What is SmartDNS? How is it different from a VPN? People often confuse these tools \u2013 we\u2019re here to put an end to the uncertainty.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While VPNs replace your IP address to change your virtual location, SmartDNS removes geographical information from your DNS requests. Wait, what are DNS requests? Don\u2019t worry \u2013 we\u2019ll get into all that.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we\u2019ll cover everything you need to know about SmartDNS, how it works, and when to use it. We\u2019ll also make the difference between VPNs and SmartDNS clear to help you choose which is right for you. First, let\u2019s discuss simple DNS so you can see how it all works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DNS stands for \u201cDomain Name System.\u201d This system contains a list of numbers. Every website has a unique number \u2013 an IP address. The system is almost like a phonebook of contact numbers (or IP addresses) for every website on the internet.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rather than using long complex IP addresses every time you visit a website, you simply type in the domain or website name. Your DNS requests pass through DNS servers before reaching the website\u2019s servers. The DNS server translates the human-friendly domain name into a computer-friendly IP address. In this way, it directs you to the website you want to visit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think of a DNS request as making a phone call. Instead of typing in a number, you type the person\u2019s name and your phonebook automatically calls the right number. In this case, your ISP\u2019s DNS servers act as the phone book.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your ISP handles all your DNS requests through their servers to direct your traffic to the right place. Since your ISP manages the \u201cphonebook,\u201d it also means they can decide which websites you can or can\u2019t access. This is why some sites are blocked depending on your location (IP address) or the network you\u2019re connected to.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Incidentally, this is how government-imposed internet censorship works. If your government doesn\u2019t want you to visit certain websites, they just demand ISPs block access to the web domain. So when your device sends DNS queries to your ISP\u2019s servers to visit that website, you can\u2019t access it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SmartDNS works the same way as your ISP\u2019s DNS servers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of sending your DNS requests to your ISP, it reroutes your requests through private DNS servers that remove location-related information from your request. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
SmartDNS doesn\u2019t mask your IP address<\/a> or encrypt your internet traffic<\/a> to protect your privacy. While it doesn\u2019t change your IP address, websites see your IP address \u2013 as coming from another location.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you may be browsing in the UK, but connected to a German SmartDNS server. Your DNS requests are redirected through German servers rather than local ones. This means the website thinks you\u2019re accessing the site from Germany.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s worth noting that SmartDNS services aren\u2019t always reliable and don\u2019t protect your privacy. You should only use them if using a VPN isn\u2019t an option. Most SmartDNS providers only have a few server locations and some don\u2019t even let you choose your location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some devices don\u2019t support VPNs, like certain smart TVs or game consoles. In these cases, you can also configure a VPN to your Wi-Fi router<\/a> to protect your entire household. If this also doesn\u2019t work, SmartDNS can be a good workaround. <\/p>\n\n\n\n SmartDNS is also useful if you want to hop onto an online game and aren\u2019t too fussed about security. You can redirect your DNS requests to keep gaming in your preferred region, even if you travel abroad.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since SmartDNS doesn\u2019t encrypt your connection like a VPN does, it may be marginally faster than using a VPN. This is because encryption can slightly slow down your internet speed. So SmartDNS can be a good solution if you\u2019re performing extremely speed-sensitive activities and don\u2019t mind the security risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that when you don\u2019t mask your IP and encrypt your traffic with a VPN, you\u2019re vulnerable to cyber attacks. But if you\u2019re just gaming with friends, the trade-off between speed and security might be worth it for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You know what SmartDNS is now, so what are proxies? Many people don\u2019t distinguish between the two, so let\u2019s clear it up.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proxies are tools that act as intermediary servers between your device and the internet. When traffic leaves your device, it travels through the proxy server before reaching the website address. Like SmartDNS, proxies change your virtual location but unlike SmartDNS, they also change your IP address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In short, proxies change your location and replace your real IP address with the proxy server\u2019s IP address. SmartDNS can change your location, but they don\u2019t mask your IP address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neither SmartDNS nor proxies encrypt your internet traffic. This means your traffic is still exposed and your ISP can see your DNS queries, so they know which websites you visit, what you download, etc.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this reason, using a VPN is always the best option if you want privacy from your ISP<\/a>. VPNs mask your IP address, change your virtual location, and <\/em>encrypt your internet traffic to protect your privacy and secure your data.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n SmartDNS, proxy, and VPN \u2013 it\u2019s hard to choose, especially since they offer similar benefits. Let\u2019s compare each with a pros and cons table.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen to Use SmartDNS\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What About Proxy Servers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
SmartDNS vs. Proxy vs. VPN<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n