The best European public DNS resolver is Quad9 (Switzerland): free, run by a not-for-profit foundation, with 230+ resolver clusters in more than 110 countries, malware blocking and no logging of IP addresses. For a resolver hosted only in the EU, choose DNS4EU (Czech Republic); for ad blocking on every device, AdGuard DNS (Cyprus).
A public DNS resolver is the service that turns a name like example.com into an IP address. Whoever runs it sees every website and app your devices contact, which is why the operator and its jurisdiction matter. Your internet provider’s resolver may log or block domains, and the best-known free alternatives – Google Public DNS and Cloudflare – come from US companies. This page ranks every public resolver from a European organisation that I would recommend. I compared fourteen European resolvers and kept twelve: from foundations and EU-backed projects to German, Swiss and Austrian digital-rights groups. If you are replacing 8.8.8.8 in a router, the shorter, deeper comparison is Best European alternatives to Google Public DNS.
What are the best European public DNS resolvers?
All twelve are free. They are listed in order; each one is reviewed below.
- Quad9 (Switzerland) – global, malware-blocking, no IP logging. Best overall.
- DNS4EU (Czech Republic) – EU-hosted resolver with five filter options. Best for EU-only hosting.
- AdGuard DNS (Cyprus) – ad and tracker blocking for every device. Best for ad blocking.
- DNS.SB (Germany) – neutral, no-logs resolver on 30 anycast locations. Best unfiltered resolver.
- Digitale Gesellschaft DNS (Switzerland) – encrypted-only, no logs, own hardware. Best for encrypted DNS on phones and browsers.
- dnsforge (Germany) – four filter levels, servers in Germany. Best German resolver with filters.
- UncensoredDNS (Denmark) – one-person no-logs resolver since 2009. Best against DNS censorship.
- Applied Privacy DNS (Austria) – non-profit DoT resolver in Vienna. Best Austrian option.
- FFMUC DNS (Germany) – Munich community resolver with every protocol. Best community-run resolver.
- Digitalcourage DNS (Germany) – DoT-only resolver from a Bielefeld digital-rights group. Best for Android Private DNS.
- Artikel10 DNS (Germany) – DoH and DoT from a Hamburg association. Best small German DoH resolver.
- RESTENA DNS Resolver (Luxembourg) – DoT and DoH from Luxembourg’s research network. Best in Luxembourg.
European public DNS resolvers compared
| Tool | HQ | Data hosted in | From | Free plan | Open source | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Quad9 | Switzerland · EFTA | 230+ clusters in 110+ countries · own network | Free | Yes | Not stated | Private, malware-blocking DNS |
| 2. DNS4EU | Czech Republic · EU | EU only · Whalebone | Free (individuals) | Yes | Not stated | EU-hosted DNS with filters |
| 3. AdGuard DNS | Cyprus · EU | 15+ locations · own network | Free · private plans from €26.45 / year + VAT | Yes | Not stated | Network-wide ad blocking |
| 4. DNS.SB | Germany · EU | 30 anycast locations · xTom | Free | Yes | Not stated | Neutral no-logs resolver |
| 5. Digitale Gesellschaft DNS | Switzerland · EFTA | Switzerland · own hardware | Free | Yes | Not stated | Encrypted DNS, no logs |
| 6. dnsforge | Germany · EU | Germany · Hetzner | Free (donations) | Yes | Not stated | German DNS with filter levels |
| 7. UncensoredDNS | Denmark · EU | Denmark and USA · own network | Free | Yes | Not stated | Unfiltered, no-logs DNS |
| 8. Applied Privacy DNS | Austria · EU | Vienna, Austria · Nessus | Free | Yes | Not stated | Privacy-first DoT in Austria |
| 9. FFMUC DNS | Germany · EU | Germany and Vienna · own network | Free | Yes | Not stated | Community-run German resolver |
| 10. Digitalcourage DNS | Germany · EU | Germany · Hetzner | Free | Yes | Not stated | Android Private DNS |
| 11. Artikel10 DNS | Germany · EU | Germany · IN-Berlin | Free | Yes | Not stated | Small German DoH resolver |
| 12. RESTENA DNS Resolver | Luxembourg · EU | Luxembourg · RESTENA | Free | Yes | Not stated | Encrypted DNS in Luxembourg |
Prices from public pricing pages. Affiliate links and sponsored placements are labelled.
