DNS Speed Test

Google DNS vs OpenDNS: Overview

Google Public DNS launched in 2009 as 8.8.8.8 and became the most widely used public DNS resolver in the world. OpenDNS launched earlier, in 2005, and was acquired by Cisco in 2015. Both have massive infrastructure and millions of daily users.

Google DNS is simple. It resolves domains quickly and does nothing else. No filtering, no blocking, no parental controls. It is a bare-bones resolver designed for speed and reliability.

OpenDNS offers tiered features. The free OpenDNS Home (208.67.222.222) includes content filtering and phishing protection. OpenDNS FamilyShield (208.67.222.123) blocks adult content. Paid tiers add more categories, reporting, and integration with Cisco security products.

Speed Comparison

Google DNS is faster in most regions. Google operates a global Anycast network with hundreds of points of presence. OpenDNS has fewer data centers, which means higher latency in some parts of the world.

That said, OpenDNS is still fast for a DNS resolver. In North America and Europe, the difference is usually under 10ms. In Asia, Africa, and South America, the gap is wider because Google has more infrastructure in those regions.

Run our DNS speed test to compare both from your location.

Privacy Comparison

Google logs DNS queries with timestamps and IP addresses. They use this data for security and abuse prevention. According to Google's privacy notice, they retain temporary logs for 24 to 48 hours, after which the IP address is deleted. Permanent logs strip IP information but keep location and performance data.

OpenDNS also logs query data. Cisco uses the data for threat intelligence and to improve their security products. OpenDNS does not sell your browsing data, but they do use it internally. For users who want maximum privacy, neither Google nor OpenDNS is ideal. Cloudflare or Quad9 are better choices.

Both providers support DNS over HTTPS and DNS over TLS for encrypted transport.

Features Comparison

Parental Controls Deep Dive

OpenDNS FamilyShield is one of the easiest parental control solutions available. Set your DNS to 208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123, and adult content is blocked across every device on your network. No software to install, no accounts to create. It just works.

The free OpenDNS Home tier (208.67.222.222) lets you create an account and customize which categories to block. You can block social media, gambling, file sharing, and other categories. Customization requires creating a free account and updating your network's IP address or installing the OpenDNS update client.

Google DNS has no equivalent feature. If you need DNS-level parental controls, OpenDNS is the clear winner between these two.

Verdict: Which Should You Use?

Choose Google DNS if: You want the fastest resolution with no fuss. You do not need filtering or blocking. You trust Google with your data.

Choose OpenDNS if: You want content filtering or parental controls. You want phishing protection without installing anything. You value the ability to customize your filtering categories.

Use both: Set Google DNS as your primary and OpenDNS as secondary. Or set OpenDNS as primary for the filtering and Google as secondary for reliability.