Google DNS vs OpenDNS: Google Rocks for International Users
Slow DNS resolving is one of the major causes of browsing slowdowns. (If you don't know what is DNS look at the end of the post). The DNS services provided by the ISPs were often crappy and erratic and OpenDNS had emerged as the de-facto alternative. OpenDNS was not without its faults. Though it was rarely erratic, the performance was not blazing fast. Also if OpenDNS did not find a site, it redirected the user to a generic search page. This was not good user experience. Another alternative was the DNS server 4.2.2.2 (owned by Level 3 I believe). But this server was not that fast outside United States.
Google in its quest to make the internet faster has stepped into the arena with Google Public DNS. In their own words -
As web pages become more complex and include more resources from multiple origin domains, clients need to perform multiple DNS lookups to render a single page. The average Internet user performs hundreds of DNS lookups each day, slowing down his or her browsing experience. As the web continues to grow, greater load is placed on existing DNS infrastructure.
Since Google's search engine already crawls the web on a daily basis and in the process resolves and caches DNS information, we wanted to leverage our technology to experiment with new ways of addressing some of the existing DNS challenges around performance and security. We are offering the service to the public in the hope of achieving the following aims:
Google Promises us good Performance, Security and Correct Results. Correct Results here refer to the practice of redirecting the user to an alternate page when the domain was not found (like OpenDNS does). Google has provided an extensive guide to help users start using their DNS service.
In my tests, Google DNS consistently outperformed both OpenDNS and Level 3. For Americans the Level 3 server (4.2.2.2) might offer as good performance as Google. But if you are living outside US and you care about your browsing experience you should switch now :). The results are below
The shell script I used to get the results is this.
Updated: Reader Stevan Bajić sent in an awesome bash script which gives you nicely formatted results.
Results are in ms
| OpenDNS |
4.2.2.2 |
Google |
Domain |
| 224ms |
259ms |
110ms |
lifehacker.com |
| 197ms |
258ms |
112ms |
facebook.com |
| 215ms |
259ms |
112ms |
manu-j.com |
| 202ms |
259ms |
159ms |
reddit.com |
| tb4.fr |
111ms |
440ms |
195ms |
| bbc.co.uk |
111ms |
256ms |
220ms |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
21 |
22 |
19 |
| facebook.com |
20 |
22 |
19 |
| manu-j.com |
21 |
44 |
42 |
| reddit.com |
30 |
73 |
20 |
| tb4.fr |
125 |
22 |
157 |
| bbc.co.uk |
103 |
22 |
98 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
11 |
24 |
88 |
| facebook.com |
12 |
23 |
88 |
| manu-j.com |
12 |
22 |
88 |
| reddit.com |
12 |
22 |
87 |
| tb4.fr |
12 |
22 |
88 |
| bbc.co.uk |
12 |
22 |
88 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
73 |
21 |
50 |
| facebook.com |
72 |
18 |
54 |
| manu-j.com |
74 |
103 |
52 |
| reddit.com |
72 |
19 |
53 |
| tb4.fr |
72 |
290 |
50 |
| bbc.co.uk |
72 |
134 |
52 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
29 |
125 |
13 |
| facebook.com |
24 |
47 |
18 |
| manu-j.com |
179 |
32 |
13 |
| reddit.com |
742 |
56 |
15 |
| tb4.fr |
43 |
57 |
14 |
| bbc.co.uk |
67 |
29 |
24 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
23 |
33 |
116 |
| facebook.com |
23 |
