If you are playing online games, any lag, no matter how small, can be frustrating, particularly in competitive or action games. While most gamers worry about Internet speed and lag, not many know that their DNS server has an effect on the speed of connection to game servers. Yet using one of the best DNS servers for gaming can ensure smoother initial stages.
DNS (Domain Name System) assists your system in locating and connecting to game servers through their name translations into IP addresses. Reducing setup times for connections and eliminating unnecessary delays while downloading game data, matchmaking, or logging in by opting for the best DNS for gaming can be achieved. However, DNS does not have any direct effect on game latency (ping) or data transfer speeds in-game.
Rather, the fastest DNS servers for gaming actually determine the initial connection speed. In this article, we will address the most common questions regarding DNS and gaming. In addition, we will find out what DNS is, how it affects your connection, which services are considered to be the best DNS servers for gaming in 2025, and how to configure and test your settings for the best performance.
What is a DNS Server?
The “Domain Name System,” or DNS for short, is a unique database that converts names of the domain to their IP addresses. It’s similar to the contact list on your phone in that you match something you frequently forget, like lengthy phone numbers or IP addresses, with something you can easily remember, like the name of a friend or website.
This is how it functions. When you enter “google.com” into your browser, your device is unsure of its location and requires the IP address of the server in order to connect. But it does know where to start searching. When your device makes a DNS request, its designated DNS server compares the domain name to its IP address and responds with the details. Once you have the IP address, your device connects and loads the website for you.
How Does a DNS Server Affect Gaming?
The best DNS for gaming has a significant impact on certain gaming issues. For starters, websites like gaming news sites can load considerably more quickly thanks to the fastest DNS servers for gaming. Changing DNS servers may also enable you to access websites belonging to new games, mods, or clans that were blocked by your old DNS.
Nevertheless, altering DNS services won’t automatically cause new servers to show up in your multiplayer lobby because the game app has its own instructions on where to connect to once you launch it. Additionally, the best DNS for PS5 and other gaming consoles will not impact the latency of your games; the ping you receive will stay at its previous level, either high or low.
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5 Best DNS Servers for Gaming
The majority of people use the DNS server that their ISP has assigned to them, which might not be the best choice. These DNS servers may be slow, block specific IP addresses, and send your ISP a record of all your DNS queries—that is, your online activities. Don’t worry, a number of the best DNS for gaming offer online security, privacy, and speed. Here is a list of the 5 best DNS servers for gaming you can connect to for a wonderful gaming experience
1. Google Public DNS
Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4
Google Public DNS is regarded as the biggest provider of public domain name systems and is among the greatest, fastest, and most dependable Google products. It was first introduced worldwide in 2009. It is best suited for gaming and accessing all contemporary websites because it supports the most recent IPv6. As one of the fastest DNS servers for gaming, Google Public DNS is a beneficial option for game players and video streamers around the world.
Google Public DNS is the best DNS for gaming because of its many amazing features, including its quick resolution time, great protection against phishing attacks, quick page loading time, free nature, ability to choose the location of the DNS server, and latency optimization. Google Public DNS’s drawbacks include a complicated user interface, limited customer support, and privacy issues.
2. Cloudflare DNS Server
Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1
Alternate DNS: 1.0.0.1
Cloudflare is one of the free best DNS servers for gaming available, making it perfect for desperate gamers on a tight budget. However, Cloudflare, which is also one of the fastest DNS servers for gaming, offers much more than the fundamental speed of DNS resolution. Additionally, it contains tools to protect your privacy, stop DNS spoofing, and lessen distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) threats on DNS servers.
Cloudflare directs you to the fastest DNS servers for gaming by optimizing your connection based on your location and IP address. Cloudflare does not provide any additional security against threats that do not directly involve DNS servers, though some other best DNS for gaming on this list do (e.g., malicious links). However, if your only goal is to eliminate the slow DNS server from your ISP, Cloudflare is a great choice.
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3. Quad9 DNS Server
Preferred DNS: 9.9.9.9
Alternate DNS: 149.112.112.112
Quad9 DNS Server is a free and secure DNS service for gamers that prevents access to risky websites by using an updated list of threats and malicious domains. Quad9 not only defends its DNS servers from DDoS and DNS spoofing attacks, but it also maintains a live blocklist of malicious websites to prevent users from becoming victims of fraud, for instance, by clicking on a link in a phishing email.
So, why does Quad9 not rank higher on this list? To put it simply, Quad9 free DNS servers may be a bit slower than Cloudflare and Google Public DNS. Additionally, even if you’re willing to take the risk, Quad9 will prevent you from visiting dubious websites. Quad9 will not even answer the DNS query if the page you want to visit (like the forum of your gaming clan) is blocked.
4. OpenDNS Server
Preferred DNS: 208.67.222.222
Alternate DNS: 208.67.220.220
OpenDNS comes next on our list of the best DNS servers for gaming. OpenDNS, commonly referred to as Cisco Umbrella, is a popular and free DNS server that was introduced in 2005 to provide a seamless gaming experience. OpenDNS provides two free options: OpenDNS Home and OpenDNS Family Shield. Its features, such as content filtering and phishing protection, make it the best DNS for gaming for private use.
OpenDNS is also widely used by parents because of its filtering options, parental control features, and capacity to block adult content. OpenDNS, the original DNSCrypt developer, supports both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. It offers quick and secure internet service by supporting DOH and the DNSCrypt protocol. OpenDNS’s high degree of customization makes it the ideal choice for managing the numerous best DNS for PS5 and other consoles.
5. NextDNS Server
Preferred DNS: 45.90.28.190
Alternate DNS: 45.90.30.190
NextDNS elevates DNS customization to a new level. While NextDNS is technically a paid DNS service, it does offer a free option with a monthly limit of 300,000 DNS queries—once you reach the limit, NextDNS will continue to process your DNS requests, but you will lose access to all of its additional features.
Moreover, it has many extra features that you can use. NextDNS blocks web trackers and advertisements, employs real-time analysis to prevent access to malicious websites, and allows you to create a personalized blocklist to prevent kids from using your devices. It’s important to remember that each of these security options has a cost, in this case, a real one.
End Note
The list above includes some of the best DNS servers for gaming currently on the market. However, the best DNS for gaming for you is determined by several factors, including your physical location, security concerns, and budget. You can use any of the fastest DNS servers for gaming listed here for free, so don’t be scared to try different ones to see what suits you best.