“Data hosted in” shows where each resolver answers from, based on its published address and an ASN lookup on RIPEstat (25 Oct 2026).
How I chose the best European public DNS resolvers
I compared fourteen public DNS resolvers run by organisations in the EU, Switzerland and Denmark and kept twelve. The order is driven by how useful each one is as an everyday resolver – network size, plain and encrypted protocols (DoH, DoT, DoQ), IPv6 and DNSSEC – then by privacy and data sovereignty, then by how sustainable the operator looks. I weighed five things:
- Jurisdiction and operator – who runs it, where it is registered and on whose network it runs.
- Protocols and reach – plain IPv4/IPv6 for routers, DoH and DoT for phones and browsers, and the number of locations.
- Logging and privacy – what the operator says it stores, and for how long.
- Filtering – unfiltered answers, or optional malware, ad and child-protection blocking.
- Sustainability – foundation, company, EU funding, association or one individual.
I left out Mullvad’s public DNS, because Mullvad’s help page says it will be discontinued on 2 November 2026, and dns0.eu, which its website says has been discontinued. US resolvers such as Google Public DNS and Cloudflare are not eligible. All data comes from the operators’ own service, privacy and imprint pages, RIPEstat and Trustpilot, checked on 25 October 2026.
The best European public DNS resolvers, reviewed
Each resolver gets the same treatment: who runs it, what users say, what it offers and what it lacks, the exact addresses, pros and cons, and my opinion.
1. Quad9
A global, not-for-profit Swiss resolver that blocks malware and does not record your IP address
Quad9 is run by the Quad9 Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation in Zürich, Switzerland (c/o SWITCH). The service went online in August 2016, founded by Global Cyber Alliance, IBM and Packet Clearing House, and is funded by grants, partnerships and donors. It runs on its own network (AS19281) with 230+ resolver clusters in more than 110 countries.
What users say. Quad9 has no reviews on Trustpilot yet.
What it offers – and what it lacks. Short addresses, IPv6, DoH, DoT, DNSCrypt and DNSSEC, plus blocking of phishing and malware domains based on 25+ threat-intelligence feeds. Its privacy policy says IP addresses are not collected or recorded – only counters are kept. Separate addresses give you an unfiltered resolver (9.9.9.10) or one with EDNS Client Subnet (9.9.9.11). It lacks ad blocking, and Switzerland is outside the EU.
Facts: Zürich, Switzerland · since 2016 · free · IPv4 9.9.9.9, 149.112.112.112 · IPv6 2620:fe::fe, 2620:fe::9 · DoH https://dns.quad9.net/dns-query · DoT dns.quad9.net.
Pros of Quad9
- Huge network – 230+ clusters in 110+ countries
- Strong privacy – no IP addresses recorded
- Useful malware blocking by default
- Trustworthy not-for-profit foundation
Cons of Quad9
- No ad blocking
- Not in the EU – Switzerland is in the EFTA
- No EDNS Client Subnet on the default addresses
My take: Quad9 is the European resolver I would recommend to anyone first: global, well documented, and strict about not storing who asked what. Best for: almost everyone. Not for: people who want ads blocked.
2. DNS4EU
The EU-backed resolver, hosted only in the EU, with five filter options
DNS4EU was co-funded by the European Union from 2023 to 2025 and developed by a consortium led by Whalebone, s.r.o., a DNS security company founded in 2016 in Brno, Czech Republic. Since 2026 Whalebone fully owns and operates it. The resolvers run on Whalebone’s network (AS198121) and are hosted only in the EU.
What users say. DNS4EU has no reviews on Trustpilot yet.
What it offers – and what it lacks. Five variants – Protective, with child protection, with ad blocking, both, or Unfiltered – each with IPv4, IPv6, DoH and DoT. IP addresses are anonymised before logging, and queries are not sold or used for profiles. It lacks a published retention period for resolver logs, court-ordered blocks apply even to Unfiltered, and it is meant for individuals, not businesses.
Facts: Brno, Czech Republic · EU co-funded 2023–2025 · free for individuals · Protective 86.54.11.1, 86.54.11.201 · IPv6 2a13:1001::86:54:11:1 · DoH https://protective.joindns4.eu/dns-query · DoT protective.joindns4.eu · Unfiltered 86.54.11.100.