30 |
108 |
| manu-j.com |
24 |
30 |
108 |
| reddit.com |
181 |
33 |
118 |
| tb4.fr |
24 |
32 |
114 |
| bbc.co.uk |
24 |
29 |
107 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
36 |
174 |
168 |
| facebook.com |
36 |
163 |
186 |
| manu-j.com |
36 |
163 |
186 |
| reddit.com |
38 |
163 |
191 |
| tb4.fr |
37 |
174 |
183 |
| bbc.co.uk |
37 |
174 |
173 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
18 |
17 |
10 |
| facebook.com |
17 |
17 |
10 |
| manu-j.com |
19 |
16 |
9 |
| reddit.com |
224 |
17 |
10 |
| tb4.fr |
24 |
122 |
562 |
| bbc.co.uk |
19 |
98 |
92 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
40 |
158 |
167 |
| facebook.com |
41 |
157 |
168 |
| manu-j.com |
40 |
156 |
165 |
| reddit.com |
45 |
170 |
166 |
| tb4.fr |
39 |
156 |
171 |
| bbc.co.uk |
39 |
160 |
165 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
65 |
12 |
52 |
| facebook.com |
65 |
16 |
50 |
| manu-j.com |
62 |
11 |
56 |
| reddit.com |
63 |
13 |
52 |
| tb4.fr |
62 |
11 |
51 |
| bbc.co.uk |
63 |
9 |
51 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
23 |
34 |
39 |
| facebook.com |
22 |
28 |
40 |
| manu-j.com |
22 |
28 |
42 |
| reddit.com |
332 |
199 |
41 |
| tb4.fr |
22 |
27 |
40 |
| bbc.co.uk |
24 |
26 |
40 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
31 |
52 |
39 |
| facebook.com |
29 |
60 |
39 |
| manu-j.com |
30 |
51 |
41 |
| reddit.com |
105 |
50 |
41 |
| tb4.fr |
28 |
49 |
42 |
| bbc.co.uk |
30 |
48 |
40 |
| najdi.si (local site) |
33 |
52 |
88 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
78 |
59 |
27 |
| facebook.com |
80 |
48 |
31 |
| manu-j.com |
78 |
280 |
28 |
| reddit.com |
81 |
183 |
28 |
| tb4.fr |
77 |
48 |
27 |
| bbc.co.uk |
79 |
47 |
28 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
25 |
49 |
118 |
| facebook.com |
27 |
43 |
118 |
| manu-j.com |
24 |
44 |
125 |
| reddit.com |
431 |
43 |
118 |
| tb4.fr |
25 |
50 |
115 |
| bbc.co.uk |
25 |
44 |
116 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
158 |
185 |
184 |
| facebook.com |
159 |
185 |
185 |
| manu-j.com |
158 |
184 |
183 |
| reddit.com |
158 |
184 |
183 |
| tb4.fr |
157 |
184 |
183 |
| bbc.co.uk |
432 |
184 |
183 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
53 |
111 |
47 |
| facebook.com |
58 |
113 |
47 |
| manu-j.com |
57 |
113 |
47 |
| reddit.com |
63 |
108 |
51 |
| tb4.fr |
58 |
107 |
46 |
| bbc.co.uk |
57 |
110 |
50 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
17 |
18 |
21 |
| facebook.com |
24 |
17 |
24 |
| manu-j.com |
19 |
22 |
22 |
| reddit.com |
183 |
25 |
16 |
| tb4.fr |
15 |
17 |
32 |
| bbc.co.uk |
15 |
20 |
18 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
205 |
135 |
196 |
| facebook.com |
206 |
135 |
199 |
| manu-j.com |
208 |
133 |
195 |
| reddit.com |
205 |
143 |
330 |
| tb4.fr |
207 |
194 |
195 |
| bbc.co.uk |
205 |
133 |
414 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
160 |
174 |
167 |
| facebook.com |
159 |
178 |
170 |
| manu-j.com |
167 |
176 |
169 |
| reddit.com |
383 |
389 |
192 |
| tb4.fr |
159 |
175 |
162 |
| bbc.co.uk |
165 |
253 |
258 |
| OpenDNS |
4.2.2.2 |
Google |
Domain |
| 21 |
41 |
14 |
lifehacker.com |
| 32 |
44 |
10 |
facebook.com |
| 29 |
36 |
8 |
manu-j.com |
| 25 |
233 |
90 |
reddit.com |
| tb4.fr |
13 |
37 |
19 |
| bbc.co.uk |
8 |
35 |
20 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
13 |
16 |
14 |
| facebook.com |
14 |
182 |
15 |
| manu-j.com |
14 |
13 |
10 |
| reddit.com |
13 |
177 |
13 |
| tb4.fr |
13 |
179 |
14 |
| bbc.co.uk |
14 |
180 |
