The internet has become an integral part of our lives. We rely on it for work, entertainment, communication and more. However, internet service providers, government restrictions, and geographical limitations often get in the way of smooth access. Tools like VPNs and Smart DNS aim to solve these problems, but they work differently.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare Smart DNS and VPN head-to-head on features, use cases, security considerations and more, to help you decide which one better suits your needs.
How DNS Works
Before we dive into Smart DNS and VPN, it helps to understand how the Domain Name System (DNS) works.
DNS is like the phonebook of the internet. It translates human-readable domain names like example.com to machine-readable IP addresses like 192.168.1.1. Without DNS, you‘d have to remember all IP addresses by heart.
By default, your internet service provider (ISP) assigns their own DNS servers to convert domain names for you. Unfortunately, ISP DNS servers are often slow, insecure, non-private and lack certain features.
Tools like custom DNS, Smart DNS and VPN aim to provide better performance, security and features than your ISP’s default DNS.
What is Smart DNS?
Smart DNS is an enhanced type of custom DNS server that provides added functionality usually only found in VPN services. The “smart” capabilities include:
- Unblocking geo-restricted content like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, etc.
- Bypassing internet censorship
- Faster performance than VPN
- No impact on internet speed like VPNs
- Optional basic privacy by encrypting DNS requests
With Smart DNS, your internet traffic flows normally through your ISP to access websites and services. Only the DNS requests getting sent to the Smart DNS server are impacted.
What is VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts all your internet traffic and routes it through a remote server for enhanced privacy and security. By hiding your IP address and encrypting data, VPN prevents snooping by hackers, governments or your ISP.
VPNs allow bypassing internet censorship, geo-blocks and more. But the encryption and remote routing comes at a cost of reduced internet speeds. VPNs also sometimes suffer connectivity issues and lack of access to streaming services trying to block them.
Smart DNS vs VPN: Key Differences
|| Smart DNS | VPN |
|-|————-|——-|
|Encrypted Traffic|Only DNS requests, not full traffic|Fully encrypted tunnel|
|Speed Impact|None|Reduced speeds|
|Geo Unblocking|Yes|Mostly yes|
|Censorship Bypassing|Yes|Yes|
|Hide IP Address|No|Yes|
|Privacy|Partial, not full|High|
|Security|Moderate|Very high|
|Works With Streaming|Yes|Issues with some|
|Cost|Cheap|$5+/month usually|
** Note: VPNs often face blocks by major streaming platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Connection stability can also suffer due to the long distance traffic is being routed.
As made clear in the table above, Smart DNS and VPN have some overlapping capabilities but are ultimately very different solutions. Some key points:
- Smart DNS provides geo-unblocking and censorship bypassing without reductions in internet speeds. This makes it ideal for uninterrupted video streaming and downloads.
- VPN provides full encryption and privacy at the cost of speed. VPN shields all traffic from prying eyes, making it better for public WiFi usage and high risk environments. But video buffering can suffer.
- Smart DNS costs less than VPN. Most decent VPNs start at $5-10/month while Smart DNS can be found for less than $3/month.
- VPN provides more comprehensive privacy and security. Smart DNS only encrypts DNS whereas VPN encrypts everything. So VPN wins hands down for hiding online activity.
Now that you understand the core differences at a high-level, let’s dig deeper into pros, cons and use cases.
Smart DNS Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unblocks geo-restricted content like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.
- Maintains full internet speeds. No throttling of traffic.
- Cheaper than most VPN services.
- Setup is easy, typically requiring just changing DNS settings.
- Works seamlessly across all devices when set at router level.
Cons
- Does not hide IP address from websites/ISP. Provides only basic privacy.
- Encryption limited to DNS traffic only. Browsing traffic can still be intercepted.
- Security and malware protection only through DNS filtering. No full traffic analysis possible.
- Limited number of server locations to choose from unlike plentiful VPN options.
Best Use Cases
Uninterrupted video streaming: Enjoy buffer-free streaming from any location. Smart DNS easily unblocks services like US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu Japan and more.
Internet censorship bypassing: People living under repressive regimes can bypass state-imposed censorship relatively easily and cheaply using Smart DNS.
Faster downloads: Download files from geo-restricted servers at full speeds. Smart DNS removes geographic limitations without reducing performance.
Security Considerations
Smart DNS does NOT provide comprehensive protection or privacy despite having “secure” in the name of some providers. It only encrypts DNS requests sent to the Smart DNS provider’s servers. Your internet traffic and browsing data remains visible to your ISP, hotspot owners, hackers and government agencies.
I only recommend using Smart DNS in low-risk situations for convenience. If you need to secure sensitive browsing or transactions, a VPN would be better.
