Why Your DNS Resolver Matters

By default, your DNS queries go to your ISP’s resolver — a company that logs every domain you visit and may sell that data to advertisers or hand it to authorities on request. Switching to a privacy-focused DNS resolver encrypts your queries and limits data retention, significantly reducing what your ISP and network observers can see.

Three resolvers dominate the privacy-conscious DNS space in 2026: NextDNS, Quad9, and Cloudflare 1.1.1.1. Each takes a different philosophy toward privacy, filtering, and performance.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	NextDNS	Quad9	Cloudflare 1.1.1.1
Privacy focus	High	Very high	Medium
Logging	Configurable (logs off by default after setup)	No query logs	Minimal (25-hour purge)
Malware blocking	Yes (customizable)	Yes (default)	Optional (1.1.1.2)
Ad blocking	Yes (extensive)	No	No
Custom blocklists	Yes	No	No
Free tier	300K queries/month	Unlimited	Unlimited
DoH	Yes	Yes	Yes
DoT	Yes	Yes	Yes
DoQ (QUIC)	Yes	No	No
Jurisdiction	Switzerland (HQ), global	Switzerland	USA
DNSSEC	Yes	Yes	Yes

NextDNS: The Configurable Privacy Resolver

NextDNS is a customizable DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS resolver with a web dashboard that gives you granular control over blocking, logging, and analytics. It is the only resolver on this list that functions as a full DNS-level ad blocker and content filter.

Privacy Stance

NextDNS is incorporated in the United States but stores data in Switzerland when you configure logs to go there. Logging is off by default — if you never enable the analytics dashboard, queries are not retained. When logging is enabled, you can set automatic log deletion from 1 hour to 2 years.

The company publishes a privacy policy committing to not selling data, but unlike Quad9, it has not undergone independent audits.

Blocking Capabilities

This is where NextDNS shines. The dashboard lets you enable curated blocklists including:

OISD (the most comprehensive general-purpose blocklist)
HaGeZi Multi Pro for aggressive ad and tracker blocking
NextDNS Ads & Trackers Blocklist (curated in-house)
Gambling, adult content, and social media filters
Custom domain allow/block rules

For families or organizations, NextDNS offers the most complete filtering of the three options.

Configuration

DNS-over-HTTPS:

https://dns.nextdns.io/YOURPROFILEID

DNS-over-TLS:

dns.nextdns.io (port 853)

Android Private DNS: Enter YOURPROFILEID.dns.nextdns.io in Settings → Network → Private DNS.

Linux (systemd-resolved):

[Resolve]
DNS=45.90.28.0#YOURPROFILEID.dns.nextdns.io
DNSOverTLS=yes

Pricing

The free tier allows 300,000 queries per month — roughly enough for a single user. Beyond that, NextDNS Pro costs approximately $1.99/month or $19.90/year for unlimited queries across all devices.

Quad9: Security-First, No Logging

Quad9 (9.9.9.9) is a non-profit resolver operated by a Swiss foundation in partnership with IBM, Packet Clearing House, and a coalition of cybersecurity organizations. It is specifically designed to block malicious domains at the DNS level.

Privacy Stance

Quad9’s strongest point is its no-logging policy, backed by Swiss law (some of the strongest data protection regulations in the world). The organization has resisted legal demands for user data and has published transparency reports documenting these efforts. It does not retain query logs, IP addresses, or timestamps.

Quad9 does not use data for commercial purposes and does not sell information to advertisers.

Blocking Capabilities

Quad9 blocks domains that appear on threat intelligence feeds from 25+ cybersecurity partners including IBM X-Force, Palo Alto Networks, and Proofpoint. This makes it effective at blocking malware, ransomware C2 servers, and phishing domains.

It does not block ads or trackers, and it offers no customization. You get a single filtered feed. For pure security without commercial tracking, this is ideal.

Unfiltered option: 9.9.9.10 (no blocking, full privacy logging protections still apply).

Configuration

DNS-over-HTTPS:

https://dns.quad9.net/dns-query

DNS-over-TLS:

dns.quad9.net (port 853, IP: 9.9.9.9)

Linux (systemd-resolved):

[Resolve]
DNS=9.9.9.9#dns.quad9.net
DNSOverTLS=yes

Cloudflare 1.1.1.1: Speed with Moderate Privacy

Cloudflare operates 1.1.1.1, consistently ranked as the fastest DNS resolver globally by independent benchmarks. It supports DoH, DoT, and DNS-over-QUIC, and has become the default encrypted DNS provider for many browsers and devices.

Privacy Stance

Cloudflare is a US-based company and therefore subject to US legal jurisdiction, including National Security Letters. It does commit to purging logs within 25 hours and to not selling data, and it publishes annual KPMG-audited privacy reports. However, given Cloudflare’s scale and US location, it is the weakest privacy option of the three for users with serious threat models.

Filtering Variants

IP	Behavior
`1.1.1.1`	No filtering
`1.1.1.2`	Malware blocking
`1.1.1.3`	Malware + adult content blocking

1.1.1.1 for Families (1.1.1.3) is the family-friendly option, though it offers no customization compared to NextDNS.

Configuration

DNS-over-HTTPS:

https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query

DNS-over-TLS:

one.one.one.one (port 853, IP: 1.1.1.1)

Android Private DNS: one.one.one.one

Which Should You Choose?

Choose NextDNS if you want powerful ad and tracker blocking at the DNS level, a configurable dashboard, and per-device profiles. It is the best option for households wanting content filtering and analytics. Disable logging in the dashboard unless you specifically need analytics.

Choose Quad9 if privacy is paramount and you do not need ad blocking. Its non-profit model, Swiss jurisdiction, no-logging policy, and track record of resisting data demands make it the most trustworthy option for users with serious privacy needs — journalists, activists, and anyone who should assume adversarial conditions.

Choose Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 if performance is your top priority and your threat model does not include US government surveillance. It is the fastest resolver, excellent for gaming and streaming, and still a significant improvement over ISP DNS.

Enabling Encrypted DNS System-Wide

Regardless of which resolver you choose, always use DoH or DoT — unencrypted DNS on port 53 is readable by your ISP and any network observer.

Windows 11: Settings → Network & Internet → [Adapter] → DNS server assignment → Edit → Manual → Enable DNS over HTTPS

macOS Ventura+: Use a configuration profile or install the Cloudflare/Quad9 configuration profile from their respective websites.

Firefox: Settings → General → Network Settings → Enable DNS over HTTPS → choose Custom and enter your resolver’s DoH URL.

Router-wide (pfSense/OPNsense): Configure the DNS resolver (Unbound) to use DoT upstream servers — this protects every device on your network without per-device configuration.

Summary

NextDNS, Quad9, and Cloudflare each serve different needs. For maximum customization and ad blocking, NextDNS wins. For uncompromising privacy and a non-profit structure with legal protections, Quad9 is the best choice. For raw speed with acceptable privacy, Cloudflare leads. All three are dramatically better than your ISP’s default DNS.