DNS Speed Test
DNS turns website names into addresses, and a slow resolver adds a delay to every new site you open. This test measures how quickly several public DNS-over-HTTPS resolvers answer from your connection.
Pressing the button makes your browser send test lookups (for example.com) directly to each resolver below, which sees your IP address. Nothing is sent before you press it. See our Privacy Policy.
| # | Resolver | Cached | Uncached | Failed |
|---|
Times are medians in milliseconds. Lower is better.
What this test measures
Your browser can't talk to DNS servers directly, so this test uses each provider's DNS-over-HTTPS service instead. It measures two things: a cached lookup (a popular name the resolver already knows) and an uncached lookup (a name it must look up from scratch). Together they show how responsive each resolver is from where you are.
Important: this measures the resolvers' DNS-over-HTTPS services, not the DNS server your device or router currently uses. It is a good guide to which public resolver is closest and fastest for you, not a measurement of your current setup.
Only resolvers that allow requests from web pages can be tested here (currently Cloudflare, Google Public DNS, DNS.SB and AliDNS). Well-known services such as Quad9, OpenDNS, NextDNS and AdGuard block browser requests, so they cannot appear in this test even though they are good options.
Does DNS speed matter?
DNS affects how quickly a site starts loading, usually by a few tens of milliseconds. It does not change your download or upload speed, so it will not show up on a speed test. A faster, closer resolver can make browsing feel a little snappier, especially if your provider's default DNS is slow.
Choosing a resolver
- Speed: pick one that is consistently fast from your location.
- Privacy: resolvers differ in what they log, so read each provider's policy.
- Filtering: some block malware or adult sites by default, which may or may not be what you want.
- Reliability: keep a secondary resolver from a different provider as backup.
How to change your DNS
- Whole home: change the DNS servers in your router's settings, so every device uses them.
- Windows 11: Settings, Network and internet, your connection, DNS server assignment, Edit.
- macOS: System Settings, Network, your connection, Details, DNS.
- Android: Settings, Network, Private DNS, then enter the provider's hostname.
- iPhone: Settings, Wi-Fi, the (i) next to your network, Configure DNS, Manual.
After changing it, flush your device's DNS cache or restart it. To check you are not leaking lookups around a VPN, see the notes on DNS leaks in our WebRTC leak test guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest DNS server?
It depends on where you are. Public resolvers such as Cloudflare and Google are usually fast, but the fastest for you is the one closest to your connection, which this test helps you find.
Will changing my DNS make my internet faster?
It will not raise your download or upload speed. A faster resolver can make pages start loading a little sooner, usually by tens of milliseconds.
Is it safe to use public DNS?
Reputable public resolvers are widely used and often faster than a provider default, but they see which domains you look up. Choose one whose privacy policy you are comfortable with.
Why can't the test measure my current DNS server?
Web pages cannot send raw DNS queries, so this test measures each provider's DNS-over-HTTPS service instead. It shows which public resolver is fastest from your connection, not what your device uses now.
Related tools and guides
- Internet speed test: measure download, upload and ping.
- Bufferbloat and packet loss test: check lag under load.
- WebRTC leak test: including a guide to DNS leaks.
- How to improve your internet speed: a full checklist.