13 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
37 |
355 |
30 |
| facebook.com |
40 |
46 |
32 |
| manu-j.com |
37 |
196 |
32 |
| reddit.com |
60 |
44 |
29 |
| tb4.fr |
36 |
89 |
31 |
| bbc.co.uk |
37 |
47 |
30 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
16 |
34 |
33 |
| facebook.com |
16 |
31 |
34 |
| manu-j.com |
17 |
355 |
33 |
| reddit.com |
18 |
31 |
33 |
| tb4.fr |
16 |
54 |
34 |
| bbc.co.uk |
84 |
34 |
32 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
181 |
143 |
151 |
| facebook.com |
186 |
151 |
186 |
| manu-j.com |
146 |
180 |
154 |
| reddit.com |
196 |
143 |
158 |
| tb4.fr |
156 |
182 |
150 |
| bbc.co.uk |
152 |
142 |
166 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
24 |
41 |
30 |
| facebook.com |
26 |
23 |
35 |
| manu-j.com |
29 |
29 |
37 |
| reddit.com |
27 |
26 |
190 |
| tb4.fr |
23 |
58 |
54 |
| bbc.co.uk |
25 |
26 |
39 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
69 |
81 |
60 |
| facebook.com |
71 |
68 |
61 |
| manu-j.com |
68 |
68 |
63 |
| reddit.com |
74 |
66 |
63 |
| tb4.fr |
70 |
67 |
63 |
| bbc.co.uk |
86 |
89 |
60 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
55 |
58 |
53 |
| facebook.com |
54 |
53 |
63 |
| manu-j.com |
54 |
53 |
72 |
| reddit.com |
667 |
195 |
53 |
| tb4.fr |
55 |
52 |
55 |
| bbc.co.uk |
55 |
51 |
59 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
70 |
77 |
98 |
| facebook.com |
70 |
54 |
98 |
| manu-j.com |
98 |
271 |
63 |
| reddit.com |
75 |
78 |
96 |
| tb4.fr |
99 |
236 |
399 |
| bbc.co.uk |
224 |
77 |
98 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
102 |
67 |
102 |
| facebook.com |
107 |
73 |
100 |
| manu-j.com |
102 |
66 |
103 |
| reddit.com |
107 |
67 |
108 |
| tb4.fr |
103 |
65 |
271 |
| bbc.co.uk |
103 |
66 |
101 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
18 |
723 |
27 |
| facebook.com |
18 |
699 |
27 |
| manu-j.com |
20 |
732 |
27 |
| reddit.com |
20 |
651 |
28 |
| tb4.fr |
17 |
899 |
28 |
| bbc.co.uk |
17 |
644 |
27 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
36 |
110 |
123 |
| facebook.com |
49 |
110 |
125 |
| manu-j.com |
38 |
268 |
121 |
| reddit.com |
38 |
111 |
133 |
| tb4.fr |
40 |
462 |
707 |
| bbc.co.uk |
38 |
110 |
124 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
22 |
22 |
24 |
| facebook.com |
21 |
21 |
21 |
| manu-j.com |
31 |
38 |
29 |
| reddit.com |
19 |
20 |
22 |
| tb4.fr |
29 |
29 |
34 |
| bbc.co.uk |
30 |
37 |
29 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
58 |
143 |
74 |
| facebook.com |
59 |
80 |
140 |
| manu-j.com |
58 |
145 |
71 |
| reddit.com |
60 |
79 |
140 |
| tb4.fr |
58 |
79 |
137 |
| bbc.co.uk |
58 |
144 |
73 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
111 |
390 |
279 |
| facebook.com |
111 |
399 |
274 |
| manu-j.com |
107 |
399 |
281 |
| reddit.com |
108 |
400 |
279 |
| tb4.fr |
107 |
397 |
278 |
| bbc.co.uk |
132 |
399 |
351 |
| Domain |
Google |
4.2.2.2 |
OpenDNS |
| lifehacker.com |
32 |
40 |
49 |
| facebook.com |
32 |
40 |
53 |
| manu-j.com |
33 |
39 |
49 |
| reddit.com |
210 |
40 |
51 |
| tb4.fr |
34 |
38 |
48 |
| bbc.co.uk |
33 |
39 |
51 |
What is DNS
DNS is what helps your browser to identify the correct machine which corresponds to the domain names like "google.com", "facebook.com" etc. Each machine has a unique record called an IP Address (like zip code). DNS is like the postal system of the internet which helps to identify which domain name (like google.com) belongs to which address.
The wikipedia as usual has an in-depth article.