Pros of DNS4EU
- Strong sovereignty – hosted only in the EU
- Flexible filters for malware, ads and children
- Easy setup with DoH and DoT for every variant
Cons of DNS4EU
- Not fully unfiltered – court-ordered blocks apply
- No published log retention period
- Restricted to individual users
My take: DNS4EU is the strongest EU-only option, with useful filters built in. Quad9 stays ahead thanks to its larger network and clearer privacy policy. Best for: people who want DNS strictly inside the EU. Not for: businesses.
More in the Google Public DNS ranking →
3. AdGuard DNS
Free network-wide ad and tracker blocking from a Cypriot company
AdGuard DNS is run by AdGuard Software Limited, registered in Limassol, Cyprus, which also makes the AdGuard ad blocker and VPN. The resolvers run on AdGuard’s own network (AS212772) with 15+ locations and 100+ servers; personal data is stored in its data centre in Frankfurt.
What users say. On Trustpilot AdGuard has 4.6/5 from 9,741 reviews, a company-wide profile that is mostly about the ad blocker.
What it offers – and what it lacks. Default servers block ads and trackers; Family adds adult-content blocking; Unfiltered blocks nothing. DoH, DoT, DoQ and DNSCrypt are all supported. The privacy policy says no personal data is processed on the public servers. It lacks custom rules on the free public servers – those need a private plan (free Starter tier with 300,000 requests a month) – and its network is smaller than Quad9’s.
Facts: Limassol, Cyprus · free public servers · Default 94.140.14.14, 94.140.15.15 · IPv6 2a10:50c0::ad1:ff · DoH https://dns.adguard-dns.com/dns-query · DoT dns.adguard-dns.com · Unfiltered 94.140.14.140.
Pros of AdGuard DNS
- Useful ad blocking for every device
- Flexible Default, Family and Unfiltered servers
- Strong protocol support including DoQ
- Great company rating – 4.6/5 on Trustpilot
Cons of AdGuard DNS
- Small network – 15+ locations
- No custom rules on the free public servers
- Not neutral on the Default addresses
My take: AdGuard DNS is the simplest way to block ads across a whole home network. Use the Unfiltered addresses if you only want a European resolver. Best for: households that want ads blocked everywhere. Not for: people who want a neutral resolver.
More in the Google Public DNS ranking →
4. DNS.SB
A neutral no-logs resolver from Düsseldorf on 30 anycast locations
DNS.SB is made by xTom GmbH, a hosting company registered in Düsseldorf, Germany. It runs on xTom’s global anycast network from 30 locations on six continents.
What users say. I found no Trustpilot profile for DNS.SB.
What it offers – and what it lacks. Unfiltered answers, short IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, DoH, DoT and a “no logs, forever” promise, plus unicast DoH servers in cities such as Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Berlin and Amsterdam. It lacks any filtering and documents little about DNSSEC or privacy beyond the no-logs claim.
Facts: Düsseldorf, Germany · free · IPv4 185.222.222.222, 45.11.45.11 · IPv6 2a09::, 2a11:: · DoH https://doh.dns.sb/dns-query · DoT dot.sb.
Pros of DNS.SB
- Simple unfiltered resolver
- Strong no-logs promise
- Flexible European unicast DoH locations
Cons of DNS.SB
- No malware or ad filtering
- Weak documentation
- Small operator
My take: DNS.SB is the cleanest European copy of 8.8.8.8: unfiltered, global and from a German company. I would like more documentation. Best for: people who want a neutral resolver and nothing more. Not for: people who want malware protection.
More in the Google Public DNS ranking →
5. Digitale Gesellschaft DNS
An encrypted-only, no-logs resolver from a Swiss digital-rights group, on its own hardware
Digitale Gesellschaft is a Swiss non-profit organisation working on digital rights. Its resolvers run on its own hardware in a Swiss data centre, on the network of CommunityRack.org (AS57118), and all work on them is done by volunteers.
What users say. No reviews on Trustpilot.
