Quad9 review
A free DNS resolver for blocking malicious domains without accounts or administration.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Quad9 is a free recursive DNS service from the Swiss-based Quad9 Foundation. It replaces an ISP or enterprise DNS resolver and blocks DNS lookups for domains associated with malware, phishing, ransomware, spyware, and other threats. The service is suited to individuals, households, and organizations seeking security-focused DNS protection without an account, subscription, or ongoing policy administration. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, as well as router and IoT configurations.
The published Free plan includes recursive DNS resolution, malware and phishing threat blocking, DNSSEC validation, DNS over HTTPS, and DNS over TLS. Quad9 also documents threat intelligence from multiple security providers, recursive anycast resolution, IPv4 and IPv6 support, and DNSCrypt support. The Android app adds DNS query logs and block notifications. This makes the service useful when the primary goal is to prevent connections to known malicious domains while keeping encrypted DNS available across supported devices. Its free pricing also removes the need to compare paid tiers or manage subscriptions.
Quad9’s main trade-off is its narrow security focus. It documents threat-based blocking rather than predefined content categories, and it does not provide custom policies. Router DNS configuration and Android Private DNS are available integration paths, while Quad9 Connect supports Android users. Activity reporting is documented through the Android app, not as a broadly described administration layer across platforms. Choose Quad9 if you want straightforward malicious-domain protection with encrypted DNS and no signup. Choose a DNS filtering product with category controls, custom rules, or broader administration features if those capabilities are central to your requirements.
Quad9 pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Blocks malware, phishing, ransomware, and other threat domains
- Supports DNSSEC, DNS over HTTPS, DNS over TLS, and DNSCrypt
- Works on devices, routers, and IoT systems without signup
- Where it doesn't
- Does not provide predefined category filtering
- Does not support custom policies
- Broader administration controls are limited
Quad9 fact sheet, pricing and score →
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