Replaces Google Public DNS
European alternatives to Google Public DNS
Public resolvers operated within the EU and EFTA
Browse the category: Public DNS resolvers · VPN services
Google Public DNS is the free public resolver Google runs at 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. Many people set it in a router or on a laptop when their provider's own resolver is slow or unreliable, and it is often the default suggestion in troubleshooting guides. It supports encrypted transports and serves an enormous volume of queries from Google's global network.
A resolver sees the name of every service your devices connect to, so consolidating that view with a large US advertising company is a choice worth making consciously. A European alternative to Google Public DNS spreads that out to operators under EU or EFTA law. DNS4EU is a publicly supported resolver initiative, Foundation for Applied Privacy and UncensoredDNS are run with a privacy and openness focus, and FFMUC DNS is operated by a European volunteer network.
European options
| service | Country | Hosting | Open source | Free plan | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 quad9 |
 Switzerland |
— | ✓ | EU controlled | |
 Mullvad DNS |
 Sweden |
— | ✓ | EU controlled | |
 Mullvad VPN |
Sweden |
— | — | EU controlled | |
 Digitalcourage |
 Germany |
— | ✓ | EU controlled | |
 restena |
 Luxembourg |
— | ✓ | EU controlled | |
 Digitale Gesellschaft |
Switzerland |
— | ✓ | EU controlled | |
| Artikel10 | Germany |
— | ✓ | EU controlled |
quad9
Free public DNS resolver from Switzerland
Quad9 is a public DNS resolver operated by a Swiss non-profit organisation. It is one of the few globally active resolvers, with DNS servers in more than 200 locations worldwide, and it focuses on data security, encryption and privacy. It is currently in a legal dispute with Sony Music about whether sites that infringe copyright can be excluded from the resolver.
SwitzerlandFree planEU controlled
Mullvad DNS
Free public DNS resolver from Sweden
SwedenFree planEU controlled
Mullvad VPN
Swedish VPN with one flat price
SwedenEU controlled
Digitalcourage
Uncensored public DNS from Germany
GermanyFree planEU controlled
restena
Public DNS resolver from Luxembourg
LuxembourgFree planEU controlled
Digitale Gesellschaft
Public DNS resolver from Switzerland
SwitzerlandFree planEU controlledArtikel10
Free encrypted DNS run by a German civil-rights association
GermanyFree planEU controlledServices without verified European control
Kept here for transparency, but excluded from the European options and totals. How we classify services →
DNS4EU
Public DNS resolver funded by the European Union
Czech RepublicEU hostedFree plan Ownership reviewed, controller unresolved
DNS.SB
No logging public DNS from Germany
GermanyOpen sourceFree plan Ownership reviewed, controller unresolved
Foundation for Applied Privacy
Public DNS from an Austrian non-profit
AustriaFree plan Ownership reviewed, controller unresolved
FFMUC DNS
Public DNS from a German non-profit
GermanyEU hostedOpen sourceFree plan Ownership reviewed, controller unresolved
UncensoredDNS
Free public DNS resolver from Denmark
DenmarkFree plan Ownership reviewed, controller unresolved
dnsforge
Ad filtering public DNS from Germany
GermanyEU hostedOpen sourceFree plan Ownership reviewed, controller unresolvedQuestions
Where do I change this setting?
Usually in the router, so every device on the network follows, or per device in the network settings. Operators such as DNS.SB and quad9 list their addresses and their encrypted DNS endpoints on their own pages.
Will a European resolver be slower?
For users in Europe the difference is normally small, and a nearby resolver can be quicker. Try one for a day, since real world performance depends on your connection and location.
Which European alternative is closest to Google Public DNS?
For a plain, unfiltered public resolver, DNS.SB and UncensoredDNS are the nearest in purpose. Choose quad9 or DNS4EU instead if you want malicious domains blocked at the resolver.