What it offers – and what it lacks. DoH, DNS over HTTP/3, DoT and DoQ, with DNSSEC validation and QNAME minimisation. The operator says it stores no DNS queries and keeps no personal logs, and it does not block anything. It lacks plain DNS on port 53 – the page says that is deliberately not offered – so you cannot use it in a router’s normal DNS fields, and there is no availability guarantee.
Facts: Switzerland · free, non-profit · DoH https://dns.digitale-gesellschaft.ch/dns-query · DoT dns.digitale-gesellschaft.ch · IPv4 185.95.218.42, 185.95.218.43 · IPv6 2a05:fc84::42, 2a05:fc84::43 · DoQ on UDP 853.
Pros of Digitale Gesellschaft DNS
- Strong privacy – no queries stored
- Excellent encryption – DoH, HTTP/3, DoT and DoQ
- Trustworthy non-profit on its own hardware
Cons of Digitale Gesellschaft DNS
- No plain DNS for routers
- No availability guarantee
- Small volunteer team
My take: Digitale Gesellschaft runs the best-documented encrypted-only resolver in this list. It is fifth because it cannot replace plain DNS in a router. Best for: phones and browsers set to encrypted DNS. Not for: router-wide setup.
Visit digitale-gesellschaft.ch →
6. dnsforge
A donation-funded German resolver with four filter levels
dnsforge.de is run by the adminForge community team; the adminForge imprint names Stefan Giebel in Cologne. Servers are in Germany on Hetzner (AS24940), and the service is financed by voluntary donations.
What users say. No reviews on Trustpilot.
What it offers – and what it lacks. Normal (ads, trackers, malware), Clean (adds youth protection and SafeSearch), Hard (strict lists) and Blank (no filter), each with plain IPv4/IPv6, DoT, DoH and DoQ, DNSSEC validation and the query log switched off. It lacks servers outside Germany and has a limit of 100 requests per 10 seconds.
Facts: Cologne, Germany · free, donation-funded · Normal 49.12.67.122, 91.99.154.175 · DoH https://dnsforge.de/dns-query · DoT dnsforge.de · Blank 138.199.149.249, 78.47.71.194.
Pros of dnsforge
- Flexible filter levels
- Strong privacy – query log off
- Great protocol choice including DoQ
Cons of dnsforge
- Low rate limit – 100 requests per 10 seconds
- No servers outside Germany
- Small volunteer team
My take: dnsforge is a good German alternative to AdGuard DNS with servers in Germany and no query log. Best for: German users who want filters. Not for: busy networks.
More in the Google Public DNS ranking →
7. UncensoredDNS
A Danish no-logs resolver run by one person since 2009
UncensoredDNS is run by Thomas Steen Rasmussen, who started it in 2009 as an alternative to the censored DNS servers Danish providers must run. He pays for it himself; it runs on his own network (AS198794) with anycast nodes in Lyngby, Denmark, and Washington, USA.
What users say. No reviews on Trustpilot.
What it offers – and what it lacks. Anycast and unicast servers with IPv4, IPv6, DoT and DoH; “absolutely nothing is being logged”, and nothing is filtered. It lacks an organisation behind it, has few locations (one in the USA) and does not mention DNSSEC.
Facts: Denmark · since 2009 · free · anycast 91.239.100.100, 2001:67c:28a4:: · unicast 89.233.43.71 · DoH https://anycast.uncensoreddns.org/dns-query · DoT anycast.uncensoreddns.org.
Pros of UncensoredDNS
- Strong no-logging promise
- Reliable track record since 2009
- Simple unfiltered answers
Cons of UncensoredDNS
- Small network with one US node
- No organisation behind it
- Not documented on DNSSEC
My take: UncensoredDNS has a long, honest track record, but it rests on one person. Best for: people facing ISP DNS blocking. Not for: people who need an organisation behind their resolver.
Visit blog.uncensoreddns.org →
More in the Google Public DNS ranking →
8. Applied Privacy DNS
A non-profit DNS over TLS resolver in Vienna
The resolver is run by the Foundation for Applied Privacy – Verein zur Förderung der digitalen Privatsphäre, a non-profit association in Vienna, Austria (ZVR 1254016365). The servers are in Vienna, on the network of Nessus GmbH (AS47692).
What users say. No reviews on Trustpilot.
What it offers – and what it lacks. DNS over TLS on port 853 or 443, DNSSEC validation and QNAME minimisation; the operator says it logs neither IPs nor queries. It lacks plain DNS for routers, its DoH service is labelled experimental and best effort, and it has a single location.
