VPN vs Smart DNS
You’re probably here because you want to watch content that is blocked in your country and you are wondering what’s best.
Some content online like Netflix or Kodi can be GeoIP locked. This means that only IPs from that country can access the content. Netflix USA is a great example; most countries only get 30-50% of the content offered by Netflix in the US. The trick is you would need to live in the US and have a US IP to access it, otherwise, you will be redirected to the site specific to your country.
So, let’s get into it, break down the terminology and figure out what’s best when it comes to VPN vs Smart DNS.
What is a VPN
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN creates a private connection between the VPN client that you install on your computer or mobile phone and their server. The connection is known as “tunneling” where your requests to visit an internet site are encrypted by the application and decrypted by the server before being sent to the target site’s DNS (Domain Name Server). The same process happens in reverse with incoming data.
VPNs mask your IP (Internet Protocol) address. This address is like a home address. It tells any website where you are trying to access the site. They also encrypt your data to help to keep it secure. Many VPN providers have a host of additional features to increase your anonymity, privacy, and security online.
What Are They Used For?
Think of a VPN as an all-in-one package for software that keeps your online identity safe. You would commonly use a VPN to:
- Browse online anonymously
- Access content that is restricted in your country
- Protect yourself from hackers and malicious third parties, particularly when using public Wi-Fi
- Torrent
- Hide your true location
- Bypass censorship laws in your country to access restricted content
What is a Smart DNS?
A Smart DNS (Domain Name Server) allows your ISP’s (Internet Service Provider) DNS IP address to be replaced by your Smart DNS IP address. This means that you can change what location your traffic is seen to be coming from.
When your target sees that you are trying to access their content from a country indicated by your Smart DNS’ IP they give you access to say Netflix USA from France.
What Are They Used For?
Smart DNS’ is primarily used for accessing GeoIP restricted content. As they change the IP that is being received by the target website’s DNS. Note they do not change your home computer’s IP. They just change it on their server and any relating meta-data.
Smart DNS’s primary function is to change any information in your data that may reveal you’re true geographic locations.
VPN vs Smart DNS – Pros and Cons of Each
So now we get the gist of the technical jargon what are the Pros and Cons of using either a VPN or a Smart DNS?
ReviewVPN cannot attest to the legality, security and privacy of the applications discussed on this site. It is highly recommended that you use a VPN service while streaming or using Kodi. Currently, your IP 14.243.45.210 is visible to everyone and your Browser is being tracked by Advertisers & ISP Provider. Here are the main reasons why you must use a VPN: A VPN works be replacing your ISP-assigned IP address and creating an encrypted tunnel. We recommend the no log service offered by IPVanish. It works well on a Firestick and offers the fastest possible speeds.
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VPN Pros and Cons
Pros
- VPN’s allow you to carry out a wide array of functions. Not only can you access GeoIP restricted content, but you can also Torrent use Kodi and access censored websites within a highly restrictive country like China
- They will change your home IP address. Meaning that your identity is safe from the moment you browse using their application.
- All your data is encrypted. Any data this is sent or received using a VPN usually is encrypted using at least a 128-bit AES encryption, which means that even if your data stream is intercepted it just looks like gibberish
- An ISP cannot see that you are using a VPN. Some Internet Service Providers will deliberately slow down or “throttle” your connection, if say you are doing a lot of streaming or torrenting, using a VPN all your data is encrypted so it looks just like all the other packets
- VPN’s go to great lengths to protect your identity online, through encryption and ensuring that your original IP is not leaked. They are effective against DNS, Ipv6, and WebRTC leaks
- Due to their popularity and increasingly accepted use, VPN’s tend to cheap and easy to use. With simple plug-and-play applications which means that you don’t need any technical know-how to use them. Just simply click On/Off and leave it to do the rest
- Increasingly you can a host of added functions with VPN’s including more secure ways to connect, having your IP routed through multiple VPN servers, ad and website blockers which help give you a clean browsing experience
- As the VPN industry is so big, and still growing rapidly. The market is competitive, which means that VPN prices are now cheap for yearly plans, plus providers are constantly being driven to release new features and improve their service
Cons
- You will see some slow down in your internet speed. A VPN connection can slow your connection by 5-30%, though you may see your speeds go up if your ISP already throttles your connection
- Due to their widespread use, some smaller VPN’s may find it difficult to connect to big-name media providers like Netflix and BBC iPlayer or use Kodi. As these companies are actively trying to block VPN’s.
