Quad9
Free public DNS resolver that blocks malicious domains and logs no IP addresses
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Pricing
Free
Company
Quad9 Foundation
Founded
2017
Platforms
What is Quad9?
Quad9 is a free public DNS resolver. You use it in place of your ISP's or company's default DNS servers. When a device looks up a host name, Quad9 checks it against a constantly updated threat list and blocks lookups of domains known for malware, phishing, spyware and botnets.
To use it, point your device or router at 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112, or at the IPv6 addresses 2620:fe::fe and 2620:fe::9. There is no sign-up, account or contract. If you set it on a router, every device on the local network is covered, including IoT devices that have no malware protection of their own. Threat data comes from more than 25 intelligence providers, and the service runs on 230+ resolver clusters in over 110 countries.
The Swiss non-profit Quad9 Foundation runs the service, and donations and sponsorships fund it. It says it never logs data containing your IP address, supports encrypted connections and has been designed to be GDPR-compliant from the start. It suits home users, privacy-minded people and network operators.
Key features
- Blocks malware, phishing, spyware and botnet domains at DNS level
- Threat data from 25+ intelligence providers
- 230+ resolver clusters in over 110 countries
- IPv4 and IPv6 resolver addresses
- Encrypted DNS connections where supported
- No logging of user IP addresses
- Public lookup tool for blocked domains
- Router-level setup covers IoT devices
Use cases
Who it's for
Protecting a home network
Set Quad9 on your router and every device on the network, including IoT gadgets, gets malicious-domain blocking.
Replacing ISP DNS for privacy
Swap your ISP's resolver for one that does not log IP addresses and operates under Swiss privacy law.
Basic malware defense for organizations
Network operators can point their resolvers at Quad9 to cut off lookups of known phishing and malware hosts.
Checking a domain's status
Use the search tool to see whether Quad9 blocks a domain and which threat feeds listed it, then report false positives.
Quad9 pricing
From the vendor's site, checked Nov 8, 2026. Prices change — confirm on their pricing page.
Public DNS
Free
- No sign-up or contract
- Threat blocking
- IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
Get an email when Quad9 changes its prices
One mail per change, a stop link in each. Nothing else.
Quad9 in numbers
- Jurisdiction
- Switzerland
- Free plan
- Yes
- Pay with crypto
- No
Quad9 is a free, donation-funded DNS resolver run by the Swiss Quad9 Foundation, not a VPN, so it has no plans, prices, refunds, device limits or VPN protocols (it offers DNS over HTTPS, DNS over TLS and DNSCrypt instead). From Quad9's own pages, checked Nov 8, 2026. Each figure links to the page it is from; fields the vendor doesn't state are left out.
How Quad9 compares
- Quad9 has a free plan, like 3 of the 4 alternatives below.
| Tool | Cost over 2 years | Best intro price | Renewal per year | Latest no-logs audit | Server countries | Devices at once | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QQuad9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
N NextDNS | $39.82 | $1.66 | $19.90 | — | — | Unlimited | Quad9 vs NextDNS |
A AdGuard DNS | — | — | — | — | — | — | Quad9 vs AdGuard DNS |
C Control D | $60 | $2.50 | $30 | — | 69 | Unlimited | Quad9 vs Control D |
P Pi-hole | — | — | — | — | — | — | Quad9 vs Pi-hole |
Figures from each vendor's own pages; — means the vendor doesn't state it. The closest alternatives in our directory by category. “Starts at” is the cheapest paid plan per month, as each vendor lists it.
Pros and cons
Strengths
- Completely free with no account or sign-up
- Does not log data containing user IP addresses
- Run by a Swiss non-profit and designed for GDPR compliance
- Large global network with 230+ resolver clusters
Limitations
- Blocks threats only, with no custom filtering or user dashboard
- Depends on donations and sponsorships for funding
Quad9 FAQ
Is Quad9 free?
Yes. It is free to use, with no sign-up and no contract.
How do I use Quad9?
Set your device or router DNS servers to 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112, or to 2620:fe::fe and 2620:fe::9 for IPv6.
Does Quad9 log my data?
Quad9 says no data containing your IP address is logged in any of its systems when you use the service normally.
What does Quad9 block?
Lookups of domains known for malware, phishing, spyware and botnets, based on threat intelligence from more than 25 providers.
Who runs Quad9?
The Quad9 Foundation, a not-for-profit based in Zürich, Switzerland.
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Quad9
Free