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This SmartDNS review will describe in detail about all the best Smart DNS Providers, how they work and why are they used by the users. We will also compare the DNS service with the VPN and how the two differ from each other.

What is Smart DNS?

A Smart DNS service allows you to access the restricted streaming services that are either banned or blocked in your area due to geographical restrictions. The SmartDNS works on a simple yet effective mechanism. It only reroutes the traffic that is geo-restricted therefore, it provides much faster online streaming services.

A website is actually nothing more than a fancy interface that gives you access to the contents stored in a particular computer system; every website has a specific email address. Since people can’t be expected to enter in digits every time they want to enter in a website, DNS are setup to link the URLs to the specific IP addresses.

Working Mechanism of Smart DNS Service

The Smart DNS services slightly differ from the VPN services when it comes to accessing the geo-restricted content. The latter tunnels all your traffic, while the former tunnels only what it needs to give you access to popular streaming services of UK and US.

You need to only switch the server of your Smart DNS to make it understand that the traffic needs to be rerouted. It will do the rest. The rerouting will see you accessing the streaming services like Netflix and Hulu without any hassle.

See also: Best QNAP VPN

Are Streaming Speeds Affected by Smart DNS Services?

No. Your streaming speeds are never affected by the Smart DNS services. The Smart DNS providers make sure they don’t slow down your streaming speeds and use the original speed provided to you by your ISPs.

How are Smart DNS Services used to Block Websites?

DNS can be used to block a website access very easily. For instance, if your ISP doesn’t want you to access www.netflix.com (for any reason), it will simply program its DNS to stop connecting you to the netflix.com IP every time you punch in the URL.

How can Smart DNS Services be used to unblock websites?

Fortunately, you’re not required to use your ISP’s DNS. You can use any other DNS as well. By using a Smart DNS services, you can instruct your computer to contact a DNS of your choice – a DNS in which all websites are unblocked.

Just like phone-books, there are multiple DNS on the internet.

All you have to do is to use a DNS that would allow you to stream the content of your own choice. You will only need to install a Smart DNS service in one of your devices to access whatever you like.

Is it Safe to use a DNS to unblock website?

DNS means ‘Domain Name System’, but it should really mean ‘Do Not Stop’, because a Smart DNS service allows you to unblock every single website on the internet – may it be international or local.

There are numerous methods that are now available to help you unblock websites, but perhaps none are as effective and efficient as the DNS technique.

Using a DNS to unblock websites is perhaps one of the most harmless ways to unblock websites.

Best Smart DNS Providers

Up till now we have told you enough about how and why the Smart DNS services are used. Now we are going to tell you about the best Smart DNS service providers. We have described them in detail including their pricing plans and features to ease your buying decision process.

1- PureVPN SmartDNS

The PureVPN SecureDNS functions through the standard PureVPN application. This gives you unlimited control over your SecureDNS connection. The SecureDNS is available with the very same prices as the PureVPN standard all-in-one VPN service.

Considering the reasonable prices that PureVPN offers, the 24/7 customer support, and the 3 day money back guarantee, everything rounds up perfectly.

1 month – $9.95 per month

6 months – $44.95 per month ($7.49 per month)

12 months – $45 per month ($3.75 per month)

2- TorGuard SmartDNS

The TorGuard SmartDNS service is one of the latest DNS services to have hit the internet. Powered by the very same network architecture that has made TorGuard a household name amongst online freedom advocates, the SmartDNS service is based off 6 countries.

The SmartDNS comes with TorGuard’s 30 day money back guarantee and sets up within seconds to unblock websites.

Monthly plan – for $5.95 per month

Quarterly – for $4.98 per month, coming to a $14.85 lumpsum

Semi Annual plan – for $4.99 per month, coming to a $29.95 lumpsum

Yearly – for $3.91 per month, coming to a $46.95 lumpsum

3- ibDNS

ibDNS is ibVPN’s very own Smart DNS service for users who want to unblock websites without the extra hassle.

The ibVPN DNS service is much cheaper and much faster than the standard ibVPN VPN service.

1-month DNS plan for $4.95

3-month DNS plan for $10.95

6-month DNS plan for $19.95

12-month DNS plan for $36.95



4- OverPlay SmartDNS

Leading VPN provider OverPlay offers a service it likes to call SmartDNS.

The SmartDNS service comes in addition to the standard OverPlay VPN service and is available for as low as $4.16 per month and comes covered with a 14 day money back guarantee.

5- HideIPVPN Premium SmartDNS

The HideIPVPN Premium SmartDNS is for people who want to unblock websites that are restricted to internet users outside the US and the UK.

The Premium SmartDNS service comes with a 3 day money back guarantee and is available for as low as $3.24 per month (in the 12-month plan) and goes up to $4.95 per month (in the 1-month plan).

Comparison b/w SmartDNS and VPN Providers

Even though the two serve the same purpose of unblocking the blocked websites and channels, both are slightly different from each other. The VPN also gives you access to the blocked contents, but it also encrypts your data. A VPN may heavily affect your internet’s speed.

While the Smart DNS providers ensure that your speeds are not affected. SmartDNS takes the lead when it comes to speeds, but when it comes to safety and security, a VPN sits way above than the SmartDNS services. Each and everything you do while connected with a VPN is encrypted while the basic purpose of SmartDNS is to access the blocked websites, and therefore no encryption.

How does Smart DNS layer work?

The entire process spans takes place within milliseconds when you enter in a URL.