Facts: Vienna, Austria · free, non-profit · DoT dot1.applied-privacy.net · IPv4 146.255.56.98 · IPv6 2a02:1b8:10:234::2 · DoH https://doh.applied-privacy.net/query (experimental).
Pros of Applied Privacy DNS
- Strong privacy – no IP or query logs
- Useful QNAME minimisation and DNSSEC
- Trustworthy non-profit association
Cons of Applied Privacy DNS
- No plain DNS for routers
- Limited DoH – experimental only
- Single location in Vienna
My take: A careful, privacy-first DoT resolver from Vienna. Good for phones, not for routers. Best for: Android Private DNS users in Austria and nearby. Not for: router-wide setup.
9. FFMUC DNS
The Munich Freifunk community resolver with plain and encrypted DNS
FFMUC DNS is run by Freifunk München; the imprint names Freie Netze München e. V. in Gauting near Munich. It runs on the association’s own network (AS212567), with a second location in Vienna.
What users say. No reviews on Trustpilot.
What it offers – and what it lacks. Plain DNS over UDP/TCP, DoT, DoH, DNS over HTTP/3 and DoQ, with no logs showing what individual users look up and no filtering. It lacks published rate-limit values, says nothing about DNSSEC validation and has two locations.
Facts: Gauting, Germany · free, non-commercial · IPv4 5.1.66.255, 185.150.99.255 · IPv6 2001:678:e68:f000:: · DoH https://doh.ffmuc.net/dns-query · DoT dot.ffmuc.net.
Pros of FFMUC DNS
- Great protocol support
- Trustworthy community association
- Simple unfiltered resolver
Cons of FFMUC DNS
- Limited locations
- No published rate limits
- No word on DNSSEC
My take: A capable community resolver that works in a router too. Best for: German users who like community infrastructure. Not for: people who need guaranteed uptime.
More in the Google Public DNS ranking →
10. Digitalcourage DNS
A DNS over TLS resolver from a Bielefeld digital-rights association
Digitalcourage is a non-profit association in Bielefeld, Germany. Its resolver runs in an external German data centre on Hetzner’s network (AS24940); older servers (dns and dns2) have been shut down or archived.
What users say. No reviews on Trustpilot.
What it offers – and what it lacks. DNS over TLS on dns3.digitalcourage.de, no logging except for errors (without client IP), no filtering and EDNS Client Subnet switched off. It lacks plain DNS and DoH, has a limit of about 50 queries per second per IP and no uptime guarantee.
Facts: Bielefeld, Germany · free, non-profit · DoT dns3.digitalcourage.de · IPv4 5.9.164.112 · IPv6 2a01:4f8:251:554::2 · no DoH.
Pros of Digitalcourage DNS
- Strong privacy – no logging except errors without IP
- Simple unfiltered resolver
- Trustworthy digital-rights association
Cons of Digitalcourage DNS
- No DoH and no plain DNS
- Limited to about 50 queries per second per IP
- No uptime guarantee
My take: A trustworthy option for Android’s Private DNS setting, and little else. Best for: Android Private DNS users in Germany. Not for: browsers, which need DoH.
11. Artikel10 DNS
DoH and DoT from a Hamburg digital-rights association
Artikel10 e.V. is a registered association in Hamburg (VR 24066) that works for privacy of communications and also runs Tor relays. Its resolver runs on the network of IN-Berlin e.V. (AS29670), offers DoH and DoT, and the association says it stores no information about individual queries. Filtering and locations are not described.
Facts: Hamburg, Germany · free · DoH https://dns.artikel10.org/dns-query · DoT dns.artikel10.org (port 853).
Pros of Artikel10 DNS
- Strong privacy – no per-query storage
- Useful DoH for browsers
Cons of Artikel10 DNS
- Weak documentation
- Small volunteer association
12. RESTENA DNS Resolver
DoT and DoH from Luxembourg’s research and education network
Fondation Restena in Esch-sur-Alzette runs Luxembourg’s research and education network (AS2602) and offers a public resolver for everyone, with DNSSEC validation and only DoT and DoH. It says it collects only the minimum data needed and does not pass it on or monetise it, and does not deliberately modify answers.
