For the best online gaming experience, a steady and fast internet connection is essential. The DNS (Domain Name System) is an often disregarded component, even though many players concentrate on their ISP or router settings. By selecting the best DNS for gaming, latency may be greatly decreased, connection dependability can be increased, and problems like DNS server failures can be avoided.
Does DNS help you acquire those gorgeous headshots? DNS is the backbone of contemporary internet interactions. Is it possible to reduce latency by using a free DNS server? Which is the best DNS server for gaming in 2025? Don’t worry; this blog will answer all of your questions.
So, keep reading and exploring to learn what the best gaming DNS servers are that you can use in 2025.
Table of Contents
What is DNS and Why Does it Matter for Gaming?
The Domain Name System (DNS), also referred to as the Internet’s “phone book,” is where site sites’ online details are kept. Your device wouldn’t be able to access websites or internet services without it. DNS transforms memorable domain names (like www.temok.com) into numeric IP addresses so that computers may communicate with each other instead of requiring users to memorize complicated IP numbers like 192.168.1.1.
Your device asks a DNS server to look up the host’s domain name and provide a matching IP address each time you enter a URL into your web browser or connect to a server to play games.
It regularly just takes milliseconds and occurs in the background. However, for gamers, even minor delays can have significant consequences.
When it comes to the best DNS for gaming, a subpar or untrustworthy DNS server might cause problems like:
- Increased Latency: Your ping or latency will have an impact on the time it takes for your device to contact a DNS server and obtain the IP address. Lag caused by high latency reduces the responsiveness of real-time gaming operations.
- Connection Issues: When attempting to connect to gaming servers, some DNS servers may have issues or outages, which might result in delays.
- Poor Server Routing: Inadequate DNS routing can cause your website traffic to be routed over slower channels, which will cause your device and the gaming server to respond more slowly.
- Security Vulnerabilities: DNS servers are susceptible to attacks such as DNS spoofing if they are not properly protected, which might put your data at risk.
What Has A Significant Impact On Gaming If DNS Doesn’t?
Numerous variables affect how you play games. You should focus especially on the following if you truly want to play uninterrupted:
Your Internet Connection
Most online multiplayer games merely need you to communicate information about the position and condition of other players, so you don’t need a supercharged plan. However, a steady connection is necessary. You risk being thrown off the server completely or fragged by shrewd opponents if your service has frequent outages or problems. Additionally, for a seamless experience, choose a trustworthy gaming VPN if you wish to employ a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your internet connection at the same time.
Your Gaming Server’s Distance
Your in-game activities don’t happen right away since the best DNS for gaming must receive your data before updating your client on the game’s status. This lag time between your actions and the server’s response is known as “internet latency,” and it is measured in “ping.” The data must travel longer, and there is a greater probability of packet loss the farther you are from the real location of the game server. Players will either materialize out of nowhere or rubber band across the map when the ping is high.
Wi-Fi Connection
Your distance from the router and any obstructions in your path have a significant impact on the strength of your Wi-Fi signal. Your ping may increase dramatically by doing something as easy as going to a different room and shutting the door. Play in a public space near your Wi-Fi network for optimal performance. If you’re a serious competitive player, forego Wi-Fi bandwidth completely and connect an Ethernet cable directly to your gaming device.
Congestion On The Network
Even if you’re not conscious of it, other homes in the neighborhood likely share your connection. Enterprise networks typically have exclusive dedicated connections, which are costly. The reason internet service providers (ISPs) usually promote customer connection speeds as being “up to X Mbps/Gbps” is that you have less bandwidth available the more users are utilizing the connection at once. Avoid playing during busy times, such as immediately after work on a weekday, if you have a concern about in-game ratings. Let’s now discuss what the best DNS for gaming is in 2025.
Also Read: How To Fix DNS Server Not Responding: Step by Step Guide To Fix
6 Good DNS Servers For Gaming in 2025
Now, we will discuss the 6 best and good DNS servers for gaming you can use in 2025.
Cloudflare
- is the primary DNS (preferred DNS).
- Alternate DNS, or secondary DNS: 1.0.0.1
One of the quickest free public DNS providers available is Cloudflare, which is ideal for desperate gamers on a limited budget. Beyond its raw DNS resolution speed, Cloudflare provides features to prevent DNS gaming spoofing, reduce distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) assaults against DNS servers, and safeguard your privacy.
Cloudflare doesn’t provide any additional defense against attacks that don’t directly involve DNS servers, including malicious links, like some of the other DNS providers on this list do. However, Cloudflare is a fantastic option if all you want to do is get rid of your ISP’s sluggish DNS server.
Google Public DNS
- 8.8.8 is the primary DNS (preferred DNS).
- 8.4.4 is the secondary DNS (alternative DNS).
