Which Are the Best DNS Servers for Gaming in 2025?
As online gaming progresses by the millisecond, time is of essence. As gamers strive for the ultimate edge, they often overlook one crucial component of their setup: DNS servers. The DNS server you choose can have a huge impact on the performance of your gaming, want to spend less time figuring out where you are in the world, and have a better overall experience. Gaming DNS servers’ matter, period, whether you’re a casual who spends occasional time gaming, or a competitive gamer who plays, perhaps DDoSing, competitively as a second hobby or professional job. In this complete guide, I’ll take you through the best gaming dedicated DNS provider and how iProVPN goes beyond these DNS providers to provide you with an even better gaming experience.
What is DNS and Why It Matters for Gaming?
First things first, DNS is important to your gaming experience and before we dive into the details of DNS servers, we need to understand what DNS is and why it’s important. The Domain Name System (DNS) is an internet address book that translates human friendly domain names (such as example.com) into numerical host address that computer can process. It is crucial for translation because allows users to see websites and online games smoothly.
When you connect to an online game your device makes an RPC to a DNS server to resolve the game’s server IP address. When a DNS server is slow or unreliable, it may result in longer latency, lag, and a really bad gaming experience.
For gamers, the choice of DNS server can lead to:
- Reduced Latency: This is important if you’re a gamer looking to be competitive and play with low ping times.
- Improved Load Times: Less waiting and more playing – quick connections to game servers.
- Enhanced Security: However, some DNS servers provide security back-end features that prevent malicious sites, threats, etc.
Top DNS Servers for Gaming in 2025
Now that we know the importance of DNS servers let’s dive in to some of the best available in 2025. Here are the top DNS servers that can enhance your gaming performance:
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Google Public DNS
- Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
- Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
Google Public DNS would be the most popular DNS servers on this planet for a reason. An excellent speed and reliability put this on the table for gamers. This gives Google’s extensive infrastructure quick query responses, which can likely help decrease lag due to gameplay. Google does track some user data, however, and this could be something of a concern for privacy purists.
Pros:
- High-speed response times.
- Extensive global infrastructure.
- Reliable performance.
Cons:
- Data tracking by Google may raise privacy concerns.
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Cloudflare DNS
- Primary DNS: 1.1.1.1
- Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.1
Cloudflare DNS is one of those apps that has seen a boom in adoption among online gamers, thanks to its strong privacy policies and lightning-fast performance. It does not log user data, providing both speed and security making it a great option for players. Known for its commitment to ensure a safe browsing experience, Cloudflare’s DNS servers have been optimized for speed, and is perfect to use for online gaming.
Pros:
- Extremely fast response times.
- Strong privacy protection.
- No user data logging.
Cons:
- May not offer as many advanced features as some competitors.
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OpenDNS (by Cisco)
- Primary DNS: 208.67.222.222
- Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220
Gamers will want an alternative to OpenDNS. It has more features beyond that; customizable filtering options and protection against phishing attacks. Known for its stability, reliable and OpenDNS is a good choice for online gaming. The security features also offer you the peace of mind when gaming, while helping to protect you from online threats.
Pros:
- Customizable filtering options.
- Protection against online threats.
- Reliable and stable performance.
Cons:
- Some advanced features require registration.
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Quad9 DNS
- Primary DNS: 9.9.9.9
- Secondary DNS: 149.112.112.112
The biggest thing that Quad9 does is blocking access to known malicious websites. For a gamer who wish to keep their online environment safe this makes it a great option. Even though it isn’t one of the fastest DNS servers, its highly secured features are what most people seek for when it comes to online security.
Pros:
- Strong security measures.
- Blocks access to malicious sites.
- Good for maintaining online safety.
Cons:
- Speed may not be as high as some competitors.
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Comodo Secure DNS
- Primary DNS: 8.26.56.26
- Secondary DNS: 8.20.247.20
Comodo Secure DNS are created with security in mind, blocking bad websites, and providing a safer surfing experience. While it’s not the fastest by any means, it does provide solid security protection for gamers worried about online threats. It is a worthy choice of users in need of enhanced online safety.
Pros:
- Provides a secure browsing experience.
- Blocks harmful websites.
- Focuses on user safety.
Cons:
- Speed may not match top-tier competitors.
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CleanBrowsing DNS
- Primary DNS: 185.228.168.9
- Secondary DNS: 185.228.169.9
Families can choose from CleanBrowsing DNS which focuses on content filtering and blocking adult content, and more unwanted sites, all while being utterly clean. It’s not the fastest, but it’s nice for having a safe gaming environment for younger players. CleanBrowsing makes sure that children have a safe gaming online experience.
Pros:
- Effective content filtering for families.
- Ensures a safe browsing environment.
- User-friendly setup.
Cons:
- Not specifically optimized for speed.
