10 Best DNS Servers for Gaming to Better Performance

Take your gaming experience to the next level with the best DNS servers for gaming. Discover the top DNS providers that offer low latency, high uptime, and better security. Optimize your gaming connection and enjoy smooth online gaming with our comprehensive guide.

Updated: 01 Nov, 23 by Susith Nonis 19 Min

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If you are a player, you might know the value of a gaming DNS server. DNS servers greatly enhance your experience playing online games. The best DNS servers provide the fastest, most dependable connections to games for gaming.  A DNS server needs to be dependable enough to maintain users' connections while they play. A decent DNS server should minimally impact the user's bandwidth utilization.

DNS (short for "Domain Name System") may sound complex, but let's break it down using a simple analogy. Think of DNS as your phone's contact list. Just like you match your friends' names to their phone numbers for easy recall, DNS matches human-readable domain names, like "bestgamesite.com," to their corresponding IP addresses, which are like the phone numbers of servers on the internet.

When you type a website address into your browser, say, "bestgamesite.com," your device doesn't know where that site is located on the vast internet. It needs the server's IP address to establish a connection. However, your device knows where to begin looking for this information. It sends a DNS request to its assigned DNS server, which acts like your phonebook. The DNS server then matches the domain name to its associated IP address and sends back the reply with this vital information. With the IP address in hand, your device can initiate the connection and load the site for you.

How does DNS work?

The DNS (Domain Name System) server translates the domain names into equivalent IP addresses.

IP addresses resemble our home addresses in many ways. For instance, if someone wants to come to see us, they must use the correct address to find us. 

Similarly to this, if someone wants to access a specific website, they must use the correct IP address of the server hosting the page.

After receiving an IP address from a client device, DNS servers now do much more than provide the name of a website. Advanced security mechanisms on modern DNS servers safeguard your requests as they go across the Internet.

The distance determines the in-game ping when playing an online game on your server. The upload and download rates of DNS servers do, however, impact gaming, directly affecting how smoothly your game works.

The entire procedure will be accelerated by choosing the finest DNS servers for gaming. 

The best DNS server for gaming should be used if you frequently play online games to lower ping and enhance gameplay. Let's examine the top DNS servers for online gaming.

Cloudflare

One of the top DNS gaming servers currently in use is Cloudflare DNS. By lowering lag and boosting speed, Cloudflare improves privacy while increasing internet speed by up to 28%. 

The way the service operates is by intercepting user internet traffic and redirecting it to its servers, which are carefully placed all around the world. 

This enables Cloudflare to direct users to the most appropriate server for the best gaming experience by optimizing their connection based on the location of their IP address.

This server defends against DDoS assaults and dangerous hackers to guarantee that the user's internet connection is always quick and dependable. 

By doing this, customers can prevent lags and disconnections from poor internet connections.

The quickest DNS server on the internet in terms of latency is known to be Cloudflare's free DNS server, 1.1.1.1. 

OpenDNS

Popular DNS provider OpenDNS has a strong firewall and extensive parental controls. 

Adult content can be filtered and blocked from entering users' networks via the OpenDNS service. Additionally, this server offers anti-phishing defense and lets customers block particular categories of websites. 

This service can shield users' families from dangers they may encounter online and keep them secure while they play games.

For families that want to block pornographic content, OpenDNS is the best choice. OpenDNS has parental controls that let users manage the websites children can access and how much time they spend online. 

The server will function best for the child's age group because the parental controls can be adjusted based on age groups.

OpenDNS serves more than 140 billion DNS requests daily and has over 90 million users worldwide. When the free DNS service first launched, it was an ad-supported service that was eventually discontinued.

To enable smooth and quicker DNS resolution in different parts of the world, it has more than 30 quick DNS servers spread across multiple continents.

Quad9

Next on our list of top DNS gaming servers is Quad9, typically suggested for enhancing network security. 

It features a sophisticated built-in filter that continuously scans your network and prevents all unwanted activity.