Google loves to tell you how large it is. You are free to select any of Google’s public DNS servers located in the majority of the world. Similar to Cloudflare, Google Public DNS is fast, cost-free, and the actual location of the game is safe against DDoS and DNS spoofing attacks.
The drawback of all of this is that Google may utilize your DNS information in compliance with its privacy policy, which may irritate those who value privacy. Additionally, Google Public DNS has meager customer service, which may cause your future gaming session to end early if an issue arises. It is by far the best DNS for gaming in 2025.
NextDN
- DNS main address:90.28.190
- DNS backup:90.30.190
- 2a07:a8c0::<your config ID> and 2a07:a8c1::<your config ID> are IPv6 addresses.
NextDNS is a flexible and technologically advanced choice. It enables users to block advertisements, change their DNS settings, and defend against trackers. NextDNS will be very tempting to gamers who seek great performance, together with an extra layer of privacy protection and security. When it comes to running private gaming servers, its customization possibilities are quite helpful.
Gcore CDN
- DNS main address:85.95.85
- DNS backup:56.220.2
- IPv6 Addresses: Gcore can acquire up to 14 IPv6 addresses.
Gaming-specific DNS solutions are Gcore’s area of expertise. Gcore is a popular option for gamers looking for incredibly fast connections because of its extensive network of servers built for low-latency performance. In competitive games like CS: GO and Valorant, the DNS service is designed to enhance matching and minimize latency.
Quad9
- Primary DNS:9.9.9
- Secondary DNS:112.112.112
In terms of security, Quad9 goes above and beyond what is predictable of a free DNS provider. To stop people from slipping into a trap, such as clicking a website link in a phishing email, Quad9 keeps a real-time blocklist of malicious websites in addition to protecting its DNS servers against DNS spoofing and DDoS attacks.
Why, then, does Quad9 not rank higher on this list? Quad9 is the best DNS for gaming, but it will run a bit slower than Cloudflare and Google Public DNS. Additionally, even if you are willing to take the chance, Quad9 will stop you from going to dubious websites. If a URL you wish to visit (like the forum for your gaming clan) is on the block list, Quad9 won’t answer the DNS query.
Also Read: What is Private DNS: Easy Configuration For Phones And Laptops
NordVPN
- 86.96.100 is the primary DNS (preferred DNS).
- 86.99.100 is the secondary DNS (alternative DNS).
NordVPN has secure DNS servers of its own. Anyone is welcome to utilize NordVPN’s public DNS servers, which are the primary and secondary servers mentioned above. Only users with a current NordVPN subscription can use the private DNS servers that NordVPN applications usually utilize.
NordVPN’s best gaming DNS servers are quick and secure against DNS-specific attacks, such as DNS poisoning. Although NordVPN’s DNS servers don’t screen your DNS queries by default, you may use the Threat Protection Pro function to apply DNS filtering against dangerous domains if you’d like. It works best with dedicated servers.
As part of NordVPN’s SmartPlay functionality, NordVPN applications now provide smart DNS. You might wonder what smart DNS is. If the page you’re looking for isn’t accessible in your area, this technology will reroute your DNS queries to other DNS servers.
In The Best DNS For Gaming, What Should I Look For?
Choose the best DNS for gaming that responds quickly and has low latency, especially from where you are. Additionally, a good DNS should have very little downtime and unsuccessful lookups.
Physical proximity matters; usually, closer servers react faster. Supporting DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) or DNS-over-TLS (DoT) is helpful since these methods encrypt your DNS data for greater security and privacy.
Additionally, review the privacy policy of the provider; some DNS providers, like Cloudflare or NextDNS, guarantee not to retain or sell your data, while others log your activities. If you value your privacy, this
Conclusion
Even though it might not seem like much, picking the best DNS for gaming might have an impact on how you play online games, depending on which of these factors—speed, security, or privacy—you value more. You have a ton of fantastic alternatives. Cloudflare, Google DNS, and OpenDNS may all be used to lower latency and boost speed. Switching to a quicker, more dependable DNS server will enable you to play games more fluidly and without latency.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Which Is Better, 1.1 1.1 Or 8.8 8.8 For Gaming?
In general, Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) for speed and Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8) for dependability and wide support are the top DNS servers for gaming in 2025.
Which DNS Is The Fastest For Gaming?
Because of their worldwide networks, low latency, and dependability, Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) and Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8) are the quickest DNS servers for gaming. However, Cloudflare is a best DNS for gaming in 2025.
Does 1.1.1.1 Improve Gaming?
Although the change may be small, 1.1.1.1 can enhance gaming by lowering latency and accelerating DNS resolution. It results in smoother gameplay.
Is 1.1 1.1 Still The Fastest DNS?
Indeed, Cloudflare’s DNS 1.1.1.1 is still among the fastest public DNS resolvers on the market today. This is because of its wide global network and emphasis on privacy and performance.