All 5 recommendations
Est. prices as of Mar 12, 2026
#1 · Mullvad VPN Project · Premium Pick
Mullvad DNS
Free
Zero-knowledge DNS that actually means it—no logs, no tracking, no compromises
- ✓ Genuinely zero-log infrastructure with third-party audits
- ✓ Blocks malware and adult content options without profiling
- ✓ Works globally with no geolocation restrictions
- ✓ Open-source and transparent
- ✗ Slightly slower than CloudFlare (10-20ms) for distant users
- ✗ Minimal filtering customization compared to Quad9
#2 · Quad9 Foundation · Hidden Gem
Quad9
Free
Privacy-first DNS with malware blocking—nonprofit mission, not venture capital
- ✓ Non-profit organization with genuine privacy commitment
- ✓ Advanced threat intelligence blocks malware/phishing automatically
- ✓ Fast enough for most users (global CDN)
- ✓ DNSSEC validation included
- ✗ Slightly less transparent than Mullvad on logging policies
- ✗ No customizable filtering tiers
#3 · Cloudflare · Crowd Favorite
Cloudflare 1.1.1.1
Free
Blazingly fast and respectable privacy—but remember, they're still a CDN company
- ✓ Fastest DNS globally (edge servers everywhere)
- ✓ Sub-10ms response times for most users
- ✓ Simple setup, works everywhere
- ✓ WARP+ option adds VPN features ($5.99/month)
- ✗ Keeps limited logs for 24 hours (deletes IP, but retains patterns)
- ✗ For-profit company; data could theoretically be subpoenaed
- ✗ Privacy is secondary to speed marketing
#4 · NextDNS Inc.
NextDNS
$19.99/month (or free tier limited)
Hyper-customizable privacy DNS with family controls and analytics
- ✓ Granular per-device filtering and customization
- ✓ Real-time analytics dashboard shows what's blocked
- ✓ Excellent for families or network admins
- ✓ No-log option explicitly enabled
- ✗ Paid tier required for real privacy (free tier logs data)
- ✗ Slight latency vs. Cloudflare due to logging overhead
- ✗ Overkill for casual users just wanting privacy
#5 · Cisco · Budget King
OpenDNS (Cisco Umbrella)
Free to $55/month
Enterprise-grade filtering—powerful, but definitely logging everything
- ✓ Most comprehensive threat database (enterprise-backed)
- ✓ Excellent for businesses and large networks
- ✓ Free tier surprisingly functional
- ✗ Logs all queries by default; privacy is not the priority
- ✗ Owned by Cisco; data practices murky for consumers
- ✗ Slower than Quad9 and Mullvad