Another benefit of Quad9 is its support for the DNSCrypt Protocol, which encrypts the communication between the client device and the DNS server to guard against man-in-the-middle attacks.

QUAD9 restricts access to phishing websites that attempt to steal users' passwords and personal information. This may occur when users access a fraudulent website made to look real to deceive consumers into providing sensitive data, including credit cards or social security numbers.

Even though Quad9 is still gaining popularity for its gaming capabilities, it still outperforms your ISP's default DNS server. This server can boost internet speed and lower PING rates in online gaming.

Clean Browsing

Clean Browsing, one of the best DNS servers for gaming, disables trackers and ads so that users can browse the internet privately. 

By using this DNS server, users can also guard against malicious websites infecting their devices or browsers with viruses or malware.

This DNS server allows users to browse the web without seeing anything unfavorable or distressing. With Clean Browsing, users may protect their browsing habits, which stops businesses from monitoring their online activities. 

These safe DNS servers' benefits include no-cost filters, a quick connection, strong encryption, and personalized content screening. 

It also offers a special program that instantly activates DNS filtering for Windows and macOS devices.

The server's minimal customer assistance is the only drawback of Clear Browsing.

Comodo Secure DNS

Comodo Secure DNS is an excellent choice for people who value their privacy online. 

High-level security provided by the service shields customers from viruses and phishing websites. To guard against computer hacking, Comodo Secure DNS also limits access to harmful websites.

The devices of users are shielded from cyber threats by Comodo Secure DNS, which employs 256-bit encryption and several safeguards. This contains built-in defenses against viruses, malware, and phishing scams. 

It also disables advertisements on websites and mobile apps, which can speed up user gaming. This means there won't be more interruptions while playing and no more waiting for advertising to load.

With additional security capabilities, Comodo Secure DNS is the finest for securing the internet for households and companies. 

Web filtering, off-network device protection, and cloud-based management are some of the benefits of this server. 

Verisign

A superior DNS server with dependable service, Verisign, is a fantastic option for gamers searching for a lag-free gaming experience because the server responds quickly and can handle heavy traffic loads.

This service provides high uptime and dependability levels for users' gaming demands. Additionally, Verisign provides fantastic services like virus scanning, online backup, and other security precautions that customers' gaming consoles and laptops may employ.

For gamers who want to guarantee a quick and dependable internet connection at all times, including at night, Verisign is among the top DNS gaming servers.

Verisign's benefits include a vast network of quick, dependable servers that defend against DNS spoofing attempts. 

The drawbacks of this service include inadequate customer assistance and a website that can be difficult to navigate due to the volume of content on various subjects, such as spyware and cybercrime protection.

Google Public DNS

Fast and dependable, Google Public DNS is one of the best DNS servers for gaming that doesn’t sacrifice security, privacy, or speed. 

Since its 2009 introduction, the service has been modified to comply with industry standards. Google DNS servers currently handle over a trillion DNS requests from devices in a single day.

Because it supports the most recent IPv6 standard, which guarantees that users may access all contemporary websites, including those that demand IPv6 compatibility, this server is especially beneficial for gaming.

Given that it has servers spread across the globe, Google Public DNS is a fantastic choice for anyone who often engages in online gaming or streams media from several regions.

Fast resolution times, strong protection against phishing attacks, quick page loads, and free usage are all benefits of Google Public DNS.

DNS.watch

If you want a DNS server geared for speed, DNS.watch is a fantastic option. It is a gaming-specific public DNS server that has been speed-optimized.

While you set up this DNS server, there won't be any lag time when you browse the internet. In addition, this DNS server is renowned for providing several security measures.

DNS.watch effectively blocks phishing attempts, guards against malware, and handles websites that attempt to launch hazardous scripts.

It offers faster frame rates and lower latency for a lag-free gaming experience.

Alternate DNS

Alternate DNS is one of the best DNS servers for gaming because it provides a quick and dependable service at a fair price.