VPN Pros and Cons
Pros
- Hides originating IP address from all websites and networks
- Encrypts all traffic providing privacy and security everywhere
- Works worldwide across thousands of servers making geo-spoofing easy
- Blocks ads, malware and prevents tracking by encrypting all traffic
- Provides protection on public WiFi hotspots
Cons
- Speeds get reduced due to long distance traffic routing and encryption
- Streaming sites actively block many VPN IP addresses
- Connectivity issues and loss of access due to blacklisting of IPs
- Setup needs apps and configuration on each device
- More expensive than Smart DNS
Best Use Cases
Public WiFi security: VPN encryption prevents snooping of sensitive browsing activity when connected to public networks.
Torrenting: Hides your IP address from copyright infringement monitoring agencies. Allows accessing torrents securely.
International access: VPN allows bypassing geo-blocks when traveling abroad by selecting server locations matching where the content is hosted.
Security Considerations
Unlike Smart DNS, VPN provides robust privacy, security and anonymity by encrypting and hiding all traffic from your ISP and hackers. No DNS or browsing data leaks out.
However, VPN slowdowns and connectivity issues significantly impact performance. Streaming sites block most VPNs making them unreliable unblockers.
For security without performance tradeoffs, I recommend using VPN only when necessary instead of 24/7. Use Smart DNS for uninterrupted entertainment.
Smart DNS and VPN Providers Compared
There are many DNS and VPN providers to choose from. But quality and reliability varies greatly across services. I’ve compiled top picks for both categories based on research into speed, unblocking abilities, costs and more.
Best Smart DNS Services
1. UnoTelly
UnoTelly is my top choice for Smart DNS proxy service because of its great unblocking capabilities, generous five device connections and competitive pricing.
It reliably works with US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and more. Very lightweight apps also available.
Plans start at $3/month going down to $2/month for yearly subscriptions. Free trial also available.
2. Overplay
Another excellent Smart DNS service is Overplay, which specializes in geo-unblocking for streaming and downloads. It even offers dedicated IP options.
Overplay supports an impressive 400+ streaming services worldwide and also provides VPN add-on. Apps make configuration easy across devices.
Pricing is competitive at €3/month or €2.5/month for 6-12 month plans. Free trial offered.
3. SmartDNSProxy
As the name suggests, SmartDNSProxy focuses exclusively on providing Smart DNS services without other extras. Services like US Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, ESPN, HBO Max and over a dozen more work flawlessly.
Apps available for all major platforms. Pricing at $4.17/month is decent value given performance and access provided. 15-day free trial offered.
Best VPN Services
Many factors impact VPN quality, like speed, stability, pricing, number of servers and more. Based on extensive research, these three providers consistently rise to the top across all evaluation criteria.
1. ExpressVPN
Arguably the most popular and highly rated premium VPN service, ExpressVPN delivers exceptionally fast speeds that rival Smart DNS. It boasts thousands of servers across 94 countries keeping restrictions at bay. Strict zero logging policy protects privacy.
Pricing starts at $8.32/month for 12-month plan. 30-day money back guarantee offered on all plans.
2. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a hugely popular VPN known for affordable pricing and reliable performance. It allows torrenting, provides dedicated streaming profiles and has over 7000 servers making geo-spoofing a breeze.
18-month plan goes for just $2.25/month and a generous 45-day refund policy covers all plans.
3. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a privacy-focused VPN lauded for not keeping any activity logs. It offers port forwarding for torrents and allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. Great value given quality and low pricing from just $2.69/month. 30-day money back guarantee applies to all plans.
Summary: Should You Use Smart DNS or VPN?
Deciding between Smart DNS and VPN comes down to your specific needs and priorities. Let’s summarize everything into clear scenarios when you should choose one over the other:
Use Smart DNS When:
- All you want is to unblock sites like US Netflix, Hulu, etc. hassle-free
- Need reliable access internationally to streaming platforms and sites
- Want no speed or streaming disruptions – DNS handles unblocking in background
- Finding VPNs too expensive or complex to manage long-term
Use VPN When:
- Want to hide IP address from websites, ISP and hackers
- Need security on public WiFi hotspots like cafes, hotels, etc.
- Privacy is paramount. Sensitive browsing history cannot leak out
- Bypassing geo-blocks to access country-limited websites
- Torrenting or accessing questionable content safely
For many people, the best solution is to use both Smart DNS and VPN together. Enjoy blazing fast, uninterrupted video streaming using Smart DNS combined with VPN protection when conducting sensitive online activity requiring anonymity.
With this detailed feature comparison and usage recommendations, deciding which one to use should now be much simpler. Choose Smart DNS for hassle-free entertainment and VPN when privacy and security matters most.
Stay safe online!