- Some VPN services may sell your data to advertisers or third parties. Make sure you join a trusted and well-reviewed VPN provider. We avoid using free VPN service, as generally when the service is free online then the product is your data
DNS Pros and Cons
Pros
- If your sole purpose for using some sort of IP Masking service is to say access Netflix in another country, then a Smart DNS works well in unblocking media that is only locked by Geographic IP
- Your Smart DNS provider is less likely to get blocked because media providers tend to concentrate their efforts on VPNs
- You will enjoy similar internet speeds to your original connection, as there is no encryption tunnel
Cons
- Nothing you do on a Smart DNS is encrypted. There is no security as such for your connection, your data when it is sent or received
- A Smart DNS won’t be able to hide your original IP, nor does it make any attempt to, which means you will still be able to have your original IP traced
- DNS’ can be quite complex to set up manually, and will involve some level of technical expertise in IP addresses
- They tend to be the same price as a VPN while offering a fraction of the functionality. This is driven in part by the fact that the VPN industry is growing rapidly, and highly competitive so prices keep coming down
- A Smart DNS’ sole function really is to give the impression of a different geographic location, apart from accessing GeoIP locked content it has no real utility
When to Choose a Smart DNS over a VPN?
The only reason we could think of where you would want to choose a Smart DNS over a VPN, is if getting the maximum speed out of your connection is your top priority and you want to access specific GeoIP locked content.
Apart from that it makes more sense and is probably cheaper to get a VPN that offers the function of a Smart DNS plus so much more.
Why a VPN is Better
Apart from the above reason of wanting to stream content at the maximum possible speeds. In every other way, a VPN really is better.
Though some would say that you can eke a bit more speed out of a Smart DNS< the biggest names in the VPN industry like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark are used by millions of users every day to stream from sites like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO without incident. We can’t see any particular use for having more speed. As long-time users of VPN’s ourselves, we have never come across buffering problems.
If anything, our connection tends to be faster, as our VPN can circumvent ISP throttling, which is particularly useful in the evening when providers will see a spike in usage when everyone is sitting back for a “Netflix and chill”
Apart from that, a VPN simply winds hand down every time.
Price
A Smart DNS will cost you about $4-5 a month, while a good VPN provider now will set you back as little s $2-3 a month for a yearly plan. We are even starting to see some providers driving their prices below $2 a month like Surf Shark. This does mean a bigger upfront payment, but an absolute bargain if you are committed to privacy and VPN’s. You’d expect to pay about $10 a month if you are just using your VPN monthly.
Censored Content/Firewalls
Smart DNS’ can get around GeoIP locks but not firewalls. Countries with higher levels of censorship like China and Iran will have network sensors inbuilt into their internet. If they detect an IP that is trying to access an outside banned website that is not encrypted, they will block the request. Only a VPN using a specialized security protocol like Stealth would be able to avoid these types of Hi-Tech firewalls.
Torrenting
Torrenting is not illegal. But if you plan on uploading and downloading the latest Marvel movie then you wouldn’t want to do it on a DNS.
Because your home IP could be easily traced by anybody with a little bit of know-how. Any malicious party would be able to see what DNS server you are using and the originating IP request from your home computer.
Downloading torrents can also leave you liable to malware. With a VPN you will get the added security of malware protection, IP masking, and encryption.
With a Smart DNS your ISP will be able to see from your file sizes that you are torrenting as nothing is encrypted. An ISP could pursue possible legal action or throttling your IP to ensure you take up too much bandwidth. Many VPN providers embrace P2P and have specially designed P2P servers to enable high-speed uploads and downloads.
Security
Smart DNS offers no security whatsoever. Most modern VPN’s use 256-bit AES encryption for all their communication. That is the same level of security as the US Military.
You can also choose from a wide range of security protocols, depending on how much security you want. If you are streaming from a trusted site then you may reduce the level of encryption to eke out some extra speed.
Privacy
A Smart DNS will only obscure your IP to a DNS Server. An informed snooper can easily trace back your location and other details about you and your browsing.
Using a VPN, you can access a host of additional functions. Functions like Double VPN and Tor over VPN giving you absolute security that your privacy and security remain intact.
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