To ensure that users have no trouble connecting to other players worldwide, Alternate also supports IPv6 addresses. This is crucial if a user wants to play online games more freely or plans to travel internationally.

This will help those who reside in nations where Internet service providers restrict access to particular websites, such as Netflix, Hulu, or other streaming services. 

Families that want a cost-free defense against phishing and malware sites should use alternate DNS.

Level 3 DNS

Because it offers consumers low ping and quick download speeds, Level 3 DNS is one of the top DNS gaming servers and the fastest solution for streaming. 

The optimum DNS level for both home and corporate customers is Level 3. Users can choose from various IP addresses and DNS server locations provided by the company.

A Tier-1 provider, Level 3 DNS also owns the network infrastructure and doesn't rely on outside parties to supply customer services. 

This server provides practical features like geolocation routing, automatic failover or load balancing for greater performance, and local cache entries for quicker access to well-known websites like Netflix and YouTube.

Now that you're aware of the benefits, you may be wondering how to set up a gaming DNS server on your device. Configuring your DNS server is a straightforward process, and here's a basic guide:

Step 1: Go to your device's network settings. This can typically be found in the control panel or settings menu.

Step 2: Locate the DNS settings or DNS configuration section. This may vary depending on your operating system.

Step 3: Replace your current DNS server addresses with the primary and secondary DNS addresses provided by your chosen gaming DNS server. You can find these addresses in the DNS server's documentation or website.

Step 4: Save your changes and restart your device or network connection to apply the new DNS settings.

Now that we've explored the world of DNS and its role in online gaming, let's delve into the tangible benefits of using gaming-specific DNS servers. While DNS primarily serves to convert domain names into IP addresses, gaming DNS servers offer several advantages that can enhance your overall gaming experience:

  1. Reduced Lag: Gaming DNS servers are optimized for speed and responsiveness. They can help reduce latency or "ping," which is crucial for online gaming. With lower ping times, you'll experience less delay between your actions and the server's response, resulting in smoother gameplay.
  2. Faster Loading Times: These DNS servers can accelerate the loading of gaming-related web pages, such as news sites, forums, and gaming community platforms. You'll spend less time waiting for web content to load and more time playing your favorite games.
  3. Access to Blocked Content: Some DNS servers, particularly gaming-focused ones, can bypass region-based restrictions. This means you can access new games, mods, or gaming clans that were previously unavailable due to your old DNS server's blocklist.
  4. Protection Against DDoS Attacks: Gaming DNS servers often come with built-in security features that defend against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. These safeguards help ensure a stable and secure gaming connection, protecting you from potential disruptions caused by malicious attacks.
  5. Privacy and Data Protection: Some gaming DNS servers prioritize user privacy and minimize data collection. By using these servers, you can enjoy improved online anonymity and reduced exposure to data tracking.

Your gaming experience depends on a range of factors beyond DNS. To ensure a smooth gaming experience without interruptions, pay special attention to the following:

  1. Internet Connection: You don't necessarily need the fastest plan for online gaming, but you do need a stable connection. Frequent hiccups or outages can leave you vulnerable to opponents and disrupt your gameplay. If you use a virtual private network (VPN) for added security, make sure to choose a reliable gaming VPN for a seamless experience.
  2. Distance to Game Servers: The physical distance between you and the game server matters. The delay between your actions and the server's response, known as "latency" or "ping," can be affected by the distance. The further you are from the game server, the longer it takes for data to travel, potentially resulting in lag or players appearing out of nowhere.
  3. Wi-Fi Connectivity: Wi-Fi signal strength depends on your proximity to the router and obstacles in the way. Even something as simple as moving to another room can cause your ping to skyrocket. For optimal results, play in an open area close to your Wi-Fi router, or consider using a wired Ethernet connection for competitive play.
  4. Network Congestion: Sharing your internet connection with other households in your area can impact your gaming experience. ISPs often advertise connection speeds as "up to X Mbps/Gbps," and the available bandwidth decreases as more people use the connection simultaneously. To maintain in-game performance, avoid peak usage times, such as right after office hours on workdays.

