Want to access geo-restricted content from anywhere in the world? You can either use Smart DNS or a VPN to help you with that. In today’s world, who still uses a vanilla internet connection? Well, do not feel bad about it. Many people are still unaware of their choices when modifying their internet connections for excellent safety, privacy, or expanded capabilities.
However, if you need to cover your internet activities or perform geo-unblocking of restricted content, there are a few choices on the provider that might be a little confusing to total newcomers, such as VPN and Smart DNS. Smart DNS is significantly a proxy server, which allows you to access any information of your choice upon connection. On the other hand, a VPN is more complex and redirects your data through a secure tunnel that encrypts it.
The difference between DNS and VPN is that DNS is an internet proxy service used to translate domain names into IP addresses. While when a mobile user, vendor, remote office, or customer connects to a firm’s network using the internet, a VPN offers them a secure connection to the business network server, as if they had a private line.
In this blog, TechNinjaPro is going to explore how both choices are different. However, before talking about VPN Vs. DNS, take a look at these basic definitions of DNS, VPN, and Smart DNS.
- What is DNS?
- What is VPN?
- What is Smart DNS?
- How to Select A DNS Provider?
- What are the major differences between DNS and VPN?
What is DNS?
DNS is the internet’s correspondent of a telephone book. When you access a site via human-friendly domain names, what does is find the corresponding IP address. It translates domain names into IP addresses, allowing your internet browser to use these IP addresses as though they were phone numbers to connect you to a specific site.
These IP addresses are stored on DNS servers so that you do not have to remember them. Since there are literally millions of them in use, the internet as we know would be a complicated mess without DNS.
What is VPN?
A virtual private network is a tool that adds a layer of protection to your internet activities while using public and private networks, like the wifi hotspots or the internet. Basically, it establishes an encrypted tunnel between your system and a remote server maintained by the VPN service provider. It directs your IP address through a set of servers in the region where you need to be, replacing your real IP address with a new one.
In doing so, VPN develops an exceptional level of privacy and security, protecting you from data snoops, hackers, and all kinds of different trackers. Since your internet traffic is routed through this secure network connection, your information becomes impossible to read to third parties such as internet service providers or governments. Moreover, your system is also assigned the IP address of the selected VPN server, spoofing your real identity and location. This makes it possible to access sites and restricted content unavailable in your country.
What is Smart DNS?
Smart DNS is a technical service that helps users get around geo-restrictions to access the content of their choice. It replaces your internet service provider’s provided DNS address with another one from a business-owned DNS and redirects portions of your internet traffic to a proxy server.
With your system’s DNS changed, sites will be tricked into thinking that you are browsing from a suitable location. However, it is essential to know that Smart DNS does not encrypt your internet traffic or assign you a new IP address as it merely changes the way sites view your IP address.
How to Select A DNS Provider?
Before you make a concluding decision, look at all your DNS providers in terms of the following features:
- Apparent Privacy Policy: Ensure that your new DNS service does not track your internet connection, log your internet activities, or sell these logs to third parties. Excellent DNS providers always state what kind of data can be visible when you use their services.
- Infrastructure: Check your DNS provider’s server infrastructure. It has to be secure that there are no connection drops. Also, there should be a variety of servers nearby your location for perfect speeds.
- Speed: Premium DNS providers provide incredible connection speeds. Always check that aspect before going for a particular service provider.
- Protection: Protection against phishing and virus attacks is a massive benefit if your DNS service provides it. But do not forget about the rest of your needs.
- 24/7 Excellent customer support: If you have got any problems with your DNS provider, you can fix them with the help of competent customer support. Therefore, your DNS service must provide you 24/7 excellent customer support.
What are the major differences between DNS and VPN?
VPN and Smart DNS servers do a very similar job, yet in quite different ways. Even though both VPN and DNS offer methods of navigating around the blocks set up by streaming platforms, they each have their pros and cons. The main one, being that a virtual private network is far more secure. That said, if you are only streaming movies or TV shows, Smart DNS is generally cheaper and faster, and security is not likely to be the highest priority in that case.
Avoid free DNS and VPN services at all costs
One thing, TechNinjaPro would not recommend you to opt for a free DNS and VPN service.
No free VPN and DNS service has the resources they want to do the job properly. In fact, many of the free choices will sell your information to people to who you should not be giving that kind of access. Let’s look at the pros and cons of VPN and DNS.
VPN |
|
Pros | Cons |
Offer complete anonymity by changing your IP address | It is generally more expensive than Smart DNS |
Provides a variety of added functionality | They are often slower than Smart DNS choices |
Accesses geo-restricted content | Not available on all devices. |
Excellent protection for internet browsing |
Smart DNS |
|
Pros | Cons |
It travels through fewer servers, so it is often faster than a virtual private network | It does not mask your IP, so you can still be tracked |
Available for devices without access to VPN apps | Complicated to set up |
Accesses geo-restricted content | Higher-end Smart DNS services are becoming as expensive as virtual private networks |
It can work flawlessly with any wifi router, covering more devices simultaneously |
Conclusion
A DNS is an essential service that enables the processes running the internet. Changing your domain name server is an easy way of overcoming mundane blocks. Getting a smart DNS improves your accessibility to streaming platforms a lot more than a simple DNS change, but it is not all-powered. Now, a virtual private network is matchless when it comes to increasing access to online content, and it comes with numerous security benefits as well.