Facts: Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg · free · DoT dnspub.restena.lu · DoH https://dnspub.restena.lu/dns-query · IPv4 158.64.1.29 · IPv6 2001:a18:1::29.
Pros of RESTENA DNS Resolver
- Trustworthy public research foundation
- Strong DNSSEC validation
Cons of RESTENA DNS Resolver
- No plain DNS for routers
- No retention period stated
What European public DNS resolvers cost
All twelve resolvers are free. AdGuard is the only one that also sells paid private DNS servers.
| Resolver | Price | Plain DNS (router) | DoH / DoT | Filtering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quad9 | Free | Yes | Yes / Yes | Malware (optional off) |
| DNS4EU | Free for individuals | Yes | Yes / Yes | 5 variants |
| AdGuard DNS | Free · private from 77.94 zł/year + VAT | Yes | Yes / Yes | Ads (optional off) |
| DNS.SB | Free | Yes | Yes / Yes | None |
| Digitale Gesellschaft DNS | Free | No | Yes / Yes | None |
| dnsforge | Free | Yes | Yes / Yes | 4 levels |
| UncensoredDNS | Free | Yes | Yes / Yes | None |
| Applied Privacy DNS | Free | No | Experimental / Yes | None stated |
| FFMUC DNS | Free | Yes | Yes / Yes | None |
| Digitalcourage DNS | Free | No | No / Yes | None |
| Artikel10 DNS | Free | Not stated | Yes / Yes | Not stated |
| RESTENA DNS Resolver | Free | No | Yes / Yes | None |
As shown on each operator’s own pages on 25 October 2026. AdGuard showed its price in Polish złoty for my location.
How to choose a European public DNS resolver
- Decide where to set it. For a router you need plain IPv4/IPv6 addresses (Quad9, DNS4EU, AdGuard, DNS.SB, dnsforge, UncensoredDNS, FFMUC). For phones and browsers any resolver with DoT or DoH works.
- Decide on filtering. Malware blocking (Quad9, DNS4EU Protective), ad blocking (AdGuard, DNS4EU noads, dnsforge) or nothing at all (DNS.SB, UncensoredDNS, Digitale Gesellschaft).
- Check the jurisdiction. If data must stay in the EU, prefer DNS4EU or an EU-based operator over Swiss ones.
- Read the logging policy. Quad9, AdGuard and Digitale Gesellschaft describe in detail what they keep; others only make a short no-logs claim.
- Pick a backup. Small volunteer resolvers give no uptime guarantee, so keep a second address from a different operator.
European public DNS: FAQ
Is there a European public DNS resolver?
Yes. Quad9 (Switzerland), DNS4EU (Czech Republic), AdGuard DNS (Cyprus) and DNS.SB (Germany) are the main ones, plus smaller resolvers from non-profits such as Digitale Gesellschaft, dnsforge, Digitalcourage and Freifunk München.
Is there a German DNS server?
Yes. DNS.SB (xTom, Düsseldorf), dnsforge (servers in Germany), FFMUC (Munich), Digitalcourage (Bielefeld) and Artikel10 (Hamburg) are all run by German organisations.
What is DNS4EU?
DNS4EU is a public DNS resolver that was co-funded by the European Union from 2023 to 2025 and is now owned and operated by Whalebone in Brno, Czech Republic. It is free for individuals and hosted only in the EU.
Which European DNS resolver does not log?
Quad9 says it does not record IP addresses; DNS.SB, UncensoredDNS, Digitale Gesellschaft, Applied Privacy, Artikel10 and dnsforge say they keep no query logs. Check each policy, because the wording differs.
Which European DNS blocks ads?
AdGuard DNS (Default servers), DNS4EU (noads variants) and dnsforge (Normal, Clean and Hard levels).
My verdict
Pick Quad9 for an all-round European resolver with a global network and strict privacy, DNS4EU if it must be hosted in the EU, and AdGuard DNS if you want ads blocked on every device.
For encrypted DNS on a phone or in a browser, the non-profit resolvers – Digitale Gesellschaft, Applied Privacy, Digitalcourage and Artikel10 – are good, privacy-first choices; just keep a second resolver ready, because they are run by volunteers.
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Changelog · Oct 2026: first version, 12 resolvers