When it comes to selecting a DNS server, privacy is a critical aspect to take into account. While DNS primarily functions as a system to convert domain names into IP addresses, it's important to be aware of how your chosen DNS service handles your data. Here are some key privacy considerations to keep in mind:

  1. Data Collection: Some DNS servers, like Google Public DNS, may collect data about your DNS queries. This data can include the websites you visit and the domains you access. While this data is typically used for improving service performance and security, it's important to understand what data is being collected and how it may be used.
  2. Data Retention: In addition to collecting data, DNS services may retain this data for a certain period. Understanding the data retention policies of your chosen DNS provider is crucial. Some providers may keep data for a limited time, while others may retain it longer.
  3. Privacy Policies: Review the privacy policies of DNS providers carefully. These policies outline how the provider handles your data, including whether they share it with third parties and for what purposes. Look for providers with transparent and privacy-focused policies.
  4. Encryption: DNS queries typically travel over the internet in plain text, which means they can potentially be intercepted or monitored. Some DNS servers offer encryption mechanisms like DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) or DNS-over-TLS (DoT) to secure your queries and prevent eavesdropping.
  5. Anonymity: Consider whether the DNS service you choose logs your IP address along with your DNS queries. Services that log IP addresses may have the ability to associate your online activities with your identity.
  6. Third-Party Relationships: Be aware of any partnerships or relationships the DNS provider may have with third-party organizations. Some providers may share data with advertisers or analytics companies, potentially impacting your online privacy.
  7. Alternative DNS Services: Explore alternative DNS services that prioritize user privacy. Some DNS providers are explicitly designed with privacy in mind and take steps to minimize data collection and retention.

It's essential to strike a balance between the performance benefits of a DNS server and your privacy preferences. If privacy is a top concern for you, consider using DNS servers that are known for their privacy-focused practices. These servers often prioritize user anonymity and data protection.

All apps on the network are subject to content filtering by public domain name servers (DNS). A content screening mechanism on the DNS apps prevents access to pornographic and fraudulent content. 

Companies and families may establish a trustworthy and safe online environment by utilizing these apps.

DNS servers convert IP addresses into domain names and vice versa. One of the fundamental tasks of the DNS system is name resolution, which involves converting domain names into IP addresses.

Internet users' ability to locate webpages, email servers, and other resources linked to the internet is made possible by DNS servers.

Top DNS gaming servers have been built to handle millions of queries every second. When using a gaming DNS server, you can be sure that lag and latency issues will be a thing of the past. 

So, use one of the best DNS servers for gaming to have a great experience! 

The best DNS server for gaming can vary depending on your location and specific needs, but popular choices include Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1), Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8), and Quad9 (9.9.9.9).

Both 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare DNS) and 8.8.8.8 (Google Public DNS) are excellent options for gaming. The choice between them may come down to personal preference and performance in your specific location.

The best DNS for Iran can vary, but users in Iran often consider using DNS servers provided by Iranian ISPs for better performance and accessibility to local websites.

Yes, 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare DNS) is generally considered safe. It prioritizes user privacy and offers security features, such as protection against DDoS attacks.

The fastest DNS server can vary depending on your location and network conditions. Services like Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) and Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8) are known for their speed, but the actual performance may differ based on your location.

Yes, using a faster and more responsive DNS server can help improve your ping (latency) in online gaming by reducing the delay between your actions and the server's response. However, other factors like your internet connection stability and distance to game servers also play a role in ping.

Susith Nonis

Susith Nonis

I'm fascinated by the IT world and how the 1's and 0's work. While I venture into the world of Technology, I try to share what I know in the simplest way with you. Not a fan of coffee, a travel addict, and a self-accredited 'master chef'.