The Benefits of Using DNS Servers for Gaming
A reliable, fast DNS server will help greatly improve your gaming experience. Here are some of the key benefits:
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Reduced Lag and Latency
Latency and lag are the primary benefit of using a fast DNS server. The best way to minimize delay between your device and the game server is to choose a DNS server with short response time. Especially in the context of competitive gaming where all of a second matters. And a fast DNS can mean smoother gameplay, better responsiveness.
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Improved Download and Load Times
It can also speed up your download and load times for games if you have a faster DNS server. The DNS server’s speed comes into play here since it determines the time you take to connect to a game server, which makes the game assets retrieved quicker or slower. A fast DNS server means it will load screens faster and be less wait between action.
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Enhanced Security Features
Security features inside many DNS servers will protect users from malicious websites and phishing attacks. If you buy a secure DNS server, it’s another layer of protection for your gaming. Especially for gamers with suspicious links or potential security problems online.
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Access to Geo-Restricted Content
However, some DNS servers do permit the users to get around geo restrictions, so that they can access games and content not generally available in your region. That’s great news for gamers who want to play region locked titles or get exclusive content from other countries. If you install the right DNS server, you can unlocked access to gaming galore.
How iProVPN Enhances Your Gaming Experience
To make your gaming seamless, you need to choose a fast DNS server, however, using iProVPN can propel your gaming experience to the next level. Here’s how iProVPN enhances gaming beyond just DNS settings:
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Data Encryption for Security
This is how iProVPN makes your internet traffic private. For gamers who might connect to public Wi-Fi networks, they can be less secure, iProVPN makes sure your personal information stays safe, and you can game with your favorite games.
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Optimized Servers for Lower Ping
Now iProVPN has servers specially optimized for gaming, because when you connect to them you will have servers with lower ping times so you can game. Only by choosing a server that is geographically closer to the game server will you get smoother gameplay and lower lag. For competitive gamers that need real time responsiveness this is particularly crucial.
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Bypass Geo-Restrictions
If you are looking to play region locked games or join server you cannot access from your area, iProVPN lets you change your virtual location. This simply means that you can link with the game servers from another country and get privileged access to the exclusive content and to a broader field of gaming.
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Protection Against DDoS Attacks
iProVPN helps keep you safe from DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks that can break your gaming experience by hiding your IP address. For competitive gamers, this is of particular importance — if a player were to be targeted by other players. When playing with iProVPN your games are safe.
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Combine iProVPN with Fast DNS Servers
iProVPN can be used alongside a fast DNS server such as Cloudflare or Google DNS to get the best of both worlds – speed and security. And this combination ensures your gaming experience is safe, while minimizing lag. Having a good reliable DNS server and a good VPN goes hand in hand and creates a perfect gaming environment. It’s also important to stay updated with iGaming regulations to ensure your gaming activities comply with the latest legal standards and provide a secure environment for both players and providers.
Setting Up a DNS Server for Gaming
Changing a DNS server is a simple task. Here’s how to do it:
- Open Network Settings: Visit your device network settings. The way this happens changes slightly from operating system to operating system.
- Select Your Network: Click Choose network connection to select which network connection you’re using (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
- Access DNS Settings: Within DNS (or Advanced Settings), look for an option that says DNS.
- Enter DNS Addresses: Secondly, input your trusted operated primary and secondary DNS addresses.
- Save Changes: Apply this change by saving your settings, then restarting your connection.
Conclusion
Here’s why choosing the best DNS for gaming in 2025 is critical in reducing lag, having load times and a secured environment. So, it doesn’t really matter if you choose Google Public DNS, Cloudflare, OpenDNS, or another option, every one provides something different.
So, remember every gamer needs to have the best experience, finding your DNS options and thinking about future opportunities is worth doing thus take time to bring your setup to the next level by using iProVPN. Happy gaming!
FAQs
- What are the best DNS servers for gaming on Android?
Right now, the best DNS gaming servers for Android are Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Quad9 208.67.222.222, Google DNS Server 8.8.8.8, OpenDNS 208.67.222.222, and NextDNS 45.90.28.190. All are compatible with Android gaming devices.
- Is 1.1.1.1 DNS good for gaming?
Yes, Cloudflare’s primary DNS 1.1. 1.1 is the best and fastest DNS server for gaming. It does help improve ping, but there are other factors to incorporate. For starters, a healthy internet signal, a stronger connection, etc.
- Which is better 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 for gaming?
The better option is Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1, but just in case you do experience slower speeds, we suggest going for Google DNS Server 8.8.8.8.
- What is the best DNS server to use for gaming?
The best DNS servers for gaming are Cloudflare, Quad9, Public DNS Server, OpenDNS, and NextDNS.
- Is 1.1.1.1 still the fastest DNS?
According to DNSPerf, an independent DNS monitoring tool, Cloudflare’s DNS 1.1.1.1 was ranked as the fastest.
- What are the best DNS servers for gaming on Xbox One and PS5?
The best DNS gaming servers for your Xbox One and PlayStation 5 include Cloudflare, Quad9, Google DNS Server, NextDNs, and OpenDNS.
- What is the fastest DNS server?
Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 and its secondary DNS 1.0.0.1.
