review.
Quad9
Quad9 is a nonprofit headquartered in Switzerland, subject to Swiss and EU privacy regulations. The service does not log user IP addresses at all and retains only minimal operational data. Quad9's privacy practices are audited regularly. For privacy-focused users, see our best DNS for privacy guide. Read our full Quad9 review.
OpenDNS
OpenDNS is owned by Cisco, which retains data for security and service optimization. Cisco's privacy policy allows retention of anonymized query data. OpenDNS supports DoH and DoT but not DoQ. The service is primarily aimed at families and businesses who want content filtering rather than maximum privacy. See our OpenDNS review.
Security Features
Security varies significantly between providers. Here is how they compare on key protection features.
Quad9 — Best for Security
Quad9 blocks known malicious domains by default using threat intelligence feeds from IBM X-Force, CryptoLocker feeds, and other sources. The service blocks malware, botnets, and phishing domains. Our tests found Quad9 blocked 94% of known malicious domains in real-time. Quad9 also offers a filtering variant (9.9.9.10) for parental controls. This is the strongest option for automatic threat protection without any configuration.
Cloudflare — Fast Security Variant
Cloudflare offers malware blocking through its 1.1.1.2 (malware blocking) and 1.1.1.3 (family protection) variants. These are not enabled by default on 1.1.1.1 but provide the same speed with added protection. Cloudflare uses its massive threat intelligence network from protecting millions of websites to identify and block threats. See our Cloudflare DNS review.
OpenDNS — Enterprise-Grade Filtering
OpenDNS provides robust content filtering through its FamilyShield (208.67.222.123) and Custom blockslists. As a Cisco product, it benefits from enterprise-level threat intelligence. OpenDNS is the best choice for parents who want to block adult content across an entire network without installing software. See our OpenDNS review.
Google — No Default Blocking
Google 8.8.8.8 does not block any domains by default. It relies on users to configure additional protections. Google does support DNSSEC validation, which prevents DNS spoofing attacks. For users who want no filtering at all, this is actually an advantage — nothing is blocked. See our Google DNS review.
Which One Should You Choose?
The best DNS depends on your priorities. Here is a quick decision guide.
Choose Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 if speed is your top priority. Cloudflare is the fastest resolver in the world with 300+ edge locations. It also has excellent privacy practices. If you want speed plus automatic security, use 1.1.1.2 (malware blocking) or 1.1.1.3 (family protection). Cloudflare is the best all-around choice for most people. See our full review.
Choose Quad9 9.9.9.9 if security is your top priority. Quad9 automatically blocks malware and phishing domains. It is a nonprofit with strong privacy practices based in Switzerland. Quad9 is especially fast in Europe and is the best choice for families who want automatic protection. See our full review.
Choose Google 8.8.8.8 if you want no filtering and a well-established provider. Google is reliable, consistent globally, and integrates well if you already use Google services. It does not block any content, so it works perfectly with streaming and gaming. See our full review.
Choose OpenDNS if you want content filtering for your family or business. OpenDNS offers the most granular filtering controls and is backed by Cisco's threat intelligence. See our full review.
Whichever you choose, run our DNS speed test first to see which provider is fastest from your location. Check our fastest DNS rankings for country-specific recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which public DNS provider is the fastest?
Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is the fastest public DNS resolver globally with an average response time of 11 milliseconds. Google 8.8.8.8 averages 20 milliseconds. Quad9 9.9.9.9 averages 22 milliseconds. OpenDNS averages 23 milliseconds. Speed varies by location, so run our DNS speed test to find the fastest provider for your network.
Which DNS provider has the best privacy policy?
Cloudflare commits to purging all query logs within 24 hours and undergoes independent audits by KPMG. Quad9 is a nonprofit based in Switzerland, subject to Swiss privacy law, and does not log user IP addresses. Google retains anonymized query logs for up to 90 days for service improvement. OpenDNS, owned by Cisco, retains data for limited periods for security purposes. For maximum privacy, Cloudflare and Quad9 are the strongest choices.
Do all public DNS providers support encrypted DNS?
Yes. All four major providers support DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT). Cloudflare and Google also support DNS-over-QUIC (DoQ) for even lower latency. OpenDNS supports DoH and DoT but not DoQ. Quad9 added DoQ support in late 2025. Encrypted DNS prevents your ISP and network operators from seeing which websites you visit.
Which DNS is best for security and malware blocking?
Quad9 9.9.9.9 provides the strongest default security by blocking known malware and phishing domains using threat intelligence from multiple sources including IBM X-Force. Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 offers a malware-blocking variant at 1.1.1.2. OpenDNS Cisco Umbrella excels at enterprise-level threat protection. Google 8.8.8.8 does not block malicious domains by default. For home users wanting automatic protection, Quad9 is the best out-of-the-box choice.
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Want to learn more? Read our complete DNS guide, explore all DNS providers, or find the fastest DNS for your country.