Best Smart DNS Services

I’ve had the pleasure of testing just about every Smart DNS service on the market along with hundreds of VPN providers.  After years of comparing services I feel confident in recommending the best Smart DNS.  Below you’ll find my list of the top 10 Smart DNS services with a rating, price and free trial details.  Find out exactly why each provider made the list of best Smart DNS services along with detailed reviews.

RankProviderPriceRatingSoftwareVisit
1Unlocator$3.54
28% Off
9.9
Read Review
WindowsiOSAndroidUnlocator
2OverPlay$3.12
37% Off
9.8
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WindowsiOSAndroidOverPlay
3StrongVPN$4.37
41% Off
9.7
Read Review
WindowsiOSAndroidBlockless
4Unblock-Us$4.16
17% Off
9.6
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WindowsiOSAndroidUnblock Us
5StrongDNS$4.16
17% Off
9.5
Read Review
WindowsAndroidStrongDNS
6UnoTelly$3.94
20% Off
9.5
Read Review
WindowsAndroidUnoTelly
7SmartyDNS$3.33
33% Off
9.4
Read Review
WindowsSmartyDNS
8CactusVPN$3.25
35% Off
9.3
Read Review
WindowsiOSCactusVPN
9HideIPVPN$3.24
35% Off
9.2
Read Review
WindowsMacHideIPVPN
10Smart DNS Proxy$2.91
57% Off
9.0
Read Review
NoneSmart DNS Proxy

What is Smart DNS?

The team at Unblock-Us has done an excellent job of explaining how their service works so let me share a short explanation from their site:

Every computer or other Internet-enabled device has an address. It’s made up of numbers, like a street address. Our solution is brilliantly simple. We give you an address where the content you want is available. It’s like moving your computer or other device without actually moving it.

The same is true for every Smart DNS service on our site.  They will help you access sites in other countries.  If you currently live or are traveling outside the United States then SmartDNS can help you enjoy sites like Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO Go.  Those outside the United Kingdom can use Smart DNS to watch BBC iPlayer.  The same is true for watching coverage of live sporting events.  A good smart DNS service will help you enjoy channels from around the world.

Smart DNS vs. VPN

I get this question all the time:

Which is better, Smart DNS or VPN?

The answer isn’t clear without knowing your goal.  If you want to access channels in other countries then Smart DNS is an easy choice.  You’ll enjoy faster connection speeds and access to major entertainment channels around the world.  All for about half the price of a VPN service.

If you need the added privacy protection and anonymity offered by an encrypted connection then a VPN will better meet your needs.  A VPN will typically slow down your connection so it’s a trade off.  I’m a big proponent of VPN for helping protect your online privacy.  If you’re interested in VPN then I suggest you read my review of OverPlay.  They offer a reasonably priced plan that includes both Smart DNS and VPN.  Giving you the best of both worlds.

Smart DNS Supports a Wide Range of Devices

When it comes to enjoying your favorite entertainment the Smart DNS services on our top 10 list know that you may want to watch on a variety of devices.  For that reason they support a wide range of devices.  Here’s a list of devices supported by Unblock-Us to give you an idea of what to expect.  Please read the list for the service you choose to make sure they have you covered.

Unblock-Us supports the following devices:

  • Computer – Mac OS X, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
  • Game Console – Playstation 4, Playstation 3, XBOX One, XBOX 360, PS Vita, Wii, Wii U
  • Smart TV – Sony TV and players, Panasonic VIERA, Samsung TV and players, LG Smart TV
  • Media Player – Apple TV, Roku, Google TV, Boxee Box, WD TV Live devices
  • Phone & Tablet – iPhone, iPod, iPad, Android, Amazon Kindle
  • Router – Airport Extreme, Linksys / Cisco, D-Link, Netgear, Bell, 2Wire, Siemens, Actiontec, TP-Link

Smart DNS Channel Line Up

This is another area where Smart DNS really shine.  Once again I’ll use Unblock-Us as a reference since they have the largest channel selection I’ve seen.  Here’s a list of channels they support:

  • Live events – vary according to the time of year.  When writing the review I noticed an F1 race, tennis tournament, WWE event, NBA, NHL, NFL and English Premier League.
  • Video on Demand – Netflix, Hulu and Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, HBO Nordic, HBO GO, Vudu, Crackle, Now TV, M-Go, Epix HD, MaxGo, Starz, CinemaNow, Warner Instant Archive, Blockbuster Now, Fandor, Blinkbox, Funimation, Dramafever, Soompi TV (KDrama)
  • TV – BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, TV Player, Channel 4 – 4oD, Channel 5, Sky Go, MSN UK, Zattoo, ABC, ABC Family, ABC News, CBS All Access, CBS, Big Brother USA, Utopia, PBS, FOX, NBC, CNBC, Food Network, Univision.com, Ulive, USA Network, HGTV, TBS, TruTV, Adultswim, TNT Drama, TCM, DishWorld, Showtime Anytime, SHO.com, AMC.com, FX, A&E, Syfy, Sundance TV, Bravo, Smithsonian, Discovery US, VEVO, Startrek.com, National Geographic, The CW, Logo TV, SouthPark Studios, Comedy Central, BYUtv, Spike TV, CTV, Big Brother Canada, Slice.ca, RTE.ie, TV3ie, Aertv.ie, TVNZ, SBS Australia, ABC iView, Ten.com.au, Eleven.com.au, Arte, ZDF.de, ARD.de, DR.dk, TV2 DK, TF1 France, 6 Play, France 1, France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5, Pluzz France
  • Kids – Disney Movies Anywhere, The Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Marvel.com, Sesame Go
  • Sports – NHL GameCenter Live, NFL GamePass, NFL Now, MLB, NBA, WWE Network, MLS – Major League Soccer, Watch AFL, NRL, Premier League Pass, Star Sports, BBC Sport, BT Sports, beIN Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2 Go, NBC Sports, NBC Sports Live Extra, Univision Deportes, Universal Sports, CBS Sports Radio, Sky Sports, Eurosport Player UK, Eurosport UK, Willow UK, USopen.org, Tennis Channel, Sportschau.de
  • Music – Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, BBC iPlayer Radio, Songza, iHeart Radio, Slacker, Rhapsody, Absoluteradio.co.uk, MTV, VEVO, Radio.com

As you can see Smart DNS will help you open a wide range of content around the world.  Regardless of where you may live or be traveling at the time.  There’s no need to be blocked from enjoying channels in other countries when a good Smart DNS service is just a click away.  I suggest you sign up for one or more of the free trials listed above.  Make sure the service you choose meets your needs.  From there you can subscribe and enjoy the benefits of Smart DNS at home and on the go.